Mount Keira - Ken Ausburn Track

So after not being able to go on a hike with my mate Tristan for ages due to scheduling (and being in hospital), he kept trying to find a date asking me about the 1st of February (2021). I told him I had a Drs. Appointment that day to find out the results of the bone marrow biopsy I had received on the 18th of January. 

He sent me the walk, a 5km one that sorta looked like it went between Mount Keira and Mount Kembla. Assuming the walk would be easy enough to do in time I agree to do it the morning of, before I received my results which I was extremely nervous about. I told him to pick me any time after 9, as that was when I took my midostaurin (cancer medication).

He arrived to pick me up around 9:30am and we set off towards Wollongong.

"You don't mind if I grab a coffee on the way, do you?" He asked me. 
I told him I was fine, and he offered to shout me one, but I told him about how much my medication makes me urinate, saying since taking it I had already gone to the toilet 6 times and felt like I needed to again. He pulled in at a shop in Brownsville and we continued on to Wollongong, rapidly talking about things along the way including my anxiety at my upcoming appointment. I told him I felt physically well, that I didn't feel like I had cancer (still feeling like I was in remission) but that I was concerned as I had many bruises over me (that I thought were probably from my Dog jumping on me in my sleep). He set up his GPS, and we made our way past Wollongong University pulling up ready to begin I sprayed my shoes with Bushman's (a bug repellent spray, just to keep leeches off). Tristan talked about how he didn't use things like that because of how carcinogenic they are, saying they absorb through the skin. I said I never use them either but just because of my condition I was using it just on my shoes to stop leeches climbing up me.

There was a bit of confusing as to the site Tristan had found the walk actually began the walk somewhere in the university. So this walk would only be about 1 and a half km from where we were actually beginning (near a roundabout connecting Robsons Road, O'Leary Road and Northfields Ave), linking in to the Mount Keira Ring Track.

We followed a chain link fence along to the sign in the above picture, where I stopped to read about the walk. Nearby was another sign post, with a walkers code.

All rather sensible rules. We entered through a doorway made in the fencing and began uphill with another chain link fence to our right, and the back of people's home to our left.

As we made our way up through past these houses Tristan and I talked about how my cancer treatment had been going, things I had experienced and our love of getting out on adventures. I told him I had a view from Wollongong Hospital during my second round of Chemotherapy, looking out over Mount Keira, and that I got to see it in the rain, and fog and sun and all I could think about was how desperate I was to get out into some fresh air and walk to the top.

On the way up we discussed (with my Bush Regeneration past, and Tristan's current career) many plants we encountered. With me trying to see how many I knew or which ones I remembered scientific names for, my knowledge no where near as impressive as Tristan's. (Orange Thorn, or Pittosporum multiflorum was probably about the limits of my knowledge. 

There were some signs or plaques along the way to highlight certain plants and trees, with some information on the history of usage by White European settlers or by Indigenous Australians, however, often the tree they were at was missing.

The ground was a little muddy, due to recent rains which put me on edge for fear of dreaded Leeches. Ever scarred from my one experience doing Sublime Point in the rain.

At one point there was a gap in the fence to our right, with no signage, and I questioned whether that was the way to go, but we continued straight up beside the houses until the path became uneven with tree roots and we could see a concrete footpath up ahead.

The weather was incredibly humid, making the uphill walk more of a struggle with the hot thick air. However after spending so much time in hospital (where one of my beds was placed directly under freezing cold air conditioning) I had grown to become less affected by warmer temperatures and more affected by the cold.

The concrete path bent to the right and we saw some wooden stairs leading higher up just as a man jogged downwards past us.

While climbing the stairs I noticed a rock sitting their. A painted rock. NSW Rocks. Something I had been collecting as mentioned in my Mount Jellore post as well as my collection of collected ones saved as permanent story on my Instagram.

From the stairs I looked out and pointed to Tristan that I could see Wollongong Hospital, and felt a sort of melancholy. Knowing there might be someone sitting in there looking out to Mount Keira with the sadness and longing that I had felt, feeling the fear that the beautiful experience of life could soon be gone.

We continued up, again the path transitioning to concrete a leading us to a big monument.

This photo was actually taken on the way back down. (False chronology, awful)

We both split to different sides of the path, hoping no one would come as we both needed to go to the toilet.

Tristan looking for a pristine area to relieve himself

After emptying the bladder and looking around the giant statue from all different angles and discussing what it was ("Is it meant to be an Angel?" I asked). We found a plaque on the ground informing us that it was the Herbert Flugelman Lawrence Hargrave Memorial. 1988-1989 from the University of Wollongong Art Collection. (Ahhh yes, all questions answered).

We decided to continue on, on a bit of a schedule for me to make my appointment.

As Tristan turned around and I took a photo of him face on. I stopped. Looking at him with a furrowed brow.
"You look like someone." I said.

"Who?"
I stared at him longer trying to put my finger on it. Suddenly it came to me.

"Ben from Survivor!"

"Who?"

"He was a marine, he won season 35 (Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers) and was also on season 40 (Winners at War)".

Tristan, never having watched Survivor still had no idea, so I assured him I would show him once I got home.

As we continued into the rainforest the humidity began to get even worse, and we both began to sweat. But although I had seen leeches stretched up from the mud we had been able to avoid them.

We walked past a few signs on plants and one detailing the history of transporting coal to Wollongong Harbour.

Again, a sign with no tree

The area began to become dense with ferns and after crossing a wooden bridge there was a track down to our left leading to a fenced off area that had been forcibly opened.

Tristan wanted to go in and explore behind the fence, despite the warning signs saying to keep out, and that there could be potential fines.
I was hesitant never liking to do the wrong thing (and also financially being off work because of my cancer I really didn't fancy a fine). Eventually he talked me into it and anxiously I followed behind him.

Honestly there wasn't that much to see, and the only reason I could see to actually keep people out is if they were climbing around on things, which the ones who are going to do that are going to do that regardless of keep out signs and it place should probably just be open with historic information signs for bushwalkers to read.

After a quick look around, we quickly skedaddled and continued along the dirt path leading us to a brick ventilation shaft with a sign explaining some history. After reading this Tristan began to tell me a story about his grandfather and his work in a factory... or mine... or something back in England. I honestly forget the story. (Sorry Tristan).

The walk continued up with Tristan still telling his grandfather's story, before opening up into the Mount Keira Loop Track.

Looking to our right along the Loop Track

Looking to our left along the Loop Track

Soon we were on our phones, mobile data switched on, looking at how long the Loop Track was, as I was very eager to continue the walk. I began telling Tristan I believed we had enough time to do it. But being the less impulsive of the two of us, he said he didn't want us to be rushed and that I still needed time to get home to shower and change to come back in to Wollongong for my Doctors appointment.
Soon I gave in to his logic, upset, pining to continue the trail.

We soon turned around back down the Ken Ausburn Track.

The view heading back down the track

On our way back down Tristan told me of his friend, and her brother's battle with bone cancer and how he beat it. I felt moved and stressed about my own outcome. Dreading my appointment I yearned for the simplicity of a bushwalk, the peace in nature. The burn of physical exertion, the thrill of seeing new sights and the fun of just hanging with my friend.

NOOOOOOO

Soon we had arrived back at the Angel, where we took a selfie together that I already shared, and made our way down towards Tristan's car. As we arrived I told him that although I would write this as a blog, I would save it as a part 1 and publish it after we had done all the other Mount Keira walks.

After a shower and some lunch I made my way back to Wollongong for my appointment. Basically I was told that there was still trace amounts of Leukemia in my bone marrow (according to a really advanced test, though I was still in remission), which is what they had acknowledged could be the case. So all there was to do was to stay on my midostaurin to inhibit the cancer's growth and wait until the next year for my Stem Cell Transplant.

Obviously since this walk I also wrote the blogs: Barren Grounds - Kangaroo Ridge and Griffiths Loop Track, Gibbergunyah Reserve Walk, and my post about my Stem Cell Transplant.

Due to being so busy with other walks and fighting cancer, I never actually wrote this blog post (which is why I struggle a bit with my recall).

However I am now over 6 months post Stem Cell Transplant, things SEEM to be going well. However as many will know we had the outbreak of Delta Covid-19 in NSW, and as an immunocompromised person I really haven't been able to leave the house much, only for a little exercise here and there.
I have received both doses of my corona virus vaccine (vaccines are science if you're anti science you're an idiot, sorry, not sorry), and am currently awaiting getting all my other childhood vaccinations, with the possibility of a third covid shot. 

But NSW is now opening up. I have just been taken of my immunocompromising medication known as Ciclosporin, and my immune system will begin to get better allowing me to do more things (and potentially get out and hike with double vaxxed such as my Dad or Tristan). 
So in my self contained lockdown, I decided to do the Ken Ausburn Track as it's own post instead of as a greater Mount Keira post (which Tristan looks forward to doing with me in the future).

I hope anyone reading this has kept safe and maybe we'll see you out there!

If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or like my page on facebook or follow me on Instagram. 

Thanks for reading! - Steven

Tristan alongside Ben Driebergen from Survivor

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

 So back on the 21st of June 2020 I suffered an avulsion fracture on my ankle while at a Bouldering Gym.

I spent a bit off time off from work, before eventually going in three times a week on half days while my Wife was working from home during Covid. Eventually when I was able to drive, though still on crutches I returned to work 5 days a week for half days. My injury seemed to be taking ages to heal and the bruise under my foot took ages to go away. After many weeks when it disappeared I was finally able to put some pressure down and in a short amount of time I was walking (with a bit of a limp). I eventually got medical clearance and was finally able to return to work full time, glad to be up and walking around stretching my ankle muscle and looking forward to getting back in to hiking. 

I had noticed some small bruises on my arms but put it down to where the crutches had constantly been rubbing on my arms. I had called my Dad and was wanting to organise hiking at Barren Ground as my first hike since my injury, and first hike with him since his rock climbing accident. I thought it was a good walk for the two of us as it was a long and mostly flat walk. I had also really wanted to finally blog about it, as I had actually done the hike a few times and at one point photographed the whole thing in preparation for a blog post. However time got away from me and I forgot the walk or anything to write about sitting with a folder of photos and a draft blog from 25th August 2015, which if I had wrote it would have made it my blogs fourth ever blog post.

However random bruises kept appearing on my body, and I began to get concerned (although I only thought it was a Vitamin D deficiency from being stuck inside due to my ankle). I booked a Doctors appointment for the next Monday as my Wife was concerned about a freckle on my back and locked in hiking with my Dad for the weekend.

Before the weekend came my Dad called to inform me my Nan was in hospital with pneumonia, which she has been in hospital for 4 times the previous year. He was going to travel up to Woy Woy to visit her and I asked if he wanted me to come. He told me not to worry because of Covid restrictions. My Nan ended up recovering.

I enjoyed a nice weekend with my Wife and Dog before returning to work Monday the 24th August, where I went to the Doctors on my lunch break. My back freckle was fine but I was sent for a blood test about the bruises.

I continued my day at work when around 4pm nearing the end of my work day my Doctor called saying my results where concerning and to go to a hospital straight away, this threw me completely and I barely remember the call, going numb and fuzzy. As I went to my desk to try to collect my bag I tried to tell my team members I had to go to hospital, breaking down as I said it. My work colleague ran after me as I left telling me I couldn't drive in my condition as he drove me to Shellharbour Hospital. 

I called my Wife who was very upset and her and her parents came, as they needed to collect my car. They did a bunch of tests and eventually the Doctor told me it was Leukemia. I broke down crying, saying I was going to die and even if I beat it, it would come back and kill me.

Eventually they transported me to Wollongong Hospital, while I sat stunned and dazed feeling pretty defeated. I was taken into a room where I guess more tests where done as it got very late into the night and my Wife eventually had to leave. I was left on this long chair over night with all the loud sounds from the emergency department and all the lights. I eventually passed out from exhaustion.

The next morning they had a bed for me in the emergency department where they did tests on me and fed me a sandwich. My Wife eventually arrived and was able to be with me. I was taken into a small children's room to get some bone marrow taken and given the green whistle. The nurses and doctors were all friendly but as soon as the needle was put into me I sucked hard on that whistle, which tasted like paint smells. Eventually that ordeal was over and I was moved into the hematology department into a bed and a room to myself (after many tests including heart scans and X-Rays). I was introduced to the Doctor and his team who explained it was Acute Myeloid Leukemia and explained about chemo therapy. It was organised for me to go to Concord Hospital in Sydney, to store semen for the future as chemo has the possibility to make you sterile. They wanted me to go three times, however I only went twice and it was enough to get the amount they needed. I began my chemo the next week. One called 7/3 or 3/7 or something. One was attached 24/7 for 7 days while the other took about 15 minutes and was bright pink and changed the colour of my urine and making me, cytotoxic. I managed to make it through the chemo, though it gave me some bad nausea and I began to struggle with the hospital food to the point where I was barely eating.

My friend and often hiking buddy Tristan straight away offered to donate his bone marrow. I told him they will only test close family and he went and signed up at a registry anyway. He also started a go fund me page for me, which I insisted I didn't need (not wanting to take peoples money). He didn't care he said it was for peace of mind seeing as I would be off work and just to ease that mental stress about bills. I told him no one would donate anyway, but he promoted and even shaved his head and vowed to quit smoking if it reached it's target (which it eventually did).

I also got back in contact with my estranged Mother, telling my Wife life was too short to stay bitter about the past.

I tried a video call early on to see my Dog, but it just broke me and I began crying.

A facebook memory came up of me visiting my Aunt Corinne in hospital 3 years ago to the day as she was in for Leukemia too. This made me very sad as my Aunt had died of sepsis.

8th September 2017

The dietitian eventually saw me and changed my menu to the 'kids menu' and I began eating pies, sausage rolls and chicken nuggets with supplement drinks called 'ensures'. I was weighed and I had lost 7kg. After the chemo finished I felt a little better but began on some new medication to inhibit the cancer cell growth called 'Midostauren'. Which was fine at first, but the more I took it the more it progressively made me sick, to the point the smell of the pills made me want to throw up. However I finished my treatment of those managing to keep them all down. Soon my hairs began to fall out, starting with my pubes and then my beard.

Soon my hair began to fall out as the Doctors talked about letting me go home for a bit before my bone marrow biopsy (to see how chemo went).

I began to struggle severely eating the hospital food as well as my mental health, being in a single room for a month and really wanted to be home with my Wife and Dog. Eventually I was released. For 10 days. Currently on my third day home as I write this, with much more in store for me and an uncertain future. Only wanting to beat this thing and enjoy my life with my excellent family and friends and enjoy the beautiful adventures life offers.

By the time I got home I was so excited to see my Dog, however after a month she didn't seem to recognise me and I had a breakdown, crying, my most extreme one yet. Being home I could just think about how much I had to lose and how badly I wanted to beat this thing. It was my lowest point yet.

Eventually I calmed down and tried to focus on just enjoying being home with the family, and finally shaved my head.

I need to defeat Superman

I have to go back in today for a blood test (to see if I need any blood transfusion or platelets), Friday for the same (plus my PICC Line bandage change), Monday for the Bone Marrow Biopsy and then backin hospital Wednesday for more treatment. There's a lot ahead and I'll keep everyone informed and we can just hope I can beat this and be back out on the trails having a Steventure. But for now I'll enjoy the quiet time with my lovely Wife, cute Dog and just watching the new Jurassic Park cartoon on Netflix.

If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or like my page on facebook or follow me on Instagram. 

Thanks for reading! - Steven

Berrima (River Walk and Stone Quarry Walk)

Looking for more Dog friendly nature walks, and a little disappointed by the cement bike track of Bong Bong Common, my Wife and I took our Dog once again to the Southern Highlands. This time to Berrima to do the Berrima River Walk and the Berrima Stone Quarry Walk suggested to me by my friend Tristan. We had agreed to come up for the day with my Wife looking into the Gumnut Patisserie, and wanting to try it out for lunch to decide whether or not she would organise a High-Tea at one for her Nan's 80th Birthday.

As we nearly arrived in Berrima I took the turn to New Berrima, although I had the sinking feeling the location was in old Berrima. I pulled up along the side of the road and loaded up Google Maps to take us to the River Walk. However, a problem I have been having with the Google Maps app on my phone is that it auto selects that I am walking sometimes (instead of driving) and wont allow me to edit this. So I soon began driving in the hopes it would pick up that I was going to fast and auto change to driving. As we drove up the street it told us too, and past the location it wanted us to go through (as you could walk through, but not drive through) the app just kept correcting to try to make me go back to the same spot, causing me to get very frustrated and angry. My Wife looked it up on her phone and we went back on the road driving through Old Berrima, a beautiful scenic little town, packed with tourists. We turned left at the old courthouse leading us down to Berrima River Reserve. We did a loop noticing there was no parking as well as reading a sign that Dogs weren't allowed near the playground there, and parked on the side of the road just near Fountain Street.

My Wife quickly ducked over to the to toilet block while I waited with Orla (my Dog). I went to check the time on my phone, which I had just used to take the photo above and my screen was black. I kept trying to turn it on but my screen remained black. Surely it couldn't have gone flat so fast. I explained to my Wife what was going on and mentioned I wanted to check if it had gone flat my putting it on charge in the car. We walked back and I turned the car on putting the phone on charge. I could feel the vibration every time I put the cord in but nothing on the screen. I began to realise I was probably going to need a new phone. We began to set off to go on the walk when my Wife had looked up a reset by holding two buttons down. After I did this my screen came back on and my phone was fine. My Wife told me there was a crazy old lady in the toilets while she was in there and overheard her complaining about the showers and saying she full investigated the toilet after my Wife came out from it. (There's weird people everywhere). After this I decided I needed to go to the toilet. As I came out a lady and her two kids were talking to my Wife, and I had missed the conversation as Orla jumped up for a cuddle.

We walked towards the river noticing a sign.

Which I thought was a really good concept and I told my Wife that having these at the beginning of more hikes would be a good thing. I asked what she had been talking to the lady about. She told me the her two boys had wanted to pay Orla (because she looked cute) but the lady made he ask my Wife due to Orla's halti, assuming it was some sort of muzzle. She explained it was to help control her as she pulls so it wouldn't choke her as she was too strong for us on her harness, and that she was a very friendly Dog, if not too friendly.

Further to our left there were more signs that I stopped to read, explaining some World War 2 history of the local area.

My Wife (who often gets annoyed by me reading these signs, as she doesn't really care about history) was even more annoyed by me photographing them. But I wanted to share the information for people who may never do the walk to read and learn about.

We walked down the slope towards the Wingecarribee River as I believed the walk would start down and follow along the river bank.

My Wife pointed up the embankment, noticing a trail so we walked back up the slope and continued on towards the campground passing a fisherman on our way.

We both commented that this was the sort of walk we had wanted to do with Orla. It was a beautiful spot.The beautiful river, lush greenery and crisp cool air.

Orla was loving it, she loves exploring and was joyfully sniffing and wagging her tail excited to be going on a walk and especially somewhere new. I wondered if it was the same for Dogs as for people. The same sights, the same sounds, the same places making life seem slow, and yet fast at the same time, rushing by yet feeling like nothing had really happened. Compared to a life of new sights, places, smells and experiences that make life feel more full.

We soon came to a little bridge that I was so picturesque we had to stop to get a cute photo of our pup on there.

The walk continued left after this bridge, though there was a path to the right that we never explored. As we continued there were more signs talking about the history of the German Internment Camps along the river during the war.

Up the hill you could see some of the remains of the base of one of the huts. We walked up to have a look at the remnants of the past.

The walk, through pristine beautiful woodland is also a good one for education, as a history buff every sign I read I tried to picture this location during this time and what life would have been like then.

What I assume is some remnant of the Crow's Nest Lookout

I looked up the hill, wondering where the tree that had held the lookout was, but could not see it. I wanted to run up for a quick explore but my Wife walked on ahead, getting stressed that the Gumnut Patisserie would close before we got there and also, I think feeling pretty hungry by now (we had not eaten all day).

As we continued around the winding river we took turns walking Orla. I had to stop reading the signs and instead grab quick shots of them for here and for myself to read later. I saw a small path through the bush and just wanted to quickly explore it. I ran through with Orla a short distance and found the river looping around on the other side. 

I expected the walk would take us around to here, so didn't walk all the way down to the river, instead turning back and going back to the path getting Orla to do some agility and jump some fallen logs which she did with ease.

Here the path split, to the left just heading down to the river, probably a frequented fishing spot, and continuing straight ahead to continue the walk with a wooden sign announcing the final display post ahead, much to my Wife's relief.

He we reached a lovely green piece of embankment and got a family photo together. My Wife assumed this was the end of the walk but the path continued on so I suggested we walk it to the end, though she kept stressing about time, saying we should have stopped in at the patisserie first.

We continued along I was really enjoying the work and beginning to stress that we would have to turn back, but kept assuring my Wife there was plenty of time to go to the patisserie. 

Up ahead I noticed a small boulder and told my Wife I was going to climb it. She was against it but I quickly rushed up and was up in 2 seconds having a beautiful view of the river.

I made my way down and Assassin's Creeded the log onto the ground while Orla cried at me.

We began walking through the scrub with no clear path no, and my Wife had reached the point of agitation. I insisted we walk a little further until there was no further we could walk. I pointed out that if we cut through the bush to our right we would reach the path we had come across on. My Wife didn't understand. I tried to explain that when I had cut through the bush before with Orla, this was the part of the river we had seen, so if we went through the bush we would shortcut to the path (though I wasn't trying to suggest doing this, I was just saying it). She still didn't understand, loading up a map, confused by saying we would have to cross a river, I told her we were on the inside of the river that had looped around, finally getting through to her where we were and how it worked, reminding myself of my frustrations having to explain directions while hiking with my friend Tristan on my previous two hikes.

We made our way back now with my Wife feeling more relaxed realising there would be plenty of time to get the the Gumnut Patisserie.

The walk back was a bit more relaxed with some of the pressure off, as we arrived back at the reserve I asked if we should walk to Lambies Well, and then down to the patisserie, but we just decided to drive in to town. We found a spot in a backstreet to park as the township was pretty busy while I lined up with social distancing to even get inside while my Wife waited with Orla. Finally I got inside and could see that the pies were running low, we had agreed to get a savoury each and a dessert. I asked which pies were left and the lady rattled them of very fast. I decided to get us both a lamb and rosemary pie. Two ladies where standing in front of the dessert section and I couldn't get a super good look at what was there. I asked about three different desserts that I thought looked really good but ended up grabbing us both the same, which was some sort of honey tart.

We walked across the road to a park where we got a seat at a wooden tables and sat to eat. The pies where nice, though mine had been a little cold inside, I didn't mind because we had arrived just after lunch, missing the lunch rush so it had probably been sitting there a while (just after we left the post lunch rush began and the line got massive). The dessert though was amazing, and I'm not even a huge dessert person.

While we ate I looked up at the massive trees commenting on how beautiful they looked while my Wife mentioned the bark looked like a mosaic.

Looking on Google Maps for where the Stone Quarry walk was I saw we were actually right by it, as it was supposed to be by the Church not to far from where we were sitting. My Wife went to walk to put our rubbish in a bin while I walked up to the church to see if I could find where the walk started.

It was very noticeable and hard to miss, so I just walked around waiting for my Wife to catch up before we began down the Stone Quarry Path.

We followed the pebbled path down heading to a section over looking the river where a grandmother was with two children playing in the water. I mentioned that there's no way I would go in (it was a freezing cold day) and my Wife mentioned as kids you don't really notice or care about the cold as much.

As we continued along the path we came around a bend to a great ledge giving you a clear view up the stream.

A lady was sitting on a bench here with her family and pet Pug. She asked what sort of Dog Orla was, saying she looked beautiful. I commented she was a 'mixa' and rattled off a few of the breeds (that we knew from doing a Dog DNA test).

She asked me to repeat Orla's name. I said it again, and told her it was Irish and meant 'Golden Princess' which she thought was adorable. We continued along stopping at a bench ourselves, we tried for another family photo asking Orla to jump up on the bench with us. Instead she jumped over the entire bench up onto the rocks behind us.

Just beyond here was some stairs and we made should Orla went down them slowly, not like her usual self to make sure she didn't trip and fall.

As we continued there was a stone that Orla for some reason wanted to climb up on so we let her. She looked so cute we tried to get her still enough for a picture.

The path continued on before coming to and end at a ford on the right, turning left up hill back towards town. Orla tried to run down some animal tracks as she could obviously smell them.

We headed uphill where we noticed a wombat hole dug right into the side of the path. We reached the top at the road with a sign highlighting the entry way to the Stone Quarry Path.

Though neither walk was particularly long, they were enough combined for a fulfilling day in the highlands. So we decided to head home.


The weekend after this we had planned to go camping with Orla for the first time, however my Wife ended up getting sick (not corona-virus). So we had to delay. Having no plans I didn't have much to do so sat inside and binge watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, ultimately finishing the show. On the Sunday, my Wife could see I was depressed from being inside and suggested I go bouldering with Tristan. (I was meant to have gone with him during the week, but ended up too tired from work). I told her I had already asked him about going on the weekend but he was busy. She suggested I ask my friend Stuart, who had recently been getting into climbing by his Wife Megan.

I sent him a message and he agreed. I met up with the two of them Sunday afternoon at Dynomite Bouldering Gym in Wollongong. We had some good climbs and I talked about what a rough year 2020 had been. I mentioned I wasn't even sure if I had been bouldering at all in 2020, and I literally couldn't remember. Towards the end of the night, as it was winding down, I tried doing a climb in the cave section. As I reached out to grab a particular hold, my hand slipped and I fell, landing with my ankle on an angle. I heard a loud crack and felt the pain and dropped down on the crash mat in shock.

Stuart and Megan rushed over to see if I was ok. I told them I heard my ankle snap. They rushed to get the lady who worked there, asking if they should call an ambulance while I was lying there not moving. I told them not too, (just in case it wasn't serious, as I didn't want an overreaction) saying I would just drive to the hospital in their car. The owner told them to call the ambulance (just in case) and began spraying something on my ankle that helped with the pain (and smelt nice).

I asked for some water and was told I wasn't allowed any just in case they had to operate at all.

"But I've been working out and haven't had a drink in hours!" I jested to Stuart, saying that not being able to have a drink was worse than my ankle pain.

Finally the ambulance drivers arrived, while Stuart and I made jokes about the situation (with pain coming in waves), they did some corona temperature checks on me, while checking my ankle before getting me onto the stretcher. I think they were pretty happy that I was in good spirits and lighthearted about the whole situation, as they were well humoured back.

As I was being loaded up I was calling my Wife to try to organise what to do with my car. Stuart asked if he should come with and I told him not to worry, to just enjoy his night and go home, but being a good friend he came in the ambulance with me anyway. He made a joke about my Wife's Father's Shark Attack which Megan had no idea had even happened. "Stuart doesn't tell me anything" she said.

We soon made it to the hospital and had I had to answer some questions before finally getting an X-Ray. I thought it would probably be a sprain and nothing too severe and as we sat I noticed how badly swollen it had become. I recognised one of the nurses as a girl I went to Primary School with and said hi to her. People kept asking if I wanted pain medication but I felt pretty good. Probably due to the frequent jokes and banter with Stuart. I informed my Dad about it, but the phone was soon handed over to my overbearing step-mum who said I wouldn't "do that again". I asked "What boulder?" She said yes. I told her that of course I was going to keep climbing (my accident being nothing compared to my Dad's)

Soon we went in for the X-Ray, and the guy doing it was interested in bouldering, saying it sounded fun. I soon went back to my chair to hear my results. The Doctor eventually came out, letting me know I had a 'avulsion fracture from the tip of the right fibula'. That they treat like a really bad sprain essentially. I was given a CAM boot, some crutches and told I was good to go, to rest it and stay off it for about 3 weeks.

I sent through one of my Facebook notifications into a group chat with the two, that I had received earlier that day, prior to going Bouldering.

Perfect Timing

So I'm guessing it will be a while before I'm able to go on more hikes and continue the blog. Another drama in the year of 2020...



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Thanks for reading! - Steven