Kooyoora Day 1 - somewhere in the Kooyoora State Park, Victoria

This is the first trip for first years which is supposed to ease students into the outdoor living experience. It's only one night so in case you really messed up on food or something you're not going to die. Our group leaders are two third year students, both who are laid back. They showed us how the Indigenous people carved these small pool-things into the rock to collect water when it rains. It looked as though it would've taken forever to carve those things in the rock. There are some other crazy cool looking rock formations everywhere. Every time I see a cool one I want to take a picture - which is like everyone. Hiked up a hill and ate lunch, it had some pretty nifty views overlooking Mt. Kooyoora. I'm still sick so that has played a hindrance with a couch, runny nose, and being just plain tired. My body's already sore from my pack and the little hiking we did. I was so excited to get my first lesson on how to use a compass and a map. I still need practice, obviously, but I'm asking questions and taking initiative. The group is working will together. It's been a hot, very hot, day. We've been drinking lots of water to stay hydrated and going to the refilling canteen drop sites. The flies are horrendous. Always buzzing around your head and being a nuisance. They have big flies that bite like horse flies around here. Fortunate I haven't been bit. Currently, it's late in the afternoon and we're at our campsite. I'm surprised on we aren't really hiking that much. But I'm learning how much is involved with camping and living in the outdoors - we had to check the trees in the area and make sure that we didn't camp under ones that might drop branches on us there's also planning meals, buying the food, knowing how to cook it on the trangia stoves, picking safe campsites, knowing how to read the weather, knowing how navigate effectively, etc..