Today is THE DAY

 It’s been a bit of a mad rush over the last few days (a 3 day sales meeting in the Blue Mountains last week, followed by walking 60km Coastrek on Friday and packing over the weekend and then my last 2 days in the office and an Achilles strategy meeting on zoom last night just to top it off - I’m slightly out of breath just typing this 😅) with not much time to actually let many people around me know what I’m going to be doing over the next few weeks. 

If you are one of them, I apologise. 

I’ve just boarded the plane to Perth and it’s weird how “out of practice” I am with travel - first flight in over a year - wow! 

My backpack is about 15kg, and that includes food for the first 8 days, so even with water, it’s pretty reasonable I think. Considering I carried over 20kg on the Great Ocean Walk last year, I’ve obviously learned a bit about shedding “luxury items”. Here’s my wardrobe for the next 4+weeks: 

A few wonderful people have provided some new essentials - Stef and Mike, who are my “thru hiking” friends and have not only been my inspiration but have also provided lots of at advice and let me borrow their Garmin inreach (a GPS device with a PLB that will also allow me to send Birger a nightly “I’m ok” message even if I don’t have phone connection). 

Jody’s husband who is a podiatrist put a 53g blister prevention & treatment pack together, including his phone number (I guess calling him for help would mean my feet were pretty f$&ed...let’s hope it won’t get to that 👣). 

My first day today will be just 12km, but I still need to organise a few things like getting a gas cylinder and a lighter that I couldn’t take on the plane. And maybe a last barista made coffee will be nice. 

The next few weeks will be pretty minimal, but really, that’s why I’m doing this. 

Everyone keeps telling me how this is such a huge thing to take on and that it will be a life changing experience- but I’m still so under the pump that I’m mostly worried about whether I’ve packed enough chocolate bars 🍫. 

And it’s a little bit like when I’ve signed up for a big race - I’m mostly concerned about getting to the start line. Once I get into the swing of things, I know I will love every step along the way! 

But I am soooo looking forward to trees 🌳and nature 🦋 and nothing else around me! 

Well, the plane is about to take off - over and out for now!