Day 33: 20 December 2019 (SCT Day 7)
South Cape Rivulet to Cockle Creek
As much as we enjoyed every day of the trip, waking on the last day we were exhilarated to be on the verge of completing the journey. The emotion was similar to my experience on the final day of our pilgrimage to Rome in 2011. The Trek group were the same and their guides laughed as they could hardly keep up with their fit and motivated crew.
A joyful morning dance 
Excitement in the air 
An it’s off we go! 
How often does one have the chance to walk along ocean beaches with no one else around? We clambered up stone steps, along cliffs with signposted warnings to stay away from the edge at risk of sudden collapse, and past another sign marking the southernmost point of the track.
The final section was on boardwalk, and we came across several couples and singles heading in for day walks or overnight trips. One couple, the young woman wearing baby-blue jeans, looked with horror at our mud-stained gaiters. “Will we need those?” she asked. “Where are you heading?” we countered. “Surprise Bay,” she responded. We tried to imagine them getting across the chest deep South Cape Rivulet with their sleeping bags dangling from their packs …. and the mud…
It was wonderful to see a couple of the wildflowers (Blandfordia and Patersonia fragilis) on our final leg which had been our friends over much of the last stage. They popped up now and again with a splash of colour and encouragement.
We walked fast, not stopping for breaks, and we arrived at the Cockle Creek checkout point before 11 am. There was a group of people there, and while chatting to them we discovered one was a young woman who was also from Sheffield. She had moved to the house opposite Tim’s childhood home in April, and we planned for her to contact us once we were all back home.
Soon after our arrival at the end of the track we were thrilled to be met by 2 carloads – Alastair came with my friend Mellissa and her daughter Megan, and Justin’s friend Smick as well. A quick dip in the lagoon, then we jumped into the cars and headed for Southport Tavern for a celebratory lunch. Another celebration – dinner at Rockwall with Madeleine, Justin and Alastair. We had initially thought we would stay in Hobart overnight, but Tim is more than happy to drive after a long day. Having left South Cape Rivulet at 8 am, it was strange to arrive back at Sheffield by 9:30 pm.
It is hard to really comprehend the significance of this journey at this stage. We both feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to complete our vision of pilgrimage across Tasmania, especially following Tim’s cardiac arrest on the second day of the journey, in November last year. We anticipate that the impact of the pilgrimage will mature in our hearts and souls in the months to come, and we may add to this blog with further reflections in 2020.