shelikestohike-blog

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Kilimanjaro countdown

Today, with less than a week to go before we board our flight to Kilimanjaro, I tried packing all the gear into my specially purchased North Face duffel bag. Had quite the time ripping off the tags from my new things all of which I hope will keep me toasty warm up there. There are super warm and very expensive mittens, not gloves as mittens are meant to keep you much warmer. Who knew? I’ve got glove liners, and thermal sock liners, icebreaker merino layers, a down jacket, polartec comfy pants and a couple of sets of thermal underwear, Longjohns and long sleeves, one of which I will be wearing to bed in my super warm sleeping bag which I will be tucked up in over the thermal bag liner. Overkill, I hope not. I have a really warm double layer hat, a balaclava and neck gaiter. Considering I’ve never spent any time in really cold weather before it’s hard to imagine how I’m going to deal with the minus 20C to minus 40C temps. I think I’ve got it covered. Fingers crossed. Just for good measure I’ve packed a couple of those little hand warmer things that heat up for about 8 hours for the summit nights. My new daypack is super light and I’m keen to use that on the trip. It fits one litre Nalgene bottles nicely in the outside side pockets, these are the things that are important to me these days. That is, how heavy everything is, how warm, and how versatile and quick drying. Lots of energy and thought, and money, has gone into every item that I am taking with me. The training at Peak Altitude in the city is coming to an end. We’ve been schlepping in there three times a week for some high intensity sessions in a hypoxic environment for the past 8 weeks. That has been quite fun and hard work too. Hoping that it makes a difference in the actual acclimatisation process. Add that to our trek training sessions and extra long walks, I feel physically fitter than I’ve ever been. Hope that means I’m ready! Ready as I’m ever gonna be I reckon.

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#sydneyfishmarkets #blogger #sydneyseafoodschool #food #sydney #giovannipilu Great fun today at the cooking lesson by Giovanni Pilu. Keen to go back to #pilu (at Sydney Fish Market)

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When your Mum and sister come to visit. #happydays #sydney #australia #blogger

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#bondibeach #australia #blogger #sydney

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#selfie (at Mona Vale Beach)

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Oh my succulent #succulent #succulents #plants #garden #pots

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#succulent #pots

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Down the garden path #blogger #home #garden

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Lipstick dilemma #mecca #sydney Narrowed it down to 5 choices for the wedding. #wedding #blogger #chatswoodchase (at Chatswood Chase)

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#sydneyoperahouse #operabar Last days of summer #sydneyharbour #australia #travelblogger #seeaustralia

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There's a wild world out there! Hanging around near the botanical gardens in this tree. Walked 35k with these ladies today. #wildwomenontop #coastrek2016 #coastrektraining #getoutsideandplay

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Wouldn't mind a day or two here.

Safari Lodge - Tanzania

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Boom. The storm descends. Front row seats here at #huskisson #storm #thunder #lightening #summerstorm #instagood #dailytelegraph #seeaustralia (at Huskisson Beach)

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Here is heaven #hyamsbeach and a storm is coming! #sand #sun#sea #surf #nsw #seeaustralia #dailytelegraph #instagood #blogger (at Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, Nsw, Australia)

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#summerholiday #beach #beachtowels #gelato #pretty (at The Rooftop Bannister's Pavilion)

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There is no need to fill every moment with conversation #imho #silence #beach #sand #donothing #saynothing #ffs (at Mollymook Beach)

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#sand #beach #silence #peace when you just want to be alone with your thoughts. You know there are people if you want them but they stay in the distance til you do. (at Narrawallee Beach)