GOR Day 8


FROM: Devils Kitchen. 
TO: Twelve Apostles Tourist information Centre.    
16 kms covered


Total kms walked on this walk: 101
Accumulated kms walked: 1258
In contrast to the last seven days today’s hike we met lots of people as the trail hugged the tourist view points to the Twelve Apostle, so the Spunky Rooster had lots of chat stops telling people our story. It’s funny how different we are, The Rooster likes telling people what we are about to do, I on the other hand prefer to keep it to myself. I don’t know what this is saying about both of us, maybe on the next walk we can explore this. 

Today is all about getting to the end, although the scenery is spectacular I think we both feel like we have accomplished what we needed to. The trip has served its purpose in the big plan. The equipment all work exceptionally well, our food options worked and we were never hungry. Carrying 9 days of food took some planning but it paid of.our bodies although sore and tired held up ok.


It seems funny that up to date this is the longest hike either of us has completed and yet in under a fortnight we are set to undertake one of the worlds greatest long distance hikes. Shoot me i must be mad.

HIGHLIGHT: The pie from the cafe at the tourist centre we had for breaks. Not because it was a great pie just because it was hot and tasty.
​LOWLIGHT: Just being back in the hum of human existence.


Grateful today for my beautiful daughter and her partner. Just love spending time with her. Thanks Sam for picking us up and allowing us in your car smelly as.  Grateful for Park rangers who spend their days ensuring track are kept passable and signposted. Grateful for my shoes, no blisters. And as always grateful for The Spunky Rooster for being by my side.

GOR Day 7

FROM: Ryan’s Den   TO: Devils Kitchen.    14 kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 85
Accumulated kms walked: 1242

​Started to feel the sadness of coming to the end of the trail, always an emotional time the end of the trail. Grateful to be finished with no problems , sad that it’s coming to the end.
italso means that our time in Australia is coming to a end. We have three days in Melbourne  and the we are off. It sounds so simple but it’s a tangled web of emotion. Sometimes I think we are crazy leaving our kids without support, throwing caution to the wind and hoping things will work. Other times I am sure that what we are doing is the most sane thing I have ever done. I have chosen a path that felt right and had the courage to jump without any guarantee. Only time will tell if we have done the right thing.


Highlight: The perfect weather has really contributed to whole experience.
Lowlight: tommorow we finish


Grateful for the trail, it has been so much fun.Grateful for the freedom of living this new life. Grateful for my family’s support and if not understanding their acceptance of what I’m doing

GOR day 6


FROM: Johanna Beach.  TO: Ryan’s Den.     14kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 71
Accumulated kms walked: 1228


Today was a great challenge of ups and downs fantastic views looking back from where we had come. Had our first trail angel today Brian a funny little man with a generous heart and lots of stories to tell. Received amazing jar of homemade marmalade made lunch delicious. Trail life is all about simplicity. Just the added extra of marmalade at lunch made lunch a feast. Did some beach walking which was nice getting close to the water took our shoes of and stopped and frolicked for a little while.
An amazing sunrise which The Rooster and I stood and watched together.


Highlight: having fun in the water, lots of laughs
​Lowlight: Nearly sitting on. Snake.


Grateful my body is still functioning well. I am grateful for friends that support us Donna for letting us stay at her house and Vicki for being so supportive. Grateful for this life  and this amazing man to share it with

GOR DAY 5


FROM: Aire River.  TO: Johanna Beach.    14kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 57
Accumulated kms walked:

Medium difficulty.Started early today to enable us to hit the Castle Cove beach close to low tide. A great day of strong hiking with lots of ups and downending with a campsite that the view is totally spectacular. What I mean by spectacular is a wild Coastline, towering cliffs,waves crashing onto the beach. amazing.
The camp site high on the hill was very exposed so we set the tent back nestled in the natural scrub. Then went and sat on the hikers bench atop a cliff looking back down the coast back to cape Otway the sun came out a light breeze blew perfect atmosphere for us to sit and have lunch. Both The Rooster and I stopped and sat in diligence taking in this beautiful spot. I think it is starting to sink in the magnitude of our decision to pack up and Walk the World. We both were very quiet over lunch. Laying in the tent tonight I asked  The Rooster if he was scared because I certainly was. He said he was somewhere between scared shitless and super excited. So we are at least on the same page.


We have been 4 days without a shower and everything stinks so with the fine weather and the  good breeze we have got socks, undies and all our clothes hanging in the trees airing and we both had a freezing pommy bath.
Highlight: having the time to digest our new circumstances
​Lowlight: Nothing the world is in balance.


Grateful  today for being resilient. I was feeling pretty miserable on trail tired and lethargic but when I saw the view I felt it all slip away. Grateful for David’s relaxed attitude. Grateful for the breeze to at make everything smell better, not good but better.

GOR DAY 4

FROM: Cape Ottway.   TO: Aire River.   10kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 43
Accumulated kms walked: 

Medium difficult
An easy walk today over the cliffs and through sand dunes and into natural bush land. It’s amazing to stop and think about how many times this landscape has changed buffet by the constant wind, constantly shifting sands. Although the trail today was relatively easy  we took a side trip that added 2km of beach walking on soft sound. It was quiet hard but good training for the TA. Got into camp really early and spent the afternoon lying in The Sun. The campsite was set high on the cliff top with great views.


HIGHLIGHT: Just the scenery
LOWLIGHT: Getting in to camp so early


Grateful for my new pillow it’s amazing. Grateful for the weather it’s a bit warmer. Grateful for the sunshine.

GOR DAY 3

FROM: Blanket Bay   TO: Cape Otway.      11kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 33
Accumulated kms walked: 

Rated  easy to medium

OMG today was amazing walked along the cliff tops looking down on the Bass Strait, the view was breathtaking, so untamed . As the water rushed in over rocks and frothed and bubbled it brought to mind wild horses running in the wind manes flying out behind them and the noise of heavy hooves thunderous. It took my breath away.


We dropped in at the Cape Otway Lighthouse away from the wind to indulge in one of their yummy burgers for lunch. Thanks to our “donate a burger “ button on our website it cost us nothing. Donna Martin at Defining Moves thank you for your donation we had a feast, two delicious steak sandwiches and a custard tart.


Estuary crossings are always a mixed bag and you never know until you reach them wether it will be hard or easy. Today’s was simple, easy and not to deep, but still a bit of fun. We both took our boots off and enjoyed the cool water before heading inland to find our camp spot for the night. I videoed The Spunky Rooster crossing the estuary as it is the first of many on our new adventure.


Altogether today was a perfect day, easy walk, great scenery and a picturesque campsite  among the Manna gum trees. Altogether a 10/10 day


The Spunky Rooster and I spent quite a bit of time today in silence, my thoughts very much on how grateful I am to be able to experience this beautiful location. I have driven the coast road several times but the simplicity and peace of walking it changes the experience dramatically. I think that this change is what I love about walking, it forces you take in more. All of your senses start to engage more, you can see the shift in the wind by the way the leaves move, you can smell the freshness of the ocean, you can feel the vibration of the earth through your feet, you start to move more naturally.  I think this is what people mean when they talk about being in tune with nature



HIGHLIGHT: Steak sandwiches at the lighthouse
LOWLIGHT: None


Grateful for Otway lighthouse cafe. Grateful for the natural beauty, walking along the coastline was surreal. Grateful for fusion cream to rub away the ailments.

GOR DAY 2

FROM: Elliot Ridge.  TO: Blanket Bay     12kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk:22
Accumulated kms walked: 

Rated easy
The walk today headed away from the coast and into the Bush with much of the trail being old  forestry roads that was really muddy.I did however see my first wild deer. After the spectacular ocean views of the previous day the dark and gloomy Forrest was a little disappoint. Saying it was average is probably a bit harsh as we where walking with giants....huge Mountain Ash Trees that I believe to be some of the biggest in Australia. They are a big part of the character of the Great Otway National Park. Nearing the 10km mark the trail heads back out to the coast and along the beach to finish at the prettiest campsite. The elevated site is nestled into the side of a hill but overlooked Blanket Bay it as very romantic with just David and I. It’s a hard life.


HIGHLIGHT: Seeing a deer
LOWLIGHT: Everything being damp from the drizzle
Today I am grateful for starting walking early. I am grateful for having time and space to enjoy being in nature.  I am grateful for our yummy museli, it is delicious

GREAT OCEAN ROAD (GOR)  DAY 1

FROM: Apollo Bay.  TO: Elliot Ridge.    10kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 10
Accumulated kms walked:

​GOR (Great Ocean Road)DAY 1


FROM: Apollo Bay.  TO: Elliot Ridge.    10kms covered
Total kms walked on this walk: 10
Accumulated kms walked: 1167
rated medium difficulty.


Wow we are so lucky to be able to walk in such a beautiful spot. Leaving Apollo Bay today I was a bit apprehensive, for all the planning and talk about our adventure these next 8 days are really the beginning . The beginning of living life as a hobo with no fixed abode and our only worldly goods are the ones on our backs. Exhilarating. Yes. Bloody scary. Definitely. So it was with a little trepidation we set of to “Walk the World”


We had gone about 25meters and it started to drizzle, I choose to see this as a cleansing rain rather than any bad omen😄😄😄.


The trail out of town was just a footpath parallel to the road and the beach which we followed for about 3 km, before it headed inland into the Great Otway National Park and the beauty of old world forrest .The trail meanders along  flanked on either side by think shrub until suddenly the shrubs opened up like a stage curtain and unexpectedly greeted  with spectacular views over the peninsula.


We talk a lot today about our new lifestyle and our equipment. The Spunky Rooster research seems to have paid of, with both of us sitting at around the 16kg mark with 9 days of food packed. The  Aarn Packs are proving to be exceptionally comfortable and a conversation starter to everyone we meet