Oxfam Trailwalker Weekend!

The weekend fast approaches.

After a drive to Taupo today, it is an early start as Team Smiles start the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker at 6am.

Twitter updates on the right - will update it during our rest stops.

It will also be posted on the team page:

Go Team Smiles. :)

See you all after the weekend.

Smile-y costumes

The last five kilometers of the walk has traditionally been known for the crazy and creative costumes. This weekend we gave our little feet a break and hit the mean streets of Petone in search for our costume to fame. 

Team Smiles searched far and wide and finally decided upon mimicking some happy crayon colours which always brings a smile to people.

Our attempts in re-creating this began with salvaging cardboard outside the Stationary Warehouse. Cutting shapes and adjusting corners. If you use your imagination... Teo is almost a crayola crayon!

With incredible speed, we set up a sweatshop in Stefan's garage and painted the four happy colours of Team Smiles. Team break for dinner and we had pasta galore. 

We then went on and got a little bit high from spray paint for final touches...

We have yet to assemble anything as the wait for things to dry is the longest and most important part... We may have underestimated the difficulty in walking 5ks with these mammoth cardboard creations...

See y'all soon for our final product :D lyd 

Round The Vines

One fine sunny day, in a small town called Martinborough, Round the Vines happened.

Team Smiles took up the challenge, cool as a cucumber.

Fresh air, great scenery, sweet grapes, and fine wines - can't really ask for more.

Olives? They go with martinis - but let's not get distracted.

We hiked through farmland and saw all sorts of wild beasts, mainly cows and a burly chap in a dress.

Surrounded by grapevines, we kept going - knowing that at the end, we can indulge in the fine cuisine offered by Martinborough. (Not the sober driver, though)

As we passed more and more vineyards (and hydration stops for drinks and ... wine tasting),

we knew why they looked familiar - we took the same track a second time for good measure. (Measured at 21km)

Towards the end, we increased our walking pace - so we were not left behind by 'Team Snails'.

Finally reaching the good old Martinborough school, who planned this awesome event for a good cause.

Good work Team Smiles. Till another day.

Oh hello Korokoro Dam and Belmont Trig

On today's sunny breezy Wellington afternoon, Team Smiles trudged up, through streams and mud around the Belmont Regional Park once again. This time clocking 15 kms around the Korokoro Dam & up to the Belmont Trig. We had a special guest Peter Kim who added extra spice to our walk :D

Here we are at the dam, a stop with some Snickers

 Peter decided not to have Snickers... instead went for insects

I think that's the Trig right behind us?? Up on the hill. 

Gorgeous weather up on the Belmont Trig with panoramic views of Wellington city.

Hang in tight for our news from the Round The Vines tomorrow!!!

From LYD :D

2 Weekends To Go - Trails for this weekend.

17th March 2012: Puke Ariki

(Click on map to enlarge - trail marked in blue = 23.14km)

18th March 2012: Round the Vines

(Click on map to enlarge - trail marked in green = 21km)

Puke Ariki with Adventure Welington

Teo and I set off for an adventure last Sunday morning. We were presented with challenges along the track as well as public transport issues! With Wellington trains down - we caught the bus to the entrance at Manor Park. It was pretty much a private chartered bus for our special trip :)

We were blessed with gorgeous panoramic views of all of Wellington. We could see from the Hutt out to Wellington City and over the hills into Porirua and Kapti. It was quite exciting.

Here we are on the peak of Boulder Hills

Part way through the track there was a Port-a-Loo, probably one of the best port-a-loos I've been in...

We also came across many old war bunkers. These used to be filled with ammunition and were made to look like farm houses for planes flying above. Unfortunately they were all filled with dead sheep and bones... Perhaps to deter walkers from staying the night? Oooo the smell!!

We clocked 24kms in 6-ish hours... It shined, it rained and oh the wind... but we conquered!

That's all for now :D from Lyd

Dinner, Bananagram & Monopoly Deal

This weeks training began with a big feast... My mum slow cooked lamb shanks, home-style Kentucky Fried Chicken and a whole snapper Sichuan styles! We had enough for left overs the next day!!!

As we waited for it to get dark... we played games! Bananagram & Monopoly deal. Might I add Yukai was a bit of a sore looser :( and girl power won both games!!!

Once it was dark, we set out for the night walk!

Over and out for now guys!! Love LYd :D

Night time practice walk

Big thanks to Lydia's parents for hosting team catch up yesterday and for such an awesome dinner!

Bad night time photography effort on my part - but here are the photos from the night time walk.

Training Schedule

Dates for confirmed team training are as follows:

If different trails are preferred, please advise - unable to access the Tracks Website to confirm them at time of post.

Check off these dates in your diary:

Tuesday 13th March

Saturday 17th March

Sunday 18th March

Wednesday 21st March

Saturday 24th March

Saturday 31st March

(5 training dates and then the one big walk)

Details:

Tuesday 13th March:

Meet up at Lydia's place after work.

Dinner

Full team catch up including support crew

Team building activities

Night time walk

Walk Options:

Easy walk in Eastbourne: Butterfly Creek 3.88km begin @ near the Bus Barn on Muritai barn we can tag on another walk to Mackenzie Rd 4.55km

http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/967

OR

There are other tracks near KoroKoro?

Saturday 17th March:

Daytime walk - meet up at 2pm

Equipment check and determine pace of walk

Suggest: Meet at Lydia's and will pick you guys up and we start at one end and finish at KoroKoro - hopefully not too far from Lydia's place so we can walk back, then can I have a ride back to my car?

Walk Option:

Daytime walk: Puke Ariki 23km – begin from of SH2 end @ Cornish st @ Korokoro (or the other way round) http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/849

Sunday 18th March:

Round the Vines Half Marathon - to register if not done so already.

Transport to be planned.

Wednesday 21st March:

Meet at Stefan's place at 6.30pm.

Dinner

Evening walk at 7.30pm.

Walk Option: Skyline trails

Skyline beginning with Wahine walk from Karori park and then continue up Kaukau and come down from either Simla Cres or Sirsi (or we could do it from the other way round begin in Khandallah and walk towards Karori) approx 14km http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/32

Saturday 24th March:

Walk to start 7am - get used to waking up early for the actual trail itself!

Actual trail to be confirmed so that meeting up place can be determined.

Walk Options:

Easy walks @ Queen Elizabeth Park. From the Hutt 45-60min drive to coast. There is an easy Emerald Glen Loop 9.81km. The track begins on Campbell's Mill Road at the exit from Whareroa Farm. Lots of other walks there to choose from. http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/1249

OR

Easy walk in Eastbourne: Butterfly Creek 3.88km begin @ near the Bus Barn on Muritai barn we can tag on another walk to Mackenzie Rd 4.55km

http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/967

OR

Another one of the previous trails

Saturday 31st March:

Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 - 100 km around Lake Taupo!

Team Meeting

Award to Top Fundraiser for Team Smiles - Lydia

The Team Smiles Team Meeting.

Venue - Kilim (almost wonder with the name if Yu Kai owned this place)

Caution: Great food, had the moussaka.

Outcome:

Team training schedule in place

Chocolate sales to be completed - once all of them are sold, no further stock will be requested

I will bank in the profits to our fundraising website once funds are all received.

Need further ideas on fundraising - I will get further details and pass to Yu Kai regarding movie night. Be proactive with requesting support - will get my receipt book out. Any further ideas would be great. Doing well so far, team!

Lydia tops the leaderboard for her awesome fundraising efforts. *Deserves A Virtual Award*

Thanks Stefan for organising accommodation for the trailwalker - to email us details to complete payment.

Theme to be decided ?open theme versus 'Things that make you smile'. This could be put onto Facebook for suggestions.

Next catch up on Tuesday 13th March 2012. See you there.