Thursday, April 15, 2010

To the middle of nowhere in particular

People are asking me about proactivism. It's easiest to direct their curiosity to www.swaggie.comyr.com. Today I'm headed for Karuah waiting for the sun to warm my bones.
After a good day walking, getting a decent distance in a reasonable time I've finally made it to the middle of nowhere in particular. Tea Garden, Hawks Nest tomorrow morning.
A sign I read today said 736km to Brisbane, about 4 weeks to catching up with everyone. My ideas are flowing..
Swaggie

Letter 14th April : Walking through Karuah was the only highlight of this day. I found the odd side road off the main road and sometimes even found it come to a a very rude and sudden dead end. I camped off the road on the way to a place called "Tea Gardens".

"A Typical Day"
Medowie-Karuah-Near Tea Garden

Up about
6am before the sunrise by the light of the dawn. As soon as I can, my hat is on and I'm elligible for swaggie privileges. It takes about 15 minutes to pack my swag tight and brush off the weed seeds.

Shouldering my swag and tuckerbag I adjust my clobber out on the trail again. My walking straightens up and I start thinking about the day ahead. First break is 8km along the way at a roadside rest stop with toilets. Breakfast goes down best after a morning walk at about 8.30am. Two vegemite sandwiches, peanuts, dried fruit, one square of organic fair trade super dark chocolate, (as a reward for favourable behaviour), one apple and a good suck on a water tap.
More walking, down the Pacific highway this time, trucks bringing an occasional fresh gust.

At 10am I have a drinks break by the road. (13km) Ideas cause a racket bouncing around my mind so it's a chance to dump them onto my notebook; something about insecurities. I pick off the weed seeds from my socks and shoes.

Karuah appears bit by bit from the bush. It's noon, 20km from Medowie and I'm surprised to have arrived so early in the day. Lunch is taken at a park bench in the shade as thoughts drift to conversations I've had.

At 24km I came back to the Pacific Highway and found some cardboard to turn into postage envelopes. 28km into the day's journey I take the chance for a nap
by the roadside. (3.30pm) At 32km I take a break to write down an idea about gender differences, it's 5.30pm and the sun is on the horizon.

When poor light brings an end to proceedings it's 34km down the road and 6.30pm. I was hoping to come across an ideal patch of turf but settled for a roadside spot amongst the tall weeds instead. Rolling out the swag is probably the most quietly rewarding time of the day.

Swaggie

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