Perth, WA

Perth arrival was amazing with 9070km under my belt. Channel 10 have reported a great story with some lovely shots of the Perth city along Riverside Drive at the Bell Tower. The coverage will be aired on the evening news, Tuesday 24th August, giving our new charity, the JDRF a huge boost and formal introduction. Please donate generously to get the ball rolling with our new charity. They will be with us until we reach Sydney in January. Their invaluable work is geared to helping thousands of kids with diabetes.
ONLY 5500km to go!!!

Spending time in a city is always daunting after weeks on the open road. Traffic lights, parking meters, tight media scheduling and commitments to my valued sponsors. Throw in 2 kids who have picked up colds, Drs appointments, 5 hours a day running no wonder I have forgotten something that was very very important on my things to do list... a visit to the dentist! I still have a gaping hole in one of my teeth since before Broome. Secretly it has been providing a welcome distraction to the back pain, foot pain, etc. that us runners usually carry on about. Maybe I'll get time when I arrive in Adelaide!

After 9070km I didn't think there was anything more the road could teach me; but today i had my first fall. I simply tripped over the edge of the road. There was no escaping that ugly feeling of knowing that skin on tarmac was imminent. I got away with cuts and grazes to the hands, knees and shoulder, Matteo was quick out of the car to pick me up and see if I could still go on. I was only 17km into my morning run, I was a bit shaken, but also shocked and annoyed at myself for being so careless. I looked back to see what had actually occured, but saw nothing to blame but a small 2 inch drop off at the edge of the asphalt. The most painful but was where a piece of the road had dug into my thumb and caused a chunk of skin to be shoved down inside the wound, causing a disturbingly uncomfortable pressure. So I worked at pulling it out...a sore thumb wasn't going to stop me running for the day; but I'm going to see if I can get out of doing the dishes this week!

On a serious noted, I trundeled on, keeping a close tab on my knees and joints, no serious damage seems to have occurred. 

Perth itself had empty caravan parks and rainy skies. The majority of holiday makers have stayed north. But the show goes on; rain, hail or shine. I'm quite glad of the cooler change, it means I don't have to get up at ridiculously early hours of the mornings to crank out 30+k's before 8.30am! The hustle and bustle of a busy city have made a change, but the new crew and I are ready for the adventures ahead. Crossing the Nullarbor at this time of year should prove to be quite an gentle event. I've been promised tail winds from many a seasoned traveler. So I'm bracing up and heading EAST ...(well, after Albany!)
 
Despite having not had time for a dental appointment, I made sure I got time for a wax.
Thanks to the lovely team at Essential Beauty in the Hay Street Mall.