The Next Block - #3. We’re back on the tools

Not my usual sort of working away stories.

If you haven’t read my previous blogs here’s a bit of background before we begin; I managed to slice my leg open just before I was originally supposed to leave for Alice Springs so I decided to delay the trip by 2 weeks. I figured it was the smarter decision, and perhaps a little bit of adulthood came out for a second… I won’t make that a regular occurrence though. 

The 2 weeks home really got to me, injuries are never fun anyway, and I was feeling a little down in the dumps and a bit defeated to say the least. Prior to my injury I was just getting back into some really solid work out sessions; my running program was slowing building some structure again and I was excited to get back on the tools and be able to explore new locations. And then just like that it was taken away.
When running plays a huge role on my mental health and overall well being, couch bound is tough. I normally have a good outlook on situations like this, but for some reason I just couldn’t get my head around it. Thoughts like ‘why would this happen?' ‘what can I make out of this?’ ran through my head as I sat in the hospital emergency room. 

I came to the conclusion that time like this is never actually ‘wasted’, it’s more just accepting how long some things take; and for me that was roughly 2-4 weeks until I could walk again, and that’s just that. You have no choice sometimes but to wait these things out. 

A lot of people telling me that it was just a sign that ‘maybe [I] should slow down’. I thought I was good at the whole ‘go slow’ moto, I even have it tattooed on myself. But when I had to sit back and really look at the last 6 weeks I realised I was still battling some minor injuries, post ultra, that I was trying to run off and I wasn’t exactly giving myself much down time or ‘me’ time after the Mount Gambier block. A lot of time up early, helping family and friends out, trying to fit in a run here or there, missing a few physio and doctors appointments. It seemed like I had more time on my hands then ever and I didn’t want to waste a second of it, yet I was still thinking at the end of the day ‘where did today go?’.

I now look back at that 2 weeks and I was able to finish reading the new book I started in Mount Gambier, I watched a few Youtube videos and learnt more about my camera, and caught up on some photo editing that I just pushed off to the side.
I’m also forever grateful of the support I have around me, plenty of phone calls with mates that would be checking in and plenty of drop ins, as I let the human body do its thing.

2 weeks went by and I find myself up and walking more, so I booked a flight to Alice Springs for the following day to join my travel parents, Luke and Jess. I missed out on a bit of work, but I wasn’t too fused about the money. The money’s nice don’t get me wrong but for my lifestyle choices right now, I don’t need much. I landed in Alice and headed into work that next day to continue helping Luke build the new Telstra store, the reason why we were sent there in the first place.
When the environment is good, I’d be lying to say that I didn’t enjoy being a tradie. The early mornings, the quick stop past the coffee store for a soy latte for myself, and a soy cap for Mr Luke. This routine we find ourselves in is always a highlight of the working weeks. ‘what place has the best coffee?’ ‘where is good for a morning veggie pasty?’… it’s the simple things.

These working weeks were a little more eventful than usual. Normally Luke and I work, do our time on site and then head back to the airbnb to do some laptop work, jog or absolutely nothing. But on this trip we meet Ben, he was the sparky (electrician) on site. He was a young lad like myself so we hit it off like a house on fire, both having some things in common like going out and drinking beers. When its just Luke and I we avoid that sort of stuff for a few reasons; we get paid living away money for food and other expenses with enough left over to save for other things like traveling, but the main reason being waking up hungover, it’s never a good feeling. It’s utter crap. But Ben brought an energy to the table that I just couldn’t say no to. Many nights were spent exploring the ‘nightlife’, or whatever you can call that in Alice Springs, and too many beers… Thanks to Ben.

Once the job had finished Luke and I made the decision to get back to our ‘budget back packer’ mindset. We didn’t have another job lined up and I think that was the most exciting thing. Knowing that the adventure could continue on for even longer, that’s the feeling I love the most. There was talk between the three of us that we could be heading up north towards Darwin, but it was just quite chatter. We all wanted that to happen but it’s depending on if we get another job back in Adelaide. We are all hoping we don’t win it and we can continue exploring. 

Few photos of the first few weeks in Alice Springs.