The Global Poverty Walk
Commencing on 2 February 2013, MPH supporter Matt Napier will walk from Perth to Sydney bouncing anAFL football to raise awareness of the urgent need for action to halve global poverty by 2015.
Part 5–Albury NSW to Sydney NSW
Saturday1 June, 2013
to
Friday 28June, 2013
1 June - Day 120
Today's Distance: 6.9 km
Total Distance: 3859.1 km
It has rained steadily all day. Not really suited to walking but I couldn't stand sitting in the caravan any longer so Itook a stroll up to the end of Wagga Road and knocked 7km off the distance I have to travel tomorrow. A hugethank you to the Albury Motor Village for letting us stay an extra night. Hopefully the rain eases overnight and I'mright to get a full day's walking in tomorrow.
2 June - Day 121
Today's Distance: 26.1 km
Total Distance: 3885.2 km
It was good to get back on the road today after all the rain we had yesterday. Albury received just over 3 inchesof rain in our time there so it was good to see the sun again. A pretty leisurely walk today, just over 26km. Firsttime we have been back on the highway since we hit Geelong so had to get used to the big trucks again. Alsomeans rest areas are not as common so that's why we had to stop a bit early today. My body is still holding upwell with just over 600km to go now.
Mullengandra Rest Area, approx 38km North of Albury.
3 June - Day 122
Today's Distance: 23.7 km
Total Distance: 3908.9 km
I walked about 15km this morning and then we took the caravan into Holbrook before returning to Wodonga for aschool visit. We talked to Year 8 students at Catholic College as they had not been able to attend thepresentation on Friday morning and are currently studying social justice issues. Wendy then drove me back towhere I had stopped walking in the morning and I walked the remaining 8km into Holbrook. Went to the RSL fordinner and ready for a full day of walking tomorrow.
Staying at the Holbrook Motor Village - thanks to Sharon & Trevor for putting us up for the night.
4 June - Day 123
Today's Distance: 36.6km
Total Distance: 3945.5 km
It was a cold morning with a light frost but cleared to a lovely day. Only had two rest stops today so managed tofinish walking by 4pm. Unfortunately I pointed out to someone the other day that we were literally "on the road toGundagai" and ever since both Wendy & I have been unable to get the song out of our heads! On a good note, Ifound another $5.25 in coins along the road today so my total is now just over $90 - hoping to get to $100 beforethe end of the trip.
Staying at the Kyeamba Gap Rest Area, approx 34 km South of Tarcutta or 36 km North of Holbrook.
5 June - Day 124
Today's Distance: 34.3 km
Total Distance: 3979.8 km
Uneventful day today from last nights rest area through to Tarcutta.
Staying at the Sportsground behind Caltex Servo in Tarcutta.
6 June - Day 125
Today's Distance: 43.5 km
Total Distance: 4023.3 km
Not a bad day. We managed to make it to South Gundagai today which was a bit further than planned but it'sgetting harder to find places to pull off now we are on the highway. I managed to crack the 100 bucks found forthe trip, pretty amazing really. Not long now til we hit Canberra, looking forward to catching up with everyonewhen we get there.
Staying in carpark next to McDonald's in South Gundagai.
7 June - Day 126
Today's Distance: 25.2 km
Total Distance: 4048.5 km
Made a good start this morning but turned into a tough day with the weather so we didn't go quite as far as wehad planned but instead returned to Gundagai for a hot shower and dinner at the RSL Club.
We were also delayed at the Dog on the Tuckerbox this morning as we had arranged to meet a journalist fromthe Gundagai Independent there and then also ran into one of the guys from footy and a nice old lady who wasdriving to Sydney for her daughters wedding. We stayed there about an hour and a half all up but since we arestill ahead of schedule there really was no rush and we enjoyed chatting to everyone.
Finished up at a Cattle farm about 4km north of Coolac but returned to Gundagai to stay at the Gundagai TouristPark - thanks for giving us an on-suite site for the night!
8 June - Day 127
Today's Distance: 16.1 km
Total Distance: 4064.6 km
Slow start this morning as we only had a short day ahead. We only wanted to make it to the Jugiong Showgroundtoday as it nicely spaces out the next few days for us in terms of rest areas. Pretty foggy start to the day so Iwas glad that I didn’t need to be on the road too early. Winter is really starting to set in now and its making it alittle harder each day on the motivation side of things. Give me 35 degrees on the Nullabor any day.
Staying the night at the camp ground at the Jugiong showgrounds which is an awesome community campingarea. There must be at least 20 other groups here and several of them have fires going so the atmosphere isvery inviting.
9 June - Day 128
Today's Distance: 31 km
Total Distance: 4095.6 km
There was really thick fog at Jugiong in the morning but luckily it cleared quite quickly once I got out of the valleya few km's along the highway. Our mate from Canberra, David Williams aka Willow, came out and joined us for acouple of hours which was great. We discovered an old campfire at the rest area and got a fire going which wasa very relaxing and warm way to end the day.
Stayed at Rest Area in Bookham
10 May - Day 129
Today's Distance: 33 km
Total Distance: 4128.6 km
Pretty miserable weather for most of the day with drizzle on and off until mid afternoon. On a good note, it was my most profitable day on the road so far as I found $7.90 in coins along the way. I was joined by MichaelPilbrow, the Labor candidate for Hume and his son Matt who walked a few kilometers into town with us and thenshouted us to hot chocolates and cookies from subway - yumyum!
Staying at Yass Caravan Park
11 June - Day 130
Today's Distance: 16.8 km
Total Distance: 4145.4 km
The forecast for tomorrow didn't look too good so I decided to walk a few km towards Murrumbateman todayinstead of having a rest day. Michael Pilbrow picked me up around midday from the truck parking area about17km south of Yass and we headed into Yass High School to talk to a group of students currently doing"Community Studies".
Stayed at Yass Caravan Park another night.
12 June - Day 131
Today's Distance: 10.7 km
Total Distance: 4156.1 km
Sat in the caravan for a few hours this morning waiting for the rain to ease. Drove to the rest stop that I hadwalked to yesterday and started walking. Still drizzly most of the way and the spray that comes up from trucksisn't too pleasant but only had 10km to go so I just put my head down and got stuck into it.
Staying in front yard of Matt's cousin in Murrumbateman.
13 June - Day 132
Today's Distance: 27 km
Total Distance: 4183.1km
Got up early and headed back out to the rest area where we then had to sit and wait for the rain to ease - again!Walked in light rain for most of the morning and made it just past the ACT border by midday so stopped to havelunch at Gold Creek Village with our parents. Then did another 8km or so to Downer where we are visiting friendsfor the night.
Staying out the front of friend's house in Downer ACT.
14 June - Day 133
Today's Distance: 7.5 km
Total Distance: 4190.6km
What a big day! We started with an interview on MIX 106.3 with Rod & Bigsy and then later in the morning metup with a few supporters in Dickson for the start of our walk down Northbourne. We then met up with SenatorKate Lundy, Yvette Berry MLA and supporters from GWS Giants, AFL Canberra and ACT Sport & Rec. We allwalked over Commonwealth Avenue bridge where we were surprised by a visit from the Bendigo Bank Piggymascot. We were greeted at Albert Hall by more supporters, friends and family aswell as a camera crew fromWIN News.
Stayed at our own house!
15-17 June - Days 134-136
Today's Distance: 48.6 km
Total Distance: 4239.2 km
We had a rest day on Saturday which included watching the Queanbeyan Tigers beat the Tuggeranong Hawks.
On Sunday I walked 18 km along Sutton Rd from Yass Rd to Federal Highway and was joined by a couple ofmates from the Queanbeyan Tigers. Then we went to a BBQ put on by the Oxfam State Committee.
On Monday morning we started out from Parliament House at 7am and walked along Canberra Avenue to theVisitor Information Centre in Queanbeyan. We were met there by some family and representatives from theQueanbeyan Tigers. We had a fire engine escort along the main street and then met up with about 45 Year 5 & 6students from Queanbeyan East Public School who walked the last kilometre to Jayco Canberra on Yass Road.After a brief refreshment break and a chat with the kids I was back on the highway and on my way to Sydney. Made it to the rest area on the edge of Lake George.
Stayed in the caravan parked at a friend’s place in Bywong – thanks for a great meal and use of your fire for the evening!
18 June - Day 137
Today's Distance: 42.9 km
Total Distance: 4282.1 km
Foggy start to the morning and then nice weather during late morning/early afternoon. Got caught in a hail stormmid afternoon at a point where there were no trees so I just had to keep walking and cop it. Lake George is verydry so it would be good to get a decent fall of rain. Good to have a full day's walk and we ended up closer toGoulburn than we had planned which was a bonus.
Stayed at the Kibby Rest Area, approx 15km south of Goulburn, just before Federal Hwy/Hume Hwy junction.
19 June - Day 138
Today's Distance: 31 km
Total Distance: 4313.1 km
Coldest start so far - not sure which I prefer, walking in 43 degree heat or minus three! Got to Goulburn around10.30am and caught up with friends before continuing back out to the highway. Trying to get as far as possiblebefore the weekend as the weather doesn't look too good for next week.
Made it to the Chowney Rest Area about 17km East of Goulburn but returned to stay at the Goulburn SouthCaravan Park - thanks to the management for putting us up for the night.
20 June - Day 139
Today's Distance: 37 km
Total Distance: 4350.1 km
Well we thought yesterday was cold, but then work up this morning to minus 7 to kick the day off! I had 4 layersof clothing, a beanie and 2 hoddies but that still wasn’t enough. Other than that, it was a pretty good day and wemade it all the way to Sutton Forrest which was our goal.
Staying in the carpark behind McDonalds at Sutton Forrest (but no we did get dinner there, we had health tacos!)
21 June - Day 140
Today's Distance: 37.6 km
Total Distance: 4387.7 km
Enjoyable day as we left the highway and headed through Moss Vale and Bowral to Mittagong. Headed back toCanberra to join the Walk Together Canberra event with Welcome to Australia, and to attend the QueanbeyanTigers home game which they are dedicating to Make Poverty History by wearing white arm bands.
* walked an extra 1.5km today that I didn't need to as we are going to have to take a slightly different route dueto road and weather conditions. This distance has been removed from the total.
24 June - Day 143
Today's Distance: 36.3 km
Total Distance: 4424.0 km
We got pretty lucky today, the weather forecast was for heavy rain and expecting 2-3 inches of rain. Well wemanaged to dodge all the rain, we only got a few light showers which was a massive relief. Mind you its about6pm and the rain is coming down now and looking at the radar it looks like it is only going to get heavier as thenight goes on. The weather forecast for tomorrow looks awful as well so hopefully we can get lucky againtomorrow.
Made it to the Razorback Inn just NE of Picton. Drove into Camden to stay at the Poplar Tourist Park - thanks tothe management for putting us up.
25 June - Day 144
Today's Distance: 31.7 km
Total Distance: 4455.7 km
Had a slow start to the day for a number of reasons. Firstly, I was delayed after meeting a group of guys whohave a self sustainable group house in Picton and they invited me in for a cup of herbal tea and a tour of theirproperty. Then after only about 4km of walking I took a wrong turn and walked another 5km in the wrongdirection! Wendy realised when I didn't turn up where she was expecting me and drove back to pick me up. OnceI was back on the right route I had regular heavy showers of rain, hairpin bends on narrow winding roads androadworks to contend with. I ended up soaking wet but still on schedule and even fit in two newspaper and oneradio interviews.
Finished up at the BP Service Station in Leppington and then drove back to the Poplar Tourist Park in Camden tostay the night in our van.
26 June - Day 145
Today's Distance: 27.8 km
Total Distance: 4483.5 km
Another wet day, started out really heavy but then ended up lighter than yesterday. Managed to navigate our way from Leppington through Liverpool, Bankstown and Canterbury without getting lost - that's an achievement initself. Had three newspaper interviews which was good also. Really looking forward to getting into Sydneytomorrow and the finale on Friday.
Staying at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula - thanks to Steve for inviting us to stay.
27 June - Day 146
Today's Distance: 13.1 km
Total Distance: 4496.6 km
Arrived in Glebe in the afternoon and managed to catch up with our event organisers to go through a few finaldetails and relax over dinner.
Good to get this far, really looking forward to tomorrow and the finale event. Will be bittersweet though as wehave really enjoyed the journey and will miss the life on the road.
Staying in a hotel in Glebe, ready for our final section tomorrow.
28 June 2013 - Day 147
Today's Distance: 4.8 km
Total Distance: 4501.4 km
The final day of the walk started at 6pm when several die-hard supporters met us at our hotel and we all walkedthrough Sydney CBD to the opera house. It rained most of the way and bucketted down just after we met up withthe fire engine at 7am so we all took shelter in the rear foyer of the Intercontinental hotel. It was a great surprisewhen we realised that we were sharing this refuge with Mick Malthouse from the Carlton Football Club! We thencontinued onto the Opera House where we were met by about 60 supporters for the final kilometer of the walk.The Sydney Cove Rotary Club formed a guard of honour at Circular Quay and then we arrived at Campbell'sCove. The next two hours are a blurr of speeches, an appearance on Sunrise, entertainment and breakfast. Wecapped off the day by watching the Swans v Carlton game at the SCG before heading back to the hotel for a wellearned rest.
Campbell's Cove Wharf, Circular Quay, SYDNEY