{"id":1800,"date":"2022-03-29T05:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T19:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyergmail.direct.quickconnect.to\/wordpress\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2023-07-07T16:09:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T06:09:58","slug":"australian-alps-walking-track-days-35-and-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/australian-alps-walking-track-days-35-and-36\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Alps Walking Track – postscript"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

This is such a happy ever after,
you traveled miles,
now we\u2019re past the finishing line.<\/em><\/p>\nTom Jones.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The trip home <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After finishing the walk at the Namadgi Visitor Centre I washed off, put on fresh clothes (I had carried them for a week) and caught a taxi to the airport. Airport tea never tasted so good (and a chocolate muffin). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I flew to Melbourne where my son Elliot picked me up. I spent the night at his place and the next day he drove me to Walhalla to collect my car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thanked the lady in the Walhalla post office with flowers and chocolate for kindly keeping an eye on my car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spent four days picking up my empty food drops, camping next to the Wellington River the first night and south of Omeo the second night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I shared my campsite the second night with a lovely couple and their dog (Mac). Mac was the smartest, best-behaved dog I have ever met, having been trained as a seeing eye dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Mac the wonder dog. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My final pick-up point was Dead Horse Gap. My bucket had been found after I had left it two weeks earlier and there was a nice and encouraging note left on top. I spent that night camped near Island Bend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The encouraging note. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some concluding thoughts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many possible motivations for completing the AAWT. For me it was mostly about the physical challenge. To this extent I succeeded (although my knees still trouble me sometimes). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was very lucky with the weather. Only three rainy days and mostly sunny weather. I was told by people I met at that time and by my wife when I returned home that the eastern seaboard had seen heavy continuous rain. The ceiling in my lounge room had collapsed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scenery was amazing. How lucky to live in Australia. I am very grateful to the Parks services in Victoria, NSW and the ACT for providing the infrastructure that enabled me to complete the walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also thanks to John and Monica Chapman and John Siesman for their invaluable guide book. I used the guide book, together with my phone and watch, to navigate the length of the AAWT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw many brumbies (138 altogether), and saw the signs of many more (droppings and foot\/hoof pads). The concentration of brumbies reinforces what I have read about the damage that they are doing to the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think the walk changed me much personality wise, although I was more gregarious with strangers during the walk. But that may have been because of the extended periods of isolation. However, I was quite happy with my own company throughout the walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you do the AAWT is a personal decision. How and why you do it are up to you. How fast or slow you go depends on your motivation for doing it. I think I did it just right (for me!).<\/p>\n\n\nPhoto Gallery<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\"\"<\/div>
Before and after<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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