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The CrossingOxenford To Springwood

The Last Supper

A Brisbane 40 km sign brought on the butterflies. By nightfall I was in Springwood, eating our last dinner in the campervan.

Date16 September 2015
Journey dayDay 124
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Gary at breakfast with local runners David and Mel at Whistlestop in Pimpama.
Breakfast at Whistlestop with David and Mel, who joined me on the way north.

I set off from BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park in Oxenford with one more full walking day to get through before Brisbane. The plan was to reach Springwood, then walk into South Bank tomorrow. Saturday’s South Bank parkrun would be the final five kilometres.

David and Mel joined me on the way north, and we stopped for breakfast at Whistlestop in Pimpama. David shouted me breakfast. Mel was wearing a Rogues singlet. Pete “Shinno” Shinnick’s joking Rogue Runners route from Perth to Brisbane was what had first put this idea in my head, so it was good to see that shirt out here.

Travis from Run Down Under joined me for a few kilometres too. He’d built a virtual run around Australia while holding down a full-time job, and now he was sharing part of the real walk with me.

Further on, a sign said Brisbane was 40 kilometres away. Eight parkruns, plus one more at South Bank on Saturday. I had serious butterflies in my tummy. My emotions were all over the place lol.

There was also the question of where people could meet us tomorrow. I settled on Deedot Coffee House in Holland Park for lunch around 12:30, with the plan to set off between 1 and 1:30 for the final 6.5 kilometres into South Bank. Anyone who wanted to join that walk, or the Saturday parkrun, was welcome.

I kept walking through Eagleby, Beenleigh and Loganholme and reached Springtime Gardens Caravan Park in Springwood after dark. Forty-three kilometres for the day.

That evening I joined a regular Out of the Box Biz meeting online from the back of the campervan. Catching up with that Perth crowd on the eve of reaching Brisbane was pretty special. The lads had already started tidying and clearing the van, ready to return it to Apollo on Friday morning.

Our last dinner in the campervan was fish and chips from a takeaway around the corner. It took me until then to realise we’d never even given the van a nickname. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep that night.

Images From The Day

Gold Coast Bulletin clipping with Gary's photograph and the headline Heart hero nears end of epic trek.
The Gold Coast Bulletin story from yesterday's photo shoot appeared in the morning paper.
David and Mel beside a road sign pointing towards Brisbane outside Whistlestop.
David and Mel, with Brisbane on the sign beside the cafe.
A small metal figure made from workshop parts beside the footpath.
A little metal character outside a workshop along the way.
Cycle-route sign showing Brisbane 40 km, Eagleby 3.5 km and Beenleigh 2.8 km.
Brisbane 40 km. Or, in HAA units, eight parkruns plus one last Saturday lap.
River and trees beside the route through south-east Queensland.
A stretch of water between Yatala and Springwood.
Two-storey brick building with arched windows along the route.
Some town scenery between the highway and Springwood.
Chatswood Road sign pointing towards Springwood after dark.
Springwood, finally, after dark.
Gary smiling indoors at the end of the walking day.
Back indoors after 43 kilometres to Springwood.

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