Uncategorized

Day 34 – 25 Apr 19. ANZAC Day Service and night hike

Today 10 km (6.2 mi), Total Distance 741.3 km (460.6 mi). 2 hours 30 minutes (1830-2100)

Sorry photos still to come

I was not able to sleep in as there were several people who started packing up around 0500. The good thing is that I was able to be up for the rising sun to have my own private remembrance time.

The good thing is that I was able to be up for the rising sun to have my own private remembrance time.

Today is ANZAC Day which has a special significance for New Zealanders and Australians. On 25 Apr 1915 the Australia
and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey for the Gallipoli campaign. In December, the expeditionary force was withdrawn with nothing to show for the lives which had been lost. Of I was not able to sleep in as there were several people who started packing up around 0500. The good thing is that I was able to be up for the rising sun to have my own private remembrance time.

Today is ANZAC Day which has a special significance for New Zealanders and Australians. On 25 Apr 1915 the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey for the Gallipoli campaign. In December, the expeditionary force was withdrawn with nothing to show for the lives which had been lost. Of 8556 New Zealand soldiers who served on the Gallipoli peninsula, 2721 died and 4752 were wounded, a casualty rate close to 90%. For a small country with a population in 1915 of only one million, this was a human tragedy on an unprecedented scale which affected almost every New Zealand family.

While the campaign ended in military defeat, it is widely claimed that the Gallipoli experience helped foster a sense of nationhood in both New Zealand and Australia.

On ANZAC Day we honour the courage of those who were prepared to die rather than let their mates down. We remember that it was there that New Zealanders first stood shoulder to shoulder with their Australian cousins, beginning a strong Anzac tradition which continues today in joint peace-keeping missions around the world. ANZAC Day is also remembered because it was from this place that New Zealanders for the first time began to think of themselves as a nation with its own identity. Anzac Day is the day on which we honour not only the soldiers who died here, but all New Zealand servicemen and women who fought and died for our country and who continue to serve.

For myself it is a day to remember those of my contingent lost in Afghanistan; Corporal Luke Tamatea, Lance Corporal Jacinder, Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone, Baker and Private Richard Harris. I also think about those wounded who are still struggling with the effects of their service, whether it is physical or mental.

After my time of reflection I relaxed for a bit before leading an ANZAC service at 0900. There were three Australians and I invited anyone else who was interested to attend and we actually got a good turnout. It was a nice service and I was glad I was able to share it with some Australians.

Fellow ANZACS; Stuart, Molly and Zac

After the service it was more relaxing and chatting to people. There was an early shuttle into town at 1130 and Stuart, one of the Australians, and I headed to the Pizza place for an early lunch. The pizza was huge and tasted great. After a quick trip back to the supermarket we sat and waited for the 1300 shuttle but no vehicle came so we walked the mile back to Hiker Heaven.

I was considering when to leave but was enjoying the relaxed atmosphere so much I decided to take the 1700hrs shuttle, get dinner at a restaurant and then start walking.

At 1700 a bunch of us piled into the back of the Ute (pickup truck) and some of us headed for the Sweetwater Bar and Grill. I sat with Cruise Control, Logan (from Wolverine) and Finder. After a great steak with chips (fries) covered in a beautiful butter garlic sauce I started back on the trail.

The trail was on the road for a few miles and there were heaps of houses to look at to keep me occupied. It seemed like it was compulsory for every house to have a huge RV or caravan. The time passed quickly and at the Sierra Highway I turned left and after a couple of hundred meters turned right down a small road and then right again onto a dirt road.

There was around a km on this road before turning onto single track. At this stage the sun went down with a beautiful sunset.

I knew I still had nearly an hour before it was totally dark so continued on at a relaxed pace. My pack was heavier as I had 5 days food. I was passed by a young guy I had never seen before and then a young girl who I had seen at Hiker Heaven. They were both moving at a good pace, quickly disappearing into the distance.

Just before the start of the hill was a trail register to fill in, which I did in the rapidly fading light. Now it was a hill climb and it was nearly dark. I could see the torches of the two who had passed me ahead. There was still enough ambient light to see the trail so I kept my torch off.

There was steady but long hill. At one point the trail was going through tall grass and finally I could not see the track and turned on my torch. I could see several torches behind me down the hill.

Half an hour later I reached a trail intersection and was able to squeeze my tent onto the old trail. Just as I finished setting everything up a couple of guys from Hiker Heaven arrived. They asked if I had seen the girl and I pointed to the torches up ahead. They yelled and got the attention of the two ahead. The girl was meant to be hiking with them but had taken off. The other members of their team were behind as unfortunately Zac was not feeling well. The two guys took off to catch up to the girl. A little later Zac and Molly arrived so I updated them on the situation and they continued on.

I kept my tent flaps open and had view of the lights of the towns way down below me. It had been windy but my spot was nice and sheltered and for the first time I did not need a hat on at night as it was nice and warm.

Visits: 440

2 thoughts on “Day 34 – 25 Apr 19. ANZAC Day Service and night hike”

  1. Your honoring your fellow soldiers was very touching and makes me feel a sense of pride in all of the warriors, from all branches of the Armed Services, from every part of the world where they believe in freedom and democracy and are willing to lay down their lives for it. God speed to all, the ones who died helping democracy survive, and to the ones who carry on and continue down life’s trail. Safe adventuring!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *