Perth to Sydney Ultramarathon

Posted 2:16:45 PM by Don
30.1.02:
After early caution with the ankle, circulation improved and beautiful conditions were present for our winding climb of Eucla Pass, just short of the SA border. The smell of salt and the ocean?s appearance over the sand dunes was stirring. Everyone is stoked with our progress and it will feel great having crossed WA, though I have really enjoyed the scenery on offer.

Total distance to date: 1440.6km

As far as sponsor gear and its effectiveness, here is the truth:
The MIO heart-rate monitor has been an accurate measure of energy expenditure related to Heart Rate. With it I am able to regulate my pace to keep energy efficiency high and consequent expenditure low. This may seem straightforward as we can all tell when we are going faster/using more energy. However, out here it can be a very hot day disguised by a strong headwind reducing sweating capability whilst subtly losing great amounts of energy.

ASICS TIGER?s clothing has been of its usual standard - highly reliable. Although some of the shoes are wearing thin, their rotation should see them through a running life of 800km for each pair of 2070?s. Providing great ankle support (my problems have surfaced from the immense force absorbed), these shoes are ideal for the serious runner with mild pronation. Their shorts are what I like best. They wash easily and dry quickly.

The KEA CAMPERS 4 Berth Motor home has been all that I expected and more. Its greatest asset is room and comfort. The gas stove works well and the two double beds are accessible and can remain set up as we have chosen of late. It is surprisingly fuel economic. With our stop start motion every 2-3km you would expect to burn up the fuel. Diesel run, we are travelling 450km to the tank (68L).

The Rudy Project sunglasses have been a success. With molding capabilities and varying changeable lenses, these glasses are suitable for running and cycling in the heat of the day.

BERNY?S HI-FI has given us a fantastic video camera. We are capturing some amazing footage and the power of the camera?s zoom is unlike any I?ve seen before. We have discarded our binoculars.

The medical products from Meg Gardiner?s CREMORNE PHARMACY have been the greatest success of all on this trip. Having had a good chat with Meg before departing, the dosage advice and selection of drugs has seen my body cope with some incredible stress.

The R.M. WILLIAM?s shirts have been used by the crew and I at official events and definitely enhance our professional appearance.

The Energizer Max batteries must be good because we have not needed to replace those in the walkman yet!

I?m very tired, always. I miss many people. I miss Black and Gold family size pies. I miss the smell of the ocean. I dream about death a fair bit and morbid as it may sound I have written eulogies for a number of people. I say this only to highlight the increased appreciation for family and friends that the long road engenders. I look forward to the renewal of our friendships and the development of many more. God bless you all.

From 29.1.02:
This morning was tough. It began badly with spilt Coco-Pops along with Berocca at 5:25am. I felt very alone for a few hours in 5 degree wind-chilled temperatures. Music combined with a little imagery saved what was looking like a grim situation. 10 minutes later identical to the motion of dolphins welcoming a vessel to port, a pack of galahs swept before me and continued looping from one side of the road to the other in my path. A kind escort. The session before lunch was extremely tough with the heat beginning to rise and the Easterly wind strengthening. My legs are happy to keep moving but the mind is not always willing and in the haze it is tough to lose sight and hope of a van stationed 2km ahead. I have not had any real muscle fatigue or soreness due to the slow speed at which I travel, yet it now hurts to sit as I have lost enough weight from my bum for bones to protrude.

Bruce and the team at Mundrabilla Roadhouse treated us like kings. They shouted the whole team to a hearty lunch with showers and the filling of our water tank thrown in complimentarily. In urban Australia, Sydney especially, it is hard to understand how precious water is. Out here is treated like gold. It must be trucked in from Norseman/Perth at a cost of nearly ten times that which is paid in the big cities. For many on this stretch of road, the water quality is poor as the corrugated collection roofs often leak unwanted minerals into the catchments and desalination units go for a lazy $50000.

We have completed day 23 and two hours in to day 24 we are stationed at 1382km from Cottesloe.

This afternoon the ankle injury from week one resurfaced. A pressure bandage provided by Trish Evans the day before departure in Sydney, aided recovery and an early night was had by all.

From 28.1.02:
Sitting propped against the van wall, parked on a good angle 5 metres off a highway that only stretches as far as the heat haze permits. The sun has burnt a thick layer of cloud and there is nothing but blue skies. Perhaps 32 degrees. The van is quite cool and the team are all dead to the world, they have been working in such great harmony, I understand their fatigue.

We have re-calibrated all our distances based on the innacuracy of the odometer and find ourselves 1322.5km down the road from Perth, having completed precisely one third of the journey at our 9:45am break, signalling the new day. This has meant an average of 59.5km per day and an ETA of March 13th (66 days total). I am certain that this will only recede. Through the generosity of many individuals we have passed $1500 raised along the way, pledges included.

Pete has finally changed from jeans to shorts, thank God.

From 27.1.02:
Made our way through Madura Pass and it was even more spectacular than I recalled. You have gradually been rising for days and the edge disappears into an oblivion that becomes the sharp downhill of the pass. From high your vision extends perhaps 30km over a forest that rims the base of the pass into fields of grey-lavender shrub to the horizon. The ride down into Madura is shepherded by steep limestone cliffs entering the 180km flat section chaperoned by the mountains to the left. Covered by water 20 million years ago, the road contains shells and fossils that stunt my progress through curiosity.

Peter Blake has provided the quote of the trip: ?Unlike your mother, I am not your mother!?

Followed closely by: ?The good thing about my cooking is that I don?t get asked twice!?

From 26.1.02:
With a little ?Men At Work?, the team was rewarded with an Australia Day sleep in. The 5:30 start was welcome and only an hour later we returned to Cocklebiddy where Peter Blake had been bussed in from Perth to assist with the driving. Pete rocked up full kit and kaboodle accompanied by 120L of water. Thinking this extreme the crew were proven wrong as at our lunchstop 30km East of town Juan ?Superfly? Mesa pulled up in his road train with his pink ?they?re my wifes? 70s sunnies, in desperate need of water.
Pete is a wise campaigner and his experience and shockingly poor jokes are good for us. He is now the primary driver with Andrew acting in an ?emergency? capacity.

From Big Pete:
?I?m a glutton for punishment??nuff said. Love to Bev and Pat?

Sophie is running around 5km each day and Andrew has ambitions to run 25% of the distance across Australia which will take c.20km each day. Their company is greatly appreciated as white line fever can only provide a high for so long?

From 25.1.02:
We have been hearing for the past few days of a mad Japanese bloke, who speaks no English and is pulling a
trailer across Australia. It was to our delight we had the pleasure of Yoshinbu Sugaya for morning tea in our camper. With what appeared more like a rickshaw lacking a roof, Yoshi has been walking 40-50km per day since late November and will finish his mammoth effort in Perth some time in the coming five weeks. A gentle character who spoke fine English, Yoshi could only give ?fun? as his motive for travel. It is comforting to speak with another so young (24) who finds inner peace and development through such an arduous journey.

Could not resist popping in to a parking bay housing water tanks under corrugated roof to check my graffiti from last year?s run. Alas, our messages had disappeared but I did notice a little of Andrew Quilty?s writing. A long time school friend he and two other mates have just completed a 29000km trek around Australia?s rim and had signed the tank in customary fashion.

The sapping head-wind has ceased, the sun has gone and a cool tailwind replaced. The new conditions are expected to last a few days, though I will not be able to increase mileage a great deal as I am weak from the last 200km.

From Andrew:
?Keen with anticipation after hitching a lift with cousin Cam to Caiguna, all was going well; supporting Don, the driving, my immediate acceptance in Roadhouses due to my Maseur thongs, but the most recent boost has been provided by the double tape set of ?the All Time Greatest Movie Songs? which I bought in the Cocklebiddy roadhouse. It?s fantastic to be out here in the amazing Australian outback, Don?s going great guns, and hi to Dad, Paul, Joanna, CHRIS-topher & everyone.?

From Sophie:
?It?s Australia day and I?m dreaming about snags on the barbie?Kanga steaks with a pinch of pepper has been an issue- lots of fresh stuff on the side of the road. The road gets flatter, the scenery thinner, what a colouful journey we?re on - country music?s starting to sound good and excitement?s great when the lights of a roadhouse shines on the horizon?mingling with mullets, toothless truckies, superfly Chileans, and travellers alike. Big Pete?s in the mix - playing some funky blues and donning his bad boy sunnies. Andrew?s a gun with his illegal dance moves, an awe inspiring ridgie-didge hand action. Don?s still alive, kicking, and is keeping us all stimulated - not a moments rest in our break - ?Ookaay, time for another word puzzle!?
Cheers to the boys (respec to the original crew) for the madness and good times?it?s not the same without you. Chris - the peoples magazines are going strong. Good luck with the job.
Luv ya Ma.?