Jules Runs and Walks

  Everything you are looking for you will find within yourself.  Rumi This has been quite a journey on many levels, for body, mind and soul.  Body I feel strong, probably the strongest I have ever been.  I’ve carried everything I needed for 1000km and after all the health issues I’ve had over the last few years, months and in the weeks before I left, my body didn’t let me down.  Mind Solitude created quietness. The good kind of quiet that is full of energy. * Simplicity created space.  I had some moments of doubt, but only few.  Strength from a sense of achievement.  Soul Being in nature always makes all my worries just fall away.  I felt free and happy and awed by nature.  And now, I am so happy to have my 💕back by my side, my mate and best friend.  *there are also some thoughts on this in my “300km” post. 

I have been asked WHY I did this. Why did I walk over  1000km on my own.  The short answer: because I could. Longer answers in the blog posts.  I have also heard a lot along the lines of “I’d love to do something like this, but I can’t”.  Most often, it’s “because I am not fit enough” or “I don’t have the time”.  To address the first: you get fitter as you go. Yes, I walked 1000km in 32 days, my friend Stef did it in 28 days or so.  Most people take 50 to 60 days. And most of them are in their 50s, 60s and 70s.  And no one has ever died of blisters.  The second: Time is the most valuable thing you can give to yourself (quote credit to Oprah).  If you really want to, you prioritise time. Whether that is to take long service leave to walk 1000km (which might be considered a “career limiting move” - see very first post in this blog!) or a campervan trip around Australia or across Europe or a 500hour yoga teacher training. It is about priorities.   And for me, this was more important than

25 April, 25 km on ANZAC Day into Albany I took my time today, given there was no one waiting for me at the end. I’m still a bit sad as I had imagined getting to the end with Birger by my side for over a month, but it is what it is. And really, it is a first-world-problem compared to what others are going through these days...    This morning was along a long row of wind farms - yes, they don’t belong into the landscape but seeing renewable energy being generated makes me happy nonetheless.  The coastline was still stunning and the ocean below pretty wild.   The last couple of hours into Albany weren’t very exciting though, so I’ve changed my mind on walking back out tomorrow.  Some nice views across the inlet, but mostly along people’s backyards.  As I got closer to the Southern terminus of the trail, I video called Birger- so he was there after all - very 2020, isn’t it? (But people have done weddings and birthday parties and funerals this way - why not a finish of an epic walk??)  

24 April: 28km from West Cape Howe to Mutton Bird I left camp still a bit teary and with a cold gale blowing, but clear skies.  I had been told the next part of the trail would be very overgrown and was bracing myself for lots of bushbashing, but there were only about 100m that looked like this:  And after that it was easy walking on rolling hills and along the cliffs with stunning views of the coastline.  I ran into two trail Volunteers whom I told my sad story about the impact of the Perth lockdown and they were very emphatic and lovely.  With the beautiful scenery and weather my spirits were slowly lifting and I came up with a few alternative plans for my trail finish.  Today, I saw at least 4 tiger snakes and lots of rustling disappeared into the undergrowth - so my snake count has probably tripled (depending on how you count) and I finally feel wearing gators makes a lot of sense around here (I have been wearing them since the day I first saw a snake though!).  I passed Torbay hut

  Before reading this: please keep in mind that this blog is mostly intended for myself, I would like to be able to read back on my thoughts and feelings in a year or so from now. I thought about posting this, but I think it’s an important part of the “journey”.  I turned on my phone after breakfast to find a message from Birger saying he had an eventful night and to call him as soon as I could.   Perth went into COVID lockdown at midnight (because they’ve had one case - this may seem slightly unusual to all non- Australians, but that?s why we are doing so well here- one case, everyone stays home, they contact trace over the weekend, things are (usually) back under control) and if he flies into Perth today, he?ll be in the middle of the lockdown zone and will have to isolate in a hotel for at least 3 days or until further notice. Based on what has happened in other places, like Melbourne, there is obviously a risk that he could get stuck for a very long time...  So, his flight is resch

  After 3 cups of tea, a yoghurt with some cereal someone had left behind,  and a banana, I went off and got a coffee and an almond donut at the bakery. I think overall, that makes a balanced meal as it included all food groups.  Mia, the Chinese backpacker working at the hostel, gave me a lift to where the road met the track - I?m so glad I went for this option as it turned out to be a 30 min drive! As I got out of her car, I realised that I had left my walking poles in my room.  Oh, well, it?s only 3 more days and Birger will be driving through Denmark on Sunday anyway, so hopefully he can get them then.  So by 8am, I was on the trail again, poleless at first, but I found a nice walking stick after 20 min which will help me up the dunes and also increase my impact as I?m sure that plays a big part in chasing off the snakes. Supposedly, they are more frequent in this part, but so far, I?’only seen one (about 2 weeks ago) and 2 baby ones that didn’t really qualify as snakes yet, so I g

  I had a weird night - I was attacked by so many mozzies that I gave up at just after 7pm, turned off all the lights including my eReader and pulled my sleeping bag liner over my head. By 1am, I was completely awake (the rats rustling around didn’t help either). My legs were itchy and i was actually pretty hot and just couldn’t go back to sleep, so I ended up finishing my book and then went back to sleep eventually. I still got plenty of sleep- and I find waking up and being awake in the middle of the night not as troubling as I would at home. And speaking to other hikers, most people seem to experience the same - sleep for 4 or 5 hours (from 7pm), then awake for an hour or two in the middle of the night, then back to sleep until 5am.  When I woke up, I realised that I actually had a rash on my legs which would explain the itchiness. I’ll get some antihistamines from the pharmacy in Denmark. It looks like I?m allergic to something.  It’s weird though as I?ve been wearing gators the wh