This section of the Sturt Highway is so busy with traffic that Dave has had three near misses this morning with both cars and trucks. The danger is when they are passing another vehicle.
Understandably it has unnerved him so we are looking at upgrading the mirror he has on his barrow to another one double the size and wider.
Dave is now only two kilometres out of Euston, so he will take a lunch break here because he has been on the road since 6.40am. He will check out the availability of a mirror from the local garage and then do another 10-20kms towards Balranald.
really proud of you David – your doing awesome!!
If you end up back in Perth in Jan its likely I may see you there. I arrive on Thurs 8th and leave Thurs 22nd and will be staying with Rob and spending time with him and Abbe. Regardless of whether i see you i’ve a little pressie which I will leave with Rob as a well done for completing your journey.
Stay safe and look after each other
Love Maria
p.s – love from Mum, Dad, Stan and Martin also x
This was in this weeks Weston (super mare) Mercury – your famous Uncle Dave!!!!! x
David’s barrow push acrooss Oz
11 December 2008
AN EXPAT from Weston has been pushing a wheelbarrow across Australia to raise money for prostate and breast cancer charities.
Former Bournville estate resident David Baird has started an epic 4117km run from Perth to Sydney and is hoping to finish his quest on January 10.
The 65-year-old has already covered 3,000kms in 11 weeks, two weeks ahead of his proposed schedule.
David, who lived on the Bournville estate in Holmes Road from aged eight, is hoping to get a Guinness World Record for his efforts.
David, a former Bournville Junior School student, said: “The difficulty factor has been upgraded 100 per cent, due to the strength and consistency of headwinds on the Nullarbor desert.
“It was like pushing two wheelbarrows, and now I have two extra holes in it.
“About 20 vehicles have come within touching distance when driving past me. One was so close it knocked my mirror, which I have so I can see overtaking traffic.
“My feet have also grown two sizes since I started the run on September 21 and I had to have larger shoes sent to me.”
David, who left Weston when he was 22, won’t be enjoying a Christmas pudding on the 25th. Instead he hopes to have arrived at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, still on the road with his wheelbarrow.
But David, who now lives in Perth in Western Australia, is no stranger to fitness and endurance.
He has competed in the 23-Day Round Australia Bike Ride in 1997, which resulted in five world bike riding records and an inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.
He also has a long history in running, having completed 100km in less than 10 hours and is the holder of many veteran events.
For more details about David’s run, visit http://www.aussiedust.com
HI Maria
We had heard the great news that you were coming to Perth from Rob. Unfortunately we won’t finish the run until 10th January and are staying away for another eight months for a well earned holiday as we have our house rented out for that period.
If there is anyway you could catch a flight to Sydney you have a bed in our van. We would love to see you and appreciate all your encouraging emails.
Adam and Michelle would love to catch up with you but are going to Broome for six months for Michelle’s job on 10th January.
I have passed on your details to them but just in case they run out of time here is Adam’s mobile and email. 0409 007 951 and rogue2@iinet.net.au for a chat instead.
Love Jo and Davidx
Hi Laverne
Thank you so much for sending the article from the Mercury, David will be thrilled.
Bob got the ball rolling by emailing the Mercury and I followed up with some blurb
David is doing it tough today as the weather has turned awful and it is now raining. (This is when being in the car is great) Although it is only light rain it still gets you drenched. David is wearing a bright yellow mac, which gets blown around every time a truck goes past. The trucks also throw up water at the side of the road.
Its hard enough running with the barrow without the rain!
Thanks for all your encouraging (and funny)comments
Love Jo and Davidxx