The CrossingInto New South Wales
Home Comforts
I crossed from Victoria into New South Wales on a day full of Albury-Wodonga support, media interest, and one very sensible early finish. I was getting sick, Quest Albury was just around the corner, and Deb somehow turned the night into a family dinner.
Barnawartha gave me church sheep before five in the morning, and that is exactly the sort of thing I was still able to find funny.
The local church had a small but dedicated flock out the front, so of course I turned it into a joke. Quiet as a church sheep. Day 88 was underway.
The bigger picture was that we were heading for another border. Victoria had only just started to feel real in my head, and already New South Wales was waiting. After the time it took to get across WA, the eastern states borders were coming at us quickly.
I had planned to push on for the usual 55 km or so, but I was starting to feel like a cold was coming. As the day went on, I felt steadily worse.
Even early in the day, I could feel the final third starting to bite. The weather, the long days, and the minimalist nature of campervan living all added up. I was keeping myself going with thoughts of melting into the soft loveliness of the Quest Albury bed waiting that night.
Quest Albury on Townsend, my aching body thanks you.
The support around Albury-Wodonga had been building before I even reached it. Deb had been working away in the background, making calls, following things up, and somehow turning our arrival into all sorts of kindness.
David and Kevin from Quest Albury on Townsend had donated a two-bedroom apartment for the three HAAmigos. Clare from Miss Naked Cakes in Wodonga had donated a six-pack of OMG cupcakes, which I was very happy to classify as carb loading. Donna from Henri’s Bakery Wodonga donated bread, bread rolls and sweet scrolls, and when Deb went in to collect them, Kerin from Henri’s made a personal donation to the Heart Foundation as well.
I called it Christmas in August, and that was pretty much how it felt.
The media side of the day was busy too. Tahlia from The Border Mail came out for an interview and photos. Neal and Brianna from WIN News Albury gave me another chance to explain what I was doing. Later, Brett and Alex from Prime7 News Border were there for the border crossing itself.
For a while the SPOT tracker was out of action, so I had to let people know the dot had not simply wandered off. I was on the move across the outskirts of Wodonga and toward Albury, and the plan at that point was still to do more kilometres beyond Albury before returning to the Quest apartment for dinner with the team and Deb’s family.
Then we reached New South Wales.
Deb walked with me from Victoria into NSW, which feels very fitting now. She had already done so much unseen work to make Albury-Wodonga happen for us, and then she was physically there for that border step too.
We were in our third state.
I was also feeling increasingly ordinary.
By the time we reached Albury, the decision had changed. Media time had eaten into the day, my body had been dealing with some big days in cold and difficult conditions, and the donated apartment was just around the corner. The sensible option was to walk to the hotel, call it a day, and rest.
It was not an easy decision, but it became an obvious one.
And honestly, it worked out beautifully.
I got to meet Kevin and thank him properly for what Quest Albury had done. Then I saw the room and was blown away all over again. After weeks of campervan life, a warm two-bedroom apartment was not just accommodation. It was recovery.
Then I saw the foot-care pack and handwritten letter waiting there, and after a hard few days I got a bit emotional.
That night Deb brought a family roast dinner to the hotel, including her actual family, and all seven of us sat down together. I don’t think I will ever be able to fully express just how wonderful that gesture was.
After a day of feeling worse with every session, that was about as good as it could get: hot shower, comfortable room, proper bed, family dinner, and a feeling that once again people had stepped in exactly when HAA needed them.
The plan had been the usual big day.
What I got was 38.8 kilometres, another state border, a warm bed, and another ridiculous reminder that this whole thing was being carried by far more than my legs.
Videos From The Day
WIN News Albury coverage
WIN News Albury's Day 88 coverage, after Neal and Brianna came out to hear the HAA story.
Open on YouTubeImages From The Day
