Hump day. Day 5. The pivot. The fulcrum. The perfect balance of beginning and end. It was unspoken but we always knew as a team that today would be a significant day. It would probably be one of the toughest, yet probably one of the most fulfilling. Our bodies are racked with stiffness and soreness (what is pain?), our minds are asking questions but our hearts are pumping stronger and faster driving us on… we have a choice to do this – many others don’t.

 

And today did not disappoint. It had everything a journey of heart, mind and body should have. Like the road we travelled today there were high peaks of joy mixed with deep valleys of dark light. But as a team we succeeded. As a team we reached the target we set and exceeded it, as a team we bathed in ice baths with the warm glow of family and friends around us.

 

This morning was spectacular. We were woken at 6.30 by the sweet, clipped tones of Jamie and we rolled out of our bunks to face an absolutely stunning Easter Morning.

 

 

(All these photos were taken with my Sony Ericson mobile. How good are they!)

 

 

We were quiet this morning. All of us silently refecting on the significance of the day. A day that represents a new beginning and the new beginning we are trying to create for thousands of young Australians.

 

 

 

 

Darren (Todd’s brother) and his family joined us at 7.30 as we stretched and SOC tried to tape us all together. Darren (in the blue shirt) wanted to walk all day with us, a big commitment and we were excited and proud that he wanted to join the walking caravan. He is a Manly supporter, Shannon is a Knights supporter – need I say more.

 

 

 

We left camp at 8.30 to travel back to our starting point – Canberra side of the 150K marker to Sydney. Today we planned to reach the 120K marker – a mere 30ks away over a road that seemed to go up a lot more than down.

 

 

Again we were struck by a moment of serendipity. While the morning started very quickly with 7 toots in a couple minutes (Darren was our good luck charm and also became designated toot tallier). The toots had started to slow down – then all of a sudden as a massive hill was starting to get the better of us we got a big blast from a blue Ute with wood beams hanging out the back. We waved and smiled and continued to walk up a very long and winding hill. A couple of minutes later the same car drove past again and this time stopped. Out jumped Craig, on his way to see his mum. He is a dead set top bloke. He had heard us on radio and was happy to see us. He donated and posed for the now obligatory blog photo. He promised to bring back his mum to meet us as well. That moment would help us through the rest of the day. He even promised to contact the local radio stations for us (which he did – so welcome to the YCW media team Craig!)

 

On we walked and walked and walked. The weather was much kinder and even allowed us to wear shorts, although I (Andy) and David’s family will miss the joy David’s asic’s long tights sneaking out under his shorts – as Jamie described them “they look like he has been through a bush fire and only charred bones are left”.

We knocked over an interview with 2GB. Jamie was listening as 2GB was talking about issues with aged care, spotted the opportunity and we called up and were put straight to air. 2GB have been great supporters and were to play an even more important role later in the day.

 

Friends of Katrina and David had heard about our walk through Facebook – we are so, so social media gurus. Julie, Paul and the kids Megan and Charlotte and the one on the way pulled over and gave us a warm welcome and inspired us. The people we meet and the friends we have made on this journey has been just amazing.

 

 

There were silly moments too with this photo at ‘Hanging Rock’ with a… um… er… well, a hanging rock.

 

Andrew’s family had decided to spend the weekend in the lovely towns of Berrima and Bowral and meet up with the walk team. It was a really powerful experience being able to walk with your sons and daughter. Davis, Bronte and Austin got a real kick out of being part of the team and sharing a couple of hundred metres of the 300k journey. Charlie slept while Andrew’s beautiful wife became tour photographer. A few more chockies were handed over which Troy happily accepted to put in the medicine cabinet J

 

 

 

A short while later David’s family tracked us down en-route and provided us with a very timely boost of enthusiasm to go with our Powerade energy drinks. They had to wait to hug daddy and get the blog photo as he was doing an interview with ABC 702, as you do. Top job David. The girls, Tahlia, Kiara, Briony, were so excited to be in a blog photo and the beautiful Katrina smiled on and clicked away. It was a quick stop then back on the road to keep clocking up the km’s.

 

David’s brother Phil joined the walk and it was great to have more and more family sharing our journey. Again a serendipitous moment. We just had no idea how much we would need him later. We thank god he joined our little tour team.

 

 

With 2kms to go before lunch we were joined by the Kirk and the Ping families waving banners of encouragement for the machine that is the ‘Youngcare walk team’. For Shannon, seeing his two beautiful girls (Caitlin & Ellie) and equally beautiful wife (Lisa) spurring him on, propelled him to a higher level. The 2kms before lunch seemed to fly as the boys walked on with renewed vigour. To hear his eldest girl Caitlin, mention that she was proud of her daddy for walking so far took all the pain out of the feet and put a spring in the step. 

 

 

Gary Kirk, Andrew’s dad and Shannon’s father-in-law joined the walked before lunch. The big fella pounded the pavement and enjoyed the experience. I wonder how his cartilage free knees will feel tomorrow morning. He was disappointed there were no hero signs for him.

 

We knocked over 20km’s by lunchtime and decided to stop to grab a quick bite before heading back to Marulan. The YCW walk was about to throw up a few little hurdles and a few tremendous memories and significant moments in time.

 

We were going back to Marulan to catch up with Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn and Sally from here office.

 

We jumped in the van and the campervan and trundled off.

 

Then disaster struck.

 

As Jamie was trying to negotiate the turning area from Canberra bound lanes to the Sydney bound lanes the campervan’s clutch simply disappeared. He could not get it in gear. Luckily he was not on the highway but sitting in the middle of the two stretches of the Hume Highway with hundreds of cars flying at 110kph past. Andrew’s brother-in-law ran across the highway to assist Jamie and eventually they got it going but the campervan was just like Troy’s feet a few days ago… officially “bleeped”

 

While we left Jamie ‘MacGyver’ Brown and Damian ‘Bond’ Pearce to look at the engine (well that’s all the rest of us could do – “oh yes it has an engine does it? And is that it? Oh”)

 

We met Pru. She was lovely and very interested in what we are doing. We shared the amazing and wonderful support Goulburn had shown us. She has promised to push forward a Youngcare policy for the party and also investigate whether a retirement village could have facilities for younger people built. We will now follow her up and help push both those initiatives. It is the Government of the day that can make or break this. While it takes $6million to build it needs at least $2 million per year of on-going commitment.

 

 

After a brief stint on the bench, Troy tagged Shannon and rejoined the team to finish the day’s walking.

 

Phil volunteered to abandon his walking experience for a higher call. To help Jamie and our beloved campervan make it back to our camping site or better still a mechanic.

 

As we drove back to our spot to punch out another 10-15Ks we wondered what to do. This was a challenge but it was not going to stop us.

 

Then Troy, as he does once a year, came up with an absolute brainwave.

 

He hit the blower.

 

We did not know who he was calling.

 

A moment later he told us to turn down the radio.

 

He was being put straight through to the 2GB continuous call team.

 

The lads were very obliging and put Troy on-air and allowed us to send out a mayday for listeners in the area who may be able to lend a hand. It was Troy’s first media interview and he absolutely nailed it.

 

We reached our mark. We felt lifted. We started to wear out our asics once again.

 

We walked along the road, feeling a little helpless. It was then Troy decided to send up our second flare for help. This time it was a phone call to Twin Falls Bush Cottages where we tracked down retired mechanic vc John McGee, the father of the establishment’s owner Craig McGee and local bike shop owner Rodney McGee.  It was with John’s guidance and assistance that we discovered how we could continue to limp along to complete our journey (at least on a temporary basis).

 

 

Spirits were raised again.

 

Troy – the legend of the hour was leading us in song from Bon Jovi and Don Mclean. But alas the toots had slowed… in fact there were none. We all voted and it was Troy who was nominated for the 90second challenge, where passing motorist’s toot / honk. But it appeared his run of good fortune had passed. He failed. It was the tour’s golden boy Andy Kirk, who again managed to get a barrage of blasts from Northbound drivers.  They’re only human. (Troy’s words, not mine – but how could I let that be edited J)

 

We passed the 120k mark but wanted more. Well I had to do more as I had just eaten a Musashi powerbar and was skipping, moonwalking and playing air guitar down the Hume highway.

 

 

Shannon encouraged us on and we decided to do another 5k. Darren was doing so well, especially after finding a friend in Vaseline. It is now a good friend to all of us and we question how we will live without it after all of these shenanigans are over.

 

We finally reached the 115k mark to Sydney and called it a day and what a day.

 

 

We then jumped in the trusty Tarago, fired up the tunes and drove to Fitzroy Falls Conference Centre for our end of day ritual. For some of us, we will spend our nights with our families, rest and regroup tomorrow at this beautiful place in Fitzroy Falls and then begin our final fours days towards Parramatta Stadium.

 

Giddyup