CP8 – Finish! 3hrs
OK, here we go, the most anticipated section - The last one!
The first bit is easy (both to find and to walk!) a hop skip and a jump across Ararat Reserve and you're on to the track that runs parallel to the Wakehurst Parkway. Boring and a bit noisy, but blessedly flat and even this 2.5km yomp has a significant redeeming feature - the sausage sizzle at Seaforth Oval.
We all perched on the hill overlooking the footy game (with an excellent view of the city in the
background) and settled in to replenish some serious calories, 2 cups of tea, a sausage and bacon sandwich and a muffin later and all was once again right with the world. With the team well fed and ready to roll we departed the oval and headed for Spit Bridge - our next mental milestone.
From the top of the hill at Seaforth we could see the bridge as it opened and watch the sea of traffic build up on the north side, it looked like the best way to get across the road was while everything was stopped so we picked up the pace and headed for 'Galipoli Stairs'.
The stairs are the quickest way from the top of the hill down to bridge level, keep your eyes open or it could be a very quick descent, the stair treads are narrow and the whole thing is impressively steep. There is also a hous
e next to the stairs that has been painted a shade of blue that defies belief, not unpleasant, just... very blue, and quite distracting for the unwary walker!
The traffic was still stopped when we got to the road so we threaded our way across the lanes and onto the bridge, our timing was spot on - the bridge finished closing just as we got half way across so we were able to walk on without breaking stride!
The steps down to Chinamans beach are just past the Rosherville lighthouse, this light, along with Grotto Point lighthouse forms a leading light system that helps ships navigating into the harbour from the ocean. The team was still moving well, but a few people mentioned that they were starting to feel their knees a bit - I imagine we'll all be feeling them after the full 95kms that will get us to this point on the event - or maybe they will be comfortably numb!
Once you've rounded Wyargine point and crossed Edwards beach your onto Balmoral - and the finish is so close you can almost taste it! - Skirt the back of the beach, circle round the oval and you hit the last challenge that Trailwalker throws at you - Balmoral stairs.
To say that these are going to be uncomfortable after 98km is an understatement, they were pretty uncomfortable after 29km. About 200m long (I'm guessing) and allowing you to climb the final 72 vertical metres (I'm not guessing - I felt every metre) to the top. The stairs are constructed from wood and a specially designed metal grating system that eats walking poles, the top end of the staircase has a boot scrapping grid on it to clean off any nasties before you go into Georges Heights reserve, we'll probably be crawling at this point so we'll try not to fall though the gaps.
Fantastic views of the harbour and the heads greet you for the last km, then you hit the tarmac and head up the incline to a successful finish at Georges Heights Oval - well done all, last section completed - now all we have to do is put it all together!
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