Having a nice break and suprise, no rain

Day 15 Kinver to Brewood

Back to usual with the unpredictable British weather, bright sun one second followed by rain. Then what did I expect, walking along the canal again, it held off until 10.30, when the first shower came and then continued almost hourly. Gone are the hot Cornwall days, wearing T shirt and shorts, the drop in temp and the cold northerly wind kept my trouser legs fully attached and my heavier "Paramo" smock on. Yes I said smock, that's what they call it, and no its not a dress before the comments start raining in. The day started off where I left it on Saturday at The Vine in Kinver. The next 31.4kms walk has been along the canals and the disused rail line thro Wombourne, five miles into the walk I passed the 300 mile total, one third distance done. During the day, in total I was on the road for some 200m's, however, the density of cars encounter in that couple of minutes seemed greater than any time on the walk so far. Walking along the unpathed roads, (they can't afford them in Wombourne, the residents must not pay their taxes), all the cars around seemed to appear. I just had to go to the cafe at the old Wombourne Station and have a tea to settle my nerves. I thought the A30 was bad!!! Without realising it, on Saturday, somewhere after Kidderminster, I crossed another county border, canals, unlike the roads do not display this borders, hence it happening without my awareness. Worcestershire had been hard work, but being now in Staffordshire there is a new treat out there, homed in on me walking through their county, I mean off course the old Staffs Bull Terrier, or Terror. I can sense them around, just waiting, when walking previously in this county on Cannock Chase, I had a run in with two off these dogs, so senses are heightened at present, but that aside, no incidents today, a few distant barks, from the other side of the canal but nowt else.

Rest Day 2

Rest day 2 has been spent mostly getting everything ready for the next 5 weeks. Knowing when I started the walk, that I would be home at 2 weeks gave me the opportunity to test and exchange equipment. Apart from going to my lite weight Berghaus boots most equipment will be the same, as they have all served me well to date.

Given that, most of it needed a good clean and freshen, including myself. So cleaning and washing has defiantly been high on the agenda.

Having lost my MP3 player last Monday, and having just a language course and books and not music on the second one, I have been using my phone increasingly with its limited music choice. I have now decided to take the books and language off and load 4mb worth of music (the other one had 8mb). I hope the person who found it likes my selection of music and photo's.

So a greater choice of songs to sing to, all out of tune of course!!

One final task was to have a weight in. I was unaware of what the outcome might be, on one part, I had done this physical exertion over the last 2 weeks, but have not felt any slackening of clothes in particular, so on the scales I jumped and 8lbs was the difference, How could I put on that much??

You of little faith, it was actually an 8lb loss, so 4lb per week, and with 5 weeks to go equals on this average, minus 28lbs by the end. Meaning they'll be only half of me returning from Scotland, and I be leaving all bits of me scattered between here and there (That's how it works isn't it?)

Promise to bring all the best bits back, including lots of memories.........

One final note, the last two blogs have been completed on my "home" computer hence the improvement in grammar and spelling, I can actually see what I'm typing and spell checking, unlike on the phone. Back to normality and the challenges of reading it tomorrow, good luck, bet its half the fun?

Day 14 Worcester to Kinver

The stay in Worcester was a delightful one, after meeting up with my wife.

During the night two things happened, firstly the thigh strain on my lh leg faded, the second, the mystery, invisible "being" which booted my rh the day before, came overnight and had a go at my lh shin. So when i woke, it was double grief time. I lay in bed working out viable solutions to my position, there wasn’t many. The first objective was get to the rest day in as best state as possible. So necessary actions were take, down went 2 para's (they seemed to work better on the shins), lighten the load, with my wife taking home any clothes etc that i wouldn't need today and try some boots out that i was going to use today, to give some ankle support. Off I went, saying goodbye to my wife for the day. Getting into the swing and rhythm, walking out of Worcester things where looking up, sure there was a level of discomfort, but I had decided to use no poles and walk a normal as possible, so not to induce any other strain. The pace was back to my usual (snail) pace, I felt good, well, a damn sight better then "13" as I am now going to refer to it.

I have during the course of the walk notice numerous election boards, some in strange remote places, which I'm sure I'm the only person to have seen it, (am I their target voter?), other than this the election has passed me by, being "on the road". I did notice the Conservative board leaving Worcester, which tickled me. (See photo)

Stourport on Severn was going to be missed by crossing Hartlebury common, this initially was straight forward, then it turned into "town" territory with paths everywhere. Addition distance was added as I found the way through the maze, but it spat me out opposite the road I needed to progress to the canal, so can't grumble.

Crossing the common, I had a call from Donna, my manager, who with her partner Chris, were camping at Bewdley. Being close, they were going to meet me in Kiddi, for a chat and some welcome company. So an hour later at that famous Kidderminister landmark "MacDonald's" we met and chatted for a almost an hour. I'm sure during the course of the conversation I received my half yearly assessment (SPR).

Things were "outstanding", my legs felt , like legs, I was on time for my rest day and I continued up the canal, but where was the rain. It always rains on canals. The sky's were getting darker and YES, it started. Confidence restored in the British weather.

There was one final surprise in store for me, when I arrived at the "Vine Inn" at Kinver, other than it being a good "dog" day. My wife had informed me that my daughter and her were waiting in the car in the pub car park. Likely as it was raining. When I emerged from a rather low bridge at The Vine, I was greeted not only by them, by a group of friends from "Special Olympics Redditch", a great touch everyone!!!!!! Thanks. What an end to today's 34.6km

Rest day two was now here, progress has been mostly good, certainly to schedule, but I will take this opportunity to thanks two people mentioned in today's blog for this being possible, first, Jo my wife for allowing this self indulgence at the cost of the family holiday this year and her support and secondly, Donna, my manager for the flexibility for me to undertake this. Thanks both.

Day 13 Norton to Worcester

The first 2 km's of the days total of 36.2km was delightful walking, the rain that I was expecting was not around instead it was glorious sunshine, but then, AGONY, from nowhere, it felt like someone had come and kicked me full belt in my rh shin, footballers among you will appreciate the pain, and no I didn't have any shin pads on. I thought a few km's and I'll walk this off, but no, so action was necessary. Down went 2 painkiller's, (Ibo' - not related to ASBO's) something I never normally do. I'd only previously taken 2 on this walk, outside Wellington which I lost most my vision, (onslaught of the migraine), there they had helped, but not for aches. Out came my water bottle as a cold compress, on went a support sock and out came the walking sticks.

Could I continue?, I must have must looked a sorry sight walking into Tewskbury. Stopping there to get waterproofs on, yes the rain had come, (it never rains but pours) I decide to change footwear to the Gel healed Asics, a good move I think. More km's were painfully covered upto the M50, still 14 miles to go, when disaster two happened. Limping along I had developed a nasty thigh/groin strain in my other leg. They were competing amongst themselves for being the most painful. Out came the para's (no not the army - paracetamol), 2 of those, I was flying but the strain was not going away, only the shin had reacted to the painkillers this time. Suffering with any gradient continued with plenty of stops, I has a further dose of ibo's at 14.00, these did help the strain. I have since taken numerous rests and am taking the opportunity at my 15.45 rest to type this. This post is not to get sympathy, more donations or anything like that, its a reminder to me in years to come, the pain that was suffered on day "13". The day I crossed the Worcester border, when I was meant to be skipping not limping. This has been the hardest and most painful walk I have ever done and it even beats coming off Sca Fell with a hurt knee, from a fall. Right now my body (legs) need to get in synchrony with my heart and head and their desire to walk, and tomorrow, there must be less moaning and resistance from my legs trying to stop my advancements up the country.

(still in 2 minds whether to post this or just save it)

Am now arrived having typed this earlier, I am going to post it but please no comments from anyone. I have tomorrow to get through before a rest day on Sunday, hopefully this and Eddie Izzards advise on 15 min cold baths or in this case showers, on my legs, as the B&B does not a bath will work. It was itself an experience just, my legs are frozen, tell you if it works when their thawed.

Day 12 Berkeley to Norton

Well, I thought by now most of you have forgotten what I looked like, and were wondering how the miles and beating sun had affected me, well that's what today's photo is all about. I had actually taken 5 and this was the best, so any distasteful comments tomorrow, then the worst one appears. You have been warned! You could have had a nice picture of Gloucester Cathedral instead, but I know your all missing me. Today's 36.5km was on the alternative off road route, which had me swing away from the A38 to Slimbridge, the site of the bird place and pick up the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, which delivered me into the centre of Gloucester. The area was rich in wildlife, and not for the first time, as I passed some creature in the neighbouring hedgerow, did it decide to take flight and in doing so, make me jump out of my skin. After only a short distance on the canal, I was stop by a woman in a barge, would seeing my rucksack and the immense effort I was putting into carrying it, asked me about my destination. What was I to say, Norton, tonight's accommodation or JOHN O'GROATS, proudly I said the later, you don't really have to many opportunities to do so. To this the woman said 'another one'. Deflated, I enquired what she meant. She informed two days ago Steve has passed, followed yesterday by Andy and his dog, collecting for kids in Gambia. Both walkers who have blogs that I myself have been following. When she heard i was collecting for diabetes, she donated a pound, as her husband is diabetic. Off I went on my way following in the footsteps and paw steps of three fellow adventurers. Up until yesterday, no en route donations had been forthcoming, even thought I have talk to a number of people. But the donation from the barge woman, followed on from the owner of last nights B&B, who donated 10 pounds. Whilst on the subject of last nights accommodation, an extra 2 miles was walked yesterday, to the pub for the evening meal and back. This was the longest walk for food yet and I hope will not be repeated too often. Tonight's is 100 metres, hurrah!!! Back to the canal, and it maybe just a consequence but the last time it rained was when I was on the canal walking to Taunton, and there it was again, rain. Can't grumble, ain't done bad with the weather. So out came the umbrella again. As the rain was coming straight down and not blown from the side, the umbrella prevent me from getting wet all day, as well as not having to put on waterproofs, which despite being Gore Tex and breathable, still would have been unbearable given the temperature. Also, would have looked a knob walking around Gloucester in waterproofs, the bright hi viz yellow rucksack rain cover was bad enough!!! So, as I am walking the canal through Kidderminster, upto Market Drayton, through Lancastershire and down the Great Glen, you have been warned when its going to rain next. The umbrella did have an additional advantage, today was my first big meeting with midges, our little biting friends. They all seem to accumulate at head height, so I pushed through them with brolly in front like a big midge dispersing sail, seem to work. As you are aware, my MP3 player became detached earlier this week, this at a time when the opportunity for listening to music has increased. The back lanes of Cornwall and Devon never lent themselves to having earphones in. But, the pathed A38 and today's canal begs for music to be played, with infinite opportunities for a 'karaoke',(well how do you spell it, its not in the spell check). To achieve this with the lose of the MP3, I have called on the services of my phone, with its 100 or so song, not the 1600 on the mp3. This did give a problem last night where the battery on my phone was exhausted 1 mile short of the walks completion. I suddenly realised that if the B&B was not easy to find, then a quick call from the phone was not possible. Panic was calmed by a large "Pickwick Farm" sign coming into view, right where it meant to be. Today's music was managed with strict battery discipline. Not that it was necessary. The accommodation was extremely difficult to find tonight, the "crystal maze" was easier to complete. The telephone went un answered, my heart rate quickened with thoughts of wild camping without the camp, suppose that's just called wild... or find the nearest bus shelter, its gonna be a cold, wet, lonely, isolated, you get the gist. But this did not phase this explorer, that this trek had turned this normally mild mannered person into. (This explorer now coming with the developing apprentice 'explorer's beard' - a must)

Day 11 Bristol to Berkeley

Two county lines crossed today, first into South Gloucestershire, next Gloucestershire itself. Next to come, my home county Worcestershire, and a meeting with my wife in Worcester on Friday evening. The previous mornings herd of elephants above was repeated last night, but hundreds of foreign students in the YHA, albeit on the same floor, all coming half an hour after I had put the lights out and creaking around, its a creaky building, knocking doors and lots of noise. I think i was just jealous I was not partying with them. Then all of a sudden it went quite, or I went to sleep, who knows, but I got my own back this morning. I suspect they were German, so was kicking myself that I hadn't done any of the course yet, could have been very interesting. Walkwise, I navigated out of Bristol very successfully, no errors or lost equipment and proceeded on an alternative to the A38, being between the Cotswolds on the right hand side and the M5 on the left in country lanes. Today I crossed the M32, M4 and later the M5 before the final stretch of the walk along the A38. A very uneventful day, warm and fast, completing today's 33.6km by 16.10. Weather looks like it taking at turn for the worse tomorrow, you can tell there's a bank holiday due, just get back to work everyone else so I can have my brilliant weather back. You know its your holiday which has resulted in it changing!!!!!!