May 18, 2021
Freedom Adventure 1
Mt Remarkable
One day, Pete had an idea: to incorporate travel with the Freedom Fitness clients and venture to a remote part of South Australia to climb a mountain.
After discussing the idea with the Freedom staff, Freedom Adventure was born with Mt Remarkable being the first of the many adventures to be conquered.
A date was chosen and in no time all the seats were taken up by enthusiastic clients.
With a fresh cup of coffee and one of Silvia’s zucchini slices for breakfast everyone was ready to start the adventure.
The journey took 3.5hrs which included a pit stop in Dublin for Stephanie to administer some emergency acupuncture for Shane’s sinuses. There was plenty of laughter on the trip and with DJ Steph on Spotify everyone had fun.
Standing at the foot of Mt Remarkable with backpacks full of supplies, the Freedom Adventure team were ready to go.
Zina led the way to the summit. Stopping every few km's for hydration we all breathed in the most spectacular views and embraced the serenity of the remote Australian outback and each others company. With a good rhythm and smooth walk everyone made it to the top.
We regrouped for a well deserved rest. A good time to recharge and reflect on the walk and on life itself.
With Stephanie leading the way, Zina in the middle and Pete at the end, everyone tackled the descent.
The rocky trail back was challenging as everyone was getting tired from a long but most enjoyable adventure.
As we reached the bottom of the mountain, Stephanie organised a picturesque spot under a tree ready for the yoga class. With Mt Remarkable as a backdrop and some meditative yoga everyone had time to reflect and stretch into a peaceful state. It was a beautiful and relaxing session in an amazing setting.
With an abundance of catered food Zina made sure everyone was well fed. Then it was time for the bus trip home.
The drive back was relaxing, with everyone exhausted and sharing their experiences.
Danny had taken over entertainment and with a stopover in Pt Wakefield for petrol and some of Tracy’s home-cooked treats we were back in the city by 6pm.
Finally it was time to go home and cherish the beautiful experience we all had.
Stay tuned for the next trip, this won’t be the last.
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Ingredients 700 g grass-fed beef strips (sirloin, flank, or rump steak) 4 large portobello mushrooms (approx. 400 g total) 8 medium carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise (about 600 g) 2 bunches broccolini (approx. 400 g) 6½ tbsp olive oil total (≈ 97 mL) (2 tbsp for beef + 2 tbsp for mushrooms + 1½ tbsp for carrots + 1 tbsp for broccolini) 1 tbsp butter (14 g) 2 cloves garlic, minced (6 g) 1 tbsp fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped (optional) 2 tsp salt total (≈ 12 g) (½ tsp for beef + ½ tsp for mushrooms + ½ tsp for carrots + ½ tsp for broccolini) 1¼ tsp black pepper total (≈ 5 g) 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional, 15 mL) 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, 7 g) Instructions 1. Roast the carrots and mushrooms Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) . Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Toss carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper, and honey/maple syrup if using. Spread on half of the tray. Place the portobello mushrooms on the other half, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic (if using), and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25–30 minutes , turning once halfway through. Mushrooms should be tender and juicy; carrots caramelized and golden. 2. Grill the beef While vegetables roast, heat a grill pan or barbecue over high heat . Toss beef strips with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Grill for 2–3 minutes per side , or until cooked to your liking (medium-rare to medium recommended). Rest for a few minutes before serving to keep tender and juicy. 3. Steam and fry the broccolini Bring a small pot of water to a boil, and lightly steam broccolini for 2–3 minutes until bright green. Drain well. Heat butter and olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat . Add the broccolini and sauté for 2–3 minutes , seasoning with salt and pepper until slightly crisp on the edges. 4. Serve Plate each portion with a serving of grilled beef strips, a whole roasted mushroom, a few roasted carrots, and a generous side of buttery broccolini. Drizzle any beef or mushroom juices over the top for extra flavor. Optional Garnish Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme before serving. Add a squeeze of lemon over the broccolini for brightness. Nutrition and Cooking Times Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 30–35 minutes Nutrient Value per serve: Calories: 480kcal | Protein: 39g | Fat: 28g | Carbohydrates: 15g
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