Last Entry

After succesfully and safely covering the distance we ended up at KIngston Beavh and then on to Sandy Bay regatta, for my final destination. My last two days included an 80km paddle to Dover and then on to Cygnet and a 20km run to Huownville IGA. A run from Cygnet to Margate and a paddle to the end.

Thankyou, to all the people that supported us in many ways on during event.

23rd Sunday

Orford to Lauderdale via Dodges Ferry

Sticking to our plan of making appearances at IGA stores we set of from Orford. I ran 20kms and then helped Teresa set up for the day at IGA Dodgers Ferry. I then hopped back in my kayak for another large bay paddle across Fredrick Hendry Bay to Lauderdale.

Thanks to Sandra Mazengrab for her help selling raffle tickets at the IGA store.

Distance for the day: 36kms

24th Monday

Lauderdale to snug, the complete distance for the day was 38kms. I received some bad news today, that David Bartlett ,because of his resignation has cancelled all his commitments for the week. Was very upsetting but we will carry on till the end.

Triabanna to Orford 22nd saturday
After yesterdays ordeals I only managed to paddle 10kms. For the rest of the day Teresa and I went to I.G.A Tribanna to raise funds.

21st Friday Swansea to Triabanna

Left early today for a long paddle expecting a nice day. Paddeling with a light N/E wind assisting me down Great Oyster bay conditions very grey and miserable. After about an hour into the paddle I realised the conditions where going to be totally diffrent, to the expected weather forcast for the day. With the swell growing larger and laerger making it imposibal to come in safely in an accesable area or me to be collected if necessary. At the end of the day I would have to say it turned out to be my hardest paddle expererience ever and largest time without a break. However I am very happy I ended up in Triabanna safely. After a 9hour 30mins. I also would also personly like to thank the kind farmer Bill and Clare for helping Teresa try to locate me. All the locals where totally shocked that I had made it by myself in a Kayak in those conditions. I am lucky I do not suffer from sea sickness like one of my fellow paddles from last year as I would of been dead because I was being bounced up and down like a cork. Thank goodness my experiance has taught me you do not paddle a Kayak like you sail a Yacht, point to point. I would have ended up dead in those conditions. I admire all solo paddles it is totally diffrent to paddeling in a group.

Thanks to John and Sandra Hay from Eastcoast resort for covering our two night accomadation. John is a post president of the board of cerebral palsy.

distance 70km

Day 20 – Bicheno to Swansea continued

Today we all drove out to the finishing point from yesterday – 18 kms short of Swansea. Charles was dropped of while Teresa and the rest of the crew set off to set up at the IGA Swansea store.

Over the next six days Charles needs to paddle 350 kms in order to beat last year's record of 1029 kms. Its not going to be easy, but today we got some very good news our premier David Bartlett wil be joining Charles for his paddle from Kingston Beach to Sandy Bay Beach on Australia Day. This news has given Charles an extra boost after all the unfortunate floods – on the mainland and in Tasmania.

Understandably the news about so many flood disasters has affected our fund-raising potential for much of this years event. But we were glad to have been able to assist the local St Helens community while we were held up in St Helens for two days.

A special thankyou to Georgia Schofield and Jessica Seaman for all their help with raising funds for the paddle.

Starting point this morning with Charles about to run 18 kms to Swansea.

Finished 18 kms, in pain because of swollen knee.

Day 19 - Bicheno to Swansea

Charles woke up early and set off on his planned route running to the Swansea IGA. Unfortunately he only managed to run 26 kms and had to stop due to his left knee becoming very sore and swollen from running facing the traffic.

Teresa came out to fetch him and they headed straight back to the Bicheno IGA for another fund-raising push. Tomorrow Charles will take up the run to Swansea from where he stopped today, hoping to be finished before midday to ensure maximum time fund-raising with the support crew at the Swansea IGA store.

Thank-you to all the people that bought a raffle ticket from us in Bicheno today.

Charles after running 26km having to stop because of his left knee.

Day 18 – fundraising day in Bicheno

Today Charles sat outside the IGA store in Bicheno from 9.30 to 4.30 this afternoon, and with the help of Teresa had a huge fundraising day, very busy.

Thank-you kindly for everyone supporting us, with donations.

Please phone Teresa on 0401 164 275 or Charles on 0487 168 883 to make a pledge, as little as 1 cent per kilometre will help to make a difference in the life of Tasmanian kids living with Cerebral Palsy.

Charles with Joshua collecting donations and selling raffle tickets outside the Bicheno IGA.

Charles writing up another raffle ticket towards the end of a long day on the fundraising table.

Day 17 – St Marys to Bicheno

The distance covered for today was 43 kms.

Tomorrow we will be at the IGA store in Bicheno trying our best to raise more funds for Cerebral Palsy Tasmania – it has been very hard to reach our expected daily targets due to the floods.

It was quiet ironic reading the Examiner today and seeing the lady we helped from St Helens with a 100 IGA gift voucher is photographed talking with David Bartlett. STILL NO NEWS!

Tomorrow Charles heads off from Bicheno, while the ground support crew will stay on at the Bicheno IGA.

Our ground support crew at the Scamander IGA, doing their best.

Teresa working hard at the St Marys IGA raising funds as Charles continues on his way to Bicheno.

Charles running down Elephant Pass.

Day 16 – St Helens to St Marys

Today Charles ran 20 kms from Scamander IGA to the St Marys IGA.

Unfortunately today we could not raise any funds, however a kind gentleman stopped his car just before St Marys and gave us a donation.

There are a few reasons for us not sitting outside an IGA store to fund-raise today, firstly the IGA store in Scamander was affected by the flash flooding and the St Marys IGA closes on Sundays, so tomorrow we will start off a new week by sitting at the St Marys IGA store for the whole day.

While the support crew do the hard yards on the fund-raising table, Charles will run down the Elephant Pass to the Chain of Lagoons, after which he will paddle onto Bicheno.

Charles running into St Marys.

Arrived in St Marys after a 20 km run from Scamander.

Day 15 – St Helens to Scamander

After a quick run from St Helens to Scamander with Chris Cumming (who was one of the paddlers in last years event), Charles then went straight back to the St Helens IGA to try raise some more funds, with the help of Teresa, Georgia, and Jessica.

"I have found it very difficult this week to raise funds due to the flood disasters, but I am glad to be able to help the St Helens community with there own flood dramas by handing out IGA $100 food vouchers to those most affected by the local flooding. Hopefully the floods are all over now, and we can get back on track with raising much needed funds for our Tasmanian kids living with cerbral palsy," said Charles.

Still no news about David Bartlett.

Charles and Chris at the IGA store in Scamander after their early morning 17 km run.

Charles helping one of St Helens' flood victims by handing her a 1000kms4kids $100 IGA gift voucher.

Charles with the King family, with mum holding Sam King, who we managed to help purchase a second skin.

Day 14 – Goulds Country to St Helens

Today Charles covered a distance of 24 kms to finish his run from Bridport into St Helens, he then worked really hard with Teresa selling raffle tickets and raising awareness of Cerebral Palsy in the St Helens Supa IGA store.

While in the store today Charles and Teresa had the pleasure of meeting one of the families we have been able to help by our hard work – see photo below.

STILL NO WORD FROM OUR PREMIER, Mr David Bartlett. We would love to hear back from him or his office as the public is asking us if he is going to meet his challenge.

Charles glad to be at the St Helens Supa IGA.

Charles holding Madison Chessum one of the children that 1000kms4kids has been able to assist with second skin dynamic splints.

Charles working hard at the Supa IGA store in St Helens after completing his distance for the day.

Day 13 – fundraising day in St Helens

We have been forced by mother nature to have a day off, as the normally busy and sunny sea side town of St Helens is effectively shut down by flooding.

Charles woke to a very wet day and found that when trying to make his way back to Goulds Country for the run back into St Helens that the roads were closed.

Our attempt to trying and fundraise at the Super IGA store was made impossible by the bad weather as well. With so many roads closed, there was simply hardly a sole in town, and just after midday the new came that the store was having to close due to flooding.

We hope that the rain backs off and the water can drain out of the street and off the many bridges and country roads that feed into town. If it does and the store is open we will be back at it tomorrow.

We have made a decision that over the two days of fundraising that will take place while in St Helens, 10% of all the money raised will be donated to the Queensland flood relief.

This is the southern end of the main street as you head out of St Helens, around 9 am today.

Day 12 – Braxholm to Goulds Country

Today Charles ran from his finishing point on day eleven into Braxholm, had a short break to help set up our table at the IGA store where he had to leave Teresa to raise funds, while he set off to cover more kms.

"I really pushed myself and covered a distance of 54kms. I can however say that would have to be one of the toughest runs I have ever completed, especially running out of Derby and Weldborough Pass. I finished my run at Goulds Country + - 23 kms from St Helens which I have to run tomorrow," said Charles.

We have to be based at the IGA store in St Helens for the next couple of days. With Charles now having completed well over 500 kms, he is on track to smash last years distance.

While trying to recover after his huge effort today, Charles had this to say, "To put the last two days into perspective I have run 4.5 Point to Pinnacles, and if I had to choose between paddling that distance I would much rather paddle than run, as running is much more physically exhausting".

Please phone Teresa on 0401 164 275 or Charles on 0487 168 883 to make a pledge.

Tersea fundraising outside IGA in Braxholm.

Charles working hard in the rain as he makes his way through the Weldborough Pass.

Charles at the end point for the day, Goulds Country, where he starts day 13.

Day 11 – Bridport to Scottsdale

Over the next three days Charles will be running some 120 kms from Bridport to St Helens. With so many miles to be covered over the coming days it was another early start as Charles and Teresa headed off to run the 21 kms to Scottsdale. Congratulations Teresa on running your first half Marathon.

The early start was also planned the enable Charles to make an appearance at the IGA store in Scottsdale. This was a big day for Teresa, following the completion of her long run she and Enzo stayed on fundraising at the IGA store.

After a few phone calls and a raido interview – to help get the message out there so those much needed funds for Tasmanian kids can keep rolling in – Charles headed of towards the next IGA store on route covering another 21.1 kms.

We are now just short of Bronxhlom. And after a long day of running Charles said, "Today's run I found pretty tough as there are some huge hills. I am looking forward to a good sleep, as tomorrow my goal is to run another 42 kms or more".

Thanks to all in Scottsdale who supported us in the IGA store.

Teresa and Charles after finishing their 21 km run from Bridport to Scottsadale.

Distance to St Helens from Scottsdale!

A kind IGA customer making a donation in Scottsdale.

Day 10 - fundraising day in Bridport

Today we spent the whole day fundraising at the IGA in Bridport, the rain finally came – guess it couldn't last for ever – so just for something different today we set up a table inside the store, which worked quiet well.

We would like to remind readers that we are happy to take pledges based on a sum per kilometre (i.e. 2 cents/km = $20). If you wish to make a pledge please contact Teresa on 0487 168 883.

Charles and Teresa hard at work on the inside table at the Bridport IGA store.

Enzo Botte (support crew member) was joined at the outside table by Jimmy Hurley – who is living with CP – and his dad Neville.

Day 9 – Low Head to Bridport

We are now one day ahead of schedule, so tomorrow we can sit outside the IGA in Bridport to raise much needed funds for Tasmanian kids with Cerebral Palsy.

Even though some might call this rest, Charles assures us that sitting outside an IGA store for seven hours everyday selling two dollar raffle tickets is much more tiring than paddling for seven hours.

"I take my hat off to Teresa and all the ground support crew for all their help, as you can not sell raffle tickets on a kayak at sea," said Charles.

PLEASE NOTE: We would like to invite all readers of this blog to consider making a pledge to 1000kms4kids. For example if you pledge 1 cent per kilometre and Charles covers 1000 kms your donation would be $10. If you would like to make a pledge please contact Teresa on 0487 168 883.

Arrived in Bridport after covering 52km from Low Head.

Review of my first nine days

Day one,

Distance: 51km (Smithton IGA fundraising)

Day two,

Distance: 58km (Stanley IGA fundraising)

Day three,

Distance: 56km (Wynyard IGA fundraising)

Day four,

Distance: 59km (Ulverstone IGA fundraising)

Day five,

Distance: 42km (Port Sorell IGA fundraising)

Day six,

Distance: 89km (Beauty Point IGA fundraising)

Day seven,

Fundraising Day Launceston IGA

Day eight,

Distance: 61km (Gorge Town IGA fundraising)

Day nine,

Distance: 52km (Bridport IGA fundraising)

Total distance covered 448km (on average 56kim a day)

So far I have run plus minus 6500 paces and paddled 170,000 strokes. My biggest personal challenges on this trip so far have been crossing Perkins Bay solo from Smithton to Stanley and across Sawyer Bay to Wynyard.

On day six I had to do double the distance to make sure I arrived in Launceston in time for a media opportunity. I did this because I wanted to have a full day of fundraising the following day.

Day 8 – Launceston to Low Head

Charles was on the eater before sun up today to ensure he work his run back up the Tamar in with the out going tide.

The 61 kms of river paddling provides for an interesting day on the water, although the need to keep the tide working for him meant that there was very little time for anything other than pushing on.

Interestingly Charles worked out that he did approximately 30,000 paddle strokes to complete today's leg.

PLEASE NOTE: We would like to invite all readers of this blog to consider making a pledge to 1000kms4kids. For example if you pledge 1 cent per kilometre and Charles covers 1000 kms your donation would be $10. If you would like to make a pledge please contact Teresa on 0487 168 883.

Charels leaving Launny at 5am heading for Low Head.

Early morning sunrise on Tamar river.

The Bataman bridge.

Tidal rip in the Tamar river.

Arriving at Low Head.

IGA George Town owner Winston.

Todays winner of the IGA $100 gift voucher Gorge Town, Mrs. Davies.