Written by Sally
Hi blog followers! This blog comes after the irritating news that Martie left his solar charger cord in the food drop vehicle. He has only got 20% phone battery left until Thursday hence asking me to write a message for him.
Yesterday we met up with Martie about 250metres shy of Mt Speculation summit. This was a significant place for him. For a start it was the site of our friends Nick & Tana's wedding a couple of years ago. Accessible only by a decent 4x4 or good legs Mt Spec was a very novel place for a wedding. Of course at that event Martie did the catering... this time he was very much looking forward to catching up with the food droppers (my Dad, Uncle Gane, Uncle Brian and me) and especially looking forward to being cooked for.
After a long, slow but comfy ride in my cousin Matt's Patrol (thanks Matty) we made it to Martie late afternoon. Despite being completely worked from days of 'scrub bashing' through overgrown but exposed and rocky track he was grubby and tired but in excellent spirits- especially knowing we had his favorite ciders on board. Upon arrival Martie told us that he had gone 4 days without seeing or hearing anyone on the track- something that would drive some people crazy, but he takes it all in his stride. I will leave it up to Martie to explain the finer details of the days that led him to this point but let me just say its been quite a journey for him- one that took him straight over the top of 'the Vikings'. Look it up- its seriously steep! I am told the trip down is just as brutal (or even moreso) than the trip up.
We spent the night at a great campsite with a huge fire pit that we utilized for cooking dinner. Martie cherished the opportunity of having a fire, saying that when he's on his own it was too hard to get up the energy to make a fire for one! We have an ongoing joke that fire 'builds morale'- thanks Bear Grylls. It certainly did! Though dry and sunny upon arrival clouds threatened and cousin Matt (at home nursing a knee operation) reported from Mission Control that rain was indeed on its way, so the boys pitched a double tarp setup that they say their scout leaders (Dad & Mart had the same Scout leaders) would be proud of. We hoped it wouldn't rain too much to further destroy the road that was already well and truly wrecked. By the time the heavy rain arrived we were tucked away in the tent.
This morning we said a soggy farewell to Mart. I know he was sad to say goodbye but buoyed by the company, food and cider and by the thought that this time next week he will be arriving home on his bike. He decided he would wait out the wet weather in his tent and start again in the morning. a well deserved rest day!
I know if he had the opportunity to blog this himself he would be expressing thanks to Dad, Gane & Brian for making the trip and also to Matt for sending along his awesome 4x4. He would also be thanking you all sincerely for your thoughts and interest- YOU overwhelmed him!
I'm going to steal this opportunity to express how proud I am of Martie. Having done small parts of it with him (but skipping the really hairy stuff) and by dropping in here and there I have a fairly rough idea of just what he has achieved... and I am truly inspired. Can't wait to see him arrive home on Sunday and I hope his friends and family take the time on Sunday to cheer him into the driveway- pen it in!
You will hear from Martie again when he jumps on his bike in Licola (Thursday?)!

Okay Mart- 'Rip it, Roll it & Stroll it!
Sally x