The first mile of the 417 completed to date
A short day today of 30.2km, due to administration issues of booking the B&B's last year. Today's walk was due to be around 34km, but the accommodation where I was due to stay, when I checked prior to the walk didn't recongnise my booking. (blamed it on me booking to early) So a last minute substitute had to be arranged. The only issue was this was 4 km closer, which today is great, but I'll have to make it up tomorrow. So I am already looking for short cuts tomorrow, which will reduce the mileage (howcome you don't say kilometerage?) Staying off the meandering canals for a few miles should help.
I had a great walk day today and even with rests arrived at the B&B at 15.15, this being too early, I made my way down to the local hospitable pub (not) and am typing this drinking a pint of Stella.
Bar the last 2 miles the walk, it has been on quite major roads, across the River Ribble and through the centre of Preston.
I noted numerous speed cameras through Preston, which I'm sure as I passed one I was motoring so fast that I triggered it. Initial I thought that's OK, they can't trace me, no registration on my back. Then panic set in, I have a traceable plate on my rear, that of - Reg. plate of 8erghau5. (berghaus). So I'll have to wait and see. Will work on my defence, including diminished responsibilities or duress, tomorrow.
Today's weather according to the forecast was cloudy, possibly wet with strong cold north westerly winds. It was a bit nippy to start with but ended up in T shirt from 11.00 and applying sun cream as it was that warm. I'll have days like this anyday.
Last week I thanked 2 people whom without their support this project would never have gotten past the planning stage, a 'No' from either would have killed the project dead immediately. But to actually undertake this, there are others who also must be thanked to their support.
Firstly both my kids, who similar to their mother have given up things for it to happen.
Next my work collegues, who are keeping things ticking over at work, Cheers.
And, also my brother, who is their on call should I play my "I'm a celebrity get me otta ere card", and Ma & Pa for their support and encouragement.
Know what it feels like now to do one of those oscar awards speeches.
I was expecting a pretty uneventful day today and that's exactly what I got. The 36.4km walk to Chorley started on the busy A49 (sorry I got it wrong yesterday). The walk was as much stop/start as yesterday, this time due to the number of busy road junctions with pedestrian lights. The walk was colourful with the number of big superstores and shopping parks, for 2 miles it was almost continuous.
I reckon, that from the range of shops, I could have built a house (Wicks and B&Q superstore, furnished it, brought a car and then had a game of 10 pin bowling.
Soon after crossing the M56 the views improved with my first sight of the Pennines. These views however, weren't to last, with towns soon taking centre stage.
It was as I was entering on of the towns en route that I had a strange feeling. Referring to yesterday's state of pregnancy, I think I had my first craving. I wanted, needed a custard tart. Priority now switched to finding a tart, the first try failed, a general convenience store didn't have the tart that I desired, but informed me that there was a bakery further on in the town. Off I went, finding what I thought was the bakery, but was another convenience store, this time with a bakery attached. After waiting some time for a previous customers breakfast order for an army to be completed, I brought my tart.
And what a tart, not your normal 2" diameter tart, but more like 3.5" and almost twice as deep. Down it went. Craving satisfied, for now anyway, what's going to happen when I hit the remote areas of Scotland?
Today have have contact with two separate groups undertaking the adventure on bikes. In the B&B there was a supported group of lads cycle down from JOG, hoping to do it in 9 days, good luck lads. The second was a couple, travelling slower, who I spoke to when satisfying my craving.
Later on in the day I was back on the canals, this time the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, I started by climbing 16 locks, which for some reason I thought I was going to descended. I am neither going to Leeds or Liverpool, but this provides a good off road option to Chorley.
By the time I was on the canal the skies had brightened, from the mornings darkness and I was to have a rain free day. This goes against the trend of raining on the canals, but last time I walked this canal, doing the Thirlmere Way, I got soaked, not 5 miles away from where I ended today, walking to Abby Village.
It was on the canal, dispite stating previous that you don't see the changes in county's on the canals like you do on the road that I came across the "Lancashire" sign. However, this was miles aways from where the map said it was suppose to be?
One week on from "13", I am still struggling with a lingering pain in the lh shin, but my thoughts today have reflected on that walk into Worcester and the pain, hopefully its the last of that!!!!!!
For the record, when I look back on this in the future, there was a general election yesterday and apart from being a hung parliament I haven't a clue about the details, who got what etc... But I do know I'm walking to Garstang tomorrow and really enjoying myself, that's not to say its not hard or challenging, but its just great, and anyone out there who has thought about doing this, should, its a buzz.
Finally, thanks for those who continue to help me with their comments, mails and text.
Mileage for today was 32.3km
Day 18 has seen my crossing the Manchester Ship Canal and into the centre of Warrington. Gone are those tranquil days of the canal, in exchange for the most lethal road to date. The B5074 has no pavement and is a windy race track, added to which often it has steep sided fences with no verge to get clear of the cars, here you just mould yourself to the shape of the vegetation, difficult when your pregnant with a full term rucksack.
Doing my best to be safe, switching sides of the road and waving pass convoys of cars I was making slow progress, this was so until Wixsford, were I opted for a diversion, that I had previously identified. Going through the town firstly, in full Gore Tex battle dress, hi vis rucksack cover and umbrella, as at this point the skies were black and the rain falling.
Several looks were given by locals at this strange alien creature that has descended upon their town. I'm sure a posse was forming to run me out of town, but I beat that track before being forced.
The next part of the walk was delightful, in countryside, along a farm track, peace, it was great and I knew that would be in short supply today, as I had the A48 to look forward to.
Then all of a sudden, for at least a km, my peace and personal space was invaded, by large black flies (horse flies) with drinking straw like black funnels, descending from them. These flies, the size of a penny are not new to me, I have encountered them before, but what was different was the number of them. Hundreds. No thousands. Well loads.
They weren't that interested in me, but just got in the way, then it dawned on me. There was I dressed in black, with my waterproof jacket and trousers, additionally, I had the one black walking poles protruding from me, but sadly no wings, otherwise I could fly to John O'Groats. But could they be mistaking me for their King (bees have big queen's - no jokes or comments please!)
In silhouette, (I've heard they've bad eyesight) they could have been mistaken. Anyway after swallowing some, and having others enter nose, ears etc. I decided they were up there with dogs and cows, as least preferred creatures.
Look closely at the photo and you can see "the fly"
The afternoons walk up the A48, all on pavement was lots safer, that the mornings close encounter with traffic. I gradually knocked one feature off after another, all making my arrival to Warrington closer. Past went the M58, on trips to Halewood, this last year I had looked up at this junction, thinking I'll be walking around that junction, and here I was. In the future it'll be, "I walked around that island". Psychologically, this was a major point on the walk, certainly not the prettiest, but significant all the same. Other landmarks closer to the centre was the Trent and Mersey Canal, which I have previously walked down and then crossing the Mancester Ship Canal. Tomorrow, first thing it'll be the Mersey itself. Welcome the North West.
Early finish today, even with stopping at a Nantwich pub for lunch, as there are no pubs open close to the B&B. It was a shorter day by recent standards being only 29.5km's, my shins thanking me for that. So a nice "legs up" rest tonight, not even the walk to the pub to do.
Todays walk was along the canal for the first 14km, where the grey skies soon turned into a mist and fine drizzle. Here the umbrella was not so good as the wet seemed to float around, soaking me. The weather then dried up and along with the real oak fire in the pub I soon dried out.
In Cheshire now (I think) as once again haven't seen a county sign, but the cars seem to be big and expensive, must be all those north west football players. During this afternoon road walk I saw all the new Bentley's being road tested from the factory on test plates.
Has 3 pack hounds harass me this morning, the Jack Russell's all took turns to have a go. So when I came level with the owner who was more bothered gettin his boat thro a lock, with the 3 dogs still barking then retreating, I had a right go at the owner. Standard response came back, "there not normally like that". Well it made me feel better.
Decided it must be the Jack gene, as I'm a Russell and I'm normally, apart from today quitely mannered.
Today have ended up after 36.3km's in Shropshire, I think there was a few county crossings made en route, noticing the dashed lines on the map and later in the afternoon walking along the border itself. The treat of the bull terror has now gone, mind you I had a scary moment this morning. Having just got on the canal at Brewood, I noticed a bull terror and owner walking towards me, the dog glady was good as gold, but what was more scary was the look of the owner, a real " Enid Sharples" (sorry younger viewers, you won't know who she was - off corrie) look alike, the face of dog and owner were so similar, it was only cause she was walking on two legs that I told the difference. I did have a collie (I think) come legging it off a barge to have a go.
Now I'm in Shropshire the treat has changed to the "Muller" cows, you've seen the adverts I'm sure. (How the cows milk in Shropshire is used in the making of "Muller corner yoghurts"). The cows in fields which border the canal can sure stare, one even got half way across a bridge to have a good look at me.
What I can't understand being here in Shropshire is, I recently went through Gloucestershire, with Gloucester, Worcestershire, with Worcester, Staffordshire, with Stafford, but were the hell is Shorp, I've searched my map, but I can't find it. Help, anyone??? am I missing something?
The walk today, with the exclusion of, the towns at either end, was along the Shropshire Canal. Whilst I love walking canals, due to the ease of navigation and usually quite level, they can be a bit "samely". So this is where I start looking for thing to interest me, today's were looking for interesting boat names and making my own words up to songs.
On the Shropshire Canal there are mile markers all the way which, initially are good for pacing the miles, at the end just seemed to be spaced further apart.
One other memory of today happened this morning, in the bathroom. Whilst at home this weekend, I had refilled my shower gel bottle, spilling most of it down the sides. So my toothbrush had become contaminated with fragented gel. When mixed with mint toothpaste, this morning I was having all sorts of weird taste sensations, ending in blowing blue tinted, minty bubbles. Everything has been washed so no repeat occurs tomorrow.
Lh shin still moaning, so still on the Ibo's and 15 min cold baths, Ouch!!!!!
And, a walk along the canal, with no, repeat, no rain
