In this Issue

	2008 Spring Trips
	Plans for 2009
	New Zealand
	Full Moon Paddle 10th January
	Astronavigation Sat/Sun 21-22 March
	Happy Festive Season

In Other News

2008 Spring Trips

The 2008 spring walking season was a great success with 5 different walks, all with fabuous wildflowers, great people, wonderful food and much laughter. My first thanks must go to the 4 different leaders who stood in for me. There was Dawn and Adrian who did the Cape to Capes and then Gisela and Bob who guided the Denmark based walks. Gisela must get a special mention as she took Bob's place at the 11th hour as his Mum sadly died on the morning we were due to leave Perth.

Di and Alf did a marvellous job as usual, Di producing ever impressive meals and Alf always good for a laugh at the start and finish of each day. For two of the smaller trips Peggy was our cook and she too produced some marvellous food. Steve Williams was our host at Augusta and he had prepared a new function centre especially for us. Susan and Illya at the Cove were as fantastic as always, making us feel as if we were their first guests ever.

The blogs are on the website now, please click here  to read  them and see the photos.

Plans for 2009

As most of you know I have been battling achilles tendon problems for two years now. Although I think they are getting better I still can't walk great distances. I have decided to take a lot of 2009 off. I will still be doing paddle trips over summer and an astronavigation  in March. Then in May I'm heading off to Canada with Steve for the northern summer. We plan to drive up via the Yukon to Alaska, hopefully doing some paddling en route. Then we'll be coming back down to Vancouver Island where we'll be sailing Steve's 27ft yacht around the islands for a few weeks. Sound hard to take? The plan is to return to Perth in September.

I have planned some spring 2009 trips- one Cape to Cape (October 3-10), one Albany to Denmark  (Oct 26- Nov 1)and one Walpole to Denmark (Nov 14-22).  So if you do want to do one of these trips, it would be great if you can book early as it will make the admin side of things a lot easier. Click here to send me an email.

Then the new trip for 2009 is Christmas Island! Another joint venture with Coates, it sounds a fabulous destination.  Christmas Island is very tropical with great rainforest (and no leeches!), birds and of course those bizarre crabs. Apparently there is some fantastic walking to be had, not to mention all the amazing snorkelling. Again we'll have Rick Curtis who knows  the island very well. The trip will be early December. If you are interested email me now.

Another trip that Coates will be running while I'm away is  a Broome to Perth trip. We did this in reverse in 2007, where we visited Karijini on the way to Broome. The plan with this one is to once again  visit Karijini, with a lot of time to explore the gorges. It will happen in August and we hope to have Rick leading the trip again. So, send me an email if you think you might be interested in this one.

Prices and trip itineraries are still to be sorted, so keep an eye on the website. While I'm away, Ginny Brown will be taking bookings. And of course I can still keep an eye on things from cyberspace. No doubt I'll write the odd blog about my Canadian travels. 

New Zealand

No doubt there are 16 people getting very excited about our impending trip to New Zealand. Rick's brother, Martin, who lives in NZ, is constantly sending me emails about recci's he's doing for the trip and it sounds SO good. Hopefully  anyone who is going has now paid their money in full to Coates and has made all the necessary travel arrangements.  I suspect there is a good chance this trip will be repeated, so if you're interested in the next trip let me know.

Full Moon Paddle 10th January

The moonlight paddle trips were very popular last year, so here's another one:

We paddle from Fishmarket Reserve in Guildford up to Lilac Hill for dinner and then back again. Total distance is only 6km; it's more about being on the river in the twilight and then in the moonlight.

Meet: 6pm, 172 Swan St West, Guildford, (Cnr Meares St)

Bring/wear: Clothes for paddling, shoes to get wet, change of clothes, finger food to share (in a small container), drinks

Cost: $35pp, payable on the day.

RSVP: By Jan 6th, to 93782523 or by email.

Astronavigation Sat/Sun 21-22 March

We didn't get enough people to do this last year, so hopefully we will this year. It's such a great weekend. We spend a night in Perth training you  how to use a comapss (just in case) and how to use the stars for navigation.  We meet at  Cervantes on the Saturday afternoon for a liitle more training before  heading out to the Pinnacles in time for sunset. Then we go a little further into the desert and set you loose! In small groups you must navigate your way around a course, searching for markers, using only the stars as your guide! It's fantastic just to be out in the desert on a starry night. Don't worry; we've never yet lost anyone!

Training NIght: Monday March 16th, 7-9.30pm, 172 Swan St Guildford (Cnr Meares St)

Astronavigation: Sat 21st March (stay overnight in Cervantes)

Cost: $180 pp inc astronavigation and overnight accommodation in Cervantes. Participants are responsible  for their own food and transport.

For more information email me.

Happy Festive Season

I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year, that it's not too stressful and that you get to do some inspiring things outdoors!