Day 62 Rest day 11

Today, I did almost nothing. We had a late breakfast, Karen getting to choose the time today after my suggestion of 7.30 yesterday. We sat outside for a while, enjoying the cool morning. Karen was leaving on the bus to catch a train into Manchester where she was hoping to see the horizontal Big Ben […]

Day 61 Hot, hot, hot

Today we had an early breakfast and had set out by 8.40 only to have to go back to collect my walking poles which I had left behind. First time for everything, I suppose. We set off along the reservoir (James from the B and B had told us the first three hours were the […]

Day 60 The Pennine Way

Today was a big day for me. I have been very apprehensive about the Pennine Way. Tales of waist deep bogs, mist obscuring the path and long daily distances have all conspired to terrify me. Not helped by the guidebook which describes it as “a tough walk for tough walkers”. Thank you Paddy Dillon. It […]

Day 59 I reach the Pennine Way

Today I had breakfast at the Beehive Inn. I had a shorter day of 8.5 miles to Edale where I was meeting my friend Karen (you may remember her from Day 16 in Bude). I had originally planned a 14 mile route but when I realised I could take a shortcut through town and still […]

Day 58

Today I woke rather early, after being aware of a lot of tent-flapping noises during the night. The clouds were low, and all the cows in the next field were asleep. I put my head back inside the tent and didn’t put it out again for another hour. I made myself breakfast-porridge and camomile tea- […]

Day 57 To the Peak District

Today I woke in a better mood ready to tackle both breakfast and the A-road walking. Breakfast was surprisingly good and the A-road not too busy. I turned onto a minor road and found myself by a large sand quarry. The ground does seem quite sandy round here. The peace of the minor road didn’t […]

Day 56 A wet day

Today it was drizzling when I woke up. It continued to drizzle all day, except for a couple of hours when it rained more heavily. I had to go to the outskirts of Sandbach to buy some food (Co-op sandwiches) for lunches, and I hoped that the footpaths around a suburb might be well-walked It […]

Day 55 Crossing Cheshire

Today I woke up in my lovely room at New Hall Farm. Breakfast was the best yet (I must qualify this-best at a B and B, breakfast at Stephanie’s was just as good) fruit salad on muesli, full English, home-made bread and marmalade. Yum. I had three miles to go until I reached the canal, […]

Day 54 And I have walked 500 miles and I will walk 500 more*

Today I hit the 500 mile mark. Only another hundred miles until I’m halfway. Which brings home how far I have yet to go. I had a 14.5 mile today. I walked down the lane and onto a bridle way, crossed the river and headed for another bridle way Before I crossed the river I […]

Days 52 and 53 Rest Days

Today and tomorrow are rest days. I have spent some time looking at my route across Cheshire which has had to be slightly re -jigged to take account of accommodation. I’ve also tried to re-jig to reduce the footpath mileage but in some places there aren’t many alternatives. Time will tell. Now for some stats. […]