First things first

You're wondering why I've subbed this blog 'a chiliadic odyssey'. It's simple really, but it's also complicated in the way that I have a habit of really getting abstruse when I get a bit enthusiastic. That's creativity hard at work. Sorry about that.

Chiliad (pronounced Kill-e-ad) roughly means 1000 of something. It's an ancient Greek word. Thinking upon that, it occurred to me that 'Chiliad' was somewhat reminiscent of Iliad, which made me think of Homer (not Simpson) and both the Iliad and the Odyssey. If you don't know what I mean, think ancient poetry. If you don't care to know what that has to do with any of this, then you're not alone.

Now, regarding the 1000 of something, there are roughly 1000km in my proposed journey - hence the 'Chiliad'. The journey itself hopefully will in no way resemble Homer's Odyssey - for during that there were battles, cannibals, witches, lovers, suitors, super-sneaky cover-ups and disguises, and along the way, a whole bunch of people were drugged and turned into pigs. No, this is not what it's about!!

It's quite simply about a 1000km journey on foot from Perth, to Albany in Western Australia walking the Bibbulmun Track.

Why would I want to do such a thing? Well, as you may have noticed in the subtitle, it's about life and death! Bear with me for a little longer while I explain.

I believe that in life you have to do things that put life into your life. That's why I'm working on riding my unicycle for more than just a couple of feet before I fall off, why I'm learning Latin percussion, and why I'm wanting to do this walk. Not all that many people want to go end-to-end in one journey, and while I'm blessed with good health, then I reckon I'd better be making the most of it.

The death bit: It may be a thing that's a little peculiar to me, and I have no intention of starting my own cult (at this stage I'm not ready to become a deity anyway) but I believe that for as long as you are held in the living memory of somebody, you're not really dead. Ever looked at your family tree and thought "I wonder who that person was?". Well, that person, if nobody knows about them any more...is well and truly dead. To hell with that!! I wanna give 'em something interesting and positive to remember me for when I'm physically dead - ie "she's the one that walked 1000km".

So...maybe you're getting the picture that I'm not talking about avoiding physical death - lets face it, it's going to happen one day...but I'll be damned if I'll just be another name on the family tree, famous for being just like everyone else - totally forgettable.

I just have a dream of doing something different.

The Bibbulmun Track itself is rugged, basic and takes 6-8 weeks to walk. At this stage I intend to walk it alone, taking only what I can carry with me, and stopping whenever the track passes through a town, to pick up supplies.

• Longest ever hike through the bush carrying everything - 4 days in the Blue Mountains, NSW - 20 years ago - 80km total
  

• Number of bush hikes of more than 20km carrying everything - for two or more nights: about six - in the Royal National Park; along about 60km of the convict built Great North Road between Sydney and Newcastle; and through Kuringai National Park.

• Can read a topographic map and can use a compass...but I suppose that GPS makes those skills a bit redundant

• Surprisingly resourceful and outdoorsy - you bet...but there are a lot of things about me that most people will never know...and might never guess!
  

• Scared of spiders and snakey kinds of things? No, never have been. Grew up in the middle of Garigal National Park, and quite liked finding wild Diamond Pythons curled up in the trees while I was out exploring the bush. And...for those of you who don't know, there are Koala's living in Garigal!

Anyway, that's about it for now. My plans for the blog are to update it on at least a weekly basis with stuff related to my proposed trip, my physical fitness program, photos, plans and of course a laugh or two. Wouldn't be me if it didn't include that!

And just to put me completely behind the eight-ball before I get started on the program (on 19 August 08) I've been sick for most of the last month and the only 'fitness' thing I can contemplate at the moment is "will I still fit into my jeans" because I've been blobbing around in bed feeling as though... 'exercise, that's that religious thing they do to get demons out, right??'

Oh well, I've got 4 days to go before the whole thing kicks off!