Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Mildura

There was no run today. Why? Because I stayed up until 2:30 am planning next stops and uploading photos. I was having a hard time starting my day. Instead of a run, I took a short walk while Blondie colored his hair way too dark. Hahaha…he looked like Wayne Newton back in the day! No photos were allowed.

After putting on a hat to cover the hair, we headed to Stefano's Bakery. Yes, again! It is just so good.

Afterwards we hit the road to Port Augusta. From Mildura we followed the Murray River north west and made a quick stop in the cute town of Morgan for coffee and a sarsaparilla. Then, we continued to Burra, where cooper was discovered in the mid-1800s.

Port Augusta

Heading towards Port Augusta, we drove along rolling hills and past several wind turbines…and a million Merino.

After 574 kilometers of driving, we arrived in Port Augusta at dusk. It was rainy and dark, so it was difficult to be impressed. We did notice several major roads crossed in this town, roads from Sydney to Perth and Adelaide to Darwin. The road train presence was very noticeable!

Since it was too dark and rainy to run when we arrived in Port Augusta, we hoped for a nice run around the opal mines in Cooper Pedy the next day.

Drove 574 kilometers, 6 hours.

Ran 0 kilometers.

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Monday, 20 May 2013

Mildura

View of the Murray River taken during our run.

Mildura is in the state of Victoria, but just barely. New South Wales border is right around the corner from this little paradise. The Murray River, the largest river in Australia, runs through the area and orchards are plentiful. The town was established in the 1880s and is now home to 30,000 people.

The path through the old Mildura homestead.

This morning we started with a run along the stunning river. The trail is made of crushed gravel which is comfortable underfoot and you can go for a very very long distance. Our run began from our hotel near the center of town and followed along the meandering water. I turned around 5 kilometers later at the Apex Caravan Park and Hectie ran a shorter version turning just past the old Mildura homestead. For me, it was one of those days you can run forever…perfect trail and perfect weather. Total distance equalled 10 kilometers.

Dinner spot from previous night.

Mungo National Park

To get there, we drove a long unpaved roads (over 100 kilometers). And even though we didn't arrive until 2 pm, we decided to take the additional 70 kilometer drive through the park.

The first stop was the Walls of China.

Second stop was the big dune, which I have yet to find out what it is named. We decided to run up the dune and take some pictures.

Hectie with his golden locks on top of the dune with no name.

As darkness approached the park was full of life…not human. Hundreds of kangaroo and emu appeared before us, so we attempted to take photos of these creatures darting across the dirt road. We felt like we were on our own private safari. It was a beautiful end to a fantastic day in a very remote part of Oz.

Drove 289 kilometers.

Ran 10 kilometers.

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Sunday, 19 May 2013

Me being dumb!

Day Dream

Having read about the Daydream Mine near Silverton, we thought a subterranean tour would be fun. After driving 20 minutes along a scenic dirt road (accessed from Silverton road), we arrived at the mine. The mine lessee greeted us and told us he would not be having more tours today, even though the sign said there were tours every hour and it was only noon! Grumpy, the miner, also told us that we were not allowed to look around…so we got outta dodge.

Note: The Day Dream Mine (originally Meech's Blow) is about 16 kilometers north of Silverton. Before the prospectors explored the region, shepherds from the Mundi Mundi Run travelled the area. The Barrier Ranges Mining Association later purchased a large portion of the mine. The Association acquired eight-tenths of the claim in August 1884, the two other tenths being held by Messers Bagot and Co. of Adelaide. In 1884, 500 people lived there (info taken from several info sites and brochures…sorry I can't remember which ones…just know I read several things on it). My guess is that now only grumpy lives there…not sure though.

One interesting feature on the drive to and from the mine is the old smelter clawing out of a rocky hill top. Apparently, the smelter is part of the Hen and Chicken mining claim. Of course, there are danger and warning signs all over the place and rightfully so…we certainly would not like to disappear down a shaft trying to get to it. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo.

Not having any knowledge of Silverton, other than it was relatively close to the mine, Hector and I decided to visit. And…

Silverton

Mad Max II Museum

It was fun. Silverton (established in 1880) was once a busy mining community, but once Broken Hill's silver mining industry grew the town dwindled away and is now considered as a ghost town. It features a roadhouse, cafe (with homemade vegetable soup and fresh baked damper, which was delicious), art gallery, a gaol, churches, a souvenir shop, and the Mad Max II Museum. Whoa…who knew!

Arriving after dark, we quickly checked into the 7th Street Motel (nice and clean) and went for dinner. Deciding on the Mildura Brewery, we quickly found out our choice could not be better. We were spoiled with an amazing meal cooked by celebrity chef Stefano de Pieri. He even shared a complimentary dish made with artichokes for us. Delicious!

Drove 369 kms.

Ran 5 kms (hilly, Broken Hill).

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Dubbo

Today (Saturday 18 May 2013) is an unlikely day for a double run due to the long drive from Dubbo to Broken Hill. So…I am very happy to have a run done!

After our run along the beautiful Macquarie River, we were off to a late start leaving town at 10:30. On the way out of town we stopped for supplies…fruit, water, and hair coloring. And yes, Hector decided he wants to go blonde. Nutcase!

Broken Hill

A few hours outside of Dubbo along the Barrier Highway, we entered the “outback”. In my opinion, the outback is not too different than parts of the western U.S. This drive in particular reminded me of driving through New Mexico.

As evening came so did the wildlife. We passed many emu as we neared Broken Hill. Reaching the town around 6:30 pm, we went straight to the Lodge Outback Motel where we were greeted by Kristine. She was very friendly and helpful, which was a nice welcome to Broken Hill.

Broken Hill is a mining town founded in 1883. Many people consider this area as the outback center of New South Wales, and the region is best known for its zinc, lead, and silver mines.

After chatting with Kristine, we headed to Al Frescos for dinner. The food was so so and we quickly realized dinner at the Palace Hotel (a filming location for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) or the Music Club would have been better choices.

Before bed, Hector decided it was time to change his hair. After his experiment, we fell asleep.

Drove 784 kilometers, 8 hours.

Ran 8 kilometers (in Dubbo).

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After the 14-plus hour flight, your plane has touched down at Sydney Airport. The excitement of visiting Australia is racing through your body or maybe it is exhaustion knowing you have many business meetings to conquer during your visit. It is 7 a.m. You need to unwind, so you ask yourself “what should I do now?” Suggestion: Slip into your running shoes and take off on a run Mate!

Maybe it is the sparkle reflecting off the emerald waters or the gentle breeze pushing off the waves that makes Sydney a perfect running destination to unwind after your long flight. You definitely should take advantage of running in this incredible city, because the climate and the scenery allows the runner to enjoy the outdoors to its fullest potential. And, don’t let the big city scare you. Sydney is one of the world’s safest cities. We all know running in big cities can be a struggle to maintain a good pace due to traffic light waiting and car and pedestrian dodging, but this doesn’t have to be the case if you know what direction to take off towards.

Once in the Sydney CBD, a great starting point for many runs is the Sydney Opera House. The Opera House stands alone on Bennelong Point. The outline of the white roof resembles sails against the harbour and makes it truly one of the most beautiful places to visit. The Opera House was designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon and opened in 1973. As a starting point, a runner can run for miles and miles without a break in pace. Your run will be an amazing way to experience the most spectacular sights of Sydney.

Three Best Runs covering all distances

Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain Run: Starting at the Sydney Opera house, this run is breath-taking in many ways. It is here that you can run any distance you desire, but is probably best for those runners who want to run 5-10 kilometers. You have trails galore to explore, so take your pick. Established in 1816, the Royal Botanic Gardens is a 30 hectare oasis wrapped around Farm Cove.

The Gardens range from a Rare and Threatened Plants Garden to the Indigenous Cadi jam Ora and show diverse beauty of nature. They are a significant cultural and botanical icon, with numerous historic and heritage listed specimens that are of enormous cultural, scientific, horticultural and educational value. It is also home to a camp of Grey-headed Flying-foxes. So look above you as you run by. Unfortunately, these cute creatures are causing damage to the gardens, so a relocation effort has been started. Also, be on the lookout for some of Australia’s interesting birds. Their songs can be startling.

Many runners aren’t sure where the Gardens end and the Domain starts, but that is little concern to the majority of the runners. It is more about the running anyway. Adding the Domain to your run makes for a longer run that is equally pleasing to the eye. The Domain is adjoins the Gardens and is 34 hectares of open space. It includes the famous Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. If you want to rest or just want to stop for a nice view, then definitely run by Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. It was carved out of a rock ledge for Governor Macquarie’s wife, so she could sit and enjoy the panoramic view and passing ships. It provides one of the best vantage points in the city with views across the harbour to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Opera House to Darling Harbour Run: This run starts at the Sydney Opera House and is a 10km out-and-back run. Although it is out-and-back the scenery is never boring and runs completely along the water’s edge. This run also allows you to explore history. Leaving the Opera House follow the water’s edge, run through Circular Quay where you can watch the ferries come and go. If you are lucky, you will experience the sounds of an Aborigine playing a didgeridoo. Indigenous people have lived in the area for more than 45,000 years. European settlement began in 1770 with Captain Cooks landing. You can experience the early European settlements as you run through the Rocks. The transportation of convicts which followed Cook’s landing resulted in colourful history; the Rocks is where convict tents were erected in 1788. On this run, you’ll pass by the city’s oldest building, Cadman’s Cottage (circa1816).

Next head under the Harbour Bridge towards Walsh Bay. The Walsh Bay wharves are a testament to the rich Maritime history and bustling wool exports Sydney once had. The landscape here was dramatically changed when the wharves were renewed in the early 1900’s and Hickson Road was carved out of the side of the hill. The rich wool industry was certainly capitalized upon for many decades but in later times toward the end of the last century, the wharves fell into disuse and became the eyesore of the inner city.

Thankfully by the early eighties Pier One was revamped into an all-in-one boutique shopping centre, eatery and amusement complex. Later, Piers 4 and 5 were taken over by the Sydney Theatre Company and this was the stimulus needed to bring the whole section back to being an integral part of the cityscape today.

It is up to you to run along the piers or opt for the shorter route along Hickson Road. At the end of Hickson, you will enter Barangaroo. Barangaroo is the last harbour side location in Sydney CBD to be redeveloped. Barangaroo will return more than three hectares to one of the world’s most famous harbours. Although completion of this project won’t be until 2014, the harbour foreshore walk opened officially in 2010 and completed the harbour foreshore walk from Woolloomooloo to Anzac Bridge for the first time in over a century.

You have now arrived at Darling Harbour, where you can choose from a variety of restaurants or shops to stop for a drink or snack, then turn around and head back to the Opera House. Darling Harbour is a fantastic place to explore and discover at any time. It is one of the world’s great waterfront destinations and one of Australia’s major attractions and home to the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, the Australian National Maritime Museum, and many other fun places.

Harbour Circle or Seven Bridges Run: This 26km run is a must-do run for all endurance runners visiting Sydney. Travelling west of the Harbour Bridge to Hunters Hill and around the harbour, this run is truly magnificent focusing on the spectacular beauty of the Harbour. The expanse of the water, crossing of seven bridges, trekking over islands, through urban bushland makes this run most memorable. The route winds along parts of the foreshore, into bays and on to headlands, through busy, along historic streets and over bridges.

If you put this in your running itinerary, then you will need some careful planning and additional research to successfully follow the course. It would be best to pick up a free copy of the Sharing Sydney Harbour: A Harbour Circle Walk brochure from the Sydney Visitor Centre or Sydney Coastal Councils Group, local councils, National Parks, Harbour Trust and tourism offices. You can also download the brochure and map from http://www.walkingcoastalsydney.com.au. Please remember to carry water with you or bring along some cash to purchase water along the route.

Races

Scenic beauty makes Sydney a natural environment and draw for racing. The City 2 Surf is the city’s biggest race and happens in August covering 14kms. As the name implies the race runs from the Hyde Park to Bondi Beach. Draws over 60,000 participants and is considered the world’s largest fun run as well as a competitive event. The Sydney Morning Herald sponsors this event as well as the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon held on the third Sunday in May. This is Australia’s largest and most prestigious half marathon attracting over 10,000 participants. The course weaves its way around major Sydney landmarks with a finish in Hyde Park. The next big event is the Blackmore’s Sydney Running Festival held in September, which consists of many events to choose from ranging from 4km to a full marathon.

With the sparkling waters and interesting history, you can’t fail to have an amazing run in Sydney. And the cosmopolitan cafes and English-style pubs are a terrific reward for you after the run, so take note while running. Now it is time to get off the plane, check in to your hotel, slip into your running clothes and run yourself in a new direction. Running is the perfect way to move around and enjoy the sights of Australia’s oldest, largest and most diverse city. And, starting and ending at the most incredible landmark, Sydney Opera House, couldn’t be more spectacular. Continued views of the harbour will never dull your eyes. And the weather along year-long is golden. Running allows you to experience the city in the most special ways, so strike out by foot and take it all in..of course you won’t want to leave, but you can always come back for a run.

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