By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
John Olsen jokes that his final charity long walk will be the easiest because it’s all downhill.
The Belmont resident will attempt the first diagonal solo walk from Queensland’s Cape York to Western Australia’s Cape Leeuwin.
“I’ve been told that it will definitely be my last walk,” Mr Olsen said.
After knee surgery, Mr Olsen said he would heed doctor’s advice to retire from the fund-raising long distance walking game.
Mr Olsen has already completed two long walks, from Cape York to South West Cape in Tasmania in 2004 and from Steep Point in WA to Byron Bay in New South Wales in 2008.
Having done the north-south and west-east routes, Mr Olsen said the diagonal journey from the north-east to the south-west was his only remaining option.
But he is determined to complete the arduous challenge in honour of his partner, Vida, who lost a battle with leukodystrophy in 2014.
His fund-raising efforts will be directed to Leukodystrophy Australia after raising thousands of dollars for Lions Australia Children’s Mobility Foundation.
“It’s given me a focus now,” Mr Olsen said simply.
“No-one has ever done a diagonal walk across Australia, but it will be on tracks all the way so it will be a bit easier,” he said.
His previous walks included crossing untracked desert areas.
He estimates it will take him five months to cover the distance, doing about 250 kilometres a week.
Eschewing the use of a support vehicle, Mr Olsen pulls a purpose-built two wheeled cart, fondly called Wilson, and make camp along the way.
He collects food and water where he can along the journey.
Mr Olsen plans to start his final walk on 1 April. His progress can be tracked at thelongwalk.org.au where donations will also be accepted.
