We listened to our travelling companions getting up and starting off early to the event and then quickly rose ourselves, had a light breakfast and headed off.
We walked to the event arena from our campsite, stopping thankfully at the toilets on the way. ( there are no toilets on site at Crooked Straight area usually, but they were provided fo r the 200 or so orienteers to use).
This event was the SA long champs. Challenging and enjoyable courses in Sandy terrain, where it was important to keep in contact with where you were on the map as much as to move fast.
Some controls on slippery steep hills and at the bottom of deep erosion gullies proved challenging for Erica’s inflexible, old body.
The second to last control at the top of a hill nearly put a stop to Erica’s course, with a very steep exit. We had watched the elite orienteers careering down here effortlessly earlier in the day, now it didnt look so easy as I stood at the top and wondered how on earth I was going to manage that without killing myself. I ended up getting down dirty, but with no rips in my pants like some.
We emerged at the end with no broken limbs or black toes( like last time) but still plenty of sand to be emptied out of our shoes at the finish.
We entertained Doug at our camp with a cuppa and snacks. We ate our late lunch ( he had already had his) and then Craig came across. The others gradually appeared also as we sat debriefing our runs and took turns disappearing inside for a wash. ( something we can now do and appreciate with our camper).
We packed up and headed in to Renmark, parking near the pub (our destination for tea with the Tintookies Orienteering club).
With time to kill, we checked out the riverfront, with the old riverboat “Industry” which was once used to keep the river open for paddle steamers and build the locks. It is now used as a museum, accessed via the local tourist information centre.
The River Murray Queen was moored a bit further up, but all was dark and quiet.
Kids were enjoying feeding possums on the tall palm trees and a country music guy on a junky promotional houseboat was broadcasting his wares for all to sample.
The reflections of gums on the dark river were beautiful.
We had about thirty six for tea ( Tintookies and a few extras) and despite a slow ordering lineup for meals the cooking was efficient and meals arrived pretty fast. Basic large pub meals ( Trevor brought home almost half his schnitzel).
After dinner we parked at the site for tomorrow’s event ( the school) as we had to be there first thing in the morning with all the gear for the finish. This was a “B Choice” as our teacher daughter-in – law would say.
Luvapuzzle 