February & March Diary

February 2007

A wet and windy month, but I have managed to fit in 5 long walks.  The first one nearly did me in completely.  19 miles from home to Newbury carrying a full pack heavier than the one I will walk with.  But that showed I could do it, so I just need to repeat something like that day in day out for 18 days.

The other four were all relatively local walks, back to back on a Saturday and a Sunday.  So consecutive days walking are not a problem and I've been able to revisit some of the footpaths in the Rambling for Pleasure around reading books that Julie and I have done over the last 12 years.  Lots of memories have come back.

I have been using a pair of second-hand (well second-foot I suppose) boots that I bought at the Duchess of Kent House Trust shop, for £3.  A touch small, but they don't leak unlike my other pair.  But I must make a decision soon about whether to use those for the walk.  Very appropriate but they must remain comfortable for 18 days.  The alternative is to buy a new pair, soon so I can walk them in.

Also, I have one rucsac that is too big and one that is slightly too small.  Decision time; to go with the too small one, or buy another one for the trip?  Or does anyone have a suitable 35-40 litre rucsac they would like to lend me?

Thanks to Phil Dray for setting up this website for me.  He will also be updating it regularly during the walk from texts and pictures I send him.  Thanks too to Alison Bourne for agreeing to handle the sponsorship money coming in.  At least, I hope you are all thinking about sending in sponsorship forms.  That would be great thank you.

March 2007

I was going to call this page "March update".  But it's not a march, just a long walk.  But the preparation took quite a few steps forward in March.

I decided that for two key pieces of equipment only the best will do.  So I have bought a new pair of boots ("thanks for the early birthday present Mum") and a new 40-litre rucsac.  Both have been fully road and footpath tested this month so I'm confident I will have no problems equipment-wise.

The first weekend of the March I decided to do a 2-day walk carrying everything I would have on the walk and staying at a "B&B" (OK, that's "thanks Mum" again).  I did 19 miles on the Saturday from Emsworth to Petersfield.  Lovely day up and over the South Downs and that walk is longer and more strenuous than any day on the trip.  Then 16 miles on the Sunday in the pouring rain from Petersfield to Alton.  Yes, I got soaked to the skin, literally, but I was determined not to bottle out because if that happens on the walk I'll just have to keep going.

Another 19-miler on the second weekend, on the downs above and around Kingsclere and Highclere (see picture), followed by a 17-miler the following weekend (see other picture) with the new boots in the Four Marks area.   Helpfully I also had a work survey to do on the Tuesday, so that was 12 miles walking around Winchcombe in Gloucestershire.  Then last Saturday I did 17 miles again, south of Basingstoke around Preston Candover followed by a gentle stroll on Sunday, just 3 miles watching the Reading half marathon.  "Their agony will be over in a couple of hours; mine will be 18 days", he thought smugly.

There will be another walk or two next weekend, followed by 4 consecutive days with full pack at Easter.  I've noticed the countryside getting noticeably less soggy and warmer (although still very windy) this month, so be prepared for a period of unseasonal gales and low temperatures in late April!

All the walks have been an opportunity to take lots of photographs.  I have discovered a fascinating project called www.geograph.org.uk which aims to build up a photographic record of every grid square in the British Isles.  No I am not planning to complete them all single-handedly, there are over 300,000 of them and I've done 200!

The sponsorship is well and truly up and walking, and now you will also find links to www.justgiving.com where you can subscribe on line to Duchess of Kent House Trust or Macmillan Cancer Support.  I hope that everyone who is joining me for some walking is getting themselves sponsored.  "Don't get too greedy Graham" I heard someone say.  Well I am.  Every step I take with my left foot is for DOKHT, every one with the right for Macmillan.  I need double!  I'm looking forward to walking with you all; I will have company now on more than half the days, but please join me if you can.  Is there anyone in the Boston area to see me off?

And there should be an article in the Reading Chronicle this Friday for anyone with access to that paper.  Also, listen to Radio Berkshire at about 1230 tomorrow (Wednesday 28^th) and Radio 210FM sometime on Thursday or Friday.  Thanks everyone.