Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the car and ran to my side to find me in tears, saying I couldn't run
another step. He offered to run alongside me for a while. As we ran,
he reminded me of the great days when we were kids, fishing with our
other siblings and our dad at Bermagui, on the south coast of New
South Wales. We shared wonderful memories, and I realised after a bit
that I'd run another 20 kilometres. All I needed was my mind taken off
the run: I felt no weariness, no cold, no pain, as Bern and I relived our
halcyon childhood. He knew exactly what he was doing. I powered on
to Cooma.
Bernie worries that I always need a new challenge and is wonder-
ing what I will do when this event is over. How will I ever top it? He is
a man who is satisfied with his life and feels no need to constantly test
himself. I'm not built that way. I wonder too.
Bernie ended our little chat by telling me to get treatment for my
sunburned bottom lip, which, for some time now, because of my daily
exposure to the elements, has been bleeding constantly and refuses to
heal. 'You're not Superman, Pat. You'll end up with bloody skin cancer!'
I'll cross into Ecuador tomorrow. As I've run through Colombia
I've seen swampland, tropical forest, impenetrable jungle, low plains
and photogenic mountains. I ran through banana and coffee planta-
tions. I saw no violent incidents and didn't feel threatened at any stage.
Nor, although Colombia is on the Ring of Fire, did I experience earth-
quakes or volcanic eruptions. It's been a pleasure to run through.
