The Great Ocean Walk: Realisation of a Dream
After watching 'The Art of Walking: Great Ocean Walk' (1), keen NZ Nordic walker Margaret Hudson dreamed of walking the 104kms from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. Ten months later, she flew to Australia to realize that dream.
Margaret's itinerary was arranged by Walk 91 (2), specialists in Great Ocean Walk self guided journeys, with luggage transferred to each night's accommodation and all meals provided, together with a comprehensive map, detailed track notes, personal emergency locator beacon, cell phone and pictures of the meeting points with her 'shuttle service' each afternoon.
Nordic walking poles proved invaluable negotiating the sandy beaches, muddy eucalypt forests, estuaries, rocky platforms, heath land and coastal woodland. "Over five days I climbed 1200 hand built stone steps," said Margaret, "and on the steep ascent from Milanesia Beach to Ryan's Den wooden staircases zig-zaged their way upward into the inland forest - assistance Dr Charles Ryan would have appreciated after breaking his leg in the 1900s and taking four days to crawl his way up to the ridge."
For those with limited time the most popular section of the track is from Milanesia Beach, named after a large sailing ship stranded in the shallows for over a week in 1902, to the Gables Lookout - a 16km walk with sensational views. Yet walking the full length of the track provided Margaret with a myriad of memories to treasure. "The elation I felt on the last day, walking from the shipwrecked anchors embedded in the sands of a deserted Wreck Beach across the cliff tops with their breathtaking views of the Twelve Apostles was incredible. At the end, making my way through the crowds of tourists posing for pictures, when someone asked, 'how far have you walked' and I replied, 'all the way,' people spontaneously clapped.
Upon reflection Margaret says, "If you can walk a half marathon comfortably, maintaining that level of stamina over several months, you'll enjoy the walk. The time of year is important - just after Christmas the temperatures were in the high 20s on some days and that was hot enough. But most importantly take lots of fluid - around 3 litres of water each day with 'Leppin' or 'Replace' added - together with a supply of jubes or their equivalent. Finally, remember to take a battery charger for your camera as you'll be taking lots of photos."
NZ NORDIC WALKERS SUPPORT JAPANESE COLLEAGUES
On the 11th March 2011, a devastating 8.9 earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded hit northeast Japan. While this caused considerable damage, loss of life and injuries, the real devastation came with the huge tsunami that followed. Almost 10,000 people were killed and over 10,000 are still missing.
The city of Sendai, in the middle of the hardest-hit area is where the Japanese Nordic Fitness Association is located. Japan is a particularly strong Nordic Walking country and the northeast region is particularly strong. Many Nordic Walkers were among the dead, injured and missing. Yet the courage of JNFA members, and their determination to rise above the disaster, saw them planning an event as part of World Nordic Walking Day.
When the earthquake occurred, NWFANZ sent a message of support to the JNFA. We felt that, based on the experience of New Zealanders in Christchurch, we could empathise with them. During NZ's WNW Day event, Paul Stevenson from NWFANZ, talked about the devastation in Sendai and the courage of the JNFA members. A minutes silence was held for those that had died in Japan and in Christchurch.
As the people of Christchurch know only too well, recovery from a major disaster will take some time. We will continue to support the JNFA and the people of Japan as they work through their recovery.
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Photo by Richard Leonard
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Walk like a Scandinavian
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Enliven your low-impact regimen with this imported full-body conditioner. Nordic walking targets multiple major muscle groups and increases your range of motion. Pick up a couple of poles and get going. |
This unique form of exercise originated among Scandinavian skiers, who developed it as part of their off-season training program. All summer long they mimic the classical skiing technique on every imaginable surface. For years one of the best-kept secrets in sport, Nordic walking has finally gone mainstream.
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