Mawson Bush Walk

Today:
Purpose:  long walk
Distance:  26.00 km
Walking time:   4 hrs 41 mins 56 secs
Total time:  5 hrs 13 mins
Walk rate:  10' 51" per km
Altitude gain:  510 metres
Weather: sunny, temp range 15-32 degrees, humidity 75% - 24%, wind calm

Week:  90.65 km,  Feb: 138.3 km,  Year:  473.75 km

Late last night the news came through of a total fire ban in the ACT for today meaning all national parks & some nature parks were closed all day.
The remaining nature parks open have a condition that they should be vacated by 11 am which is sound advice given the very hot day and possible strong winds in the afternoon.
All this meant a quick change of plans for a planned bush walk in the Goorooyarroo & Mulligans Flat nature parks on the northside of town. These nature parks are face the northwest & this would be the prevailing wind direction on a day like today & the direction the fires came back in 2003, our blackest day in the ACT when 500 houses were destroyed & lives were lost.
We took no chances and move our walk to more central & eastern parts of the southside of the city.
Starting with Liz, Kerrie & Jen at Mawson shops, see map, we headed towards O'Malley, found the Canberra Centenary Trail over to Symonston, then up to Red Hill lookout.
Getting very warm at this stage, refill drinks & down into suburbia heading to Curtin to Kerrie's place. Easy pace after a few good hills, as we went left side of Oakey & right side of Mt Taylor and finally back down Athllon Dr to the cars.
The girls are in the final stages of preparation for Coastrek 50 km in 2 weeks time in Sydney, so a good " time on feet" walk on a nice if a touch warm morning.
I think & hope they are Ok after today, it's going to be a fun time for them.
I've marked this down as work group bush walk No 13, unlucky for some as I was the only one from my group to turn up. Too bad, they missed a brilliant morning, so thanks to the girls for their company.