What was it that Frost said about miles to go before he sleeps and miles to go before he sleeps? Peter Worgan and Karl Lung have 100 kilometres to walk before they sleep, starting from the Sangam right up till Bidadi. The walk that begins at seven in the morning needs to be completed in 48 hours and it happens for a cause. Organised by Oxfam, the Oxfam Trailwalker is a fund-raising initiative to overcome poverty where teams of four are required to walk or run 100 kilometres in 48 hours, it is a test of physical endurance, mental strength and team spirit.
What started as a training exercise for the Gurkha Regiment in Hong Kong 30 years ago has now become a global phenomenon and last year 15 Oxfam Trailwalkers were organised in 12 countries. This was the first time India was hosting the event and walkers from around the globe participated.
In 1999 Pete Worgan took part in the Sydney Oxfam Trailwalker, when a friend suggested they sign up. They called themselves the Ministry Of Silly Bush Walkers and were recognised by their bib number 002. “It became tradition and there was an escalation of commitment after which I did the Trailwalker in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hong Kong,” says Peter who continues to recap his first time. “The first time I completed the walk in 1999 I was bow legged, had blisters, lost about six toe nails and my legs were like stumps at the end of it.”
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Along with Peter Worgan is Karl Lung from Hong Kong who has been a participant in the Oxfam walks since 1990. “The first time I took part I did not do very well. I was not fit and could not complete it. But it did not matter; it was all about the experience,” says Karl who is now a volunteer with Oxfam. “Oxfam adopts a clean and correct way to help solve poverty and other problems. They find out the cause and make sure that the problem has been weeded out from the root.”
In the perfect world the trailwalkers are four people in a team who meet every weekend to practise and help each other out. “There have been times when I have met my team mates for the first time on the day of the walk. We take each bend as it comes and it doesn't matter because all we have to focus on is getting to the end with these people,” says Pete.
Besides the altruism and genuine good-will, there are also the factors of masochism, competition and team spirit which are also fulfilled.
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“When you get to the end and have finished your walk it feels so fantastic, your muscles are sore but your endorphins are still going berserk.”
Pete did the walk in Hong Kong and he says, “It was such an amazing adventure. The language is different, the cultures and lifestyles are different and people are so helpful.” To which Karl adds, “The Hong Kong and Japan trails are among the most difficult. The one in India should be comparatively easier.”
Both walkers seem rather thrilled about their walk in India, “When I was in China I saw a man drinking some tea when he stopped for a break. I decided to drink it as well, and it was only after that realised it was ginger tea. I was burping ginger for the rest of the walk. I cannot wait to see what adventures I will find here,” says Pete. Karl is more taken in by the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of the people he is going to see on the way,
“Of course the scenery and all is going to be beautiful, but I want to see what life in India is really like.”