The WHY

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 my career or money. 


Comments

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