THE BIG WALK
50KM IN A DAY (December 1998)

The drunk shouted as he staggered from the pub, awakening us from a worn-out daze. We waited as the sun set for the walkers to arrive. At 8.30pm they are sighted in the fading light, Steve striding along with vigour followed by Trevor with blistered feet but still going strong. Neil and Colin, worn out and in a daze, but still walking, arrive at the Mt Macedon pub in the last light of day.

Twelve hours earlier, 6 walkers had left the summit of Mt. Macedon for the YHA Bushwalkers end of year 50km marathon day walk. Training had taken place throughout Spring for this big event and as we moved away from the cars in the early morning mist we all knew this was going to be a long, hard and demanding day.

Our route would take us from the summit of Mt. Macedon along tracks and dirt roads to the Cobaw State Forest, across fields, along more roads to Woodend, through pine forest and finally to Mt. Macedon shops. The pace would have to be quick if we did not want to walk in the dark. The walk starts well but within 5km we have missed a turn-off and have to backtrack. Then we walk off the map hoping that the tracks will join. They do and steadily the kilometres pass under our feet as we walk through farmland green with fresh spring growth. Wildflowers bloom on the verge beside the road, the sun shines through a thin layer of cloud, a cool wind blows from the south. This is walking at its best. A farmer gives directions. Ostriches, roos, sheep, echidnas, horses and even a lama keep us company as we speed along the country lanes. Cockies and deer betray our presence as we walk across the fields, fences are crossed, locked gates climbed and always onwards we must walk.......

A badly folded map causes us to become temporarily disoriented and valuable time is lost while the map is folded, folded and folded again. We don’t have time to waste, so we push on, Colin following behind folding the map as we walk. We discuss the fate of the kangaroo that had left one front leg behind trapped in a fence. We cross a logged pine plantation and then down a demoralising 10km straight stretch of back road to Woodend. The monotony broken only by the toothless grin of the farmer checking his fences.

At 37km the pace takes its toll and Richard and Jan drop out to take a short cut back to Mt Macedon shops but still manage to walk a total of 46km, while Colin, Neil, Steve and Trevor continue to Woodend, through the pine plantation, across the railway line as the train driver hoots his horn, and finally back to the shops for a 50.5km, 72,143 step days total. We are all very tired. The pub is full of yuppies so we move on for a well earned pizza. This must be the hardest day walk we have ever done!