Posted 2:03:48 PM by Don
Met by blustery winds and some nasty hills, I ran into injury, this time with the left knee. So I have been forced to slow down, again. This does not disappoint me as much as it disappoints the crew as I had planned for such eventualities, but there is pressure from them to run faster and keep moving. To be honest, I must tune out from them and tune into my body which tells me specifically when to run and when to walk.

We pulled up 5km short of Southern Cross for lunch with a good total (considering) for day 6 of 63.5km. Total distance is at 369.1km.

Posted 1:58:29 PM by Don
From 11.1.02:

It just wasn't fair. I was the only one not on the 'turps' last night for Chris' birthday celebrations, yet I was terribly ill. Would have had something to do with the whole can of tuna consumed earlier in the afternoon.

This morning the ankle was little better resulting in a shuffle/walk (a day 5 total of 13.9km) until lunch at one of my favourite locations from last year's run - Westonia. The small town 10km north of the Highway, was heavily populated before the mine shut down in 1991. It now houses 351 people in the 3000 square km shire. Thus we had the pub, pool and post office to ourselves.

This afternoon, the first step on the track was a running one. A good sign and with the ankle feeling much better I set off at a good pace averaging 9km/hr for the next 3hrs. The final section of the day I was gliding at 15km/hr causing my support crew, who were filling water jerry's at Bodallin, to set up at a point I had already passed. Suspecting I was in trouble they began to backtrack. In the pitch black, I hailed down a passing vehicle whose lights allerted the crew to my position. We called it a night 3km East of Bodallin.

Posted 2:40:47 PM by Don
Marooned in sunny Merredin with a debilitating ankle injury we have opted for a cleanup of the van and a good pub lunch. Following a 3hr morning hobble I called for a long break to give myself the best chance for recovery. Day 4 saw 50.7km completed.

On a more inspiring note we have raised over $600, it's Chris' 25th birthday, and big Pete (from Perth) has joined us for a little roadtrip. Despite the ankle which provides considerable pain, we are all in good spirits and realise the importance of patience for the successful completion of the journey.

One interesting point is the amount of people we have met who either came in touch with Fred Hollows, or knew of someone with whom he worked. We are spreading the message, and the local communities through which we are travelling are responding with open wallets. Sophie has been great, popping in to local stores and giving people the spiel.

Photos are being posted - if you enter the photo gallery and hunt around through the links at the top of the page, you should be able to find some.

Back on the road early tomorrow morning to test out the legs. Praying for a little divine intervention.

Posted 1:33:08 PM by Don
Sustaining an ankle injury yesterday afternoon, day 3 saw 62.7km completed with which I'm pretty satisfied. We have now covered 240km from Cottesloe which is over 6% of the total distance and find ourselves in Merredin, having stopped 25km West of here. Amazing how some stats sound good whilst others are depressing, like the fact that a passerby this morning left Perth, this morning...

The section before lunch was tough and the crew are feeling pretty drained.

This from the crew:

Guy: "Have been staring blankly at paddocks, livestock and things. People out here seem much smaller than usual. The roads are tarred with the hot smelly goo of my dreams. We are all moist with anticipation. I am very hungry and I never want to go home."
Sophie: "delerium's kicking in right about now... classical music's never sounded better."
Chris: "The run is very different from last years. It is more solitary."
Dave: "Hi Mum... send more money."

This is what I got out of the crew after 75hrs of reflection on the road... like blood out of a stone.

Posted 12:33:30 PM by Don
Hot weather, currently 35 degrees, and I'm taking a break before heading out this arvo. We are 5km east of Cundedrin, but have returned for a swim at the local pool. At 10am this morning the road surface temperature was 43 degrees!

Day 2 saw us notch up 72.8km - good considering the rough patch I went through late yesterday when the wind died and the heat became more apparent. A brief stop and refuel of electrolytes witnessed a 'return to form' and the rest of the arvo was OK. My speed is slow, but I am just easing into the km's and will probably pick it up next week.

Running up a hill yesterday arvo in possibly the hardest part of the run yet, I glanced down and noticed that where the gravel met the road there were three colours: red; blue and black - identical to the Year Of The Outback logo and in the same order. It reinforced the importance of my run and awareness raising for the beauty of this country. We must have gone through 45 subtle yet major changes in scenery and it is one of the aspects that is keeping my mind occupied.

I am really appreciating the well wishers and others who raise a hand as they drive by, though the oncoming truckies who wave with both hands are a little worrying!

Had a tough spot this morning where I stopped at a public toilet to find there was no loo paper and stepped out to see my crew had driven off. The resultant 45min. waddle to the van 1.7km away was not an easy section!

Total Km's to date: 176km. Each 24hr period is recorded from 9:00am, with mornings starting at 4:00am and the final timing will finish in accordance with 12:00 EDST as we are currently 3hrs behind. We have raised over $200 enroute.

Stay tuned...

Posted 1:54:56 PM by Don
Sunday dawned cool and a small reception party farewelled myself and the crew from the Perth Bell Tower. A past competitor in the Trans Australia Footrace, Mick Francis, and my good mate, Andrew Mcmillan, accompanied me for the first 16km before we stopped for lunch and a break in the heat.

The steep ascent from Perth was negotiated later that afternoon, with the team settling down for sleep next to a hay barn 52km down the track. As the lights went out, so another was shone in the back windows from men in uniform. We were on 'prison farm' land and following our details being recorded, were asked to leave. Later Dave told us the men were armed. 'Armed?' I asked. 'Yeah didn't you see the F$@*&'n shotgun on the dash!'. The crew are living up to expectations, with little tension inside the van, possibly due to the fact that it is the roomiest 4 berth I have ever come across - thanks Kea!

After the first 24hrs, 77.5km has been completed and we have just had a swim in the Northam pool (95km from Perth). The road beckons at 3:30 for another stint until 8:30pm. Total distance done since Cottesloe is 107km. Feeling good, lookout Serge...

Thanks to the few who have donated along the way and the many others that have offered an amicable 'toot'. The radio continues to give us good coverage and we will be on 2UE Sydney at 5:15am tomorrow morning - 8:30am Sydney time.

Will endeavour to keep these regular - may not be easy. Stay tuned for some photos, Don.