WE DID IT! The team laced up our hiking boots, layered up in pink (no feathers, not this year anyway) and stocked up on snacks and drinks and sunscreen. We arrived at Point Nepean as the sun rose and zipped up our raincoats as clouds gathered and showers threatened. We were not to be deterred for come hell or high water this was the day. The hike we had been training for over months. The hike we had both feared and cheered. The hike that pushed us out of our comfort zones and onto the trail. The hike we will never forget (or let anyone else forget for that matter, you know me!).
Coastrek Mornington Peninsula. Over $1.2 million was raised for the Heart Foundation, clearly not all by us. Some 2000 people tramped the sandy trails around Portsea and Sorrento and Point Nepean and returned triumphantly.
Would you believe I had never been to explore the peninsula? I’m not sure I can claim to have done so still, though my feet have touched the sand and soil of 30km of it now. When I wasn’t focusing on the next step I saw enough with each glance up to leave me intrigued and entranced. What a beautiful place! Glamorous homes surrounded by exquisitely manicured gardens and hedges so tall it is clear to me what can be done when water is no issue and the gardener has no fear of heights. I glimpsed incredible views from clifftops overlooking the bay across to Phillip Island and I passed buildings holding tales of war and defense.
But, you know it wasn’t all about the scenery. Those 2000 people were not there to hike alone. In teams of four we stepped through the start and it was in those same teams we passed the final timer. The name of possibly the most incredible team of women I could have had the honour of walking with? Ready for the big reveal? (I’m not…) We were – drumroll please!
The Very Peri Geris
If you know, you know, right? It may be apt and it definitely won’t be used again, so let’s just enjoy the embarrassing awesomeness that a group of women of a certain age can triumph over a hike as challenging as this one!
The name pre-dates our actual Coastrek moniker. We are all part of the Flamingo Flock. Yes, THOSE flamingoes, the ones that appeared on the morning of my 50th birthday. The ones who still can be found in corners at Ardley and the very same ones who took to the rail trail to start off the 50 Hikes project with me in February.
The Flamingo Flock is obviously pink, really pink, bright pink, the sort of pink that shocks you into gales of laughter while you protect your eyes from the vivacity of the shade. The divine Ms M created our gaiters and the warmers adorning our hiking poles. She even found us headwear… that was unfortunately incompatible with a coastal breeze but had the potential to lift us into the air should we have the urge!
Walk with ALL your team, the Coastrek signs urged us but we didn’t need reminding. To start with, we were so brightly coloured that other hikers noticed if we were at all out of step and the blaze of pink was disrupted in any way. And the flow of chatter (the ebb and flow is a better description, as it depended on whether we were hauling ourselves up or down an incline as to whether we had breath for words) acted like an aural link chain. I mean, no-one wants to miss the punch line, right? Particularly after putting in the effort to hear the excruciating detail of a story (yes, usually me, what can I say, hiking takes away my ability to wield a pen but it loosens my tongue!).
It was the promise of Prosecco that led us along the more difficult parts of the trail. Like donkeys following the scent of carrot we whispered it as a prayer (I’m doing this for the Prosecco), sang it as a theme song (There’s a bear in there, and a chair as well, there are people with snacks, and stories to tell. Open wide, come inside, Prosecco), and touted it as a reward (you’re earning your bubbles). What can I say, you do what you need to do after the rogue wave on the waters edge completely drenched your shoes and you’re ploughing through sand dunes that never end!
A support crew like no other was there with hot coffee and dry shoes just at the moment we weren’t sure how we could go on. We were too early for bubbles but caffeine would save us. They’re shy, our dedicated crew, so we don’t want to give away their identities nor their willingness to wear a hot pink beanie.
In fact, the energy the support crews from all the teams shared as we hiked our way past them was catching. Shout out to the disco-loving team from Watson Young who could be relied upon for music that made us dance and the volunteers at every Luv Stop who told us we could, really we could, and so we did.
It turns out that when you are on foot 30km is quite a long way to travel. We did it anyway. We did it with aching hips, blisters, exhausted limbs and frizzy hair (don’t care). We put one foot in front of the other and we did it because we promised ourselves we would. We did it because the sun was shining in defiance of the forecast and we did it because hiking makes our hearts beat with joy.
Ah yes. The hearts. Coastrek isn’t just about having a wonderful day with your team in a beautiful place. It’s also about healthy hearts. The money raised allows the Heart Foundation to continue with research into how to keep our hearts pumping with the energy and pleasure we enjoyed on our 30km hike.
I dearly want your heart to beat with that strength for as long as possible. Lace up your sneakers. Breathe the air and take the first step. Then another first step. I promise it will feel amazing. And let me know when you’re out there. I’d love to join you on a hike. I always have plenty of tales to tell and I promise to wear the pink only if you have sunglasses. Eye health matters as well, you know.
Shout out to the happy hikers known as The Very Peri Geris! Take a bow, my friends Ms M, Ms D and Ms L. You deserve bubbles every day… though that wouldn’t be great for your heart it might make you keep striding those dusty trails with me for many years to come and I can’t imagine anything I’d like more. Congratulations!
Amazing ladies! Well done xx 💕🦩💕🦩💕🦩💕🦩💕
The Flamingoes Flocked and we are so proud. Thank you!!!
You’re so cheeky and needed no encouragement from me after all! Couldn’t have done it without you gorgeous friend.
What an incredible experience it was! Every step was made so much easier with the team spirit and the knowledge we had each others backs despite all that was thrown at us with waves; the beach sand; stairs and sheer distance. I don’t think I could have done it without you girls nor would I have wanted too! So proud of us in so many ways.
Apparently ‘team work makes the dream work’ and that is true even in a flock!
A great story about a truly amazing day, and the journey to get to the day. I would not have made it without the beacon like pink back packs ahead of me to keep me moving when it got hard…. I don’t like sand much! The best bit is new and old friendships, well done to us all!!