Port Macquarie - at Last - State Leagues 10 & 11

 Finally the planets aligned and State Leagues 10 and 11 attracted a reasonable field to the sunny climes of Port Macquarie. Hogs - Hastings Orienteering Group aided by Newcastle Orienteers presented us with two very different days.

Those travelling from down south had to run the gauntlet of traffic jams leaving Sydney and  Newcastle Depending on your timing flooding around Hexham where the incoming tide met the ever rising Hunter river cut the road. However the obligatory stop at Heatherbrae Pies was not forgotten.

Saturday, under clear skies had the competitors at Mackillop College. A large dual campus school  complete with a road underpass. Initially there was to be a second sprint but alas the second venue was not available. The decision was made to extend the "sprint"- read short!. Competitors revisited a few controls on their courses. My only thought was that control 19 was a waste of time and energy- perhaps relocated to either of the two fences nearby would still have given the same "spectator control". Unfortunately for the course planners a couple of construction sites cropped up too late to be put on the map. It really impacted the route choice from 21,22,23 as the obvious southern route was a no go and it was case of whoops cannot go that way!

It was a very interesting campus to run around. A total of 10 Uringans made it to the podium. In 1st Place was Linda W55A, Maggie W16A (equal 1st), Alon M10A, Ori M45AS, Jim M60A and Dave M65AS. Gayle W55AS, Serena W20A and Ant M50A took out 2nd place and Shane M50A was third. A special mention to Ella and Yael who completed the Very Easy course.

Map Flip B

Map Flip A

My GPS tracking!

Sunday again dawned fine and we headed to Wauchope some 20 minutes west of Port Macquarie. The map was right on the edge of town and it was quite civilised to be sitting in the sun in the grounds of the Scout Hall. The map notes warned of what was to come and they certainly weren't understated. Lantana at times proved to be natures defence on forward progress. There was a lot of fallen timber - smaller stuff but nature decided that bracken fern would hide it from the feet of orienteers. As a result many a tumble was taken. It was slow going but fortunately the courses were middle distance. Not a map I would hurry back to without a liberal dose of napalm. 

Result wise a triumph for Uringans. Linda double upped with 1st in W55A, along with Maggie W16A, Ori M45AS, Dave M65AS. Also on the winners list was Gayle W55AS, Jonno M16A.  Shane and Ant swapped places in M50A with Shane, 2nd  heading Ant home 3rd.

Lone Pine

My GPS Tracking

Port Macquarie has much to offer the tourist, beautiful beaches, zoo and a wonderful Koala Hospital.. Lots of great eateries and a really good gelato place. Made it there once but was somehow stymied from a second visit!

If a meat pie is your desired on the road tasty treat then there is an excellent bakery in Bulahdelah!