The Bibbulmun Track Part One - planning a thru hike

Ever since reading the 'Stumbling Thru' series by A. Digger Stolz, I have wanted to do a thru hike. There are many reasons why, not least of which was the attraction of living a minimalistic lifestyle, in which everything I needed to live I carried on my back.  I also wanted the experience of just living outdoors and in nature for an extended period of time. In 2017 I sat down and started to research trails.  Aspects of the track I was specifically looking for included:

• DISTANCE - I wanted to walk a long distance multi-week trail
• ACCESS TO WATER - It was important to me that there was regular access to water along the trail.  Carrying litres and litres of water is no fun!
• EASE OF NAVIGATION - I'm not a total dummy when it comes to navigation but I'm not at ease navigating with a map and compass on the daily, so I wanted a well signposted track
• LOW RISK - I have 3 children I wanted to come home to, so I didn't want to walk a track with risky river crossings etc
• TRAIL MAINTENANCE - I wanted to know that someone was maintaining the trail because there is nothing more frustrating than having to turn back because the trail is impassable.
• ABSENCE OF LIFE THREATENING MEGAFAUNA - speaks for itself really 

The trail that ticked all the boxes for me was the Bibbulmun Track.  This is a 1000km trail from Kalamunda, a suburb on the outskirts of Perth, to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia.

One of the things that attracted me to this trail was the fact that it is very diverse.  It passes through amazing karri and tingle forests, plains, boulder strewn hills and also coastal heathlands.
There are 49 campsites along the track spaced between 10km and 25km apart.  Each campsite has a three-sided timber shelter, a long drop toilet, and most importantly a water tank!
The trail passes through seven track towns on the way meaning you can regularly resupply food, shower, wash your clothes and sleep in a bed.
I'm going to be really honest here and add that I also chose the Bibbulmun because when I looked at the maps and elevations I naively and conceitedly thought that the track would be a piece of cake and didn't look particularly difficult.  I was wrong.....so wrong.......but more about that in future posts!

A funny thing happened on the way to Kalamunda... (Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis)

Having succesfully completed a 4 day hike of the Three Capes Track in Tasmania, I decided the most logical next move was to attempt a Thru-hike of the 1000km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia.  

Just kidding! It didn't quite happen exactly like that but I did find myself in Albany, WA in March 2018 ready to embark on an incredible journey (I will write a separate blog post/posts about my Bibbulmun Track hike). 

I started my hike with a few little MS related issues that were still hanging around from my last relapse.  I couldn't lead up stairs with my left leg and I was still having balance issues which made 'stepping down' difficult, slow, and incredibly mentally draining.  However a really interesting thing happened.  By the time I came home, all of these issues had ironed themselves out.  I guess in a way, my hike had functioned as 4-8 hrs a day of intense physical therapy.  Repeatedly stepping up, down, and walking along uneven trails had forced me to do all of the things I found the most difficult.  Whether I 'healed' old damage or built new neural pathways I will never know, but by the time I came home my balance was back to normal, I could walk up and down stairs, and I was much quicker and more sure footed on descents.  By the time I flew back into Tasmania in May, I felt better than I had for years.  I felt 'normal' and as though I had just dreamed my MS.  

The starting point of my Bibbulmun Track Hike!

This led me to start doing some research into MS and exercise.  You see, in the past individuals with MS were advised to exercise carefully as getting overheated while exercising could often exacerbate symptoms...and there was the ever present fatigue to contend with.  However these days I think that this view is starting to change and it has a lot to do with a little thing called 'Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor' (BDNF).  BDNF is a protein that acts on certain neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system.  It is thought to support the survival of existing neurons and encourage the growth of new neurons and synapses.  Moderate to high intensity exercise (yes, you have to raise your heart rate) has been shown to markedly increase BDNF synthesis in the human brain - resulting in a threefold increase in levels of BDNF in the blood plasma and brain.  So not only was hiking up and down all those hills providing me with hours of physical therapy, but it was also encouraging my brain to heal itself and protect itself against further damage.

Unfortunately, once I got home and returned to normal every day life, I found that I started to feel 'unwell' again and little niggly MS problems once again appeared.  I decided to go and see a specialist neurophysiotherapist about my concerns and armed myself with a list of questions I needed answers to. 

The take home message from this appointment was that the most important thing that we can do as individuals with MS, is to keep on moving..... and move as much as possible.  

As a wife and a mother of three I find it incredibly hard to prioritise my needs first, but this is exactly what I need to do to stay as well as possible.  Obviously, there was only one solution....to keep on hiking!  I have tried to prioritise walking with my pack on at least 3-4 times a week.  I try to include hills and stairs in order to get my heart rate up for some BDNF production.  I have also been weight training at the gym because as well as all the other benefits of weight training, it certainly helps with carrying a heavy pack.  With the support of my husband, I have a lot of multi day hikes planned solo, with my family, and with friends to keep me motivated.  I look forward to sharing these adventures on this blog!

Why Hiking?

Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis is life altering.  Quite apart from any physical disability that has occurred from lesions comes the realisation that life will never be the same again.  A few months after my diagnosis, I started to think about what my life with MS might look like.  I decided that most of the things I wanted to do (travel, have a productive veggie garden) I would still be able to do even if my mobility was limited.  However something that I would not be able to do is get out into nature and into the beautiful, wild places.  To this end, I started writing a bucket list of hikes I would like to do.  At that point in time, I was still having mobility issues so every single one seemed rather fanciful and far fetched.  However as a family we decided to do the Three Capes Track in Tasmania.  This was a fantastic first multi-day hike as my pack weight was reduced by not having to carry a tent, sleeping mat or cooking gear.  I started preparing by simply trying to walk regularly, and then progressed to walking wearing my pack with a few kilos in it.  I started with walks that were all flat, and progressed to routes that included hills and stairs. Even a few weeks before departure I still had accommodation booked in Port Arthur in case I didn't think I would be able to join the rest of my family! 

I'm pleased to say that I did successfully complete this hike. Even though it was physically difficult for me, I was bitten by the hiking bug and thus my Mid Life Hiking addiction was born!  I have since done more multi day hikes and have lots planned for the 2018/19 hiking season. Hiking has helped my MS in ways I never thought possible......which I will explore in my next blog post!  

Family photo at the start of the Three Capes Track.

Multiple Sclerosis - My Diagnosis

In the middle of August 2016, as Usain Bolt was winning his second gold medal at the Rio Olympics, I sat in the Radiology waiting room, awaiting the MRI that would determine the rest of my life.
Since the end of 2013, I had experienced a range of problems that were seemingly unrelated, but had left me feeling less than 100%.
I really want to write about how my MS presented because I hope it might help someone else one day.  Before all this happened, I thought that people knew they had MS because they kept dropping things, or they woke up one day and couldn't walk.  However MS is often referred to as the 'Snowflake' Disease, meaning that every single person with MS presents in a different way and has a whole set of symptoms that are uniquely their own.
I think I could have been diagnosed earlier if I had listened to my inner voice that said that things were probably not quite right.  But unfortunately most of my symptoms were not visible and not measurable and so I didn't even bother going to my GP because I didn't want to waste her time.  The patches of skin that were extremely sore to touch I now know is called Allodynia and is a symptom of MS.  But at the time I felt like a fool going to my GP to say that there were parts of my body that hurt to touch for no particular reason.....and that it wasn't really bothering me.  Similarly, I had my husband (a doctor) check inside my right ear twice because I was convinced I had an ear infection.  When he said it all looked perfectly normal, I didn't see the point of going to the GP.
Along with the Allodynia and my sore ear, my symptoms over a three year period included:

• A numb left thigh
• Back Pain (investigations showed no problems that would cause this - subsequently disappeared)
• Bladder Problems (having to pee every 10 seconds)
• Fatigue
• Cognitive Fog (problems concentrating)
• Digestive issues that drove me to be tested for Coeliac Disease. These issues went on for months and then disappeared almost overnight.
• Tingling, heaviness, pins and needles, and numbness in my arms.

In early 2016, I happened across an article on MS and when I read the symptoms I had a lightbulb moment in which I realised that I had experienced almost all of them.  I nervously floated the idea of MS to my husband, himself a doctor.  "What if everything that has been going on is actually part of something bigger.....what if I have MS?"  I asked him.  He looked at me dubiously and I didn't really bring it up again.

A couple of months later I couldn't really ignore that I was getting regular pins and needles in my arms - particularly the left, and numbness in my finger tips.  Then I had a horrific experience where the right hand side of my face went temporarily numb.  I made an appointment with my GP.  To be honest I was sort of embarrassed and I went in saying "I know this sounds crazy but...".  She listened to my story and immediately asked "What do you think it is?".  When I replied that I was worried that it was MS, she replied "I think it could be too".

That was the first time I really felt scared that my hunch might be right.  I saw her on a Tuesday and she requested that I have an MRI.  On Wednesday I felt great and thought that it was possible that I had imagined everything.  Then on Thursday things started to go downhill.  It started with Allodynia on my feet and lower left leg.  The outside of my left leg and arm went numb for a couple of days while my feet unfortunately started to alternately feel painful/or as if they were on fire.  I also started to experience vertigo, just to top it off.

The next week I had my MRI which showed that I had "...at least 10 hyperintense foci".  It was a bittersweet moment because it simultaneously provided me with my answer and also sealed my fate.

  

Super 10's

Last year, we spent many of our Saturday afternoons at 'Super 10's'.  Super 10's is a nationwide tennis competition for boys and girls turning 10.  At the end of the year, the top four boys and girls from each state and territory are invited to attend the Super 10's National Finals which take place in Melbourne during the last week of the Australian Open.  My oldest son, 'The Snerd' was extremely fortunate in being asked to represent Tasmania for a second time in 2016.

Some very special guests at the National Finals Opening Ceremony!

For kids like my son, who live in a small state, the value of attending an event like this cannot really be measured.  First and foremost, there is the absolute delight of playing at the National Tennis Centre.  The National Tennis Centre is Australia's best, purpose-built, elite tennis training facility.  It offers 5 outdoor plexicushion courts, 8 italian clay courts and 8 indoor plexicushion courts which are the envy of all players whose tennis at home is regularly affected by the elements.

Playing doubles on the clay courts.

Secondly, the Finals are an incredible experience because the kids are afforded the opportunity to play a number of new opponents.  In a small state like Tasmania, it is unfortunate but true that our kids end up playing the same half a dozen players over and over again.  Usually the outcome of the match is known before the kids even step onto the court and the likelihood of a close match is rare.  Having the opportunity to play up to four matches a day against unknown opponents is incredibly valuable.  

Being in Melbourne while the Australian Open is on is another huge draw card for this event.  The atmosphere around Melbourne Park is amazing, and just knowing that some of the worlds greatest players are nearby, walking past you, or having lunch at the table next to yours in the cafeteria is inspirational.  

Finally, the opportunity to make friends from different states is immeasurable.  As The Snerd begins to travel interstate to tournaments, or is chosen to represent his state at The Bruce Cup (for example), he loves knowing he will cross paths with friends he met at Super 10's.  Given the solo nature of tennis, the importance of friendships made off the court cannot be ignored.  

This is The Snerd's last Super 10's because sadly he will be too old next year, but he will carry fabulous memories of these trips with him forever.  There has been some speculation that Super 10's may be drawing to a close…..but I sincerely hope the value of Super 10's (especially for our rural and remote players) is recognised and the Program continues into the future.

Packing for Dummies

What a conundrum!!  Your child has made the State team and has to go to a competition interstate for 5 days.  Only problem is……said child can't make it from the kitchen to the front door without losing something *sigh*!!!!!!     What to do??  Well if you are anything like me, you arm yourself with snap lock bags in every size you can get and a permanent marker and get to work…...  

Firstly I had to clean out the bag.  Oh the horror.  How many shockies and tennis balls does one boy need?  On the bright side, I did find $3:50 in change rattling around in the bottom so that was a bonus.

Now you are probably wondering why everything is in snap lock bags?  Well there are two reasons.  Firstly, a leaky drink bottle can be a bit of a disaster.  Secondly, our household will never forget the rotten banana soup incident of 2014…………and 2015……….  The weird thing is this child does not like or ever eat bananas so I have no idea why they were in his bag in the first place.  I did lose my sh*t after the 2015 incident and refused to clean the bag at all.  Instead I made him throw it in the bin and go without until he had earned the money to buy a new one.

We have now ticked everything off the tennis bag checklist.  We sat together and packed it so he saw everything go in….and now all I can do is sit back and keep my fingers crossed.

We leave for Melbourne bright and early tomorrow.

When life gives you lemons...

Late last year I spoke to the boys' tennis coach about going interstate for a tournament.  He suggested we go to Shepparton but I had a couple of problems with this.  Firstly, it would be January.  Secondly, it would NOT be near the beach.  I decided to try to find a tournament we could enter that would also be a great place for a summer holiday.  This proved to be a wise decision as a combination of windy weather and a change in court surfaces (The Snerd is a Hard Court boy….the tournament was on en tout cas ) meant that The Snerd bombed out early in 12/U singles.  Curiously the 10/U singles was a round robin with all matches played on one day so Captain Crazy had days and days of holiday.  So in the end, although we didn't have a fantastic tournament, we did have a really great holiday and a terrific look around the Mornington Peninsula.

We stayed at Big4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park.  Big4's are a great budget friendly choice when travelling as a family of 5, so we have stayed in a few around Australia.  I always feel a little concerned about staying in Big4's when on 'business' rather than 'leisure' as it is possible to have kids running around until quite late at night which is problematic when you try to get your 8 year old in bed at 7:30pm.  However, in this case we had no issue with noise at all and the cabin was big enough for us to fit comfortably without feeling like sardines and falling over each other.  Arguably the best thing about this Big4 was the coffee van who came each morning for a couple of hours saving me from the horror of Instant Moccona.

On the days we weren't at the courts, we explored all the beach towns and I got major Beach Hut envy:

On one of my favourite days we went road tripping to Enchanted Adventure Garden which we all loved.  Although we didn't go tree surfing due to The Snerds fear of heights, the kids had great fun on the tube slide and all the garden puzzles while I was blown away by the gardens.

Maybe I have lived a very sheltered life but I have never seen hedges like this before.  I thought they were amazing.

We stopped in at Heronswood for lunch and more gardens (much to the delight of the children).  However they were pacified by the wonderful food and the homemade cordials.

Homemade Ginger Beer at Heronswood

Finally, as someone who does not live near the coast, I have to mention how cool the Sand Sculpting was at the Frankston Waterfront.  Even thought the theme was 'A Day at the Zoo', I have long been a closet Steam Punk fan so I really enjoyed this one:

So even though this was supposed to be a tennis trip I think we will all remember it more as a family holiday.  We may not have gotten the tournament results we wanted but instead, we made lots of great memories.