Team Vodka plus Support Crew member Monny headed north to the Sunshine Coast on Sunday 17th July, 2007. Their training today was on first section of the Sunshine Coast Great Walk. This section starts from Baroon Pocket Dam and ends at Flaxton Walkers Camp, 16.5kms away. Our aim today was to do the return trip during the day light hours.

We arrived at Montville just before sunrise at 6:15am. With head torches on (actually only the Giggler and Monny were prepared for the darkness), Team Vodka & Co went into the rainforest.

As the sun was rising, the Grasshopper lead the way performing the spider walk. This is done by waving arms or sticks in front with the hope of knocking off any spiders that have built a web across the path. Luckily on occassions where someone has been coat hangered, it has only been a thin web and those webs with large hairy spiders we have somehow managed to only get tangled in their webs and not wear the beasties on our faces.

The walk in was pleasant, with broadwalks to protect a delicate frog population and well posted and informative signs point the way and explain the flora growing in this area.

Within about 2 kms the first lookout appears for Narrows Gorge. Another 2 kms later, the Obi Obi gorge lookout appears with spectacular views of Obi Obi creek and the valley.

Next, a steep downhill section winds its way to the creek at the bottom. The only consolation is that its done near the start and therefore the knees are fresh for such a bone jarring task.

Once down the track, it follows an inland course bearing away from the creek. Today we encountered a couple of fallen gum trees which had to be crawled over.

The track meets up with the creek again only to start going back up, towards Kondalilla Falls. Its a steady incline but not as steep or long as the initial knee jarring hill. Once the team reached the falls, we had a quick 5 minute rest stop, to replenish hungry bellies, parched lips and take in the beautiful scenery of the rock pools and waterfalls.

A few more kilometres later, we entered the Kondalilla picnic area which had BBQ, tables, toilets and grassy areas.

From here there was about 9 km more to Flaxton Walkers campground. Leaving the picnic area a steep hill along the main roads had to be followed before finally going back into bushland.

We reached Flaxton’s at 11ish and stopped for 20 minutes to eat lunch.

The return trip was done somehow at a cracking pace, to Monny’s despair. Muscle fatigue was setting in. But as Mel Rose does when overcome with compious amounts of vodka, Monny sucked it in and soldiered on!

Most of the trip back was down hill and the knees began to jar. Nicey and I were so glad we had hiking poles. Other injuries felt by some included blisters, hip pain, hammies and sore feet. Nicey entertained us by singing like a chipmunk. This seemed to ease the pain through laughter.

At times, Team Vodka would travel in a pack and also encouraged Monny along. Through out the whole trip, everyone had turns leading and trailing. We played well as a team.

The sight of the carpark at the end was an elation and footwear was quickly kicked off to enjoy the freedom of wiggling toes and fresh cold air. We had returned much earlier than expected at 3pm, an 8.5 hr trip. To celebrate we had icecreams at Montville village.

See the pics on Picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/meltaxa/GreatWalkSection1SunshineCoast