Health and happiness

I'm healthy, fit, strong – able to walk vast distances – something most people find unbelievable and freakish. Yet, I’ve developed the view that my good health is being maintained to enable me to complete my journey to Jerusalem in 2010 when I turn 67, and that my health would then start to decline, possibly rapidly. That’s scary.

I was pondering over happiness and realised that my mundane experience is largely retrospective. In other words, it is later with some distance from the event that I realise I was happy at the time. I recall a particular early morning with the sun rising over my right shoulder, the smell of fragrant wood fires, crossing a foreign land on foot, and feeling content and with total unconcern. All was well.

A stray dog

This morning, I found a lovely friendly youngish female cavalier spaniel dog wandering about in our street. I knocked on some doors but that was to no avail and called the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to report the dog. They responded remarkably quickly. The dog wore a collar but the tag was missing. Ranger Con scanned the dog, called a telephone service for detailed information, and  was then able to take control of the dog armed with the information.

In Victoria, puppies and kittens must implanted with a microchip and registered at 3 months of age. I didn’t know that!

Roaming

I’ve regressed to my childhood. As a solitary child growing-up in the Netherlands and later in Australia I roamed far and wide. And, now that I’ve relocated to Australia roam as a solitary elderly grownup – perhaps a little further afield but usually alone. My target is 80-km per week and I usually achieve that but not always and that’s OK. I’m obsessive about maintaining my health and fitness.

On Tuesday 6 October 2009, I leave for Bairnsdale, Victoria for the East Gippsland Rail trail – distance of 101-km. My plan is to walk to Orbost in 3 days and that includes taking lots of photos of that sparsely populated part of Victoria. I have reserved travel and accommodation, and hope to be blessed with nice walking weather. So, please contact me if you would like to join me on this walking adventure in East Gippsland or others. I will welcome you! The Victorian government is providing free travel for seniors from 6 to 11 October 2009 but not on 9 October 2009, for some reason that’s unknown to me.

I must look old as no one ever asks for proof of my age. I recall the very first time I was offered a senior concession. It was Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain. I was deeply offended, hurt and insulted and vigorously told the young woman: definitely no.

I will travel light: a day pack and some minimal basics and necessities. I will write about my journey in due course.

Cameras and long-distance walking

I’m a member of a camera club. The cameras on display are typically digital single-lens reflex devices with large lenses and heavy carrying cases. However, this equipment makes no sense at all to the long-distance walker who aims for a lightweight rucksack. My camera of choice is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3, and I view that jewel excessively heavy at 232g. I take terrific pictures with this camera and that compensates for the excessive weight. Yet, I would not recommend the camera to the budding long-distance walker. Perhaps the ideal combination is a mobile phone with a build-in high quality camera, and that also saves weight by eliminating unnecessary charging devises.

First anniversaries

I’ve enjoyed and celebrated some amazing first anniversaries over the past 12 months:

• 31 May 2008: was the date I retired from the work force. I was tempted to return to the work force but decided that was foolish if not altogether stupid and completely unnecessary.
• 22 August 2008: was the date I completed the via Francigena. I had started from my home in north London to reach Rome and crossed England, France, Switzerland and Italy.
• 8 September 2008: was the date I last I drove a car and sold my lovely Ford Mondeo.
• 19 September 2008; was the date I first occupied my new home in Woodend.
• 20 September 2008: was the date my north London flat was first let.
• 13 September 2008: was the date I relocated to Australia and became a resident of Australian for taxation purposes. Looking back from that date I was a resident of the United Kingdom for taxation purposes.

You are not the boss of me

If you own yourself it’s your obligation to judge for yourself what is right and wrong, and act accordingly. If people claiming to be "authority" want to force you to do something contrary to what you deem to be right - do you obey them, and ignore your own conscience? No. What if their threats are called "legislation"? It makes no difference.

You are always, at all times, in every situation, obligated to do what you deem right, no matter what so-called "government", "authority", or "law" have to say about it. And when the tyrants and control freaks, authoritarian thugs and megalomaniacs, try to tell you that you are an evil, nasty, despicable criminal and traitor for daring to think for yourself, you have a right and duty to stand firm, and say, with confidence, "You are not the boss of me" !

Shortlist for the 2009 Man Booker Prize

My route to the cross

I discovered a truly delightful route to reach the memorial cross  at the summit of Mt Macedon, Victoria, Australia. The route includes a footpath that's not listed on any paper or online maps, for that matter.

From my home in Woodend, I proceed along Mt Macedon Road, taking care of cars, lorries and busses, and turn right at the Braemar College sign for about 500-metres (just before arriving at the college) and turn left into Turner Avenue to continue to the end of the country lane (ignore Glover Road). The lane changes into a track and arrives at two gates. Open and enter the one on the right and proceed along this enclosed footpath that ends at the Mc Gregor's picnic ground. However, before the picnic ground is reached turn sharp right to join another footpath to reach  the cross (3.5-km). There are signs that points the way. There are amazing panoramic vistas to enjoy and marvel and photograph at the Eastern, Western and Major Mitchell lookouts, and the Cross with views of Melbourne and beyond.

From the cross I took the downhill footpath to reach Bawden Road to return home. The road passes beneath the freeway to complete the circular route. I estimate a non-stop  journey of about 5 hours.

Of course, the reverse of the route would involve a rather steep walk up the footpath from Bawden Road. (I prefer ups rather than downs.) At the summit, you are rewarded with splendid panoramic views. Of course, the restaurant is the ideal place to recuperate and enjoy their fare.

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