His site is http://walksa.blogspot.com/

Herald newspaper audio interview http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=522189

Cheers D

Walkabout South Africa

Friday, January 22, 2010

Port Elizabeth

Yesterday I had my twenty-third birthday in Port Elizabeth and, in true Raubenheimer fashion, I even had a vegan chocolate cake with icing and candles! Darrell and Evie are the parents of my good friend Andrew, someone who I’ve always been able to count on in Johannesburg. Now, spending some time with his parents, it’s obvious to see that generosity and hospitality are a hereditary asset in the Raubenheimer family! One needs only to mention their name to a runner who has taken part in the Rhodes Trail Run, or the Baviaanskloof Trail Run (which they organise) to hear countless tales of their passion and compassion for people.

So, well fed and rested, I find myself in the last few weeks of my trip. I’m looking forward to finishing, but I’m not sure what it will be like going back to a “normal” life. That being said, I think my trip has been quite pedestrian (tom-tom-snare) compared to many journeys that one reads about. But for me the real life changing part of the trip has been the people that I’ve met and the thought processes that this trip, particularly the oscillations between comfort and varying hardships, has allowed me. Someone recently pointed out to me, that the qualities that we admire in people are seldom possessed by the people that we aspire to be. This eloquent summary had been on my mind for some time but it’s articulation seemed to bring the issue to the fore. Suffice to say I’ve had a radical change in values.

Well, I’ve a touch of writer’s block (I remember some funny quote about using writer’s block as an excuse that made everyone who said they had writer’s block look like an idiot… but I can’t remember it so now it seems a valid excuse), but I’m around this computer after walking again tomorrow, so I’m making a written statement that I’m going to completely update the blog tomorrow!

If I haven’t, please harass me.

Posted by Kyle Meenehan at 8:13 PM 1 comments

This has to be one of the endurance feats of our time.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26366816-401,00.html

Fearnley, 28, finished his 10-day trek just a little after 9am PNG time (10am AEDT) today.

Fearnley said there were moments he thought about quitting along the 96km track through mud and rugged terrain.

“Mate, I just was hurting, it was the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” he said.

In emotional scenes at the finish, Fearnley was surprised by his mother and father Jacqueline and Glenn, who had travelled from their home of Carcoar in central NSW, to share a few tears and couple of bottles of champagne with their youngest son.

“It’s been a very big day and we’re glad it’s over,” his mother said.

Track veteran and Kokoda Spirit team leader Wayne Weatherall said it was the most amazing effort he’d ever seen in his time trekking.

“To call him a superhero or superhuman is not too far from the truth,” he said.

Fearnley, the four-time New York wheelchair marathon winner, had to drag himself on his hands along the famous track but had support from 15 family members plus his team of porters and guides.

Submitted by: Tony Mangan.

Original story

“Pittsie” Ryan, a Canadian newsboy, who is walking around the world, arrived in Paris this week after walking 40,000 miles in two and one-half years. He has another year in which to finish his journey to Edmonton, Alberta, where a money prize, which he says is $30,000, awaits him

From The New York Times , July 19, 1914

http://www.dunwoody1000mile.com/

At 2.20pm on Friday 10^th July, Richard Dunwoody completed his ‘1000 Mile Challenge’ having walked day and night for 42 days one mile every hour for 1000 consecutive hours.
He was joined for the last mile by racing legend Lester Piggott (pictured) and together they passed the winning post in front of packed stands on Newmarket Racecourse.
Where as Captain Barclay undertook the challenge for a 1000 Guineas bet, Richard completed the challenge to raise money for four charities – Racing Welfare, the Alzheimer’s Society, Sparks and Spinal Research. Bookmaker Paddy Power recreated the bet and will donate the sum of £10,000 to the Charity Trust.
The challenge has so far raised in excess of £100,000 but more is hoped for and needed and donations can be made via this website.
Richard said:
“I undertook this challenge to raise as much money as I could for the charities but I had absolutely no idea that I would receive this level of support. It’s been great that so many people have got involved and I have been both humbled and inspired by this. There are so many people that I need to thank – the team who have looked after me, the Bedford Lodge Hotel who have housed and fed me, and our partners, in particular Godolphin, Darley, Barclays, Paddy Power, Nike and the Jockey Club. It is an experience I shall never forget, although I’m looking forward to getting a little bit of sleep now!”

From the Northern Territory Times and Gazette in 13 July 1926