Trail fairies

Have you ever seen a trail fairy?

Those wonderful invisible beings who find paths through forests for us to follow? Who tie pink fairy tape to trees to mark the way.

 And build fairy cairns so we don't get lost?

This is the walking track up Mt Arthur, about a 30 minute drive north east of Launceston. There was evidence of fairy activity. And plenty of fungi. We all know fairies sit on toadstools, right?

 

So much mossy beauty

 

 Imagine how much force was required to do this! Two giant trees, root systems over 4 metres in diameter - uprooted, side by side.

 And splintered

And then I saw it. 

It was irrestible. I was drawn toward it. Tiny toadstools covered it like acne on a teenager.

  I peered inside

And there she was! The trail fairy- who had sprinkled her magic fairy dust up the side of Mt Arthur to create a wandering trail for us to explore. I thanked her!

Walkers and mountain bikers are familiar with the magic of unseen trail fairies - those wonderful hard workers, often volunteers, who create paths through forests for us to enjoy. Thank you to all the trail fairies!

Training!

I am in training. Oh yes!! Devonshire tea, or clotted cream tea if you are in Cornwall.
At Fudge'n'Good Coffee in Sheffield.

In August, my fellow wanderer, Sheryl, and I are off to do a very, very long walk in England. It is called the South West Coast Path and will take us along the dramatic cliff-lined coastline of Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall and Devon - the home of the Devonshire tea, although Cornwall would dispute that. 

When we finished our last multi-day walk, the West Highland Way in Scotland, Sheryl fatefully said that she wanted to walk 1,000 kms! And I recorded that statement here: Wandering Walkers 10-11 over celebratory apple crumble in Fort William, after only 155kms. 

Recently I typed up my journal notes from that UK trip, all 60,000 plus words, partly because a few people suggested I should write a book but mostly just to reminisce. I don't think there is a book in it.  I was shocked by the number of times I had written, "had coffee and cake" and "good scones today". These things are not part of my normal diet at home. I was also shocked by the number of times I had written "took ibuprofen" for my hamstrings - the ones I tore off the bone in 2016. 

Me waiting for the luggage van in Italy to take me to Switzerland while every one else walked.

So, today I tried to convince myself I was walking in England. Green rolling hills, English trees, contented cows, even a few hedges...

But there were quite a few gum trees and warbling magpies. And there is the familiar Mt Roland in the distance.

I walked 7.5km from my home at the foot of Mt Roland into the town of Sheffield, enjoyed a Devonshire tea for my lunch, had a look at the new murals from the recent International Mural Competition, and then walked home.  

A total of 15 kms, a fairly average day on the SWCP. My feet hurt. My hamstrings burned just a bit going up the hills. I massaged voltaren gell into my feet and took ibuprofen when I got home. I need to do more training which obviously must include cream teas and cake!