The psychology of putting your stuff out there

 A year ago, I created a new product for YOLO, a YOLO Garden Sieve. A friend had sent me a video of something that he had seen. I found the product listed in the UK - same product sold under three different brands (probably made in Asia and imported by different companies with their logo stuck on to it). I read through hundreds of product reviews and the same complaints kept coming up. But, I thought the concept was a good one and I was sure that I could improve on it. I made five major changes, additions or innovations from components to materials to make this a really awesome product.

I know a steel manufacturing business in George so I contacted them to see whether this was something that they would be able to make for me. With their confirmation, I drew up the design and made a cardboard 'prototype' for them - and myself - to gauge the size and components.

The factory manufactured a steel prototype for me and with only one small adjustment, I was very happy with the result.

I asked the factory to make three stock units, which they completed. That was a bit less than a year ago.

Why have I waited so long to put this awesome product out there?

A day or so after I received the stock units, I left for Expedition Africa. A week after I got back from the race, I left for the Seychelles, where I spent two weeks visiting family and exploring trails. I returned home to the craziness of the dogs (I still had all three foster puppies then) and catching up on YOLO and AR Gaiters work.

And a week after this dad-drama began. We're 10-months down with no let up. This has sapped a lot of time - hours every week, and both psychological and emotional energy. I've felt depleted and lacking in capacity to deal with anything new.

To get the YOLO Garden Sieve to market, I still had a lot that I needed to do: finalise packaging for courier delivery, work up assembly instructions, make videos, take photos, create the website page, write content and set up the product listing.

I had a good early part of this year with a lot of travel and event work. Returning each time meant catch-up time again (admin waits for no man).

Over the last few weeks, I have been sufficiently settled to attack these tasks. Earlier this month, I put the product up on the YOLO website, creating a page, adding content and images, editing video clips, and adding the online-order product listing.

For the last half-dozen days, I have worked intermittently on the assembly instructions, and creating all the drawings. I'm no CAD designer or technical draughtsman, but my drawings for each stage of the assembly have come out really well.

On the bright side of the delay in launching, I have used the YOLO Garden Sieve many times over the seven or eight months to sift compost and soil for a variety of projects. I've separated out roots, stones, leaves, uncomposted material and also beetle 'houses' and large white grubs with great success. I've filled bags of material and also a new raised bed. This has allowed me to assess the wear-and-tear on the sieve to send this product out there knowing that it is robust and that it does what it is meant to do.

While time, capacity and energy have been factors, there has also been a psychological component to getting this product out there.

I think the sieve is awesome and for people who need to sieve soil or compost regularly, it is an incredible asset. It works effectively, and it is made to be strong, robust and long lasting. 

I like it, but what if no one else does? What if I get no orders? While this sounds silly, one has to be able to handle the disappointment of a product not taking off. 

Realistically, this is a niche product, like my YOLO Compost Tumbler. But, it is perfect for the right type of person.

With the sieve now out there on the YOLO Compost Tumbler website, Facebook and Instagram, there is still work to be done to reach out to potential customers to let them know directly about this fabulous YOLO Garden Sieve.

The base work is done and I am pleased to now have it out there. Holding thumbs.

I painted a picture

 A watercolour painting teacher-artist (Andrea Nelson) came up on my FB/Insta feed a few months ago. I followed and have enjoyed her simple, creative and colourful projects. I just watched and didn't do, despite her encouragement of followers to just give it go.

The other day with friends, the one says that she gets together with another one or two friends every Monday and they paint - watercolour - for about 90 minutes. Of course I said, "I'd love to come" and the other two with us said the same.

On Monday, we joined the painting group. I only had an hour but I did complete this flower. I'm no good at thinking up things to paint myself (yet) so I found a picture online of something that I liked and did my own version of it.

My first watercolour painting probably since primary school!

I've got a way to go in learning how to use watercolours - strong, dilute, water first, how it spreads etc. It is fun and creative, and I look forward to improving.

As far as yarn crafts go, I have had a crochet hiatus for about two years. Sure, I have made a few odd items, but no proper projects. I just do not know what I would like to make. I have had an itch to embroider flowers. I saw a booklet at a fabric store a few weeks back with 100 embroidery stitches and took it as a sign. I started at 1 and worked my way through to create a sampler.

The first 40-ish embroidery stitches. A lot can be done with these
plus French knots and bullion stitches.

There are some lovely floral designs that I have seen online. I need to choose one and a colour palette and give it a go. Handcrafts like this go well with listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and watching shows on streaming.

My years of blood donation posts have done some good

I have been a blood donor since I turned 16. I had a gap of about eight years when I was often in malaria areas with adventure races, which is cause for deferral. I regained my regular donor status in 2008 and have retained it since.

I usually post here and on Facebook after donations, encouraging friends and readers to only donate if they intend to go back again at least three times within a year. The reason for this, in South Africa at least, is that your plasma (the other components are discarded) is quarantined after your first donation if it passes various tests - like for HIV and hepatitis. When you return and the tests on your second donation are clear, the plasma from the first donation is used and the second is quarantined. The same happens when you return a 3rd time.

It is only after you are clear of various transmissible diseases three times within a 12-month period (you can donate up to six times a year, every 56 days) that your red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma are used.

As such, once-off donations are a waste of time, resources, labour, testing, freezer space, money, and blood because your donation will be discarded after a year if you do not return. The marketing around blood donation always says that each donation saves three lives. It only serves this purpose if you donate regularly so that all of your blood components are used.

I went to donate yesterday.

Watching Olympics at the George Western Cape Blood Service branch. My timing wasn't great as I got powerlifting instead of something like athletics, but it was interesting to see. 

My oldest friend David - we met at nursery school when I was 2 and he was 3 - responded with this:

"You’ve successfully persuaded me (after 20 years of making these valuable posts) to try again in the UK - they didn’t want it when I first moved here but this time they did - been used at Charing Cross hospital already. Just saying so you know your adverts work."

He is booked for his next donation in three-months time. 

My friend wrote a fiction novel, Sanguinous by Allison Glass

I am super proud of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Allison Glass, for writing a fiction novel. While I write, I write about real people and events and conversations - easy stuff, no imagination required. Creating a fiction story with a strong storyline, convincing characters, interest and intrigue, and lots of conversation is a whole other skill. 

I have just read Allison's book 'Sanguinous' - devouring it in a few days - and I loved it. At its root, it is a vampire story, set in Johannesburg, with a journalist as its main character. The main story is set in the present with intermittent chapters that go back in time from when a key vampire character arrived in South Africa, so there is a wonderful inclusion of South African history and accounting of significant events where he was present.

What does the enigmatic nightclub, Sanguinous, have to do with fatal house robberies in the leafy suburbs of Johannsburg and a 17th century stowaway?

Rory Tate is a young journalist on her first job with a reputable news agency. Her investigations lead her into a bloodthirsty criminal underworld she could never have imagined.

I loved True Blood (tv series) and Twilight (books & movies), Interview with a Vampire (book & movie) so I'm an easy-sell on the vampire genre. That said, there is more that I don't read or watch that is too far fetched. I like my vampires to be believable.

Allison is a doctor but she moved to specialise in HIV and virology many years ago. She now heads up the molecular lab at a big pathology company. She started writing her book some time ago - a big commitment - and she self published 'Sanguinous'.

Allison has breathed life into her characters with descriptions that gave them presence and personality, and that left a clear image of them in my mind. She cleverly wove their interactions and history into the story, maintaining a smooth flow throughout. This book is a fluid read.

The best part of the book, for me, was the way that Allison dealt with the 'being a vampire' reality. As we all know, vampires drink blood but they don't have a beating heart that pumps blood around their bodies. So how do they walk, talk, think and function? Their flesh is essentially dead but they don't decompose. Allison delighted me with her rationale for their undead-ness.

For vampires, it can be risky business to snack on just anyone without knowing whether that person has a disease. In the book, Allison brings in HIV - her area of professional expertise - and its effect on vampires. Allison's outcome is even better than what you can imagine.

The book's ending left the opening for sequel - I hope there will be one in time.

I've had a rough run of books this year with a number that I've struggled to get into or to read to completion this year - even those by well-known authors. Allison's book is just what I needed. It kept me hooked from the start, was smooth and quick reading, and kept me up (or lazing in bed) to read just a little bit more before turning out my light or getting up. 

Sanguinous is a vampire novel with a solid story and characters, and a cleverness in dealing with the essence of what vampires are. It is a good adult read but I can definitely see it in the older teen space too.

Sanguinous by Allison Glass is available on Amazon as an e-book or paperback. You can also message me and I'll connect you to Allison to get a paper copy.

Well done my friend xxx

48 Days of Running - tick

48 days ago I began my annual pre-birthday challenge. This year it was back to basics with 4km (minimum) per day for the number of consecutive days of the age that I would be turning. This year, the big ol' number is 48.

One of my goals was to do more road running as I really have not run much road for a good 3.5 to 4 years. I quickly settled back into road with around four sessions a week on tar.

I found myself thinking back to my years of growing up, living and running in Joburg suburbs. I loved running in the evenings - in the dark in winter - when the roads were quiet, breathing in the scents of dinners cooking. I have really enjoyed getting back to my roots, which was road, and I'll be keeping this up. 

Early on in the challenge I had some days when I felt pretty tired, especially with running after hard crossfit sessions. The body adapts and this got easier as my fitness improved and my body settled into the load. 

I used running to do errands and for commuting too. I would run to and from crossfit to make best use of my time. This worked really well. I also did a few runs to friends to either meet them or drop-off / pick-up stuff.

The last seven weeks were mostly smooth but there were a few days when it was more difficult to get out. Like the days when I put on rain pants and a rain jacket to run to and from crossfit, the next event when I ran in this rain gear and two nights recently in the Drakensberg when we'd finished with the day's talks, it was dark and cold, and I still needed to get out for a run instead of hanging out with friends.

Going for a run is always the best course of action. I always felt better during and afterwards, and I probably 'missed out' on little over 40 minutes of social hanging out (including a shower), so I did not ever miss much.

Having friends and family that help to enable activity is a treasure, like being able to run somewhere leaving a bag in the car for my mom to take along. Or running to a friend to catch a lift elsewhere. Or running back to camp from a concert, dropping my stuff in the car and have the right type of friends who support what you do and just leave to do and enjoy, transporting your gear and driving off with a wave. 

I was also very fortunate to have company on many of my runs. When I started this challenge, Otto said he was keen to join me on some runs as he was aiming to pick up his running. He ran a good number of sessions with me. The GTR Monday and Thursday runs provided lots of company, the Van Dalens hike was a win, and Talita also joined in for a few runs. I enjoyed a social morning session in the Berg, a run with Jenny the weekend before last, and a run with Carine this past weekend in Cape Town. 

(with my ex foster puppy Snow, a run on the beach in CT with Carine, Snow and Sophie) 

My Rosy dog has been a very faithful, eager and reliable running companion. 

This birthday challenge, as always, reminds me how important daily running is to me, how my body thrives on a heavier load, and how I really can squeeze a run into every day, if I prioritise myself and activity.

Today, Day 48, I had planned to meet up with Otto and Talita for a late afternoon run. Otto was down I'll so it was to be me and Talita, and one or more of their sons. I'd also put it out yesterday on our friend group to invite anyone around at 4pm to join us. 

I met up with Talita and Adam. She innocently said that Jamie, Adam's girlfriend needed the loo and had gone to Zelda's house around the corner.

As we approached, I saw a colourful bunch of friends dressed ready to run.. Sneaky devils. All the ones that had said on the group that they wouldn't be there, were there. We had a lovely run and then hit the Trail Kiosk for tea/coffee.

(these fabulous photos by Zelda) 

Cliffy and Tracey rocked up and then my mom arrived having walked from home with Bella-dog. Mom and I walked home together, looking at houses and flowers.

I've had a super day of messages and catching up with some friends and family. 

A good day to count my blessings. 

I love living in George for its mountains and trails and waterways. I am doubly blessed to have a great group of friends who are kind, caring and supportive, active and adventurous. They make George a home. 

1st birthday adventure outing for Cani

For Cani's first birthday, an adventure outing. 

We had a mission to help Otto find some driftwood. 

Wide open, rocky, tall trees and very beautiful

We didn't make it to the Old George Dam and instead followed a beautiful stream in the forest. I haven't been here for a long time and it is a lot wider than I remembered. And absolutely beautiful. 

Rosy on my right. Cani on my left.

I took Cani and Rosy (Rusty went with granny Liz to the park). My pair of black dogs love water and adventures. For the first time Cani didn't try to nip Otto's leg. She even leapt from rock to rock alongside him. She is learning about having friends. Very proud of this agile adventure birthday girl.

Cani and Rosy

Back home, we rounded off Cani's birthday with doggy dessert. Super delicious home-baked liver treats topped with a dash of mashed potato frosting. Doggy equivalent of a chocolate torte. 

Home baked liver treat with mashed potato frosting for dessert.

And couch cuddles. Happy birthday little girl xxx

Loves for granny

Tired girl snoozing with her head on my arm xxx

Happy 1st birthday to my puppies

 I don't think I've posted about the three puppies that I fostered. The 4.5 months with them in my life, from August last year, was a bit of a blur. I did post about them on Facebook and I'll write about them here at some stage. I've had a post in mind of how one goes from one dog to six and then to four. haha haha

The short version is that I kept one of the puppies, Canada (I call her Cani). She has a bad heart condition and poor prognosis. She isn't expected to make more than two years. She has made her first birthday, and yesterday I celebrated the puppies' assigned birthday of 15 May with this post on FB.

Going sulfate-free shampoo - no more hair loss

Despite my hair being fast growing, for many years I have shed many hairs daily - certainly more than the 100-odd hairs that it is said we lose as part of normal hair loss. While the shedding feels less with shorter hair, and more with longer hair, I still felt that I was losing too much hair every day. A tangle in my brush and a wad in the shower daily. I always had little baby hairs on my hairline - and probably all over my scalp too. These were a clear indication that a sizeable of volume of hairs were constantly being replaced.

I had heard about some shampoo brands, including one that I used, being responsible for hair loss. After hearing this again a few months back, I turned to the internet.

The primary problem, it seems, is the sulfate ingredient in shampoo. Sulfates are responsible for that lovely foamy lather. On the ingredient list of most shampoos, you'll find sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfates. The shampoo that I had used for years contains both of these. 

It also contains a number of other ingredients - glycols, salt, silicones, artificial colourants, fragrances, and preservatives - that are skin irritants. This article explains the many shampoo chemicals. 

I never had an itchy, dry or dandruff scalp, but, because of the ingredients in my shampoo, my hair was subject to being stripped of its natural oils. The whole list of ingredients was responsible for making my hair dry, brittle, frizzy and weak, and affecting my hair follicles. Disruption to the protective keratin sheath around the hair shaft and follicle leads to hair loss too. With my sporty activities, I've generally been a daily hair washer, which increased by exposure to these damaging chemicals.

I headed to the shops to look for a sulfate-free shampoo. It took time to read the back of so many bottles, but finally in the African hair-care section I found a shampoo that is free of petroleum, paraben (preservative), sulfate and silicones. 

I've been using this Mango & Marula shampoo (by 'The Perfect Hair' brand) for about two months now. Of the no-no ingredients, it does contain propylene glycol, but this seems to be the lesser of the evils. It is priced similarly to most shampoos. The only other sulfate-free shampoo that I found was an expensive salon brand.

Within a week or two of using this shampoo, I had significantly less hair loss. My hair was longer then so I noticed the difference quickly in my brush and when washing my hair. The reduction in shedding has continued and I have very little hair loss now - I would say even below the requisite 100-odd hairs a day.

Without the sulfates, my shampoo does not foam. It takes a while to get used to this as it initially feels like your hair is not getting washed. But this sulfate-free shampoo seems to do its job.

My hair feels soft and healthy. The baby hairs on my hairline have grown significantly and I can only assume that this is happening all over my scalp.

I'm still using the same conditioner - to finish the container, but I'll look at changing to something from the same range as that shampoo. I'm that impressed.

Not my brush, but you get the idea. This is a drop in the ocean compared to what I was losing daily.

Days of Running: Day 7

The first week has gone by in a flash and I'm feeling good, like really good, for this week of running. I ran on the roads at night, I ran trails, I ran parkrun, I ran on my own, I ran with Rosy, and I ran with friends. It has been a good week.

This year, my birthday challenge is really taking me back to the first year (when I turned 35) and also to my years of growing up and living in Jo'burg where I ran the suburb streets in the day and at night for many, many years - and how I loved the dark and the sounds and smells of the neighbourhood and meals being cooked. I'd almost forgotten about this.

I've been logging my runs on Strava, which should give me a lovely record to look back on.

Monday evening: the still dam during the GTR Social Run

Once-off blood donations are not used (you have to donate again)

I had been meaning to get to my local blood donor centre for weeks. They're open only on Wednesdays and Fridays. The WCBS Blood Donor Centre was a hive of activity after a call-out for donors was shared. As many of you many know, a building that was under construction collapsed here in George on Monday afternoon. 39 of the 75 people that were working on and in the building when it fell down are unaccounted for (7 of the 36 retrieved are dead). 

This town of George has been amazing with people volunteering in every and any capacity - from donating food and beverages for the rescue workers, providing emotional support for the waiting family members, contributing safety equipment, helping to remove rubble, and preparing meals for the 150+ people, including police and medical personnel, on site throughout the day and night. The volunteer support has been amazing, but it has also been understandably overwhelming for those dealing with this on the ground. 

Today's call-out for blood donors was made with good intentions by someone. I learned at the Centre that blood stocks were actually good (shared somewhere said stocks were critical) and both the Centre and a school's blood drive, planned before the disaster, were inundated with donors. While wonderful, it is also a challenge. 

There is something else too (and I'll say it again and again)... Once-off donations are not used. When you donate for the first time, your blood is tested and then separated into components, and your plasma is frozen and stored. When you go back a second time and your tests are clear again, they use the frozen plasma and store your new donation. When you return a 3rd time and your tests are clear, they use the second donation. These three donations must happen within a 12-month period (you can donate up to 6 times a year). Only once you have a 'regular donor' status will all of your blood components be used. The reason they do this is to ensure that you are healthy and that there is no risk to the recipient. 

Also, when you donate, whether in a disaster situation or not, you can't choose who your blood must go to. It goes to the blood bank and will be given to whoever needs it, whenever it is needed. 

To all those people who kindly donated today: please go back in two months time and donate again. And then go back in another two months. What SANBS and WCBS need is to have more regular donors throughout the year, and year after year.

Bugweed Warriors

 I moved to George in November 2020 and moved into a rental house in mid-December. When my friend Tracey saw my garden, she immediately noticed the big bugweed tree and educated me about this invasive alien. Tracey and Cliffy helped me to cut it down, treating the stump with suitable poison to kill it. 

Suitably educated, my eyes learned to spot bugweed everywhere: in the forests, along trails, and coming up along firebreaks. I began pulling out seedlings along the trails. Over time, I saw clearly how mu consistent actions made a huge difference. On trails that I regularly used, no bugweed. On trails that I infrequently used or new trails, bugweed is everywhere.

Around mid-last year, in a random conversation with friend Otto, he said that loads of bugweed trees were growing outside his property, on the margin between houses, the firebreak and the forest start. He wanted to eliminate them. I suggested we get a bunch of friends together to help him. A bugweed-pulling session was planned and after two hours of so of manual labour and many trees pulled, cut and treated, we were treated to a potjie lunch.

In the following weeks, we did some more bugweed pulling on local sections - sometimes with only two or three of us and other times with more. We setup a Bugweed Warriors whatsapp group to let friends know when we were doing sessions so that they could join us.

Bugweed pulling has turned into a bit of an obsession. 

Otto and I are the ringleaders; we are the most bugweed obsessed. We are very fortunate to have friends who support our project and gladly join in.

At the beginning of this year we crowd-sourced funds from our group and purchased a large Tree Popper. This is a magnificent tool. We can pull bigger trees out by their roots (Prize #1) and work through an area faster and with less effort than to saw-and-treat those we couldn't pull out with back-breaking toil. Tree Popper is our pride and joy. The sound of bugweed roots popping out of the ground is music to our ears.

We get out to pull bugweed probably once every two weeks, even if the session is only 90-minutes. We had a real winner on Sunday morning, spending three hours and making an incredible dent on a bugweed 'grove' in the forest. 

Pile of pulled bugweed - this was only some of what three of us extracted. After pulling them out, we process them by cutting off all of the berries to take out with us and also chopping the trees into smaller pieces to compost faster in a pile.

Before: can't see the woods for the bugweed. After: grove of bugweed cleared
Yes, these areas do require maintenance to pull out any seedlings that emerge. Seedlings are quick and easy; trees take more effort. Otto, Constandt and Ken were out there with me.

Bugweed is fast-growing and a prolific seed producer. There is so much of it that the task can feel overwhelming. I take inspiration from those before-and-after reforestation stories of one person that reforested an area by planting over a million trees in 30 years... Well, this will be the bugweed story here too. 

What we do need are just more and more hands. If every trail runner pulls five seedlings a day from the trails they run on, that will be maintenance taken care of. Our team can then focus on dealing with the large, established, seed-producing trees to prevent the spread.

Bugweed is not only a problem here - it has been in KZN for more than 30 years and I hear that there is loads of it on the highveld. The solution is to have more people aware of it. Aside from cutting down the 'mother' trees, pulling out seedlings is quick and effective in helping to curb more growth - and anyone can do it.

We have a Facebook page and Instagram profile. Join us and get bugweeding where ever you are.

48 Days of Running

 This year marks the 14th year of my pre-birthday challenge and this year I am going back to basics.

My running has been fairly decent, crossfit is going well and I'm feeling good; but I can do better and I also need to do more for me. I haven't run much on road for the last 3.5 years and I could do with some mindless running, sans dogs, that is focused, faster and for me only.

My birthday challenge this year, which starts on 2 May, is 48 Days of Running (I'm turning 48 this year!) where my objective is a 4km run on road five days each week - I usually do the GTR Social Run on Mondays and the time trial on Thursdays, both on trails. Crossfit and dog walking will slot around the daily runs.

This should do me a world of good and is exactly what I need right now.

Heave ho!

Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail (two days)

 This long-awaited hiking trip finally arrived. The trip was booked for early last year but got bumped after the coastal section of route was closed for the maintenance and repair of bridges, ladders and chains. It was worth waiting for it to reopen, as the coastal section is a highlight of this two-day hiking trail.

We were a group of 11 (the 12th couldn't make it and the replacement came down with a cold). I knew four of the group going into the hike; the others being friends of friends.

The Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail is a SANParks route and rates for the hike, including two nights - Harkerville Hut and Sinclair Hut - were very reasonable at around R425 per person (including conservation fees).

We drove through from George on Friday afternoon, meeting up with the others - bar two - at the Harkerville Hut. With a boma, braai area, showers and bunk beds, we had everything we needed.

Day 1

Up with the sun, backpacks packed and ready to start the hike at 7am after a good sleep and breakfast. Friends Tanja and Jacques arrived to complete our group.

The first part of the hike passes through beautiful forest. I didn't expect to see many fungi but was treated to an abundance of Funnel Wood Cap fungi, Ganoderma (Artist's Bracket) and two new finds - Chocolate Tube Slime Mould and an as yet unidentified fungus.

Funnel Wood Cap (Zelda's photo)

Cluster of Redwood trees planted in 1925.

Chocolate Tube Slime Mould

And then we headed down to the coast. I got so many fabulous photographs - these are just some of them.

The coast is the toughest part of the route on both days because you walk over rocks, rocks and rocks. There are a number of sections where you climb up, over and across rock. On the sections with more exposure, chains have been bolted to the rock for you to hold.

Zelda's photo showing Carin about to start a chain section.

The rocks and pebbles are just incredible.

Snack break and sitting with Mel (left of photo) and Johann (right of photo). Mel is related to Johan through family marriage and, at 69, he is amazing. He is a regular hiker and he is in good shape. He took the challenging terrain in his stride.

Jacques' photo of me and Tanja.

Last part of Day and a walk to our overnight stop.

The Sinclair Hut. No showers or electricity, but there is a tap, braai area, flush loos and bunk beds to sleep 12. The hut is located on a wide firebreak.

I was chilling in the afternoon warmth when I had a lovely surprise visit from my friend Rob. He lives in the area and he mountain biked to visit us. In the days before the hike, I had tried to recruit Rob to make up our 12th person, but with prior commitments he was unable to make it. His visit was a pleasure. Zelda even treated him to a mug of coffee.

An afternoon visit by my friend Rob.

We had a lovely evening and then an early night. We had done 14.5km on a very hot day with some difficult terrain - sleep came fast and deep.

Day 2

Again we were up with the sun and set off on the trail by 7am. The first section went through fynbos and then we descended to the coast.

Heading down to the pebble beach.

I reckon that Day 2's coastal section is longer than Day 1's, with more scrambling and also more interesting elements like bridges and ladders. Rocks are abundant and the scenery really is quite spectacular. We were blessed with a beautiful day. It was hot, but thankfully it was not as hot as expected.

With my ever faithful AR Gaiters.

When we did snack stops, I took the opportunity to doze a little and get my feet up while listening to the sound of the sea, murmer of voices and tinkle of rocks moving over each other. At almost midday, there wasn't much shade up for grabs at this stop.

Final section of pebble beach.

Leaving the beach, a forested walk and this beautiful stream.

There was a good dose of ascent to get up from the coast. This was a really pretty section.

Back in the forests for the final 5km to the end.

What a score. This is likely to be Dog's Vomit Slime Mould.

Paula, Tanja, Zelda, Carin, me, Adele and Allison outside Sinclair Hut. Start of Day 2.

Jacques, Gerrie, Mel and Johann outside Sinclair Hut

A good weekend, excellent hiking experience and a lovely group of people.

Is the Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail difficult?

I'm not really the right person to ask because I have a skewed frame of reference.

At 14.5km (Day 1) and 12km (Day 2), the distances are decent but not vast. Keep in mind that you've got a backpack weighing 10-12kg (or more), with 3L of water and food for two days.

The forest sections are shaded, on established and well used trails and they are generally easy going.

The coastal sections are not very long, but they demand your attention walking on the round beach pebbles and seams of rock, and they take a long time to get through. The rock offers good grip and handholds but I can see these clambering sections being really challenging, especially the more exposed sections. Loaded backpacks messes with balance, and feeling confident in your grip and arm strength helps a lot. Those afraid of heights would not enjoy the exposed sections.

As we were hiking, we were moving relatively slowly, we stopped many times each day to collect the group, for snacks and for lunch. This gives you time to rest.

We were on our feet from about 7am to 3pm each day; these are long days. And it was hot.

I didn't find the hike to be difficult but I did find it to be interesting, diverse and not-a-walk-in-the-park. I'm fit. My feet are conditioned. I have good balance and stability on the rocks and I'm not afraid of heights or clambering over rocks. For those that lack any of these skills, the coastal section of the route will be exceptionally challenging. The fitter you are and the more comfortable you are on uneven terrain, the better. I would not recommend this hike for beginners and would suggest that they do some moderate grade hikes first to gain experience and confidence, and then do this one. The scenery and experience of this landscape is worth it.