Sunday May 22nd - Day 18 ...walking, flying, almost home...
At 9.47am today, after walking 430 kilometres, climbing 1200 sand dunes, enduring swirling dust storms, tinned food, blisters, sore feet and aching bodies, four dirty, slightly smelly, extremely tired but very proud women knocked on the door of the Birdsville Pub and ended their amazing journey across the Simpson Desert. The staff at the pub was fantastic in raising over $900.00 for The Desert Mums’ cause. All the Mums had to do was to shave the head of Wayne (Cookie) Hughes – sporting a six year old pony tail (Wayne sounds like a good sport!) – with a No.2 blade to the cheers of a crowd of locals…….. there were lots of emotional tears, elation and more tears!
They relaxed with a smooth flight back to Alice Springs and had time for a quick interview with the Alice Springs News before enjoying some fast food, a lockable toilet door and their feelings of elation, still present after their courageous and successful walk for breast cancer.
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There must be mixed feelings for them today, but mostly ones of excitement that they will soon be reunited with their families. I know I am looking forward to having my husband back! In a few days when all the excitement has died down, they may even look back over the past three weeks………and miss the desert…………?!?
Well, this is the final report from yours truly on this most fantastic journey. The Desert Mums will arrive in Melbourne tonight on QF696 at 8.55pm after no doubt, a very big day.
The Desert Mums send HUGE thanks to all their sponsors – without their generous support, this journey would only be a dream instead of this amazing reality. They will be contacting you all within a few days of arriving back into civilization.
