Toowoomba 3/4 Marathon
This is the longest run I have done yet, it felt OK - at least until around 30.5 km when the pain seriously begun. 3:08 is not so bad. The…
The Northern Alps stretch below you
Climbing Yarigatake, one of Japan’s ‘best’ hikes.
First day back in the Japanese Alps, it was a pretty serious day with a lot of up in a short time; tomorrow will be far, far worse. My goal is Yarigatake, at 3384m the fifth highest mountain in Japan; often considered one of the best climbs in the Hida Mountains.
(more…)
Paddling around Garden Island
A last minute decision last night and it was off for a paddle first thing this morning with a local meet up group to Garden Island, near Macleay Island just…
It is hard to tell just how white the sand is
Fraser Island, stunning!
Fraser Island is a stunning sand island just off Hervey Bay in Queensland, about 4 hours North of Brisbane. It is the world largest sand island and has no bitumen…
Mount Mitsutoge, a view of Fuji.
Mitsutoge-Yama is one of the closest mountains to Mount Fuji and has fantastic views of it, the lakes, the Minami Alps, Yatsu-Ga-Take and pretty much everything else in the area.
(more…)
The island is a small island about 4 km from the coast, a perfect distance for a days kayak trip.
Checking Out Coochiemudlow Island
Coochiemudlow (Coochie) is a small island off Victoria Point just South of Brisbane, Queensland. It’s often called the Jewel of Morton Bay, it’s very close to the mainland and has…
This old waterwheel was beautiful
Hiking The Magome-Tsumago Trail in in the rain
The Magome-Tsumago trail in the Kiso Valley is an original postal route in the Nagano Provence, the towns have been maintained in a mostly original state. Walking through the path passes through some beautiful forest, some original cobblestones and a bit of bitumen to remind you of modern times.
The day I walked from Magome to Tsumago was a rainy, cold day – it is easy to imagine what it was like to travel the hundreds of kilometres on foot as people once did.
(more…)
Enzansō
A lesson learnt this trip, don’t come to Japan in June, Tokyo is extremely hot and wet but most of the mountains are still covered in snow and not able to be climbed.
I wanted to go back into the Northern Alps but pretty much every route I investigated I eventually reached someone in the area and they told me that the route is still closed. It was in one of those research sessions that I came across the Otame-Ginza route from Nagano.
Once again first day in Tokyo
Back again for another trip to Japan, which starts with another first day. And the best way to end a day of travel, sitting in an izakaia just near the…
Diving at Cook Island
I spent yesterday diving at Cook Island off Tweed Heads. It was SO NICE! Even after last week snorkelling at Bundaberg the Tweed had very different things to offer -…
Beautiful Colours
Hiking In Kamikochi, What You Need To Know
Day 9 - Hiking In Kamikochi, What You Need To Know Kamikochi Valley Monday, 11 July 2011 Goodbye to Kamikochi, back on the bus to Hurau Onsen... It was enough…
Relaxing
Out Of The Valley To Where The Alps Begin
Day 8 - Out Of The Valley To Where The Alps Begin Kamikochi Valley Sunday, 10 July 2011 The last minute change from yari-ga-date to Karasawa hut ended up being…