A tear shed but a walk completed

After severe reception difficulties in the Lakes meant any updates were from Cheryl I finished the walk yesterday afternoon an hour later than anticipated due to being on Gary & Helen time, two friends who came up with Cheryl to meet me at the end. Gary in particular operates on a timescale invariably somewhat behind what he says. Since the fantastic experience of easedale tarn on Thursday night I encountered six hours or persistant rain on the trek over High Raise and round Ennerdale water which did somewhat detract from the enjoyment.

The last nights camping was at a lovely farm just beyond Ennerdale Bridge but due to knackered legs by this stage I decided to stop off for tea before completing the days walking. Since Cheryl and I visited Ennerdale last October one of the pubs has gone from traditional if slightly amateurish local serving coast to coasters to gastro pub. If anybody has read Al Murreys book of common sense they will know that gastro pubs in his opinion rate as highly as the french... on the evidence of my encounter I concur so I went to the Shepherd arms hotel where I had a right laugh with a Victoria Wood sound alike lady who was walking alone for a few days. She was highly impressed when I purchased a bottle of wine for the remainder of the evening.

Once esconced at the campsite I followed the nightly tradition of falling asleep with half my drink unfinished and the inner compartment of the tent open. I think this has been the result of the exerciase and the fresh air and of course nothing due to any earlier consumption. As usual I awoke a couple of hours later to shut inner door and discard the remnants.

The final day started gloriously with a distant view of the sea and the final packing up of the rucksack. I appreciate it is incredibly sad to get emotional over a jetboil and a tent but these had been my home for 14 days and you do get attached to them. That said the prospect of a night in a hotel with a bath was appealing both to me and those in my company!

The days weather was a classic mixture of sunshine and showers plus the return of the headwinds missing for the past week. After the last climb although the sea was just about visible the lakes had disappeared under low cloud. However as I got nearer the coast the weather improved and the mountains were once more visible. It is quite exhilerating to look back and see how high you climbed and how far I have travelled.

Lunch was planned for the Dog and Partridge at Sandwith but unfortunately the landlord only opens when he can be arsed and Saturday lunchtimes obviously would involve too much trade and effort so I had to make do with the remnants of the last nights wine. While consuming said lunch I met three people walking in aid of a trust set up to commemorate the 12 military police killed in Iraq and we swapped sponsorship. While I was carrying 16kg they were carrying a dummy on a stretcher... each to their own.

Approaching the coast I had a big lump in my throat and a tear in the eye as I thought how proud my sister would be. I miss her a lot but this walk has also been carthartic in remembering her, the times together and supporting the cause. And then it was a push down to the end. Gary time eventually caught up and I strolled down the slope to meet Cheryl and Gary & Helen,
engage in the traditional dipping of the boots in the sea and wang the pebble I had carried all the way from Robin Hoods Bay.

And so its done, 200 miles, lost a bit of weight, got a bit of a tan, sore knees and a bit of work for Norman the physio to do, met loads of lovely people and raised over £3000 for The Lavender Trust. It has been fantastic and something I shall never forget. It would not however have been possible without the support and understanding of the bride, she's been a star and I am lucky to have her.



Over the coming days I shall try and update the missing days and add further photo's. And just in case the flying dutchmen, the Belgian Brothers, Kevin the horse shoesman and John from Reading get to read this remember we were the hardcore walkers... forget the B&B's, the luggage carriers etc, hardcore C2C 'ers carry the lot!

Flying Dutchmen, a Blacksmith and going wild...

Well tonight is John's wild camping night. He's set up camp at Easedale Tarn - see link for picture - no loos, no showers, hopefully not too much wildlife, just wonderful scenery and perfect peace.

Yesterday was a good day, just a climb of over 700 metres to contend with, but the sun shone and it wont surprise any of you who know John to hear that sunburn ensued...

Luckily he found that a few beers with a couple of Dutch guys at last night's camp site soon took his mind off the pain of the burning skin. An American who 'shoes horses' (I'm assuming thats a blacksmith then?) joined them and no doubt the intrepid trekker slept soundly. Whether the same could be said for those in the surrounding tents after hearing the 90Db snores that I have to contend with most nights (and no, I'm not missing that at all) is another matter entirely....

Also a mention for Matt and Dave who are Stags fans also walking the C2C. Whatever else this walk has been, it has reaffirmed John's belief that walkers are bloody nice people.

Sleep well x

PS hopefully there'll be decent phone reception at some point tomorrow, and you'll get the A team posting on here again

PPS for anyone who cant find the link to the pic of Easedale Tarn, click on the title of this entry and taadaaaa!!

golden brown tonight

what a fantastic day of weather plus a following wind for the first time. Walked from kirkby stephen to shap the edge of the lakes. 21 miles, up and down hill and still in one piece albeit creaking and slightly cooked , I mean tanned, down one side. Also picked up a bit more sponsorship and also managed to complete my set of three kings plus visit george on the way over... The sacrifices I make for local businesses. Tonight I camping on a proper farm and have already been visited by six hens. Hopefully they might leave an egg for breakfast.

hail in may?

Two more days done and no new injuries to report other than .rsi of the drinking hand. The cultural nature of the trip has improved following visits to the kings of both gunnerside and kirkby stephen, yesterday was beautiful until the mother of all storms wet me to the core. Swim shorts were in their element, rest of the kit was just wet through. Anyway once the tent was up I sought refuge in somewhere with a hot radiator requiring a longer stay to enable my boots to dry. There were some funny looks at my boots resting on the rad but hey I am used to funny looks! After yesterdays rain today started well with a long climb and the highest peak so far at 650m. Despite serious bogs that made kinder look a piece of cake boots stayed dry. However on reaching nine standards , 3m columns of limestone, it began to rain and then turned to hail. Ffs we are in may and the real football season is over. However after that the sun came out and despite a delay while I fought valiantly to get my overtrousers off , envisage an obese fly in a spiders web,

Tomorrow sees the longest stretch and I am already thinking of bed at 8.20. This walk is one long excess of partying! I cross the m6 and I have already seen the lakes. That said there are still six days of walking but at least tonight I am clean, the kit is clean and I have even had a proper shave. Bic sensitive shivers are not sensitive . Ps missed a historical landmark, I am currently visiting colgan castle!

fantastic days walking

after the mundane trials of the vale of York on Thursday yesterday was just fantastic despite meeting up with Pete W who kindly brought rain with him. Despite having to don the waterproof on a couple of occasions I still managed to get sunburn calfs ! After leaving Richmond we were rapidly into the joys of Swaledale and it was an absolute joy , also good to be walking and talking with somebody else after six days of solitary musings +marine having to suffer me alone for all that time?

evenings events
After discovering another landmark this one dating back to 1680, see history too, and called the Black Bull Pete caught the bus back to Richmond despite there being some debate amongst the locals as to whether the driver would be early or stop as it was friday! After getting to the campsite and being given a complimentary deckchair from the campsite owner I met up with john from reading. He has endured terrible weather walking the other way and his boots leak if the is dew in the next county. We returned to the landmark solely to try and dry said boots in front of the fire. Eventually as the smell of burning rubber filled the pub the landlady took pity and offered to dry the overnight for him. To repay this gesture of kindness we felt obliged to have another beer or two. Such are the trials and tribulations of the c2c .

Greetings from Richmond library

Waheeey, technology that works. After the trials and tribulations of my phone and the mobile charger (thanks Jim by the way, worked great when the phone was full of charge, dead when required) plus the lack of signal I am finally able to update you on progress so far.

I have been totally knackered at the end of each day whatever the distance walked and especially so yesterday after the small matter of 21 miles into a very strong headwind....... who's bright idea was it to walk east to west into the prevailing wind. That said the walk is brilliant and I have seen a whole variety of landmarks (The bay view, Station Tavern, Lion Inn, Lord Stones Cafe (£2 per pint of Kronenbourg!!), Queen Catherine and Catterick Bridge Hotel)......... what do you mean pubs are not landmarks? Total distance so far is about 80 miles so getting there.

So far I have walked a lovely part of the North Yorks coast, crossed the North York Moors seemingly on an ever continuing uphill slope, crossed the Vale of York yesterday and will shortly be heading into the yorkshire dales. Apart from yesterday which was repetitive agricultural land the scenery has been fantastic. Weather has been ok with me dodging the showers remarkably. For cultural reasons visit previously mentioned landmarks in times of rain!

Highlight has to have been the villager tourist squabble in Grosmont. As another steam train left the station next to the pub a more senior and slightly intoxicated lady announced "there goes another polar bear" in a louder than usual voice. At this a somewhat agitated steam buff / trainspotter advised her "that some of us like trains and if you don't like it p*** off and live somewhere else". This brought a strong response from the locals encouraging the spotter to fornicate elsewhere. Shortly after it calmed down only for spotters Dad to then enter the pub and complain that the locals "had been upsetting my son and if they dont like it here to etc etc". Must be a riot in that household.

Anyway injury update. Knees hurt but are holding up thus far, various niggles and aches and pains but generably bearable by the following morning. The rash (caused by a case of the Betty's) has improved you will be pleased to know and miracuously the back is holding up well. Norman you have performed wonders so far.

I shall try and post more regularly when the new charger arrives today and subject to finding signal in the evening. Thanks for the support.

John

Oops....and some good news

Sorry John hasn't been able to update this blog en route as planned. Phone reception has been rubbish, and then today his phone ran out of battery. The back up charger has failed, and he didnt take the mains one with him to use at camp sites so he's currently incommunicado. He did manage to take a step back in time and use one of those strange boxes at the side of the road (used to have A and B buttons and you used them to make phone calls in the days before mobiles, some of us even used to spend hours in them phoning dial a disc - 16 if I remember rightly) to make contact today though....am pleased to report that he has arrived at Osmotherley this afternoon, which is - trumpet fanfare - a quarter of the way, so thats a pretty big achievement.

The good news is that Pete Walden will be walking with John on Friday so he can go loaded with razors and a phone charger, which means you'll get a much better standard of blog from then on, as opposed to my inane ramblings.

More good news: the only injuries to report so far are a bit of a shredded face from taking the wrong make of disposable razors with him and a minor...er...rash that any of you blokes who take a lot of exercise would understand better than I ever could. You've done a great job Norman, as the knees, groin and back are all holding up really well.

The weather hasn't been great, it was so windy that John had to weigh down the tent with some rocks to stop it blowing away a couple of nights ago. Well, at least that's what he said, but those of us who know him might find it hard to believe that additional ballast was required. He's going to kill me when he reads that.

Right, I'm off to my comfy warm bed with its snuggly quilt....warning soppy bit coming up here...and thinking of John lying on a mattress no thicker than a Walkers crisp in his sleeping bag and wearing a woolly hat to keep warm, with the wind and rain howling round his tiny tent, it makes me realise that however much he is enjoying the challenge, its a bloody hard slog, and we're all really proud of him.

Underway.....

Its Cheryl here, writing for John as he's either in a no signal area or has discovered that bashing the keys on his phone to make it work might actually do the opposite, or alternatively (and most likely) he's had a couple of beers and has retired to bed resplendent in woolly had and the kind of nightwear best left to the imagination.....

John started out this morning with Andy (Louise's husband) to see him off. They did that blokey hand shaking/pat on the back type thing, but suspect they both found it an emotional moment bearing in mind what, or rather who, inspired him to undertake this walk.

The start of this trek wasnt without controversy. Yesterday, having gone to The Bay Hotel in RHB followed by fish and chips overlooking the beach, John decided that this would count as the first 'Coast' and he would start the walk this morning from the camp site on the hill at the top of RHB. Being a bit of a stickler for tradition, I 'suggested' that he should dip his boots in the sea today to mark the official start of the journey. John was not at all impressed as the walk from the sea back up to the camp site is just about vertical (well it is to me, having lived in Cambridge most of my life). But, this morning, suitably fortified by a bacon sarnie on the way down the hill, he duly got his feet wet as you can see in the photo above. Just as well really, cos it would have been a bit of a bugger to have got to St Bees then decide that the start of the walk hadnt been done quite right...

Am sure John will write in a much more entertaining way about his first day tomorrow - and hopefully he'll tell all about the aggro in the pub in Grosmont where some visiting train spotters and a couple of locals got involved in a bit of argy bargy....Yes really, trainspotters!

First target reached

just hit the £2500 mark so all I have to do is walk it now! Will be leaving in about half an hour assuming I manage to get everything into the rucksack. Bride has been briefed on not blowing the mower up in my absence (its a blokes job lawns are) Having problems with activating the blog from my mobile so will have to use technical support aka the brother in law. Thanks to everybody that has sponsored me so far I shall do my best to justify the faith.

Disregard tech support requirements we have blog access..... waheyy all it took was bashing the keys harder and repeatedly aided by obligatory foul and abusive language. Now all we need is a signal. more later!

Full weight on for the first time...

New rucksack purchased and the wallet lighter to the tune of £130 I decided it was finally time to test a full weight walk. The bride kindly asked if that included the rucksack and kit? There are times I question quite what possessed me to marry her. The rucksack is an Opsprey make and I had a highly enjoyable hour in the specialist camping shop at Hathersage. As an ackowledged hater of shopping this is the one type I thoroughly enjoy and I invariably come away with several gadgets I hadn't planned on buying. The new rucksack is substantially lighter but technology has advanced and it can hold an additional 15 litres ( abit like me in my expanded shape these days!!)

I decided to retrace a walk I did in February starting over Beeley Moor but doing the top of Chatsworth before a stiff climb up from Beeley to finish. Although it was only 10.5 miles I thought it would be a good introduction to carrying full weight and also have a challenging climb to finish. I had definately forgotton how different it is walking like this though and was soon puffing and panting across Beeley Moor but then got into a rythem. Mum rang me to update me on Dads progress after his heart bypass operation a couple of days ago. Despite a slight blip he is still doing well although the strong winds did make the conversation difficult to hear on occasions.

The blonde was in heaven having been allowed to accompany me although her countrycraft had neglected her as she had fogotten how to get over some stiles. Empty voids in that brain of hers obviously to blame. Meg likes to think she always knows the way but not having done this walk before she sometimes missed the turn. When this happened she would come sprinting past me and charge off 30 meters ahead as if to say I knew that was the way. With lots of lambs about she should strictly have been on her lead but since she is actually scared of sheep there was not much to worry me. This was demonstrated as we descended Beeley Moor where even the tiny lambs intimidated her.... some guard dog!

Lunch was partaken at the Robin Hood where there is a proper walkers bar although lots of signs prohibited boots and dogs from trespassing on the carpeted areas. I guess this is the indoor version of keep off the grass. I shared a bowl of chips with Meg before we trotted off up the obligatory steep hill straight after lunch which resulted in much heavy breathing and sweating. I had omitted to wear the normal base layer and it emphasised how impractical standard cotten t shirts are when exerting yourself.

The walk over the top of Chatsworth was fantastic, a new walk for me and few people about. The views over Chatsworth were excellent and Stand Tower impressive. There were also a couple of old boys climbing although the desire to clamber up a vertical rockface when there is a perfectly good path round the side eludes me. Still each to their own. I continued to make decent time although it was taking some getting used to with the full pack especially climbing the stiles when the dumb blonde decided she needed lifting over. Words were exchanged so she had the hump for a little. (Bit like being at home!)

The long climb proved tough but at least it was good practice because there will be some proper climbing on the walk. Major plus points were that everything fitted into the rucksack and it was liftable. Downsides are that I am not as fit as I would have hoped but then again once into the rythem of walking I am sure I shall adapt. Sunday and Monday will see the final dress rehearsal with an overnight stop and then its onto the walk itself. I can hardly wait.

Testing the tent

Since we are now only two weeks away I thought it opportune to test the new tent out and have a dumy run of packing everything i.e. will it all fit in the rucksack, can I lift it if it does. Sadly the answer to the first part was no and second only with difficulty. Options therefore include sacrificing some kit or buying a new and better rucksack. After serious reflection and recognising that mice in the loft had eaten a fair bit of the waist band of the rucksack I went for option 2.

Anyway tent is fine as can be seen in the attached photo's, jetboil works fine for the morning cuppa and I tested out the pub food option in Edale. This essential trial necessitated consuming the obligatory pub pie and several lagers. Satisfied that I shall be able to manage this regular activity I retired early to test the new mattress and sleeping arrangements.

Unfortunately I had forgotton how cold it gets at nights in April and early May so will have to revisit the night clothing options. Despite sleeping in my woolly hat and socks (picture that for an illusion of attraction....not) I had a disturbed nights sleep waking on several occasions feeling cold. I have a feeling we could be heading foy lycra wear tor the main event.

The new tent is great however and although half a kilo heavier than the other one there is substantially more space for kit and boiling a brew in the morning. packing up was a major problem however and something I shall have to revisit. i.e. how to get all the kit in the rucksack in the right order. Condensation was also a problem although my intention is to start a lot later on the shorter mileage days so I enjoy the scenary and dont arrive by early afternoon.

Off reffing my third last game this afternoon so need to press on.

Football bleddy football

After a month of minimal training due to getting involved in my blasted football club I am suddenly in need of an intensive training spell with only 3 weeks to go. I have still been reffing but a variety of injuries calf, knee and back have meant that exercise has primarily been limited to games and recovery. Certainly getting my worth out of Norman my physio. I like to think I provide him with job variation because he never quite knows which part of my body he will be required to patch up as I hobble in for my weekly session.



lets get the footy out of the way first. Notts County (once a Trust /supporter owned club) are being hijacked by a meglomaniac and a village idiot backed by a bunch of jellyfish (spineless, gutless creatures who float on the tide). Anyway the clubs in a mess on and off the field so I got involved in once more trying to provide an alternative. Time will tell whether we will have any impact, personally I think the club will probably go man boobs up around September time.



Talking of which the afore mentioned MB's have maintained their prominent status and the obesity counter remains high. Consequently a decent walk was required. Wednesday night I am reading the forum of my second team Matlock Town and see that a group of loyal supporters are walking to Buxton on Friday to raise funds for the new stand appeal. Its late, I've had a couple of medicinal cans after a long day and a match and a leisurely stroll seems like a good way to get back into walking. "Love to have you along" says Stuart the organiser bearing in mind I have already sponsored him and another friend Kev. March.



Thursday dawns as does the realisation that said leisurely stroll is 23 miles long and starting at 6am Friday morning. Still in for a penny in for the rule "never post late at night on a forum" or suffer the consequences. Earlyish night Thursday but 5am Friday still feels like the middle of the night. Get ready, drive to the ground in plenty of time... nobody there. Drive to the petrol station for sustenance (jellybabies) and then back to the ground. Nobody there. Go and park car, walk back to the ground and thankfully at five to six our intrepid organiser has appeared. Eventually 10 other walkers arrive, photo's are taken and we are ready to commence. Malc March. walk leader and route finder is now fretting we are four minutes behind schedule leaving us with only 8 hours and fifty six minutes to get there.

A long and steady climb up Salter lane and onto Bonsall Moor is punctuated by the first of Kevin's many mutterings about how "If they don't play well after this I wont be happy" (Postscript Kev's opening comment on Monday night.... "I wasn't happy!!") . When it levelled off discussion focused on the lemming like tendancy of the local frog and toad population in their challenge with cars driving along the lane but we were fast approaching Winster before parts of a car bumper saw the updated score reach cars 56, frogs 1. Passing the Miners standard (unfortunately closed at 7.30am) Malc announced he was pleased with the 3mph progress but less pleased that it had just started to rain. A short while later I in my astute local weatherman guise stated that it was easing where upon it promptly got harder. Career role 34 now discarded.

The rain did eventually ease in time for us to meet the wonderful support team ladies where we joined the High Peak trail. Sharon was huddled under a brolly cursing the malfunctioning gas burner but still producing hugely welcome bacon butties. As a group we had stayed together pretty well and everyone seemed in good spirits although Lee had the days first blister evidence. Once plastered and fed we set off on the five mile stretch to Parsley Hay along the trail, a welcome change from road walking.

A steady pace was maintained although we had started to spread out a little. The weather had improved substantially and it was good walking weather in many ways. Kev " definately wont be happy..." March had changed into another of his seemingly unending supply of replica shirts. Normal people take waterproofs, kev just packs his wardrobe into the support vehicle. Alex (for the only time) spoke launching into a lengthy description of his six central mids games in a day experience, a stunning and bewildering feat as I lose the will to live after one game of crap football let alone six. It is clearly some dominant gene within the Lawton makeup that compells them to watch football anywhere at anytime. By the time we reached Parsley Hay quite a few of us were beginning to creak not least me with my miriad collection of aches and pains. I wont bother you with the details suffice to say if my body is a temple its a pretty ancient and delapidated one in need of substantial renovation.

Once more fed and watered we were on the prettiest stretch over to Earl Sterndale. One of the joys of the day was that you ended up walking with differing people many of whom I didn't really know and for much of this stretch I chatted to Richard who has an inherent interest in all things mechanical (lovely tone to that tractor engine, is that a crane down there... it is indeed, has that trailer chassis buckled?) but also was one of the Hednesford walkers so this effort was a mere morning stroll. I also chatted to Mark who cheerfully told me he hadnt seen us win all season, the only game he was in attendance that we won he served in the bar all afternoon (FC United). So for all those searching for answers to the subsequent performance I blame Mark.

Definately more spread out now we tottered into Sterndale in good time. Malc was well happy that we had reclaimed those crucial four minutes and I was satisfied that we were going to get to the game in time for the compulsary pre match beer. It is an unwritten rule (now a written one too) that football should not be watched sober and one I stringently try to adhere to. I also try and drink in club bars because morally I can then convince myself I am contributing to football economy. Actually its just a load of b***** that means I can have a pint and not have to walk any further to the game.

At the last stop outside the quiet woman (the pub sign had a headless lady on it say no more) Sharon regalled us with her with her toilet adventures from the Hednesford journey......... too much information. With only five miles to go most of us were feeling some pain particularly going down hill. It felt much later than 12.30 but then we had started walking in the middle of normal sleep time. Any chance of having a net weight loss had been removed by ham and cheese sandwiches so I accepted my fate and began hallucinating about cold lager.

The last stretch began with a steady climb and then a long descent to Harpur Hill. The descent was far more painful and we were well strung out. Impressively there appeared no possibility of anybody dropping out despite even the uba fit malc suffering blister problems. My feet were bearing up courtesy of my wonderful boots but other parts of the body were malfunctioning as usual. Having had the prettiest stretch we had the ugliest as befits approaching Buxton. Harpur Hill is a grim old place and the rugby club named Sunny meadows is stretching journalistic licence a bit far. On cue it began to rain and got heavier the closer we got to the ground.

By now it was a case of trundling along at your own speed (or whatever masqueraded as being comfortable). Jonny was walking with us at this time and we were so strung out that he got a plaintive phone call from Rosie saying he obviously didn't love her and had gone off with his new mates to enjoy himself. In a fine example of relationship management he mollified her with promises of fags and money for beer (not sure how this worked to be honest because Rosie was driving and I dont know if she smokes!!). Anyway Jonny held back and Richard, Alex and I pushed on. Richard felt he was wasting away so became obsessed with the need for chips while I was like a bloodhound sniffing out the prey or in this case the bar.

We arrived at 2.10pm to a nice round of applause from the committee although I think Tom Wright wanted to retract his praise once he realised I hadn't been sponsored. Typical commercial manager, Tom had done half the walk departing from Darley and going via Bakewell and had arrived ten minutes before us!! Mind you he had bullied friends and acquaintances into substantial sponsorship so congratualtions. Rapidly esconcing ourselves in the bar we were able to welcome the remaining arrivals from a position of comfort. Sat down, pint in hand, warm and dry (ish). Everyone made it in time which was a fine effort particularly for those less experienced walkers and also without such an affinity for the football club.

As for the game... we should have stayed in the bar or caught the first bus home. Kevin was "not happy", Stu became "A very angry walker" and even Alex was struggling to be persuaded to go to the Ilkeston game that evening.

I would just like to say thanks to Stu for organising the walk and the funds raised. It was a highly enjoyable day (until 3pm at least) and great training for me personally. Great people, great club, not a very good team.

Elastoplast miracle cure and another walk

Meg had decided to forsake the opportunity of a walk for her other favourite pastime that of hydrotherapy. At this point I would fully understand you beginning to question just how spoilt Meg the dog is and you are right she is. I try to maintain a level of owner/dog relationship by allegedly being cruel to the dog i.e. she will not sleep on the bed all night nor on the sofa all day but unfortunately I am frequently over ruled by the trouser wearing one. Anyway....... Meg is a walking injury zone with bad hips and a knackered elbow plus trying to spear her brain on a stick so she goes swimming once a fortnight. Wonderful it is too and does her no end of good http://www.ashbournecaninehydrotherapy.co.uk/index.html if you have a canine in need of treatment.



Anyway what of me. Unlike the dog I am in prime physical condition...not! So the start of the day saw my weekly visit to the physio, an amiable sadist called Norman Hibbert. Now Norman is one of the nicest people you could wish to meet unless you are lying on his treatment table when he states a need to apply a little "gentle" manipulation. He has been treating me for a couple of months and while he is clearly hugely knowledgeable and the back is improving it is not a fun filled forty minutes. Currently I have a "stretch" of traction (groan) followed by manipulation and exercises. This week he tried a new technique whereby he applied strips of expensive elastoplast down my back which apparently lifts the skin away from the bone / disc area. Amazingly this was a Eureka moment where for the first time in 20 years (promise) I could touch my toes without bending my legs. Somewhat unkindly the bride suggested it might the first time I could see my toes! Norman is also the only person bar one who has greater road rage than me. He is the only childless person I know to celebrate half term on the grounds of less people slowing him on the way to work.



Once suitably mobilised and the wallet lighter too I set off for the walk along Curbar edge via the Grouse and over Big Moor. This was an 11 mile stretch made difficult by well trodden paths creating an icy route for the first half followed by deep snow on the second. I was initially faced by a somewhat intransigent cow with sharp horns that made me decide not to challenge its right of way but then the views were fantastic from the edge The Grouse Inn provided a welcome midway pit stop followed by the obligatory climb thereafter and the latter half was generally desolate and people free but very tiring. I certainly felt the effort today but I guess it is good training as I keep telling myself when I am hurting most. I am conscious that I am going to have to up the distance and carrying weight soon (Other than that located in the belt area) but also aware that walking conditions will improve. Wading through knee high snow certainly takes it out of you. Speed is still OK with a steady 5 km/hr being maintained.

Asher & snow again

After more substantial snowfall over the weekend (fortunately nothing like as bad as they suffered darn sarf!!) I took the opportunity to get out and about once more. Meg had been released from all other duties such as barking at the milk, postmen etc and was free to come with me. Henry the springer spaniel we inherited from my sister was deemed too independant to come with us. Basically Henry is a dog with his own agenda i.e. he is far too intelligent to respond to his owners commands which is a bit like me and Cheryl...I think I shall leave that one to the readers imagination.... just remember I am the good guy.

Anyway I had had a bout of Winstons "black dog" over the past few days (if you are well read historically you will know what I mean) so it was good to be out and active in the fresh air. We decided to do the Ashover route in reverse which meant a viscous initial climb from Tansley in difficult conditions underfoot. Meg however was excelling at showing how easy it was, only pausing to eat snow. Is snow to dogs what beer is to obese males? She certainly had her share on the stretch over but since it failed to inhibit her motion or activity I can only assume not. Anyway we made decent time only losing our way once and stopped once more at the Crispin for suitable refreshment.

The post lunch meander turned out to be anything but easy. Firstly the cloud dropped meant we were walking in a light blizzard. Having decided to extend the route this also meant we were walking across roads and fields we had not been before despite only being five miles from home. At one stage we entered a field where allegedly there was a path. With the clouds down restricting visibility and no sign of anybody having walked this way since the snowfall we were almost completely blind. Suddenly out of the murk a black cow (or rather twenty) appeared heading menacingly towards us. Yes I know they are gentle animals but one running towards you is still a lot of steak in motion. Meg, ever the loyal and devoted protector of her master promptly legged it leaving me and Ermintrude to face up. Fortunately my deliberately cultivated obese status made Ermin (we were getting familiar by this stage) realise it was not such a one sided contest. Oh and me yelling at her to F*** off helped.

Anyway....... that little diversion aside we finished the walk. Meg had decided to do the loyal thing three miles from home meaning she was knackered running away from the cow. I wasn't talking to her after her previous show of devotion and calmly let a retriever chase after her close to home....ha now you know what if feels like dog! 12.5 miles completed at the standard 3 miles per hour showed I am definately getting fitter if not slimmer although I welcomed the hot bath at the end. I reckon this obese thing is definately saving on the gas bills however... less water and deeper baths.

just the odd foot of snow in places

Well with Tuesday being the second day in a row that I couldn't get the car out I decided to do another training walk this time via Tansley, Lea, Holloway and back over Riber once more. It was a glorious sunny morning but the glare off the snow made me rapidly regret not taking my sunglasses. Snow blindness is not a condition we suffer from hugely in the Derbyshire dales but was sufficient excuse to need to find a darkish location for relief from the glare and the Jug & Claret at Lea sufficed after three miles of hard work through a somewhat powderery snow.

With eyes adjusted and suitably fortified by some lunch I emerged to find the overhead conditions had reverted to derbyshire type i.e. grey cloud cover. While I could now see where I was going this didn't help the navigation hugely because all paths were obliterated by snow. This required some detailed map navigation which seemed somewhat ironic being only five miles from home. After a fair amount of backtracking I did find my way over to Upper Holloway not normally an isolated hamlet but today feeling totally cut off probably because realistically it was. (see route in). My only contact with other people was a mother and son carrying small amounts of grit from the bins at the side of the road on shovels in a vain attempt to clear their access to the house. It certainly didn't appear the most efficient operation I had ever seen but at least the council had deigned to fill their bins... as you have probably guessed grumpy old man is not happy about the lack of grit in the bins on our lane.

The walk from Holloway to Starkholmes was via a path through a wooded hillside with the snow over a foot deep in places, good training but seriously hard work. I am assuming I followed the path but for long periods I had no idea if I was on the correct route. Eventually I got to Riber where kids were sledging down the steepest slope you could imagine. Seriously scarey fun but the danger was shown later when I heard about the teenager killed at Rother Valley country park near where I work. Just about managed to get down the hill without landing on the previously mentioned large posterior, pausing only for another pitch inspection from high up which resulted in the phone call that evening to postpone Wednesdays game. Not many refs can say they have held pitch inspections from 2 miles away.

By the end of the walk I had done over 11 miles which was pleasing but I certainly felt the effects of the snow. Hopefully in May that shouldn't be a factor. On the kit front I need to either find my gaitors or invest in some new ones. While the boots held firm and dry the socks and trousers were well covered in mud which cunningly disguised itself beneath what appear solid snow. Typically organised when I got home I got distracted by the equipment websites and ordered a new ultra lightweight mattress instead.... doh.

After todays exercise the obesity meter still appears stuck on fat which is not pleasing but I am definately getting fitter. I intend to structure my training as the weeks appear to be reducing at a rate and I need to plan a couple of overnights as well in April. That is likely to be cold but I do need a full trial in the new tent.

Artic blizzards in London so off for a walk up here...

So don't get me started on the fact that every news item, web page etc is telling us how tough it is anywhere south of Nottingham but then with our hardy whippets, cloth caps and log fires to keep us warm up here what have we got to worry about. Anyway enough of that... our lane which in one direction goes up steeply and in the other down and then up steeply is not on the bus routes so doesn't get gritted. Note the cunning plan we have up here..... grit the roads before the snow comes. Anyway consequence of all this is that if I got out in one piece of car the likelihood of getting home intact was not great so I worked from home for a bit and then went for a walk this afternoon.

Having slipped into the clinically obese zone (chuffin scales are clearly faulty even after doing the one legged stance, holding onto the bathroom sink, removing the wedding ring routines) it was important to get back into the training regime. That said I have had quite a decent week exercise wise with running the line at Buxton, playing 5 a side and then reffing on Sunday.morning. Unfortunately interspersed with all this positive activity was the Notts County beer festival which may not have aided the obesity scale. Buxton was fun apart from having the village idiot giving me "advice" and then wanting to be my friend afterwards in the bar. I was the model of decorum, understanding and requested that he politely fornicate elsewhere.

Anyway back to the training, due to the probability of quite a bit of road walking Meg was banned from coming with me on the grounds of her being a total wuss in the proximity of traffic and a pain in my rather ample posterior on the lead. Todays trek was off up over Riber, down through Starkholmes and round Matlock Bath before heading home via High Tor and to feed the lion (red variety) in Matlock Green. Underfoot was interesting to say the least but good on the exercise front as you never quite knew how to avoid the heavy bits.... so I didn't. This meant a good test for the boots which as ever stood up to the task perfectly. Sad indictment of our marriage but they are the best ever pressie the bride has bought me (just ahead of my lycra undershirt for reffing... told you I was sad). Up by Riber I was able to make a pitch inspection of the Matlock Town ground where I am due to be reffing Wednesday...its the flat white area in the distance which makes me think play is unlikely.

Anyway todays route took me past the cable cars which of course are not running in the Alpine conditions they are designed for, and then back over High Tor. Riber castle was looking distinctly faint through the snow on the way back and it was easy to see how people rapidly get lost in a white out. Fortunatly I regained my bearings by observing the highly pleasurable sight of all the stationary cars far below on the A6 as I slid my way down to feed the lion. Lion suitably fed, or rather watered, I sauntered or slid my way home because by this stage we were getting "londonesque" drifts (well a couple of inches anyway). As we speak it looks like another day at home tomorrow and the schools are already closed... tough for these overworked teachers hey. Hopefully I shall get out and about once more and be able to update my travails again.

Although I am not yet getting big mileages in the kit is standing up well. Obviously the boots were great today but the mid layer top is outstanding. With the temperatures set to dip tomorrow the cold weather kit shall be tested. Anyway enough of the technical garbage I'm off for an emotional tryst with my maps and compass. Waheyyyyy.

Lantern minus its pike

After a foreshortened weekend of exercise due to the weather (1 amble up and down the line on Saturday only) I decided that I needed to get out again today so trotted off to Hayfield in the High Peak. Using my somewhat aged 100 walks in the peak district book I had planned on walking from Hayfield over Lantern Pike and then up to the lower edges of Kinder scout before dropping down back to Hayfield via Kinder reservoir.

After a late plea from the manager (hereafter known as the bride) Meg was summonsed into the squad of two. She had initially been deslected on the potential grounds of lack of suitability for the half time venue aka The Grouse Inn. Fortunately for Meg under pressure from the bride (and the fall back position of a pint in the beer garden wearing hat and gloves) I agreed to take her with me. As it proved it was a proper pub and let dogs and muddy walkers in thus saving the day if not my ongoing battle against alleged obesity.

Hayfield is a cracking little village nestling in the foothills of Kinder but rarely prone to great weather. Today was a grey but dry day but the cloud was just about high enough to see the tops. Using my aged but previously trusty guide we set off along the Sett Valley trail before climbing steeply towards Lantern Pike. Aiming to reach the top of this veritable mountain, (370 metres is big when you compare it with what I believe is 6 inches), we searched in vain for the "stile on the left". Eventually we realised that said stile had probably dissapeared 20 years ago and by then we had missed the turn. It was still a steep climb so I contented myself with the justification of sufficient sweat occuring. As in previous entries top wicking from the Xmas pressie ensured low residual niff factor! It was then a trek across the fields towards the lunchtime halt. Meg today had clearly learnt from Thursdays jaunt and was only running 30 yards ahead.

Fortified by a nutritous couple of pints but clearly weighed down by a chicken sandwich and seriously dehabilitating salad we encountered the obligatory upwards hoick straight after. This time it was described as a gentle climb that continued for a couple of miles. Added to it being across peat bogs made it seriously hard word. Meg had decided that she was now an uberfit animal charging off ahead in search of water and pools to swim in. Blonde brain to the fore surfaced shortly after as she launched herself into what appeared to be a dark and deep pool. Dark yes, deep only in terms of the depth of mud. What went in a blonde emerged a foul smelling black variety of lab. I did contemplate having to go and drag her out as she struggled to get herself back on firm ground but decided that a times like this dogs need to assert their independance. Anyway she made it and for some strange reason stayed on the path thereafter.

It was great to be away from all signs of civilisation other than the sound of planes high in the clouds approaching Manchester airport. The descent enabled the first outing of the new Leki poles which took a bit of getting used to. Because of the pace I walk at I rarely get anybody come past me but I was overtaken by a guy with a friar tuck hairstyle as I got used to operating the poles. I am sure they will be a benefit to my battered knees in due course but it didnt stop me muttering about speeding monks who shouldn't be out during the hours of prayer........ . and he spoke to me... heathen!

Once on to level ground we decided that Meg needed a swim/ wash in the river despite the temperature being about 4 degrees c. She looked like it was almost sauna'ish which it probably felt like bearing in mind her genetic upbringing.... it can be awfully cold in manchester in winter! Actually to tell you a bit about Meg she is a rescue dog amazingly. (If anyone ever wants a lab then the fantastic people at Chorly lab rescue are crying out for owners http://www.homealabrador.net/). Anyway Meg is somewhat accident prone having run onto a stick utilising her throat as a brake, ... please dont throw them ever for your dog.., requiring lifesaving surgery, having damaged knees and arthiritic hips and all at the age of 6. Hopefully you can see she is a wonderful dog however and her quality of life is enhanced by being out on these walks. Mind you we are both a pair of crocks when we get home.

That was about it for today other than Meg deciding she hates bridges and insisting on crossing the river the wet way. Today was 10.725 miles according to the phone GPS and despite the dog antics and pole learning activities we maintained our 3 miles an hour pace. Calories burnt were hopefully more than consumed and it did feel easier. Next part of the training regime is the joys of Buxton vs Alfreton tomorrow night, 5-a-side on Wednesday and hopefully at least a short walk before the weekend. A minimum of 12 miles a day is still daunting but at least we are making some progress.

The whys and the what fors

Two years ago I completed my first long distance walk The Cleveland Way and I shall be embarking on my second at the start of May 2009. The motivation for the Cleveland Way was to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care because my sister Louise was 3 years into a battle against breast cancer. Sadly, last July after five years of fighting the illness, Louise lost that battle at the age of 43. This time I shall be raising funds for Lavender Trust which is the part of Breast Cancer Care specifically aimed at the younger woman. If in some small way the money I raise helps prevent any part of the suffering that Louise, her husband Andy, our family and the loyal group of Louise's friends endured then it will be highly satisfying. Full details on how to donate if you so desire will follow. The picture attached was taken shortly before Louise passed away and is on board a yacht just after Lou had completed the round the island race raising a shed load herself for The Lavender Trust. I'm the hunk (Ha) to her left and Andy her husband is in the pink on Lou's right. Anyway that's the maudlin bit over and "thank god for that" Louise would no doubt have said, Lets get on to the walk.

This time I am walking the Coast to Coast route devised by Alfred Wainwright although I shall be going from Robin Hoods Bay in the east to St Bees on the west coast which is the reverse of the normal route. The reason for doing it back to front is partly because I am a contrary so and so, partly because I want to have the lakes to look forward to and partly because facing west I reckon will mean the sun will be on me more. What sun I hear those who have walked it before say.... mere trivial detail that in my opinion. Once more I shall be walking alone and will carry all my possessions including my tent with me and will hence camp all through the journey. Unfortunately I shall also be carrying an extra stone located partly in the waist area and partly in my ever developing man breasts. More on this subject no doubt as training progresses. The official route is 192 miles so whereas last time I averaged 12 miles per day this time it will be about 16 miles. In addition to these minor hurdles my battered knees and back are also two years older. It is going to be a challenge.

Through this blog I shall record the preparation and training which began last Thursday and subject to acquiring the technology I hope to post regular updates as I complete the walk. Hopefully some part of my ramblings will be of interest even if the minutae of kit details is not. I can sense my dearly beloved losing the will to live as we speak ( I have numbered my maps already and my kit spreadsheet is colour coded) although two weeks without me has to be an incentive. Anyway onward and upward 14 weeks till departure.

1st training walk

Yes I know I'm out of sinc but you will have to bear with me being a technical cul de sac. Anyway with less than 15 weeks to go its about time I started to get back into training. I am under no illusions that despite lumbering round a football pitch reffereeing twice a week and playing five a side I am not walking fit which I find very different. I am however under the illusion that I am at a reasonable level and it is only a question of gettingthe miles in. Doh.... training walk 1 soon proves me wrong on that front.

Todays walk (Thursday) is a 10 mile trot from Lumsdale, a small hamlet just outside Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales, over to Ashover via Matlock Moor and then back through Tansley. Total distance is a fraction over 10 miles measured on my phone through some form of GPS jobby technology. I just press a button and it tells me how far I have walked, time taken etc. On the old stats front I am delighted to find that I am bordering on obese when I calculate my Body mass index prior to the walk. Fortunately the instructions tell me this does not reflect muscle mass. Unfortunately man breasts apparently are not muscle mass. Bugger!!

Ok, after a haircut reduces my BMI fractionally, obese man and his crippled dog Meg start off cunningly planning our arrival at Ashover for lunchtime at the Crispin Inn. All good walking guides emphasise the importance of sustenance when expending energy and to my mind there is no finer sustenance than beer for me and a packet of mini cheddars for Meg. Having set our interim objectives we set off. Early morning has seen a deluge and it is immediately apparent that there are serious amounts of water about. Two minutes from home are some derelict water mills built by Sir Richard Arkwright and nowadays preserved by the Lumsdale society and the waterfalls are in full flow as can be seen. These are a little bit of a hidden gem but its wonderful to have them on our doorstep.

Once we get out into the fields and then into the muds it is very heavy underfoot and hard going. I console myself with the thought that the wet conditions and being obese mean I sink further and am therefore working harder than a malnutritioned normal person. It certainly seems to be working because I am rapidly getting knackered. Meg of course is running around like a loon, trying to swim in anything that even resembles a puddle (she is a labrador and a blonde... fatal combination on the old intelligence stakes) and unaware that we are doing a little bit more than usual. Anyway we make decent time doing my usual 3 miles per hour and make it to Ashover in plenty of time for a sandwich and appropriate liquid sustenance. This food stuffs all right but is clearly making me obese!

Much as I love this walk the one major downside is a really steep climb straight after lunch. (See picture... we go down and then up over that ridge) This does however enable me to test the wicking abilities of my new base layer and windstopper guide. This is a technical bit where the bride starts muttering "sad sad sad" in some form of mantra. Anyway Xmas kit seems to work, I sweat a lot but dry quickly and we eventually get up the hill. Meg having started off like an express train has now decided she is a loyal and devoted dog and will stay by my side. I lovingly taunt her by telling her if she wasn't so blonde she wouldn't have swam so much or ran so much. She looks at me as I if am totally stupid for having a conversation with a dog that can't talk... Told you she was a blonde.

Anyway about the 8 mile mark the legs are telling me that I have a lot of work to do to get fit and I do feel quite weary by the time we get home. Meg goes straight to her bed , curlers in and goodnight Vienna. We have completed the walk in just over 3 1/4 hours walking so the pace is Ok even though the fitness clearly is not. I guess realistically I should have expected nothing more bearing in mind the recent lack of games due to the weather, my food induced obesity (?) and lack of walking. What I clearly have to do is structure my training because worst of all I have carried nothing today. Food for thought when I consider my shortest day on the C2C is 12 miles.