24 April: A not so happy morning

 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 rescheduled to early next week, and we are hoping for the best. 

But this also means he won’t meet me at the end of the track tomorrow. I have been looking forward to seeing him for the last month and I have had this image in my mind of us walking the last couple of hours together and having him with me by my side when I finish. We have finished every long walk, every hike, every mountain we’ve climbed over the last 20 years together- sometimes after a week of walking single trails. But we always walk across the “finish line” or the summit (or onto the car park) together. 
I feel like I don’t have anything to walk towards any longer- I loved walking the trail, but I have also put in some huge and exhausting days with the goal of finishing tomorrow so we could walk the last bit together. And that has driven me towards where I am now. 
Now I will be walking into Albany like any other track town. 

This morning is the first time I actually feel lonely and the first time I shed some tears. 

Comments

  1. CorkyApril 25, 2021 at 6:20 AM

    So sorry to read this Julia. I was wondering how the Perth lockdown affected Birgers arrival. Hope your reunion is all the more sweeter for this setback.
    Well done on finishing..

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 4: Brookton to Monadnock’s

Image
I’ve been having daily small equipment malfunctions: Day 1: ripped a hole into my $40 merino hiking superundies (and I don’t own much expensive underwear, I’m usually more the “any 3 for $11.99” kind of undie girl... anyway, TMI?!),  Day 2: realised that it?s the back pocket of my hiking pants that causes chafing under my hip belt. Not pretty, but I’ve plastered a dressing over it. Thank god for the blister pack Damian provided :-)  Day 3: hole in my sleeping mat.  Oh well, if that’s as bad as it gets, I’m going to be ok!  Pretty flat start this morning, and a bit of walking under a power line with some highway noises in the background. Given I haven’t seen anyone, it’s surprising how close I am to civilisation.  It was nice to turn back into the bush after crossing the highway.  There seems to be a bit more fauna around, I’ve been seeing more birds and had a few wallabies cross the path and there is more rustling in the undergrowth- snakes? Lizards?  And some pretty flowers with lots
Read more

Day 8: Laundry Day! Shower Day!

Image
31 March: into Dwellingup, about 20km I left Chadoora camp site in light drizzle, but didn’t really care - I was on my way into “town”, namely Dwellingup. According to Wikipedia it has a population of 383.  The walk was a little uninspiring this morning, lots of walking near a railroad track (which is only used twice a week for a historic steam train). The trail was very overgrown, probably because most people just walk on the railroad tracks, which is what I ended up doing as well.   There was so much bird life today though - I saw lots of emu scats (!), a tiny blue wren sitting on a Bibbulmun track sign, a scarlet robin and lots of black cockatoos again.  I got to Dwellingup by mid day and treated myself to a flat white and scones at the Blue Wren Cafe. A funky little place for a small town.  I still haven’t figured out how to turn these photos, I’ll do it when I get access via a computer.  I had booked a walker’s room at the local caravan park - pretty basic, but they have laundry f
Read more

Day 6: 32 in 37

Image
29 March That’s 32km in 37 degree heat. With another few big climbs. I now remember reading the recommendation to start in the south and go North, instead of what I?m doing, I.e. North (Kalamunda) to south (Albany) - for 2 reasons: your legs are more used to walking and the hills will be easier towards the end. And it?s not as hot in the south this time of the year, and will cool down up here by the time you get here. Right... I understand both points now.  It was a long, hot day today. I left Nerang campsite and covered the first 16km to Gringer Creek by lunch time. On the way, I had 2 Brush wallabies follow me - or rather hop away, then stopping to stare at me and as soon as I got closer hopping off ahead again. This went on for quite a while.  An hour later, something similar went on with a couple of red tailed black cockatoos But there’s also not much happening for long stretches. Just bush, the wind in the trees and my footsteps. Lots of time to think. Mostly about food. Sometimes
Read more