My polar walks still continue as do my town circuits. Besides the superb disused railway station, the post office, and an old glorious pub, I also walked past a church – the Uniting. These days people there pray about a tasty calamari, for it is now Spirou’s Seafood and Salad Bar. The owners were criticised earlier on for desecrating this church until they discovered that Spirou had saved it from being demolished – now they are valued customers and go to church many times every week.
Mambray Creek offered us a choice so we took the Sugar Gum route. This tree is mostly recognised by a sniff of its foliage and grows mostly in the higher regions. We were admiring a perfectly dead gum tree that had fallen not only in the shape of a bridge, but at a perfect length. Parents and babies flew in to take a look. They gathered round and all began to mock the wooden bridge, with some of the loudest and most varied laughters I had ever heard.
This route initially followed a creek, under ‘Dead Tree Bridge’, where just before, Corrie spent some time talking to a tame young Kangaroo (there were many about). A simple creek walk but a busy one, as we passed walkers on their own; one group with friends; an older man (twice); a group of noisy kids, some with very loud voices, and a young couple who hurried back when the rain started – they had left their tent open!!!
This simple walk soon began a very steep one for some distance until we saw our unmarked lookout facing (Sorry, I didn’t tell you) a cliff side of mostly orange blocks of rocks over 800 million years old. I suddenly felt very young. Because the lookout was unmarked I walked to a corner but the rise had ended and we started back down.
I ‘sort of’ cross country ski with my poles protecting my knees as I throw one pole out in front of me into the dirt, pulling myself down as I swung the other pole ready to grab its hold (the same method poling up) as taught to me by Corrie. I see so many people unable to enjoy even simple walking because of damaged knees so I go out of my way to use protective devices.
A short drive to Quorns, (a seemingly quiet sleepy country town) that takes us ever closer to the Flinders, is our home for the night. From here we are close to some exciting hikes for the next 5 days while we keep a careful eye on accommodation in the Flinders (hard to get – but I remind you all, I have booking.com‘s genius of the year travelling with me).
I really admire you both doing what you are going ! one leg/foot in front of the other day after day. Nope we wont count the number of steps ! Interesting though to put on a pedometer. !!!!!- start to end of your adventure At the end of the trip ? there is the number. And thanks again on the creative side of the walk – your lovely writings
I really admire you both doing what you are going ! one leg/foot in front of the other day after day. Nope we wont count the number of steps ! Interesting though to put on a pedometer. !!!!!- start to end of your adventure At the end of the trip ? there is the number. And thanks again on the creative side of the walk – your lovely writings
And both that morning two paths equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden back
Oh I kept the first for another day
Yet knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I shall ever come back
I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I, I took the one least travelled by
And that has made all the difference
Dear Will and Corrie
I liked Narayan’s comments about the various aspects of your walk especially about the trees which I also thought look just like a painting – beautiful colours 🧚🏾♀️Hilarious comments about the church where the .fish’n’chips are worshipped maybe it may prompt a reminder of the Giver of such delightful comfort food. Hope you continue happily ever onward on your expeditions 💕💕ruth
Hi dear friends
Just catching up now on the last few days of your blogs, Will. I want to make a few comments in relation to those days:
1. You said you love corners. I do as well, and when Janine and I go for walks, I typically say that I want to see what’s just around the next corner (and the next one…)
2. Taking inspiration from Guy, with Cerebral Palsy, taking the most difficult paths, and with the motto, “this is our life, you don’t get a second go”.
3. The photo of Mt Remarkable was a bit remark-able – we’re getting a reasonable feel for what you’re experiencing from the comfort of our armchairs.
4. Loved the Day 9 photos : the Church of Fish and Chips, uniting those who congregate and pray they get some good fish and chips to nurture their body and soul; and the great photo of the gums – almost like a painting.
5. The orange blocks of rocks over 800 million years old, which put our incredibly temporary concerns and experiences into a different perspective
6. The Nordic poles – you’ve reminded me of our poles, which we haven’t used for years. We are encouraged to get them out again and not mind the usual/unusual stares and comments of people as we walk along the beach with them.
Love from us both.
Thanks for your feedback, it’s great to hear what meaning it has for you
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”. Your hard work to inspire people with Parkinson’s and raise money for science are very much appreciated..
Thank you Larissa but I’m not a genius, I just love what we are doing, but I do accept your words of appreciation. We must walk again when we get back