December 30, 2012, 9:05 pm
After enjoying wonderful hospitality, a great dinner at Daphne's last night and having been promised dry weather, we were very excited about today. This morning we were undeterred by the early rain and it just about petered out by lunchtime but I think the Met office’s A team must be…Read more »
December 29, 2012, 7:20 pm
Well the high risk strategy has definitely paid off as I just had an almost pain free day in my new boots, dry socks, blister free and very happy. The new boots may not have the same grip as the…Read more »
December 28, 2012, 8:15 pm
Today's highlight should have been my arrival at the half way point in Porthallow. Who, after all, would be thrilled at reaching the midway point of this marathon. However, that momentous moment was upstaged by a little upstart in the form of a chough. Choughs are a crow, almost always…Read more »
December 27, 2012, 8:48 pm
Today's walk from Penzance to Lizard Point was fantastically dramatic, fairly easy going and blessed with reasonable weather. It would have been close to perfect were it not for the pain in my feet trying its best to bring the whole thing to a grinding halt. Having covered 14 miles…Read more »
December 26, 2012, 8:38 pm
Thanks to Geoff Armstrong who joined me on the walk today. Geoff's wife's father suffered with MND before his death 13 years ago and Geoff was keen to support the project in his memory. Hopefully Geoff and his wife will join us again further along the track. Today's the day…Read more »
December 25, 2012, 7:51 pm
The guide book says that the walk from St Ives to Pendeen Head is hard going and they don't lie. A very rocky, muddy, marshy path, made even worse by recent rain, and ongoing squalls meant I had to pick every foot placement and progress was slow. However, by way…Read more »
December 24, 2012, 7:34 pm
Last night we had another evening in Watergate Bay, one of our favourite beaches in the South West. As a bit of a treat we had supper at the Beach Hut with old friends Renate and Ian and had an excellent feast from the new menu – huge thanks to…Read more »
December 23, 2012, 9:24 pm
Everything about today was a relief, pleasant weather, easy walking, good company and great mileage. After yesterday I needed a day making good progress without too much stress and thank goodness the South West Coast Path delivered. At 6:45 Holly hoofed me out of the van at Harlyn beach and…Read more »
December 22, 2012, 7:58 pm
At 6:30 this morning I stepped out of the van into roaring wind, rain and utter blackness. I felt ready for whatever the day might bring and strode confidently off along the path. After 5 minutes I realised that the path was going down instead of up so I turned…Read more »
December 21, 2012, 7:38 pm
Was the weather god feeling a bit guilty today. After yesterdays hidiousness today was totally benign. A light wind dried out part of the track pefectly, the raging torrents became streams once again and mild temperatures made for perfect walking conditions. But woe betide any who get complacent because said…Read more »
December 20, 2012, 7:13 pm
Well it had to come didn't it? Four pleasant days making great progress, all going swimmingly and then bam! blindsided by torrential downpours. Today was relentlessly horrid, rain after rain after rain sweeping in from the Atlantic. Appalling visibility, terrible conditions underfoot, slow progress and a struggle to stay upbeat.…Read more »
December 19, 2012, 7:34 pm
Funny how many times I found myself singing this to myself today as I squished and squelched along a very wet Coast Path from Bideford to Hartland Point (almost). The sky remained stubbornly grey, the rain came in waves though mostly gentle and the wind this morning had me walking…Read more »
December 18, 2012, 8:12 pm
As much as the first two days were hilly, so today was flat. Beaches, dunes and a 14 mile cycle path allowed me to cover miles quickly so I route marched 31 miles to end back at Bideford for another night with Thom and Anna. According to the plan I…Read more »
December 17, 2012, 7:37 pm
So today was the day I was really worried about and I'm sat here talking about what's happening with tomorrow's walk so I must have survived. We covered 23.5 miles and climbed over 8000 ft (that's Ben Nevis, Snowdon and a bit). At the end my legs were definitely suggesting…Read more »
December 16, 2012, 6:59 pm
At 7am this morning Holly waved me and my brother Greg, along with Rex of course, off on the first leg of the 25 day challange. Having listened to heavy rain battering the van roof for much of the night we were relieved to have a dry and clear start…Read more »
December 13, 2012, 6:55 pm
This week I've been putting in plenty of training hoping to get everything in good working order before heading off for the start of the walk on Sunday. Having spent 18 days standing in a small shed I really needed to get some good mileage in or I'd be starting…Read more »
