Sunday 20th March

There is no denying that weather is important. I went to Wales this weekend with Andrew, and we had glorious sunshine all day on Saturday, making excellent conditions for climbing Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. There were lots of other walkers there (which was great to see) and I enjoyed overhearing several conversations about a variety of subjects including which biscuits have the most calories (Tesco's value Custard creams apparently). There were plenty of younger people on the hills and I heard one excited 7 year old on Pen y Fan asking his mum if it was much further to Corfu (meaning Corn Du!!)


Approaching Fan y Big

 

Something like an inuk shuk

We walked 12.5 miles on Saturday and our final ascent was 3,300 ft. We realised that our long walks in the New Forest are good preparation for walking in Wales. During a long day in the New Forest we usually cover about 17 miles, and our total ascent is often close to 3,000 ft, testimony to the numerous hills and ridges, and general lack of flatness, that characterise south Hampshire.

I was delighted when Andrew told me he had bought Pate, cream cheese and ham to have in our rolls!!

Sharing the summit of Pen y Fan (and the ham, pate and cheese. Yummmmm!)

The only problems we encountered on the Saturday consisted of a minor falling out due to Andrew leaving his boots behind at the premier Inn at Merthy Tydfil - requiring a mere one hour delay in starting our walk... and Andrew getting a blister on his heel. Some might call that divine retribution but I suppose that would be mean.



The reservoir at Neuadd



This plane crashed in November 2010 south of Pen-y Fan at Grid Reference SO005206 (OS Landranger 160) and at a height of 824 m. Apparently the pilot walked away unscathed. It makes a good picture and was quite a sight. I don't know what will happen to the plane; I guess it might end up as a national heritage site... 

An Ogham stone?

On Sunday we walked at a lower altitude amid some of the open countryside in the foothills of Pen y Fan. I found the scenery lovely and it was nice to feel you could just wander anywhere without worrying about cliffs. There were also much fewer people around which I prefer.
We found an old inscribed stone on the map, and located it using Andrew's GPS (I suppose I have to grudgingly admit they do have their uses). I think it is an old Ogham stone, as there were deep grooves along one edge. I have tried to photograph it.

The Brecon Valley railway

It doesn't get much better than this. We were just mooching along by the railway when there was a loud toot, and sounds reminiscent of "Ivor the Engine".  Before we knew it this lovely steam train appeared, going slowly enough for us to take several photos of it. If only my grandpa had been there - he loved trains.

Heading for Corn Du

On Sunday (today) we walked 8.8 miles and ascended 1,873 ft. Then home to Wiltshire via Amesbury (to collect my car). It only took 3 hours from Merthyr Tydfil to home and we are both determined to go walking in Wales more often. What a fabulous weekend.

Pen y fan

Sent from my phone on a beautiful day in wales

Thursday 17th March 2011



Details of the first 9 days, including elevation, accommodation, maps, and distance walked

 Readers may be interested in the logistics of planning the walk, which has caused much head-scratching and (hopefully) educated guesswork.
Above is page one of two sheets that summarise my route, distances, etc.

A useful planning site is http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/ which allows you to input a route, and calculates your ascent, descent, and estimated time to walk the chosen route using Naismith's Rule. Very useful indeed!! I am trying to attach the site address as a link, but still find blogging a definite challenge. Lets hope the walk itself is easier!

Wednesday 16th March 2011

Today I cycled 16k on my exercise bike, kindly loaned by my brother Ed, which was far enough after a tough day at t'office..

I had fun with Year 7 this morning, watching a theatre company called "The Riot Act" bringing the choice of careers facing young people today to life with enthusiasm and energy. It was great to be there and the pupils behaved excellently.

I have nothing to report really except that I am going to send out my food parcels tomorrow, to Ullapool and to Camas-luinie. I have discovered aqueous cream, which should resolve the minor dermatis problem which has been causing the skin around my fingers to crack and bleed. Too much information perhaps?? But the devil is in the detail, and seemingly small things like chafing can make life a misery after a few days without relief. Thus the small assortment of pots and potions in the photograph below...

No wonder my pack is heavy!! I wonder if Ray Mears takes all this stuff? I bet Bear Grylls does. And as for Ben Fogle......

Potions and lotions

Sunday 13th March 2011



Logistics... Today has been about checking my route, checking I am sending the right maps to the right places, doing some ironing for work tomorrow, and thinking about which knife to take. I don't want to be arrested for having a 'locking' pen-knife (no matter how small and harmless I look!) but I don't want to take my swiss army knife with all the unnecessary attachments.



Route 9 - 13 April






Route 14 - 16 April

  



Route 17 - 18 April

  


Route 19 - 22 April

Route 23 - 24 April 2011

 

Apart from the route, I had to check my food parcels contained the right things. I am still not convinced I will have enough to eat, but suppose a leaner, meaner version of myself might be a good thing after all! Anyway the parcels are ready now, full of 'interesting' food that I will doutless loathe within days. I think I will really miss crunching an apple and my fridge. Not to mention comfy chairs, soft beds, warm clothes, hot water, telephone signals, a glass of wine, Andrew........ Not necessarily in that order.

However, it is important to remember the whole project is about HAVING FUN.

The last photo for this day's blog is of me and my dear husband sharing a laugh on a bench (what a simple comfort!) at Downton yesterday. We used the timer on my camera - a Panasonic lumix if anyone is interested.

I have decided to take a Charles Dickens book with me. I hope I can find a really thin (in terms of thin pages) version of one of his books. My favourites would be Nicholas Nickleby or David Copperfield. There is nothing to scare me in either of those stories, and it will be like having an old friend with me. I think that matters. If anyone can recommend which one of his books I should take, with good reason, I am open to suggestions.







Saturday 12 March 2011

I find it hard to believe that in four weeks from today I will be walking from Inverchin train station to Rosehall, on the first real day of my adventure. The time has flown... But I have prepared for this adventure for about 6 months now, and I think I am ready for it.

Taking a break at Dawn's stile, near Downton

It was an early start (5.30) today to get to Tescos for the weekly shop. Andrew and I take turns, and neither of us enjoy queuing to park or pay. Then we took advantage of a lovely, sunny morning and did a quick 10 mile walk to Downton (vis Pepperbox Hill) and back along the River Avon. It was a lovely day, and felt almost warm!! Rural Wiltshire at it's best, with farmers and birds all busy about their business in the fields

Looking across to Clearbury Hill from near Pepperbox Hill

We ended our walk with a pint and a packet of crisps at the local pub - the Three Crowns in Whaddon - where we are always welcome. Then home to polish the boots and put the feet up for an hour or so. Fabuluous!


Taking our gaiters off outside our local - The Three Crowns in Whaddon



Sunday 6th March

I was supposed to be working this afternoon, and at 2 p.m I was poring over BTEC Health and Social Care coursework. At 3 p.m. I started thinking about the accreditation process and how I was going to proceed with that. I looked out the the wondow for inspiration and saw the sun shining on our garden. This might have been where I went wrong...
At 3.30 p.m. I suddenly realised I was in my bedroom putting my walking socks on, and at 3.38 I found myself saying goodbye to my husband - who was tiling the bathroom - and walking out the front door. Very bizarre.

It is now 5.44 and I have not looked at the BTEC accreditation process.
In fact I have no intention of doing any more work today.
However I have enjoyed a beautiful walk and am at peace with the World.
I would have missed that if I had been working. Sorry girls!

Sunlight through the trees near Whaddon

Saturday 5th March

In 5 weeks from today I will be walking from Inverchin to Rosehall; that is not far away in terms of time to prepare!

I did a 10 mile walk today carrying 10.5 kg. I was feeling pretty under the weather after the week back at work, and had rather overdone the "boxercise" after school on Friday... So andrew and I agreed to cut the planned 15 mile walk short.

Anyway I survived the walk depsite sub-zero temperatures and grim, grey weather. It was like being inside a tupperware box, as Sandra Howell commented. Ironically, the sun came out almost as soon as we got back to the car, and the rest of the weekend promises to be warmer and sunnier.

We saw and heard a nightingale at Rushy Flat car park. It was the first one we have heard this year. Andrew recorded the beautiful song and I will try to attach his recording here.

We also saw various other examples of British nature at its' best:



New Forest pony looking mystical


 There are plenty of ponies in the New Forest, and some of them are looking rather thin after a long, cold winter. This one seemed rather curious about the contents of my rucksack and was proably hanging around the car-park in search of food.
Unfortunately, apart from the bun I bought on the way (which was a treat NOT going to be fed to a pony!),all I had was prunes and I wasn't sure they would go down too well.
They eat gorse. Tough animals!


Early frogspawn



This was the first frogspawn I have seen this year, photographed on February 23rd in the New Forest.

                  

A very cute calf

My buff was absolutely essential today, and I experimented with some of the ways it can be worn. Here are three variations. I call them 'A la smurf', 'A la imbecile' and 'A la muppet'

a la smurf

The buff comes with instructions (in diagrammatical form) on how to wear it.

I have really enjoyed experimenting with it, and will join other buff wearers who love their buff.



A la imbecile







A la muppet



Tuesday 1st March

Well I haven't been walking today, or even done a session on my exercise bike.
But I arrived at work at 6.50 and left at 5.30 p.m. so figure I deserve an evening off!
Work was remorseless but fun in many ways and I probably tramped a few miles between Upper and Lower school during the course of the day.
A high point of the day was when a child said "Have a good eveling Mrs Evening!". We both smiled. It sounded quite Japanese and my name is rather unusual.

I was hugely encouraged when I got home. I looked at my online sponsorship form and saw that I have already been offered over £132 pounds by family and friends - that's before I have asked the children to sponsor me. So I am very grateful to everyone who has already sponsored me.

A bit of encouragement goes a long way.

Sunday 27th February

Well it was a beautiful morning so I heeded my husband's advice and set off for another walk.
Within 2 miles from home it was raining and I nearly turned back but managed to keep going by telling myself I needed to test my waterproofs. A valid point and they certainly got very tested today. Luckily my old goretex Paclite still works 

Another reason for going for a walk was that I wanted to try sending a picture from my 'new' phone (Andrew's old one) to my blog, and am delighted that it all worked.
(Admittedly I didn't need to walk 10 miles to send a picture to my blog...)
This means that I can send pictures from Scotland to my blog - reception permitting - and keep friends updated on my progress. I can also prove I am actually there, and not sunning myself on a beach somewhere. Come to think of it, why aren't I going to be sunning myself on a beach somewhere???

The pretty village of Downton on the River Avon

Abundance of mud

I walked 10 miles carrying 12 kg (tins of beans, excessive water and coats!!). It was muddy but quite good fun.

Term begins tomorrow so blogs will be fewer.

Experiment

Yew tree in downton. Sent from mobile in rain

Saturday 26th February 2011



This is a very rough approximation to the
route I will be taking in April

I think I ought to explain a bit more about the route I am taking.
There have been many restrictions on possible routes, mainly connected with "getting away" from Cape Wrath itself.

The problems have arisen because:
1. The route from Sandalwood Bay to Cape Wrath is sometimes, and unpredictably, closed due to military operations in the area
2. "The minibus and ferry both run (to get you away from Cape Wrath to civilisation) , tides and weather permitting, from May to September". - this is a direct quote from p. 199 of Brook and Hinchliffe's book "North to the Cape". I am walking in April.

It seemed that unless I got lucky it would take me at least 3 days to get home to Salisbury from Cape Wrath, assuming I managed to get there without being blown to smithereens. Additionally, the final leg of the walk to Cape Wrath has been described by several walkers as boggy, pathless and uninspiring.

So I thought:
What the hell; it's supposed to be a holiday. I don't want to kill myself yomping at speed through the glens and dodging bullets in order to reach an uninspiring place I can't get away from, then run out of food, and not even get time to have a beer to celebrate. If there was even a trace of a pub at Cape Wrath. No.
And then of course if I was three days late for the start of term I would get sacked from work and I rather like my job even though it is prettty remorseless at times.
So I decided not to go to Cape Wrath, and in fact, due to my desire to stay at the remote Youth hostel at Glen Affric (which doesn't open until mid-April), I am doing the whole route in the opposite way to that dictated by convention i.e. I am walking from the north to the south. It should do wonders for my sun tan (wind burn)
But at least I will finish at Fort William, and I KNOW there is a pub to be had there. I have also discovered that a set dancing friend of mine will be starting her walk at Fort William on the day I finish mine, so I might even be able to have a drink with her!



One of two food parcels weighing about 1.5 kg

I will be sending on food parcels to the bunkhouse at Camusluinie and the B & B at Ullapool

The contects of a food parcel, including porridge mix and other lightweight treats

Friday 25th February

Well I walked 17 miles today carrying 11.5 kg, in 6.5 hours. Other statistics include the altitude climbed during the walk, which was 2,810 ft (that's approximately the height of Snowdon). The average walking speed was faster than my usual 2.5 mph, so I must be fit.
But enough of that!

I saw my favourite dead tree and plenty of living ones today, as I squelched through the mud and slid up and down the hills. Don't be deluded into thinking a walk in the New Forets is a stroll...there isn't much in the way of flatness to be found!



Dead Holly tree near Ashley Walk car park

 There were hardly any people out, but plenty of wildlife. The usual deer (roe I think), ponies and cows were minding their own business and ignoring me. 

Cow scratching its chin on barbed wire fence

I got slightly lost crossing Linwood Bog, which always causes me grief one way or another. Today the bog was very deep and squelchy indeed, and I slipped while jumping across and hurt my knee (I know, ah bless...!!). Fortunately even though my knee grumbles a lot, it doesn't actually seem to be getting worse. In fact, it got better as the day went on. So I think that so long as I have an emergency supply of pain-killers, it will last the trip.

I have added DEET to my list of things to take to Scotland. I figure that if I can get hassled by small flying insects in the New Forest in February (i.e. today), I am bound to be attacked in Scotland in April.
Bugger. I hate them peskie midgies!!!!

Still, on the bright side what a beautiful place to be hassled in.

Thursday 24th February

I hate how fast Half Term goes. Time seems to accelerate...I suppose it means I am having a good time!
So today I walked 15.5 miles carrying 12 kg. I had a very jolly time and recommend walking, with or without company, to anyone!

The weather was GLORIOUS in the afternoon, although there has been so much rain until now that many of the footpaths in the New Forest were more like small streams. My Gri-Sport leather boots were great and didn't let in a drop of water.

The Coffin - lets hope I don't die in it!!!

I stopped in the afternoon near Fritham - managed to find a relatively dry spot - and put up my tent and tarpaulin. They were both very fast to erect and above is a photo of the rig. I am very pleased with the combined weight of the Coleman tent and tarpaulin which is only 1.2 kg. I need the tarpaulin to cook under if it rains and I think having the tent on it's own would be too constrictive. I can't easily get dressed in it since I can't sit up inside! Also, if kit and clothes are all wet, the amount of condensation in a single-skin tent would be pretty intolerable I should think (as Sean Connery might say).

I have nick-named the tent "The Coffin" as it is about the same size and shape as a coffin.

I also used my Trangia and "old" Vargo stove to heat up some water today. It took about 10 minutes to boil a good saucepan full of water. Then I added some Ben Ainsley Thai aromatic couscous and a packet of powdered mushroom soup, stirred it, and left it for 10 minutes while I took down the tent and tarp.

Afterwards I enjoyed one of the most lovely, tasty meals I have ever eaten outdoors. The cousous was gorgeous and since I had used extra water, I was left with a refreshing (and unusual) dessert of mushroom soup with a hint of Thai. The salt was needed as I had got rather warm in the morning and I felt my batteries had been fully recharged when I set off again. Lovely.

When I got home I found that Vargo, in conjunction with backpackinglight, had very promptly sent me a replacement Vargo stove (since the first one had broken on it's first use). I was very impressed to receive this so fast and recommend both companies to anyone interested in lightweight and effective outdoors stuff. It is nice to be treated so well by people I have never met.

The perfect end to a fabulous day.

Now to the mundane joy of cooking of supper and planning my route for tomorrow!!

Thursday 17th February 2011

I haven't got much to report except to say Thank goodness it is Half Term!

'Backpackinglight' have been very co-operative and have offered to replace my broken Vargo hexagonal stove - broken on it's first useage when a pin fell out and was lost in a pile of pine needles.

Tomorrow I am driving up to Birmingham for some alternative exercise; a weekend of Irish Set Dancing. I can assure those not in the know that it is certainly better for general stamina and fitness than walking, and probably better for the soul. One of my missions during the CWT is to become better at playing my tin whistle, and the weekend in Birmingham (a place that has more potential than you would think) promises to inspire and rejuvenate me in ways beyond my imagining. Joy!

Sunday 13th February 2011

Supper
This combination works well and tastes delicious. The packaged fish is cheaper than fresh fish!

The packets of Ainsley Harriott Couscous and John West Tuna weigh 260 g combined and provide:

330 cal
32 g protein
36 g carbohydrate
(of which 5 g is sugar)
5.7 g fat
2 g fibre
0.8 g salt

The tuna is pre-cooked so can be eaten cold if necessary. The couscous just needs boiling water to be poured over it and to be left for 5 minutes.

Lunch
The Trek cereal bar provides:
239 cal
11g protein
33 g carbohydrate
(of which 26 g is sugar)
8 g fat
5 g fibre

I will also take some extra glucose tablets and dried fruit (which I know is heavy) for lunch/emergency snacks.

BreakfastI am thinking that porridge with added raisins/prunes/skimmed milk powder will make a hearty breakfast. I have been shown that when you pour boiling water over porridge and leave it for 5 minutes, the porridge cooks itself, so it shouldn't use up too much fuel.

At every opportunity I will eat fresh fruit, steak and chips at hotels/inns on the way!!

Saturday 12 February 2011

I think this day could be called genuinely spring-like. There were daffodils in flower and people BMX 'ing in T-shirts outside Salisbury College.

I walked 15 miled carrying 11.5 kg over muddy terrain, following the old railway route south from home to Downton, and then heading north along the Avon Valley Path through Odstock to Salisbury. After a quick visit to the new Lidls next to Tesco (to look for couscous and plastic-wrapped fish), I walked the last few miles home - somewhat more burdened in weight - and got home exactly 6 hours after I left. I hadn't found the fish but a very cheap pedometer which I would use at work, and someequally good value cousous.

At Tescos I found the fish I wanted, and we had it for supper with the cousous and asparagus. Absolutely delicious! So I know what I will be having for my suppers on the CWT, and will attach a photo.

When I got home Andrew was still doing DIY and working out how to plumb in the new bath. That meant no bath or shower, so I practised for the CWT and had a wash in a nearby stream..... Only joking, I used the sink and that was fine.
It was a lovely day out with stunning weather and real growth. Hedges and verges were green, and the birds were singing.

10th February 2011

Well training this week has been well and truly scuppered by the visit of OFSTED to our school. I would say the result here, but if I did I would have to kill you! In other words, it is not offical yet. However I don't think I am giving anything away if I say that it was a truly exciting few days with a well-deserved outcome for the school.
On Tuesday I went to the school orchard for a last session with a Social Skills group and we cooked marshmallows using my Vargo hexagonal stove. And we lost the pin!!!! I couldn't believe it - the first time I used it and we broke it. Andrew says he can fix it with an aluminium peg, and I'm sure he can, but I will be contacting Vargo to let them know there is a design fault. Basically, the pin needs to have some sort of 'knob' on the ends to stop it from sliding out of the holes.

I have been trying to show pupils maps to emphasize the solitary nature of my adventure. Here is part of a map. Mostly there are lots of countour lines and streams, and very little in the nature of roads, buildings, shops, and (disappointingly) pubs. There are also very few trees, which means my need for firewood and kindling to cook food on with be high on my list of priorities. I will have to collect wood as I go along, and cannot assume it will be available close to my campsite or final destination.

Sunday 5th February 2011

Well it was my turn to navigate today and I decided that whatever happened I would not ask Andrew to switch on his GPS, as I knew I would never live it down. As it happened, we did not get even slightly lost despite my sticking to old-fashioned map and compass. We did manage a small bicker about who gets to walk in front. Unbelievably childish I know....

    wearing my waterproof hat - highly visible - and carrying my lightweight poles
We walked 17 miles and I carried 11.5 kg.
The weather consisted of driving wind, sporadic heavy rain showers and a variety of muddy surfaces. We were both suprisingly tired by the end of the journey and put this down to a number of possible reasons:
1) Walking too fast without enough breaks. Our average walking speed was 3.5 mph and we had 2 proper 5 minute breaks where we took our packs off and sat down
2) The ground was really muddy and slippery, so despite using poles throughout the walk, we slipped a bit and had to over-compensate for this using all the muscles in our legs throughout the walk
3) I didn't drink enough water (only half a liter a day), although I didn't feel thirsty at any point.
Anyway the training continues and we are having a good time, even though I am pretty exhausted right now.
I have been telling the pupils at school about my intended adventure and how I hope to raise some money for the school, to buy some playgound furniture and possibly a tree in memory of Julie Christopher.
Most of the children think I am mad to attempt such a strange task (but they thought that already because I don't have a television). Many of them  are afraid I will meet bears, wolves, paedophiles and perverts in the NW Highlands of Scotland. Well O.K. that is just lack of life experience.
A refreshing number of children would rather like to come with me, or would set of camping themselves if they knew how, and that really restores my faith in humanity, which has been taking a battering at work recently.
I have always liked this line from Tolkein, which has been taken and loved by many walkers. I claim it too.

"Not all who wander are lost"