Today I’m out in nature and I’ve realised a couple of things.

• I’d forgotten how hard hiking can be, particularly when you’re traipsing up what seems to be an endless f4cking mountain and
• I’d forgotten just how quickly blisters can turn a determined hiker into a ‘grin and bear it, grit your teeth, f4ck my foot hurts... actually it’s not that bad let’s take a looks...f4ck me that’s actually pretty bad limping, hang your head in defeat’ hiker.

So my first time hiking in many many years didn’t quite go to plan, but that’s ok... because it’s not the destination I was planning on enjoying, it was the journey. (Geesh....when did I become a cliche dispenser!)

Even through my hike didn’t go the way I wanted it to I’ve discovered a few things throughout this journey.

The first thing that happened was this morning as I was leaving home, my daughters came to hug me goodbye and I could see the look of concern and worry in my oldest daughter's eyes.

Even though my kids can seem disrespectful and rude to me, and sometimes it seems like they take me for granted I could see in the welling of my oldests eyes that she truly, honestly loves me.

Even though she’s growing up so fast, at that moment she was my little girl again.

The other realisation i’ve come to is how much I love the birdlife in Australia. So far today I’ve seen Wonga Pigeons, Black Cockatoos, Finches, 3 Wedgetail Eagles, an Owl and the friendly Kookaburra that’s keeping me company at my camp.

Today has also shown me that it’s ok if you don’t reach your goals sometimes, as long as you learn from the experience and enjoy yourself along the way.