End-to-End 3 crossed the final stile at Parachilna on Saturday the 13th, for the largest finishing celebration in the Friend’s history. Eighty three walkers climbed the wooden steps. Fifty four were completing the trail and of that group forty three had started the journey together at Cape Jervis, six years earlier.
What a wonderful journey it has been, traversing the Mt Lofty and Flinders Ranges travelling through the historic hinterland of South Australia. Sharing each others company, trading adventures and celebrating in every town we stopped.
What a wonderful journey it has been, traversing the Mt Lofty and Flinders Ranges travelling through the historic hinterland of South Australia. Sharing each others company, trading adventures and celebrating in every town we stopped. Saturday nights were the scene of home cooked feasts hosted by community and service clubs. Christmas in July at Burra brought new life to the 12 days of Christmas and the “Royal Variety” performance at Wirrabara showed just how talented walkers are.
In the last week of walking the excitement builds, the mountain vistas lift the gaze and the scenery catches your breath. The walking is easy and the nights are a party. The last day is a wild melange of fun, frolic and trail memories with just a tincture of sadness that it has ended.
Having witnessed two previous finishes I can attest that the End of the trail is the beginning of new adventures, and the continuation of friendships. After six years you have accumulated walking partners for life, and if you have finished the trail you have succumbed to its charms and wiles. A love affair with a living trail that will endure to the last horizon.