Author Archives: John Ball

After returning to San Antonio from Brisbane following my last walking day on 15 March, I’ve had a few days to collect my thoughts on the 76 days I spent in Australia; the culture I experienced, the scenery I observed, and all those beautiful and welcoming people I met that made this such a memorable … Continue reading »

Start:  Woodridge Station Finish:  Brisbane Central Station Distance:  15 Total:  1211 Today I completed my walk from Melbourne in the south of Australia to Brisbane on Australia’s Pacific coast. It was a good day of walking through suburban and inner city neighborhoods with overcast skies and moderate temperatures.  I was anxious to get going this … Continue reading »

Start:  Coomera Station Finish:  Woodridge Station Distance:  23 Total:  1196 Today was a long day, partly by design, partly because I messed up. I’ll explain.  The day started as planned by taking the train from Central Station in Brisbane back out to Coomera Station where I stopped walking yesterday. The train ride was just over … Continue reading »

Start:  Surfers Paradise Finish:  Coomera Station Distance:  17 Total:  1173 I left Surfers Paradise this morning under clear, blue skies and high humidity. Despite the thick air, it was a good day for walking.  I headed out the door at 8:30 with a goal of reaching my destination, the Coomera train station 17 miles away … Continue reading »

Start:  Tweed Heads Finish:  Surfers Paradise Distance:  15 Total:  1156 Today was one long, continuous, flat sidewalk. It’s a good thing I had the sidewalk because the traffic was bumper-to-bumper and there was road construction everywhere.  Last night’s motel in Tweed Heads was literally one block from the state line between New South Wales and … Continue reading »

Start:  Pottsville Finish:  Tweed Heads Distance:  15 Total:  1141 Today was the last day I will be walking in the countryside of Australia. I’ve reached Tweed Heads, a coastal city 64 miles south of Brisbane and the last town in New South Wales. From here on I’ll be walking in cities all day.  I got … Continue reading »

Start:  Brunswick Heads Finish:  Pottsville Distance:  15 Total:  1126 I had one of my tougher walking days today, even though it wasn’t particularly long. The route was difficult and the humidity was stifling so I was glad to get it over with.  I had a good nights rest in Brunswick Heads and was not in … Continue reading »

Start:  Bangalow Finish:  Brunswick Heads Distance:  17 Total:  1111 Today got off to a slow start. After an awesome dinner meal at the Corner Cartel Mexican restaurant and a good night’s rest at the Bangalow Guesthouse last night, I woke this morning, walked a quarter mile into town for breakfast, returned back to the lodge, … Continue reading »

Start:  West Ballina Finish:  Bangalow Distance:  17 Total:  1094 After an amazing night of rest last night in a real motel room, today turned out to be a good day on the road.   With only 17 miles to walk today, and a firm NET checkin time of 2:00 PM at my next lodging location, … Continue reading »

Start:  Woodburn Finish:  West Ballina Distance:  23 Total:  1076 Last nights stay in Woodburn was not a good experience. Then today I missed a turn and had to backtrack. Maybe I got whatever bad that’s left on this trip over with all at once. I hope so.  Last night I stayed in the village of … Continue reading »