"And though all the things I love may pass away and the great family of things and people I have made around me will see me go, I feel them living in me like a great gathering ready to reach a greater home. When one thing dies all things die together, and must live again in a different way, when one thing is missing everything is missing, and must be found again in a new whole and everything wants to be complete, everything wants to go home.

And the geese travelling south are like the shadow of my breath flying into darkness on great-beats to an unknown and where I belong." David Whyte.

One of my closest friends has gone to India. Her entire bucket list, the last wish standing. I am so happy she is there.

"She realised she had this one. This big, bold and beautiful life. And she realised she didn't want to live it chasing and crying and apologising. Starving and fearing and regretting. She realised she wanted to live it proudly and freely and creatively. Lovingly and fully and sweetly. She realised she could choose. And so, she chose." Unknown.

The guide leads the ride out of town, yelling in his heavy Italian accent and broken English, “holes”, “this way”, and my favorite, “bumpy.” His arms are flying to communicate signals of where to go. I have no problem understanding given the terrific hand show.

I laugh and shout to him, “I love listening to your accent.”

I have learned someone can love you with their whole heart, and still break yours.

And that hurt they carry has nothing to do with you, but everything about the relationship they have with themselves.

I have learned no amount of love can heal another’s pain.

They have to love themselves enough to find their own way. I can only walk calmly beside them in their distress.

I have learned that is enough.

And that, this is love.

"Let go of certainty. The opposite isn't uncertainty. It's openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow." Tony Schwartz

In the days leading up to my departure to Europe, I started this blog to capture the time before the beginning of my hike.

Of course, I had these writing ideas but it never turns out to be what you think. Read on.

I’ve finished work for the next five weeks, all nicely negotiated into my contract. I’m down to the smaller logistics before I fly out.

"She has been feeling it for awhile now -- that sense of awakening. There is a gentle rage simmering inside her, and it is getting stronger by the day.

She will hold it close to her -- she will nurture it and let it grow. She won't let anyone else take it away from her. It is her rocket fuel and finally, she is going places. She can feel it down to her very core -- this is her time. She will not only climb mountains -- she will move them too." Lang Leav

You know that mother who sacrifices her own wellbeing for the sake of all others? The one who is tirelessly (but is really tired) giving of her time to the family and community.

"You have seen my descent, now watch my rising." Rumi.

My 11-year old daughter swings the car door open, leaps in and greets me with “hello adventure Mum!” She makes me laugh. She has been at her Dad’s house all weekend and we catch up on what’s been happening for her.

She asks after my weekend, I tell her about my 7-hour solo hike across the Cathedral Ranges, the 60kms of riding in the hills and a 30km recovery ride afterwards. And then there’s a work day thrown in, and before picking her up I smashed out 100kms on the bike.

Just because it was my day off. Who wants to do housework right?

"They won't tell you fairytales of how girls can be dangerous and still win. They will only tell you stories where girls are sweet and kind and reject all sin.

I guess to them it's a terrifying thought, a red riding hood who knew exactly what she was doing when she invited the wild in." Nikita Gill - Girls of the Wild

With my inherent love for the mountains, how could I say no to our friends asking us to leave town a week before Christmas and camp. Get away from the lead up and the madness? Hell yes. The alternative of staying in the city felt untenable for many reasons. And who could knock back days of swimming in the lake? I was enormously grateful for the invitation as we packed up and left.

We'll be friends forever because you already know too much." Unknown.

My friend wraps her arms around me, it’s her 70th birthday celebration, without fail she always finds something so loving to say to me when I’m in her embrace. She is an awesome woman, lived an incredible life with so much dignity, grace and hard work. The smell of her perfume lingers on me for the afternoon as I race about picking up and dropping my kids from the school fair to basketball finals.

For some reason, the fragrance gets me thinking about the incredible friendships I have in my life.

Odd how the brain works sometimes. Maybe it’s actually the heart.

With everyone sound asleep I leave the house at 6am. The streets are mostly still. I rely on the bike light as I cycle towards trendy Beach Road. The only sound is the changing of my gears against the backdrop of birds singing the world awake. It’s Saturday morning and I’m avoiding bunches who usually start at seven.

I figure if I’m out early I can ride quietly and not be overwhelmed by numbers.

As I roll to a stop, giving way to a small group barreling down the road, the silence is shattered by the sound of each rider saying good morning. I look around to see if there are others behind me. No, it’s just me. I’m taken aback by their friendliness and impressed they can even speak at the speed they’re going.

"Courage is not shaped by a Wonder Woman cape, it is an everyday girl facing that which terrifies her and saying yes anyway." Quote unknown.

Two years ago, at age 44, after completing only two overnight hikes of around 20kms each I was compelled to travel to the Italian Alps. Originally, I looked at a hike in Sardinia but June was going to be too hot. Look up North they said, the Dolomites, there are some good walks up there. The Alta Via 1 is around 150kms.

I never questioned my ability aside for a few jokes with my friends, I just took it in my stride I would do it.

In hindsight, when you are hiking a path of this scale, it might have been prudent to buy the topographical maps first and have a look

A few months ago, I was compelled to make the bold decision to hit the reset button on my life. As it turns out a very powerful resolution for me. I felt shockingly low and disheartened, so very apt when in you’re the middle of transformation. Sometimes the perspective doesn’t arrive until you’re a time down the track.

Well I’m here to report I’m down that track, literally, as I’ve just finished the Great Ocean Walk this week, which I'll get onto shortly.

Back then, my decisions for the future began to be based on a Facebook meme that happened to pop up in my feed on a day where I was feeling reckless and highly charged with emotion.

I remember standing outside the institute on a busy Melbourne street, frozen with fear willing myself to go in. At that moment, my phone rang and it was one of my closest friends, I burst into tears. That’s not random. I was attending an information session on a course I wanted to do but I couldn’t get myself through the door.

I had four young children at home, aged 1-6, and I was desperately longing to do something just for myself. My friend coached me through the entry, gently reminding me it’s gathering information only.

And that is how I stared my pathway to study. Hesitant, not believing I could do it and yet a little excited I might actually achieve something other than mothering my kids.

Every Wednesday morning about 6am the garbage truck arrives to collect our rubbish. Like clockwork, aged 2 to 5, my son jumps out of his bed and runs full force into the bedroom, and into bed. He hides under the covers, cuddled up against me. He hates the sound of it and he finds comfort with his mum. These are the moments. I find it a little amusing and relish in our snuggles, until he outgrows his fear. I let go.

I spend endless years reading books and doing jigsaw puzzles with him. We search the library to try and satisfy his need for Paul Jennings. We go to an Andy Griffith’s book signing. He thinks I’m ace. We bake goodies and he asks me for yet another story. I spend years bowling to him in the back yard. These are the moments. Until he declares that I’m a lousy bowler, and his Dad does it so much better. That is actually true. I let go.

The room looks like one big happy rainbow. Mattresses are placed neatly on the floor, covered in the most colourful blankets I've ever seen. Instantly, my mood changes, lifts a little. I’m here for the sound healing meditation created with singing and Tibetan bowls, gong, voice and harmonics. Makes me drift in and out of some mysterious realm.

A bit like hiking really, the sensations you naturally experience when you’re on the trail. Yeah, you know that will always get a mention.

The leader is dressed in white, prayer beads around his neck, with frizzy black hair that is organically wild.

A random Friday off. Awesome. You know where my mind goes straight away. Into the wilderness. The Northern loop, about 120kms out of town in the Cathedral Ranges, it's on my hit list. Not too far, but far enough to feel like I’ve long left city life.

I love driving through the Black Spur, a 30km stint with twists and hairpin turns, to be exact, with enormous gum trees and rainforest ferns awakening your senses as you blow through.

Windows down, the mixed smell of fresh coffee beans and air loft through my car. I listen to the Foo Fighters and feel especially happy as the sound system belts out Everlong, the acoustic version. Cracker of a song.

Shame. I shudder at the word. A powerful force. When I’m in it, it feels like I am sinking in a deep morass of disgust in myself. I feel skinned alive with my chest ripped open. My heart exposed to all.

Recently, I walked through time feeling like the world could see right through me, without me saying a word. I found myself getting through the days, only finding solace in retreating to my home, and eventually into an exhausted sleep. Even then the nights were wakeful and disturbed as I faced the dark shadows looming in me.

I felt humiliated and repulsed by my inability to muster up any compassionate thoughts towards myself.

What has happened has happened. Good and bad. Your past no longer exists. But your NOW does. So honour the moment you’re in now. Simply be. Simply flow. Feel love all around you. Release attachments and free yourself - your body, your mind and soul.

Let go of bitterness and guilt. Love yourself. Give yourself all the love you have so generously been giving others. Welcome new experiences so you can evolve as a soul and human being, and welcome change so you can be directed to the path of your greatest destiny. Alyonna Angelica

There is nothing subtle about unravelling,

it is raw, murky, unchartered,

stripping back what you thought you knew.

Yet in that very collapse, there is grace

that says not to be afraid,

for you are rising, not plummeting,

to the call you are more than this.

For it is time to release the weight you have been bearing,

and ambiguity that shaded your life grey.

You have been preparing for this, arriving,

Sometimes, you just need a break, in a beautiful place, alone, to figure everything out. unknown

Unhinged. Full of fury. A recklessness rising up in me. I cleared my weekend schedule and took to the trail. Not one of my more sane hikes but nonetheless I smashed about 40kms in under 24 hours. I could not stop until the rage began to soften within me.

I will not be a mystery to my daughter. She will know me and I will share my stories with her - the stories of failure, shame and accomplishment. She will know she’s not alone in the wilderness. Viola Davis

Earlier this year, my 14 year old daughter and I took to the trail to hike the 80km Overland Track.

Admittedly, doubt arose when said daughter turned up the day before we left with new acrylic nails, an untimely but generous gift from her grandmother.