Molonglo River

Running: was out running 7.85 km in 57m:53s

I was down in Queanbeyan this weekend so I asked the friends I was staying with what a good run would be: they started me off along the Molonglo River. I was a bit nervous about getting lost, but I didn't have a running pouch for the mobile phone so I had to run nervous - that's why the run was a bit short. Actually I'm quite pleased to have found my way back; in general I have no sense of direction. It's true that with a river around you always have a fair chance of disentangling yourself, and with practice I suppose I could use the sun.

It was a very nice little run and potentially a great run. You can see (best in the satellite view, rather than the map view) where I ran up the hill away from the river; I met three kangaroos (grey) loping along through the grass at the edge of the bush and the road. As it turns out, I could have run down the hill and got back to the main road but the thing with bush running without a map is that you don't actually know that in advance, and sometimes you have to be back for tea! It looks like there's a salt mine down there, or a white coal mine, or something. Plus, access to some more remnant scrub.

You can see at one point that I was moving very slowly - that's because the track ran out and I didn't realise I needed to backtrack. Well, needed was a bit strong because I did manage to scramble across the   rocks (and flood debris), noting (ever the naturalist) several kangaroo prints. Having looked at the map now I can see I needed to run directly behind the fence(s), but at the point that I went down to the water's edge the trail seemed very clear and promising. Once you're down at river level, you don't have any idea what's above you (the bank is about 8-10 metres). I mean, I could guess that there was a fence line, but there wasn't any particular guarantee that it was navigable. I've run into that problem in Richmond, Vic. along the Yarra banks.

But it all worked out nicely, and really, a run/walk/scramble is more fun than just a run along a known path.

About halfway up the hill was a false crest with a tent neatly tucked away; great spot for a kids camp because civilisation is invisible despite being less than 400 metres away.

Next time I'm down I'll arm myself with a water bottle and some food and explore a bit more.