Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While we were in Matagami, I also found time to tuck into a
lasagne and a chocolate milkshake in a cosy restaurant. What a treat!
I haven't yet forgotten the freeze-dried curries.
This morning, I was just getting started and was up the road from
the vans, loosening up, when a big black bear crossed the road in front
of me. It was the first time I'd ever seen a bear without bars in front
of it. The bear gazed at me and then lumbered on into the bush. I ran
back to the vans, yelling, 'Hey, come quick, there's a bear up here!' I
grabbed a camera and was about to charge into the foliage to try to
take a picture but then thought that chasing a bear into his lair might
not be so wise. So far, we've also seen two wolves and plenty of squir-
rels, porcupines and geese.
We passed Stark's Knob today, where, during the American War of
Independence, the American General Stark held the Brits at bay until
reinforcements arrived and forced a surrender. I've never been a great
reader, preferring to experience life irst-hand rather than vicariously,
and being in these places brings history to life for me.
may 30
Now I'm on the road and running alone, and not having to worry about
falling through the ice or banging into pressure ridges in white-outs, my
mind can roam free. Today, I pondered building a home back in Aus-
tralia when I return, and what work I will do when this journey is over. I
have a dream of starting an organisation that helps adventurers achieve
their dreams as I'm achieving mine. I'm a devotee of positive visualisa-
tion, and as I run I conjure up images of me finishing this event on time,
fit and healthy, and having raised millions of dollars for the needy.
I'm not feeling strong at the moment, as I'm still recovering from
the ice. I suspect it will take me another two weeks to get over the dam-
age I did to my body in that sector. My facial sores are healing in the
warm sunshine, but my fingertips are still feeling very corky. When the
weather cools or a snow flutter descends, they ache so much I can't
concentrate on running.
Blistered feet come with the territory of ultrarunning. Tonight, I
found a blister the size of a 20-cent piece on the base of a toe. What
with all my other aches and pains, and concentrating on the run, I
didn't know it was there until I cooled down and was on the massage
