Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Renewed hope surges through me, thanks to the liberal application of whisky last night and some ibuprofen this morning. To cement the deal, a big cup of tea for breakfast and then I seek out the "facilities" - it's my belief that this quartet can cure pretty much anything on the trail. Or indeed, in … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 7 – Everything Looks Better After a Big Glass of Whisky and a Poo
I wake, refreshed by a decent night's sleep, to the knowledge that yesterday's big day has given me options. This is a nice feeling and I resolve to buy similar opportunities throughout this walk. I've only got about 23 miles to Aviemore, meaning I can do 2 nice comfortable days or work it so that … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 6 – Solitude and Sole-itude
I wake from a terrible night's sleep, courtesy of some late night banging next door and lots of raised voices. It's lucky I'm awake early as it's a very early start. I have to catch the ferry at 8am and it's a couple of miles walk to it. Somehow I'm at the pier in good … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 5 – Chocolate Brownie Land
The campsite stirs early, sounds of birdsong mixing with the roar of gas stoves for early morning brews. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself as I'm all but packed for 7:30 when the cafe opens for breakfast. Even so the Belgians have already scarpered. Mike, Darren and Scott join me, reprising our meal in Dornie … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 4 – Leapfrogs
Rain falls during the night, not unexpectedly given I'm in the Motherland of Rain, and does little to speed my leaping joyously out of bed. I lay and doze, listening to the geese overhead, the song birds somewhere near, and the patter of precipitation closer still. Even so, it's a relatively early start at 08:35, … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 3 – Raincoat Hokey Cokey
A decent night's sleep is had, despite some snoring from the room's other occupant, and so much so that we're late to rise. We're also slow to breakfast and slow to set off. Basically we're slow in every way conceivable. Just as we seem to be making progress towards starting the day's walk, Howard and … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 2 – Fluffy Slippers and Anchovies for Breakfast
As agreed last night, breakfast is taken at the first opportunity. Supplies are gathered from the local shop and we sign out. Early. Andy even admits it on the sign-out sheet, saying "it's only 15 minutes". I take a more cowardly approach, adding 5 minutes and annotating "Andy made me!". We're off, up the minor … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Day 1 – “Releasing the Handbrake”
Three attempts at packing have been made. The first in my ULA Circuit, then I deliberately unpack everything and try it in the Mariposa. I think I prefer the Circuit on this occasion and restore the kit to the original bag. There's not much in it, but the carry in the Circuit feels a bit … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2017: Days -1 and 0 – Getting to the Start
The rucksack is packed, my resupply parcel is on its way to Aviemore, and some fresh pants are on their way to Montrose for that feeling of luxury after a fortnight of nether region "crop rotation". Those I'm leaving behind have been provisioned for the next 10 days and after that they'll no doubt turn to … Continue reading Up for the Challenge
Recently I unearthed a couple of sets of typed route instructions for sponsored walks I did at school in the late '80s. I remember these being in the region of 20 miles, which I polished off fairly easily, which was nice because I was at a sporty school and was crap at most of those … Continue reading Old Skool
Just as I arrived at Paul's, he had the news on and a general election had been called. I took this as an omen that there could be no better time to lose myself for 3-4 days in the middle of nowhere. Day 1: Tuesday We bundled in the car and made for the Forest … Continue reading The Quest for a Furthest South
Our annual Easter break saw us head to Northumberland this year, our choice of cottage heavily restricted by the requirement to fit in 3 families and 3 enormous dogs. We headed there with a plan to spend a couple of days walking in the Cheviots - enough to bag all 6 Nuttalls, and fill the … Continue reading The Grim and Distant North
What little fitness had been instilled in my legs in Wales already felt like it was ebbing, and so it was time to top them up. The aim was simply to do a long walk and carry a decent load - and to have a bit of up and down. That ruled out staying my … Continue reading Making it up as I go
The euphoria of knocking off 15 miles and nearly 1000m of ascent on a day when I was feeling sluggish soon wore off. The wind picked up in the night and was really pressing on the tent. Again I had bits of cheap Chinese inner in my face. I was glad to get up, but … Continue reading Cambrian Way #9: Bryn y Fedwen to Mallwyd (Days 20-21)
The need to get in some serious backpacking practice before the Big One in Scotland in May saw me heading back to Ponterwyd a bit sooner than I'd expected. I'd decided that the Cambrian Way would be a suitable training ground for the TGO. Furthermore, in a moment of madness I had the idea of … Continue reading Cambrian Way #8: Ponterwyd to Bryn y Fedwen (Days 18-19)