No Mel for company today, instead, really pushed the pace to ensure I was fit enough for the full restart.
Today's route was almost entirely down the A6, how on earth did this road serve as the main road North, its choca block now. The scenery has changed, more towns and villages, but practical villages not the quaint, gift shop filled villages of the Lake District. But thankfully more paths to walk on which reduces the intensity of trying to keep safe and dodge traffic, but also helps you to stride out because you can rely on the surface..... no pot holes!
Leave the family at Milnthorpe and plan to meet up in Lancaster where they are going shopping for the day. The walk to Carnforth is enjoyable alongside a lovely river for a couple of miles and with occasional glimpses of Morecombe Bay which looked beautiful in the sun.
Carnforth came and went, the 4 to 5 miles to Lancaster was fairly uninspiring and my thoughts dropped away into dates for the full restart and bloody hell Spurs are still top of the premiership.
Soon such thoughts were overtaken by the beauty of the river that runs through Lancaster, the stunning Cathedral and hopes that the mob hadn't spent too much shopping and that they had found a Costa or Starbucks! Whilst they had found a Starbucks they had also spent a fortune, but had SAVED far more!
We had a celebratory coffee and cake as Lancaster marked the half way point. With some pride the way home now seemed a little easier.
Leaving Lancaster and passing the stunning university and playing fields which appeared to go on for about 2 miles, thoughts moved to the next milestone, the 500 miles. I worked out this would be just after Galgate, which after 1 hour and 20 minutes appeared on the horizon. As I left the town I allowed myself to celebrate the 500 mile barrier. Quite a good 2 hours for milestones.
As if to celebrate a thunder storm, which had been threatening for a few hours, strikes. The first lightening seemed to be overhead the thunder followed seconds after. Before I could get the waterproofs out, I was soaked. Lucy passed me, having done more shopping about 300 yards from my finish point, I said to meet me at the campsite, in that 300 yards the skies opened and I got drowned again.
Somehow it didnt matter, these 2 days restored my confidence that I could finish, saw Mel do amazingly well and saw 2 more milestones fall. I rewarded myself in the pub that night with sausage, chips, bacon, eggs and beans, wholly unhealthy but who cares!
Monday, 31 August 2009
Day 27 Ambleside to Milnthorpe 24.8 miles. 24 August
Against medical advice I decided to do some of the walk whilst in the lakes on holiday. I decided to walk only 2 days in the week. At all times Lucy would be local should I need help.
Mel, who is doing a 25 mile walk as part of her fundraising for Amigos and her trip to Uganda is joining me today. She hasn't trained at all so I feel she is going to find it tough.
Beautiful weather as we leave Ambleside and walk along the side of Windermere to Bowness on Windermere. After 5 miles we meet up with Lucy and Becki in Costa Coffee (old habits die hard!)Mel is coping well.
We both stop for photos in Bowness Bay, Mel wants pictures near some signets feeding on the bay. After three miles I realise I have done the unforgivable and admit I have missed our turning. This adds 2 to 3 miles to the trip, whilst Mel says its ok, the face said a little differently.
I try to buy her off in a lovely old pub in Winster, I think the crisps may have achieved forgivness. We are now at 11 miles and Mel is looking shattered.
I text Lucy to ask her to stay close as I genuinely doubt if Mel will make it
Miles 11-14 go through big hills, very little flat, Mel is resting every mile and begins to start lying down for longer and longer.
Thankfully mile 14-21 completely flatten out. Sadly it also gets very warm and we lose the shade provided by the trees. Amazing, Mel just plods on but all the colour has sapped from her face. We chat continually in an attempt to distract her from the difficulties. Stretching now happens every stop and her calves feel solid, yet giving up is now off her agenda
As we walk up the long hill to Levens Village I begin to feel that its been a while since I walked this distance, fortunately Lucy and Becki are in the village with drinks and Ice Creams. This is the biggest test for Mel, the car is here and she could just get in. This rest stretches to 30 mins and when I asked if she was finishing I would have bet £100 the answer was no, it was a very good job I didnt place that bet.
We are now down to 2 miles per hour, poor Mel looks totally shattered and is stopping even more regularly. Then we pick up the 3 miles to go sign, then 2. As a Dad I simply want to stop her, but she will not allow that. At 6.35 pm having started at 9.30 am we walk into the pretty village of Milnthorpe
I really learnt something about my eldest daughter today. Under the lazy facade she has real guts. I realised that the Uganda trip is really important to her and she doesnt just see it as a school trip. She was willing to push herself really hard to raise the money.
I was really proud of Mel and delighted to have shared the achievement with her.
Mel, who is doing a 25 mile walk as part of her fundraising for Amigos and her trip to Uganda is joining me today. She hasn't trained at all so I feel she is going to find it tough.
Beautiful weather as we leave Ambleside and walk along the side of Windermere to Bowness on Windermere. After 5 miles we meet up with Lucy and Becki in Costa Coffee (old habits die hard!)Mel is coping well.
We both stop for photos in Bowness Bay, Mel wants pictures near some signets feeding on the bay. After three miles I realise I have done the unforgivable and admit I have missed our turning. This adds 2 to 3 miles to the trip, whilst Mel says its ok, the face said a little differently.
I try to buy her off in a lovely old pub in Winster, I think the crisps may have achieved forgivness. We are now at 11 miles and Mel is looking shattered.
I text Lucy to ask her to stay close as I genuinely doubt if Mel will make it
Miles 11-14 go through big hills, very little flat, Mel is resting every mile and begins to start lying down for longer and longer.
Thankfully mile 14-21 completely flatten out. Sadly it also gets very warm and we lose the shade provided by the trees. Amazing, Mel just plods on but all the colour has sapped from her face. We chat continually in an attempt to distract her from the difficulties. Stretching now happens every stop and her calves feel solid, yet giving up is now off her agenda
As we walk up the long hill to Levens Village I begin to feel that its been a while since I walked this distance, fortunately Lucy and Becki are in the village with drinks and Ice Creams. This is the biggest test for Mel, the car is here and she could just get in. This rest stretches to 30 mins and when I asked if she was finishing I would have bet £100 the answer was no, it was a very good job I didnt place that bet.
We are now down to 2 miles per hour, poor Mel looks totally shattered and is stopping even more regularly. Then we pick up the 3 miles to go sign, then 2. As a Dad I simply want to stop her, but she will not allow that. At 6.35 pm having started at 9.30 am we walk into the pretty village of Milnthorpe
I really learnt something about my eldest daughter today. Under the lazy facade she has real guts. I realised that the Uganda trip is really important to her and she doesnt just see it as a school trip. She was willing to push herself really hard to raise the money.
I was really proud of Mel and delighted to have shared the achievement with her.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Back to Ambleside
Hi Everyone,
Well the leg has completely healed, in fact its better than ever, so thanks to everyone at 12 Springfield who ran around after me for the 5 weeks I did very little in the way of movement.
I started a few short walks and all went well, then the Charity Dinner needed some serious attention so the last week of July was spent pulling that together, with the hotel arrangements, pulling the prizes together and making sure the evening went with a bang.
I hope everyone who attended found it a great evening, certainly the feedback has been great, but above all we managed to raise a fantastic £4700. That amount will make a serious impact at the Children's Hospice...Many thanks to everyone.
Some quick but special thank you's from me for the night. Andrew, for calming me down in the final 36 hrs and helping get the final structure sorted, Simon for all your help and that great auction.
The Children, Brad, Mel and Becki who tolerated the months of prep, helped throughout the months and worked so hard on the night, I was really proud of you. Finally to Lucy, who has supported the walk, the meal and my stress levels with unwavering support and encouraging words. As I almost was able to say on the night I know whenever I turn in need of love you're there, I love you.
So back into the Gym and all was fantastic up until around 25 mins. when suddenly my chest tightened and it was really hard to breathe, I stopped and 20 minutes later tried again, after 15 minutes the same thing happened again. Ann at Highbullen who has been a real support throughout my training quietly insisted a trip to the G.P.
All the blood tests were fine as was the E.C.G, but the Doctor wanted a treadmill test as well, so because getting an appointment has been tricky I had to call off the walk again. To those of you who have asked "do you not think there may be a message in these delays?" the answer is simple. If there is I am not listening to it!!!!!!
After a long chat with Lucy and a totally uneventful 25 miles to Torrington and back I have decided to mix our holiday in the Lake District, near Ambleside (ring any bells) with two more days of the walk.
What it will do is get me going again, get me past half way and past the 500 mile barrier. I will then return home attend the appointment and all being well still be able to complete the walk before the end of September. This hopefully avoids snow, ice and driving sleet, although I found all three in Scotland in June!
Well the leg has completely healed, in fact its better than ever, so thanks to everyone at 12 Springfield who ran around after me for the 5 weeks I did very little in the way of movement.
I started a few short walks and all went well, then the Charity Dinner needed some serious attention so the last week of July was spent pulling that together, with the hotel arrangements, pulling the prizes together and making sure the evening went with a bang.
I hope everyone who attended found it a great evening, certainly the feedback has been great, but above all we managed to raise a fantastic £4700. That amount will make a serious impact at the Children's Hospice...Many thanks to everyone.
Some quick but special thank you's from me for the night. Andrew, for calming me down in the final 36 hrs and helping get the final structure sorted, Simon for all your help and that great auction.
The Children, Brad, Mel and Becki who tolerated the months of prep, helped throughout the months and worked so hard on the night, I was really proud of you. Finally to Lucy, who has supported the walk, the meal and my stress levels with unwavering support and encouraging words. As I almost was able to say on the night I know whenever I turn in need of love you're there, I love you.
So back into the Gym and all was fantastic up until around 25 mins. when suddenly my chest tightened and it was really hard to breathe, I stopped and 20 minutes later tried again, after 15 minutes the same thing happened again. Ann at Highbullen who has been a real support throughout my training quietly insisted a trip to the G.P.
All the blood tests were fine as was the E.C.G, but the Doctor wanted a treadmill test as well, so because getting an appointment has been tricky I had to call off the walk again. To those of you who have asked "do you not think there may be a message in these delays?" the answer is simple. If there is I am not listening to it!!!!!!
After a long chat with Lucy and a totally uneventful 25 miles to Torrington and back I have decided to mix our holiday in the Lake District, near Ambleside (ring any bells) with two more days of the walk.
What it will do is get me going again, get me past half way and past the 500 mile barrier. I will then return home attend the appointment and all being well still be able to complete the walk before the end of September. This hopefully avoids snow, ice and driving sleet, although I found all three in Scotland in June!
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