Offa's dyke : day 6

Sadly, despite my plans this will be the last day of my walk. I pushed on into the night on day 5 and despite some awfully hilly terrain and (believe it or not!) Strong wind and rain managed to get to 87 miles. The day had been long, it was gone 9pm when I finally set up camp, 14 hours since I had started. I cooked some soup and went to bed feeling jaded but in positive mood.
A few hours later I woke suddenly and very quickly grabbed to where the freezer bags I was carrying were. Three things now come to mind;
1 - Thank God I was carrying freezer bags otherwise I would still be cleaning the tent.
2 - Thank God they weren't carrier bags: those holes in the bottom do they really save children's lives, or just piss-off people who use them in bins (or those being sick) ?
3 - Thank God I'd bought the 2 litre freezer bags not the 1 litre.

At this point I ultimately new it was over and although I allowed myself an extra hour before getting-up in the morning, my body felt lifeless and empty. I laboured along for a couple of miles, mostly to see if I would have a miraculous turn-around, then plans changed to getting home.

The situation is incredibly disappointing but I am stupid, not reckless, and as such it was the only sensible decision to make.
It is so great to have to the support of so many good people throughout and I'm sure I'll be worrying you all again soon with something else particularly daft!

I'll upload the pictures as soon as I can.
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Offa's dyke : day 5

It's been really tough today but I've now got to about 80 miles, ideally by tonight I'll have done 86 - 88 miles. A hilly day tomorrow and then the black mountains on saturday, every mile is huge at the moment.
But first, it's time for pasta!!


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Offa's dyke : day 5

This is a nightmare, I've only managed to do 2 miles in 2 hours. The wind is so strong it's an effort to walk in a straight line, I've found some shelter now so I can rest and try to get some energy back.
I'm proper pissed-off amd if this doesn't get better soon I'm really going to go mental!
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Offa's dyke : day 5

Up and walking by 7am but progress has been really slow so far. Strong winds and rain have not helped but mostly it's my leaden legs as once again I'm facing some steep hills. Next time I go walking it'll be East Anglia, at least that's flat!


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Offa's dyke : day 4

When I last updated I had completed about 59 miles and was looking across the flooded valley plotting a detour, before I had a chance to get there I had a different detour after some arse had moved a sign and I ended-up in completely the wrong place. It took a while but I found myself back to the path, when I did I found that my actual route was not flooded as it followed a canal towpath. This was at 60 miles, half a mile later my left ankle gave up. I laboured on for 3 miles considering the options (try and finish the walk in 10 days or potentially give up completely). Then, as quickly as the pain started, it resided.
I managed to keep going For another 6 miles (the last 2 in darkness) before a missed turning and pain in my right ankle bought me to a halt again.
I am now tented and ready for sleep having spent 12.5 hours walking and got to 70 miles, another big push tomorrow (hopefully) !!
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Offa's dyke : day 4

This is supposed to be a river not a lake . . . Time for a detour!



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Offa's dyke : day 4

58 miles done now and time for a rest. It's been a fairly good morning, still plenty of hills but one of them was at least worth it - there was a full 360 degree view of the area, I could see Snowdon 44 miles away.
I also did my good deed for the day by freeing a sheep who's head was stuck in a fence, I'm hoping this will calm the previously angered Welsh gods and bring me more sunshine. Bugger, obviously not, it's just started raining again!!
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Offa's dyke : day 4

A nice mild morning today with hazy sunshine, just what was needed - a good percentage of my clothes are well on the way to being dry.
Pasta for breakfast and a few miles done already, just stopped by a stream to refill the water bottles and back on the road again shortly. Hopefully this weather will hold out (and my body) and I may be able to make up the miles lost yesterday.



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Offa's dyke : day 3

After some good steady progress this morning the Wheels fell-off. Shortly after lunch my left achilles, obviously in the same union as my blistered right heel, decided that it would start causing me pain aswell. Having laboured for a few miles both seemed to ease and I was able to get back to speed, I should have known this was too good to be true.
A very nice lady in a post office yesterday evening offered to make me a hot chocolate as I was buying some sweets, I declined politely as it was already dark and I wanted to make up some more miles - I fear this may have angered the Welsh gods!!
Back to this afternoon, not only did the heavens open - torrential rain that is still going as I write this, the gale force winds returned and if that wasn't enough the footpaths suddenly the most shambolic pile of arse I've ever walked on!
Despite all this I'm only a few miles behind schedule, although I now have only one set of usable clothes - hopefully a couple of dry days and they'll be back. I'm currently just short of 50 miles and if everything goes well tomorrow, an early start and good weather, I may be able to gain some miles back. If all else fails I'm in a field with loads of sheep. . . I believe that's called a leisure centre in these parts!
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Offa's dyke : day 3

The aqueduct at Trevor, how cool is that!


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Offa's dyke : day 3

Noodles for lunch.
The blister on my right heel is still causing me problems, I've gone industrial with the tape this time hopefully that will sort it.
Nearly 40 miles done now, only 120 to go. :)
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Offa's dyke : day 3

3 miles done already and should be getting to the flatter ground this afternoon. Glad to be away from the campsite, if I never see the place again it's still too often. Wind is still strong and there's rain in the air but it's slightly wooded here so no great issues.
Feet and shoulders aching quite badly :(


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Offa's dyke : day 3

The slow hilly nature of yesterday mean't that once on slightly flatter terrain in the mid-afternoon I had to push on considerably in an attempt to keep to my predicted distance.
Over 11 hours walking and when I had finally found a decent place to camp it was blowing a gale and raining heavily - the least ideal conditions for putting up a tent on your own,
It is still blowing violently and has been throughout the night, it's approaching 6:30am and the process of getting ready begins. My lack of sleep and aching has led to a real lack of humour and today is supposed to be a big milage day.
Can't get any worse!!! (I hope)
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Offa's dyke : day 2

The juilee tower (552 metres above sea-level) - they obviously weren't big fans of the jubilee!


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Offa's dyke : day 2

Tough first 2 miles this morning but worth it, the scenery here is breathtaking - words and pictures just cannot do it justice.
I'm right at the base of the highest part of the Clwydian Range with some big peaks to come but the sun is shining again and looks like I'm in for a good day.
First signs of a blister, patched-up with Duct Tape - job done. :)


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