Wet and Muddy Hills

Today:
Distance: 26.5 km
Time: 2 hrs 46 mins 16 secs
Rate: 6' 16" per km
Altitude gain/loss: 500 metres
Weather: mostly sunny, temp 8-11 degrees, humidity 75% down to 65%, very strong NW at 40 kmph, gusts to 55 kmph
Week: 26.5 km, Sept: 60.45 km, Year: 3204.3 km

Kinda made up for yesterday's wash out with a reasonable outing over the local hills on wet & muddy trails.
Leaving home & heading towards Gowrie on Ashley Dr encountered first obstacle. The drains were very fast flowing and still carrying plenty of rain water. Instead of the usual trickle allowing a short jump to cross, it was use the bridge on the road dodging the traffic. Safely done.
The tracks are water logged, so much jumping and weaving felt as though I could enter a field event at the AIS track.
The nature parks tracks on Wanniassa Hills & Farrer ridge were no better, certainly slowing progress, but lots of fun.
Moving over Athllon Dr, a slow climb up Mt Taylor, almost lost the cap on the top as the wind was blowing very strong. A couple of trees blown over on the top of the mountain. A few other hardy walkers out so they were keen as well to make up for yesterday.
Off the top on the zig zag track down to Torrens, the rest of the trip was down hill or flat as I went to the top of Lake Tuggeranong, around the outside towards Monash & eventually home.
Passed by a girl runner who I met a few months ago when she was in final training for Gold Coast marathon. It was her first marathon and she was happy to have finished in 3 hrs 55 mins. She said she struggled after 33 kms but made it to the finish. As we have all said at some time, she said never again, it's too hard. Later, she has had a change of mind and will do another some time.
Before that, she will target the Canberra half ironman triathlon in December. Unusually, she likes the swimming & running in the tris, neither complicated by the technical side of the cycling.
Conditions not good today but at least fine, the spring weather is unpredicable.