Cartophiles in “The Baygaine”, 12th Feb 2012
The Cartophiles entered three teams in the NSW Rogaining Association’s 2012 Metrogaine, called The Baygaine. This 6 hour event pitted 125 teams (about 300 competitors) in a find-your-own-route hunt for control sites throughout Sydney’s Inner West.
Our family team, Michael and 7yo Gabriel, stuck with the adults for the first three checkpoints, then went their own way to lunch at Birkenhead Point. They covered about 15km and scored 900 points. The two adult teams, Annie & James and Adam & Kit, stuck together for the full six hours, travelling 23½km and scoring 1350 points. Unfortunately, they never made their lunch date with Michael and Gabriel as cramps, blisters and sore muscles took their toll.
Cartophiles at the top of Gladesville Bridge
The adult teams left the start/end point at the Orange Grove School in Lilyfield and walked around the bottom of Iron Cove and through Five Dock to Abbotsford. From the tip of the point we followed the shoreline around Fig Tree Bay and Five Dock Bay to Five Dock Point. After climbing to the top of Gladesville Bridge, we dropped down to Wrights Point and followed the Drummoyne shore to Birkenhead Point. After lunch we crossed the Iron Cove Bridge into Balmain before following Darling Street, Balmain Road and Perry Street back to the start point.
Although none of the teams achieved top 3 status in their categories we enjoyed challenging ourselves in a walk that was different to any other the Cartophiles have undertaken. We saw parts of Sydney we might never have looked at, and the weather was kind enough to hold off the rain until we were finished and under shelter. This was the Cartophiles’ first rogaine, but won’t be our last.
The next Cartophiles walk is the lovely second part of the Harbour Circle Walk on Saturday, 18th February.
I confess – it was mostly my blisters, my sore muscles and my cramps that put us in slo mo!!! Thanks to Kit for sorting us novices out. Learned lots and had a great day.
Well done everyone! That’s quite a hike, and the concept sounds really good fun.Glad the weather was kind! All the best, Maryanne
The photograph was taken as the Cartophiles reached the summit of Gladesville Bridge (150 feet above the water) which might lead everyone to suspect it was all downhill and plane sailing after that. You would be wrong. It was uphill the whole the way to the finish which made completion all the more sweeter and satisfying.
We had a lot of fun, and were very pleased with our (Gabriel’s effort). Looking forwards to the next one
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