“On a Mish” #445 Determination (Part Two). North Mavora Lake. Mavora Lakes Conservation Area. 22.11.2025. Determination is what carries you the last couple of kilometres of a hike. Without it you would have no drive, and probably never start the hike anyway. If you live with an ailment that makes walking difficult then you will need to draw from you determination reserves more than others. And the upside is that your feeling of success might be slightly higher than theirs. On a mish to the top of North Mavora Lake my determination was put to the test as our target was a little further than first thought…
The top of North Mavora Lake is an exceptional location to get to and admire, especially when you are used to looking at the view from the opposite end. Nearly a full tank of determination and many steps had been taken to get here, and underestimating the distance might have actually helped us hike the last final (near endless) kilometres to our lunch-spot.
After an excellent lunch we began our reluctant journey back to the Mavora Camping Ground and, on the way, we bumped into a bunch of fellas that were out on a stag do. Even though it was not long after lunchtime, they were many drinks deep and communication was via very slurred speech. One of the fellas asked if Georgie could tow his vehicle due to it not running anymore. After a confused “No, she can’t” we got outta of there asap!
After our encounter with the Stag do we realised that we still had some distance to travel. My hip and back were not in the best shape, but there was no other option apart from getting out the same way we came in. After grinding our way back up to the viewpoint on the flood-detour track we had a food break and rest. By now the sun was beaming down and Georgie had to find shade to rest in while we ate. The day was perfect and this mish was much better than expected. Now it’s time to see if determination could get me back to the car as well!
After heading up and around the flood detour we rejoined the main track, and now it was full of vehicles and noise. Every couple of minutes we would step aside to let a 4×4 or motorbike go by, and just before the peace was restored another would cruise by. At one stage we caught up with the boys from the stag do as they towed their broken side-by-side back to the camping area. The area was much, much busier than when we started our trip.
With my broken bits screaming, the car park came into view and soon our big wander alongside North Mavora Lake would be over. I am so happy that, with the assistance of Rob, Georgie and determination I could hike to a place I thought I would never ever see again. Thanks team for the epic mish in Mavora. And the new realisation that with a mixture of constant exercise at home, training walking the dog, and determination I can now get much further than expected…
