Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
I learned something overnight. Â Something which was actually pretty obvious and staring me in the face the whole time. Â And it's this....you really don't need that much stuff to have an ok time. Â Let me elaborate.... I've always taken far too much stuff on walks, mainly because of the "this might be useful" trap. Â But … Continue reading North Downs Way 9: Dunn Street to Chilham
Last week I was all packed and ready to go on this walk, but for one thing - my fitness. Â On the morning of the walk I realised my ribs were still not healed enough for it to be a sensible thing to do. Â So reluctantly, but in hindsight pleased with myself for making the … Continue reading North Downs Way 8: Detling to Dunn Street
Dropped off at the picnic site, I started by walking back up the road to the exact spot where I'd stopped the day before and walked along again to the picnic site off-road. It was still a bit hazy over the Medway valley, but it was already warming up nicely. With legs still smarting from … Continue reading North Downs Way 7: Blue Bell Hill to Detling
I thought I wouldn't get much more walking in this year, but with a delay in starting work (due to not having any yet!) and a spell of fine weather, the opportunity was too good to miss. I decided last week that after several weeks of holding off due to uncertainty around my work situation, … Continue reading North Downs Way 6: Wrotham to Blue Bell Hill
"I looked down over the edge of the fell at the tarn below and to my right, glistening and beckoning me down to say hello. After what seemed like a long day, I was tired and knew that once I was at the tarn, all I had to do was follow the path down to … Continue reading The Joy of Tarns
With my career break now over half gone and opportunities for trips disappearing fast, I took an 11 day trip to Cumbria to bag some Wainwrights and Nuttalls. Â Having done the majority of the convenient stuff in the easily accessible centre of Lakeland, this was always going to be about knocking off some of the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011)
Not everyone is interested in the stats, so let's keep the analysis in a separate post. Summits bagged The 29 Wainwrights "bagged", in order, are: Dodd (Skiddaw) Whinlatter Barf Lord's Seat (M) Broom Fell Graystones Ling Fell Sale Fell Barrow Outerside Mellbreak (M) Rannerdale Knotts High Crag (H) High Stile (Wainwright summit) Red Pike (Buttermere) … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): The Stats
This has been a bit of a strange trip, and I have to say after 15 trips to the Lake District, I didn't expect to still be learning lessons about my walking capabilities. This trip was really two in one, and if I'd just done the first, longer, part it would have felt about right, … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Debrief
Glenridding to Penrith I feel awful. An early night was a waste of time as I couldn't get to sleep, and with the 4 bunk dorm full, anytime someone moved on the uncomfortable beds all 4 were aware of it. And the banging and crashing upstairs didn't help. I woke with raging hay fever, courtesy … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 11 – Thursday 14 July
Making up for yesterday Despite me saying last night that I'd do today's original planned walk and tack yesterday's omitted walk on the end of it, I never thought I'd actually do it. But I have the aching feet to prove it....The day dawned fine and bright with high broken cloud and it stayed that … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 10 – Wednesday 13 July
The final phase The main part of the trip completed, I'm now embarking on the subsidiary bit. Part of the problem in planning this trip was that the fells I wanted to bag were in the extreme west and extreme east of the Lakes, and didn't naturally join up, without using up precious days walking … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 9 – Tuesday 12 July
Wasdale to Borrowdale Having weighed up whether to do the walk over Lingmell or chicken out and just take the easier option straight over Sty Head Pass from Wasdale, there was a certain irony in me ending up doing both. Here's how it happened...I woke up in a more positive frame of mind, had a … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 8 – Monday 11 July
Ennerdale to Wasdale Just as I thought I'd gained some fitness, it all seemed to desert me today. Or maybe I overdid it yesterday. Or could it have been being woken by a Hungarian at 4:48 this morning ?It took me nearly an hour to get back to sleep and then I struggled to get … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 7 – Sunday 10 July
The Unglamourous End of Ennerdale Today started slowly and at one point I thought I might not make it to the top of any fells, but ultimately I achieved everything I'd planned.With breakfast being half an hour later here, this contributed to quite a late start, and I think I was the last person to … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 6 – Saturday 9 July
Buttermere to Ennerdale After yesterday's lack of energy, I was worried about the big walk I had to face today - over 1000m of ascent in heavy mode. And with limited escape routes - one at Scarth Gap (before I'd really got anywhere) and one on Red Pike (by which time the walk's back would … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 5 – Friday 8 July