Total Distance – 859km
A Heysen Trail Story
It’s been a really mixed day of emotions. The whole gamut really. Exhilarating highs and devastating lows. That’s life I suppose.
The day started on a high. A dry tent! It’s amazing what a positive difference that makes to the packing up process. And Greg and Cath were true to their word, and provided me with boiling water both last night, and, for my cuppa this morning. Great start.
Not so great was the news that my new stove was definitely not going to make it to Kersbrook to pick up today. Not much to be done except forward it on to the next town, and plan to beg, borrow or steal Cath and Greg’s stove again tonight.
The walk today was honestly a bit of a blur. Rather nice walking through forestry areas and nature strips. And hills. Many, many hills. Puffing and panting, I reflected that it was probably a rather fortunate thing that I had been denied entry to Kersbrook.
I ran into Cath and Greg having their lunch and they revealed an incredible surprise. Gail, the wonderful coffee angel, having unfortunately had to retire from the track again with health issues, waved them down from her car. Cath flourished a stove and stated that Gail had dropped it off for my use until I could get my own sorted. To just get in contact with her once I was done with it, and she would come and pick it up. What an amazing thing to do for a complete stranger. To purposely be there, to pass it over. To trust me with it. Incredible kindness. And then Cath even carried it for me! What to say…except thank you. Truely.
A few kilometers before camp I pull into a roadside cafe. Charge up with a toasted sandwich, chips and a beer. I’m feeling pretty damn relaxed, when a text comes from home. Nanna has taken a turn. She’s not great. More news to come later.
It’s a punch to the guts. And all I can think about when I start walking again. She’s old, my nanna. In her 90’s. A living legend.
I don’t mind admitting that I started to cry. I suddenly felt a long, long way away from those I love and who love me. In my opinion, one of the worst things about Covid is the loneliness it begets on the elderly. After such a tremendous life, to not be able to be surrounded by loved ones, is a travesty. It all just makes me so sad.
But nanna is a fighter. And an inspiration for what I am currently attempting to achieve. And there’s nothing I can realistically do anyway. Except just keep walking. And hope she improves. It’s tough though. When you take away all the stress of daily life, it leaves a lot of space for thought. My nanna will take up a lot of that space in the next few days. Which is a lovely thing…
Ironically, I’m at Grandpa’s camp tonight. I don’t think anyone will mind, if, just for the night, it becomes Grandma’s Camp. That’s how I’ll think of it anyway.
Your nanna would be the first to stand on the side tracks celebrating your massive effort, if she could! Your spirit of adventure and willingness to go it alone as you give everything your all, may be her legacy for you, eldest grandchild!! And she was a blogger way back when….with a crate full of meticulously written travel diaries!
Soldier on….
Lovely to see the blue sky back in your photos!
Lovely words both Mel and Nic! Keep soldiering on Mel, we are all proud of you!
I agree Mel. Nanna would be so proud of you and what you have achieved. She would be there with you if she could, enjoying every minute of the bush. I love the renaming of your camp site to Grandma’s camp and she would too!