Twelve Cartophiles started the walk on Saturday, but a rather reduced number finished.
The weather was delightful when we gathered at Woolwich ferry wharf for the short trip across to Greenwich and the start of the walk.  Michael, Gabriel, Annie, James and Kit backed up from the last week’s rogaine with stalwart Cartophiles Sue, Aida and Doug.  They were joined by new Cartophiles Kaaren, Rachel, Tertius and Amanda.
With Kit and Doug navigating we should have simply followed the well-documented course, but somehow we took several accidental shortcuts that reduced the walk to 12 km instead of the planned 15½ km.  Well, …

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 …

Our next service for The Growing Place is this coming Sunday 11th February at 4pm. But we’re doing something a little DIFFERENT! We’re going to do a little bushwalking and then have our service in the National Park. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on God’s creation and enjoy a bit of the great outdoors.
We’re meeting at the start of the Gibberagong Track, at the north end of Grosvenor St, North Wahroonga. Park anywhere on the street.
Click here for link to map.
Pack a picnic dinner for your kids and bring along some wine and nibbles for the grown ups. We …

The Cartophiles bushwalking workshop scheduled for February 25th  is cancelled.
The workshop may be rescheduled in the future if there is sufficient demand.  It is aimed at hikers who want to start walks that include overnight camping, and discusses some of the ‘hundred little dodges’ that will enable them to get maximum enjoyment out of the experience.
The workshop is free and is open to anyone, irrespective of age.  There is no requirement to be a member of the Cartophiles Bushwalking Club or to commit to joining the club.
The workshop covers what to carry, what to wear, footwear pros and cons, …

Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 | Mark 1:21-28
When I was at High School – cross country running (at which I was rubbish) – taught that the secret of keeping going was always to keep in sight the runner in front of you.. The last thing you could afford to do, as the going got tough, was to think about how far there still was to go, or how cold, wet and miserable you were (this was in England, and cross country running was only scheduled for when it was too wet (or snowy) to play rugby). Instead, focus on the runner …

Hard to believe that Lent will be upon us soon… shrove tuesday is February 21st, and we’ll be having dessert pancakes at the manse, starting at 7. Everyone welcome! If you can, please bring along a topping that we can put on the pancakes, or something to drink, or something…

Speaking of things starting… Nooma will also be starting up in a couple of weeks – on Tuesday February 14th at 7:45 at the manse.

In case anyone hadn’t heard, the art group starts up again today, at 9:30 in the lower hall. Everyone is welcome! The art group meets every wednesday except the third of the month (when the coffee morning is on).

Just to let everyone know, Playjays will be restarting on February 10th…

Alison wrote the following piece about Christmas at the Dish, and I thought it should be shared more widely!
Eighteen friends joined us in the Park last evening for our Christmas gathering.
Janet had organised a fabulous Christmas meal of Soup, Turkey, Cranberry sauce, Ham & mustard, roast vegetables, peas, individual Puddings and custard or Mango ice cream – a great thrill for many! – tea, coffee and cordial.
A real treat was the presence of some of the choir from Mt Colah Uniting Church. These folk came with Wendy Robinson, who has been coming to The Dish with the purpose of …