The final walking day had arrived and not a moment too early if you saw my feet! This day would end on Jamieson-Licola Rd with a welcome sight of my car with my MTB on the roof. If that doesn't spur you on- nothing will. The several hard days that led to this had left me with a mere 14kms to complete, all of which was to be on 4x4 track with only two (labelled) steep sections, both up! walking in this direction.
An amusing session of attempting to dry all my clothes rounded out my evening last night. I rigged up an at least 5 metre clothesline when to my disbelief the sun graced me with it's presence for the first time. I hung out all items, went back to my tent and it started bucketing down. Of course my rain jacket was one of the items on the line so it was a lost cause- it all got wetter!
So this morning it was my last dry top that was donned for the walk out. I set off after a little, 'man it's cold' sleep in, at 9:30. I spent the first part of the walk bashing the overhanging saplings with my trekking poles in a futile attempt at keeping said top dry. They were holding an amazing amount of water given the morning's fine weather and light breeze. The walking was basically straightforward, undulating over many knolls and saddled, sometimes in so ruggedly and steeply I was left wondering what the 4x4 would actually look like that could drive this track. Needless to say above each rocky ascent the trees had winch cable scars from those vehicles that could not handle the track. This theme continued when I arrived at the first 'steep' section, which entailed great steps of rock up to 50cm high on a seriously steep slope. As I topped out I could swear I heard a motor and sure enough a Pajero popped it's nose over the rise. I had a lengthy chat to the driver, a fella of about my age traveling by himself, about the condition of the track ahead for him. I recommended he get out and scope out what was to come and diplomatically suggested his rig probably wasn't up to it. He passed me about 45mins later, thanking me for the heads up and offering me a seat! I declined as the fact that I'd walked this far it did seem like a cop-out to accept at this point. He completely understood.
In about an hour, standing at the base of the West Barkly River Jeep Track I was slightly regretting my decision. This thing was steep! I know by now you're probably thinking it is somewhat of a recurring theme, and you'd be right. It turns out that at the top of this climb, since Mt Hotham 8 days ago, I had climbed and ascended over 8000 vertical metres up and down. That's only 800 metres shy of climbing and descending Everest from the sea!! I set off up the last walking hill with the S-Club 7 classic 'Don't stop' running over and over in my head. Those of you that have hiked before have no doubt been plagued by the same- H.M.R.S. Horrible music repetition syndrome has no known cure.
I didn't give up nor stop till I reached the top, and I had a small Ian Thorpe style double fist pump to celebrate. It was an emotional moment, this had been three extraordinarily hard weeks hiking and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I finished the short downhill to the road and awaited my support's arrival. Again I must say what a blessing it is to have Sal and Mum driving my provisions and bike to meet me, it would be an unachievable dream without them.