Old Bushwalkers Never Die
(they just do longer walks!) - Autumn 2000

We all had our strategies. One was overloading on electrolyte fluids (dehydration and cramps would be fatal). Another had his feet bandaged up like a Egyptian mummy (stuffed feet would also be fatal). One was stuffing down bananas in quantities that would make a monkey sick. Another said he would be sick if he ate anything at all. At the Castlemaine fish and chip shop others were stuffing down hot chips and milk shakes (energy burnout would also be fatal). Castlemaine was nearly the half way point. The fish and chip shop bloke said we were crazy. We all agreed. We could get the train back from here. But on we went.

The car we had planted at the 64km mark was a morale lifting sight. Here we stoked up on hot drinks, scones, jam and cream. One was too crook to eat or drink. Others were crook after they had eaten (they were also crook before they had eaten). From this point we were to enter the unknown, none of us had ever walked continuously this far before. One relinquished, his feet were in agony and he drove the car on to the finish of the walk. Another had chronic flatulence but pushed on regardless.

A full moon illuminated the road ahead through a thin cover of cloud. It was a brilliant night as we wandered along quiet back country lanes on the last leg. The whiff of a dead animal broke the mild night air, (then we realised that it wasn’t an animal at all, it was the ‘wind’!) We knew a weather front was coming and delirium was setting in. A strange object came into view on the white gravel track ahead. Ron hesitated and shone his torch. ‘SNAKE!!’, Colin screams in fright. Trevor yells, ‘Its a stick you fool!’. On we went.

The last 5km! But there are no tracks now. We are somewhere out in the middle of a farmers paddock, dodging pot-holes, cow pats and jumping fences. Suddenly everything turns black, the moon disappears behind thick rain clouds and thunderbolts light up the night sky. We feel completely exposed in the middle of the field and then it pours, we get soaked. The situation is grim, we shine our torches on an old farmhouse in the middle of no-where. It is 3am, ‘If it's not derelict we could get shot here’ a voice says in the gloom. Fortunately it is abandoned. The old farm house track is well overgrown. But we manage to follow it along to another track which eventually becomes a good road. The rain has by now stopped and we can see lights, The finish is in sight. Our comrade is already crashed there in the back of his car. A moan emanates from the back ‘Who’s there!’. Not much else is said.

One drove straight home to a hot shower and a real bed. The others just crashed there on the spot in the back of their wagons - totally exhausted but satisfied at completing the challenge.

For the record Statistics:
• Pedometer reading 81.5km (108,666 calibrated 750mm steps) (Although the map measurer read 78km)
• Time taken 20hrs. 8am Saturday - 4am Sunday.
• Average age of participants 49.

Background
• YHA marathon walks (at least in recent times) originated 25th March 1996. Blackwood to Bacchus Marsh. Leader Colin Cody.
• Marathons have been a regular event ever since including 11 Oct 1997. 40-50km, Dandenongs. Leader Geoff Gartly (Geoff has not been seen since!)
• 24hr events are a regular feature on the Rogaining association program. 100km continuous walks are traditional events of the VMTC and MUMC Bushwalking clubs (VMTC runs a bi-annual event with options and support)
• Ideal conditions for marathon walks can be found in Autumn or Spring with daylight saving, a full moon, undulating course and training walks to prepare.