Wilson’s Promontory National Park holds a special significance for my Family and I.
It’s our “spiritual home” after many happy years of “Kombi Dreaming” at”The Prom” enjoying camping holidays with family and friends . Wild places have a way of binding us together feeding the soul while creating peace and well being in a way that only Mother Nature can .

As I have done dozens of times before I lug my fishing gear and surf rods with me as I wade out across Tidal River making my way up along the escarpment towards Pillar Point by scurrying across the rocky outcrops , only on this occasion I slip and fall .

My right foot becomes wedged in a crevice twisting my ankle , with a few associated cuts and bruises I managed to collect myself and limp on. It was only whilst fishing off a natural shelf a little further on I noticed the deep gash in my ankle , pity that, as the fish were biting !

Limping back to the beach through the shallows I felt that the sea water could help clean out the wound. Therese, who had been enjoying a relaxing time on the beach surveyed the damage, “looks like it may need stitches” I said. So once again it was a 60km drive to Foster for medical treatment. I say once again because I have “form” having previously been evacuated from the prom to have a fishing hook extracted from my face ! (But that’s another story)

Hobbling about with stitches in my ankle is frustrating , being unable to ride is worse , soldiering on at work the following week when I should have kept off my foot was the wrong decision .

With the ankle swelling up the doctor diagnosed Cellulitis ,which didn’t respond to medication , the upshot saw me hospitalised on an anti bacterial drip to fight off the infection.

So the lessons learned are: rest up when injured and that healing takes time .

While I have had a slight set back in my perpetration for cycling around Australia it’s important to keep it in perspective. How lucky am i to live here in Melbourne where I have easy access to free world class health care ? A simple injury like mine left untreated could lead to serious complications or even death in less fortunate parts of the world.

I expect that I will have an opportunity to ride a little this weekend once the swelling subsides , I sure look forward to getting back on track .