Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 4

Tuesday, 21 August 2018

We had different plans for today, but I was feeling decidedly average in the morning so we abandoned our plan to do a 20k steep and rugged jog-hike and figured we'd just head out to see the sights and see what happened.

First we drove the 30kms out to Standley Chasm. Amazingly we had it pretty much to ourselves while we were there.  It was the only attraction we've had to pay for as it is privately owned.

After walking through the Chasm, we hiked straight up to a lookout to see it from above.

  

Then we drove 10kms down the road to Simpson's Gap - it was also spectacular, and also quiet:

 

 

After a quick lunch, we decided to head off on the Woodland Walk.  It is an 18km loop walk from Simpson's Gap that I wasn't sure I'd feel up to doing all of, so Jon's plan was to walk for a while with me, then run ahead and follow the Larapinta Trail all the way back to Telegraph Station just outside of Alice Springs where I'd pick him up.  I was either going to do the full loop, including 7.5kms on the Larapinta Trail, or simply turn around and head back the way I came.

 

 

The trail was really nice and quite flat and not very taxing.  After 5kms of walking I still felt pretty good so I decided to complete the whole thing. I let Jon go ahead (as he had a long way to go), and then I jog-hiked the rest of it. It was great!

 

 

I arrived back at the car pretty happy about my Larapinta experience today!

While I ran, then drove back to Alice Springs, then showered, then made some phone calls, then visited the botanical gardens, then drove out to Telegraph Station, Jon ran. He ran and ran and ran and after 44km he turned up in the park where I waited, looking decidedly tired!  He didn't have many words to spare (beyond 'do you have water'), but I've got a few pictures from his phone..

 

 

 He is now having a well deserved pre-dinner nap. If he was able to respond I'm sure he'd say he'd had a good day out on the Larapinta Trail today too. 

 

2016summary
Cradle Mountain Day 3 Sunday, 30 December 2018
Cradle Mountain Day 2 Saturday, 29 December 2018
Cradle Mountain Day 1 Saturday, 29 December 2018
Christmas Day 2018 Saturday, 29 December 2018
Hong Kong Day 4 Sunday, 23 December 2018
Hong Kong Day 3 Saturday, 22 December 2018
Hong Kong Day 2 Saturday, 22 December 2018
It's been a long day.. Thursday, 20 December 2018
Heading to Hong Kong Thursday, 20 December 2018
Christmas Tree Sunday, 9 December 2018
Bangor Rogaine Sunday, 2 December 2018
Halloween Orienteering Sunday, 25 November 2018
Pinto Sunday, 25 November 2018
Mt Nelson Sunday, 25 November 2018
Sunday Funday Sunday, 11 November 2018
Eye love creepy cakepops.. Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Craft-bombers Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Dysart, Switzerland Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Back at work Tuesday, 30 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs - Day 7 Tuesday, 9 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs - Day 6 Tuesday, 9 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs - Rest Day Friday, 5 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 6 Friday, 5 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 5 Thursday, 4 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 4 Tuesday, 2 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 3 Tuesday, 2 October 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 2 Sunday, 30 September 2018
Aus Orienteering Champs Day 1 Saturday, 29 September 2018
Sign of the times Monday, 27 August 2018
Other Signs Monday, 27 August 2018
Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 5 Monday, 27 August 2018
Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 4 Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 3 Monday, 20 August 2018
Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 2 Sunday, 19 August 2018
Not the Larapinta Stage Race - Day 1 Saturday, 18 August 2018
36 hours in Adelaide Saturday, 18 August 2018
Waterpolo Finals Sunday, 5 August 2018
Conningham Paddle Sunday, 5 August 2018
Taroona to Kingston Sunday, 5 August 2018
Happy Birthday to me! Monday, 30 July 2018
Unsupervised Holiday Activities Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Buckland Sunday, 1 July 2018
World Cup Soccer Friday, 29 June 2018
Icy Mornings Friday, 29 June 2018
Going through the boxes Thursday, 31 May 2018
Snow days are more fun Saturday, 19 May 2018
Queensland Day 7 Monday, 30 April 2018
Queensland Day 6 Friday, 27 April 2018
Queensland Day 5 Thursday, 26 April 2018
Queensland Day 4 Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Queensland Day 3 Tuesday, 24 April 2018
Queensland Day 2 Monday, 23 April 2018
Queensland Day 1 Monday, 23 April 2018
Zali's Milo Cake Saturday, 21 April 2018
THS Parent Teacher NIght Saturday, 21 April 2018
Craft Project Saturday, 21 April 2018
Ahh NZ Monday, 9 April 2018
St Helens Sunrise & Winifred's reserve Sunday, 8 April 2018
Taking a break Saturday, 7 April 2018
Maps... Maps.. Maps Saturday, 7 April 2018
Lovely Zali Friday, 6 April 2018
Easter Prologue Event Friday, 6 April 2018
Two monsters on the couch.. Friday, 6 April 2018
Cakes by Zali Friday, 6 April 2018
Autumn is here Friday, 6 April 2018
Melbourne Sprint Weekend Friday, 6 April 2018
Proximity Thursday, 15 March 2018
The Whole Sorry Towel Saga Sunday, 11 March 2018
Qantas Maths and Sod's Law Saturday, 10 March 2018
Mt Rufus Circuit Sunday, 18 February 2018
First day of school Sunday, 18 February 2018
Beach Weddings Sunday, 18 February 2018
Overland Track Run 2018 Monday, 5 February 2018
Arm River Track Hike - Day 3 Sunday, 4 February 2018
Arm River Track Hike - Day 2 Sunday, 4 February 2018
Arm River Track Hike - Day 1 Thursday, 1 February 2018
Seriously?? Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Orienteering Really Takes You Places.. Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Melbourne Weekend Saturday, 6 January 2018
Grampians Hike - Day 3 Saturday, 6 January 2018
Grampians Hike - Day 2 Saturday, 6 January 2018
Grampians Hike - Day 1 Saturday, 6 January 2018
Little Desert National Park Friday, 5 January 2018
More Adelaide Friday, 5 January 2018
Kangaroo Island - Day 5 Tuesday, 2 January 2018