To 650 and beyond!

At last, the 650 km are done. Today I walked down to Killiney Beach and across to Whiterock Strand which is an easy 3 km. Then straight up to 'the castle' (once a semaphore station) via the 238 step Cat's Ladder and across to 'the obelisk', local landmarks at the top of the 200 m hills.  Lots of steps. I stopped into the source of dogwalker's latte at Victoria Gate for a bottle of water and then headed to Coliemore Harbour via Sorrento Park. It was very, very humid today. Not hot, tropical humidity but the chilling, temperate version that leads to illness if you don't get dry and warm quickly. And then it poured rain, but that was OK because a car named Buzz had come to photograph and collect me at the 650 km point (thank you). I was getting comments from my Facebook stalkers via Walkmeter as I was walking - I learned that the iPhone touch screen does not work with sweaty fingers nor in the rain so sorry if (any) replies seemed terse. 

While this walk, my 53rd,  was only 8.5 km, I feel the need for a rest before we start Trailwalker 2010 this day next week. Which matches the Oxfam training guide quite well. I've lost almost no weight over the last three months in doing all this walking but I've benefited in many other ways. It's made me get out and about more and while I regret a few missed opportunities (Bordeaux, Los Angeles), I managed to rack up some klicks in New Zealand, Spain, England and Ireland. Fantastic. Lucky.

Work out how to follow me in Facebook (Walking Commentary). You are invited to stalk us virtually next weekend across the South Downs, assuming the iPhone battery extenders I've borrowed work. A Gurkha curry in Brighton at 7 am Sunday will be our goal.

YES, YOU CAN SPONSOR 8.5 KM ANY TIME 24/7! 

Yet Another Canal Walk

A short walk, just 7.75 km up to Denham and back. A humid, overcast day and not a lot more to write about it. Bashful and I ate lunch during a telephone conference call between the Oxfam Trailwalker organisers and the walkers. Lots of questions about the checkpoints, signage and facilities as you'd expect. It seems that the Gurkhas prepare curries at several locations and the traditional completion meal is another curry. An interesting development, perhaps a bit worrying; I think I'll bring my own food. Other sage advice included waving arms at bullocks (which will be exhausting since we have a Bulloch in the team!).

Walkmeter linking into Facebook has a dark side. The volume controls are disabled when the iPhone speaks the comments posted on my 'wall'. Good outdoors. Awkward in meetings if people comment after a walk has completed. Very awkward.  Couple that to the sense of being stalked and I'm going to have to get off Facebook.

And if you have problems making a donation on the site, forget it, don't waste your time. Thanks anyway but even I was unable to donate today so I understand your frustration. But I'm really pleased to see we ten have reached £12,707.70 despite the intermittent problems on the site.


Thank You BOB! Once here and again HERE where the pain was worst! 

Uxbridge Lunch Walk

A lunchtime stroll with Bashful and M, we noticed more butterflies than we'd seen before and how parched the golf course had become in just ten days. We saw several types of golfer; Brown Retired, Lunchtime Skimmers and several groups of Greater Well-fed Bankers, judging by the Bentleys and Ferraris in the car park. A kayaker lunching by his camp fire, an interesting counterpoint.

This 9 km walk took me through the psychologically significant 500 km barrier just after I learned FatBoy's diet had propelled us through the £4000 participation requirement. A BIG thank you to everyone who is sponsoring us. I was further comforted to learn that I would only need ten big macs to provide all the calories needed for the 60 mile Trailwalker (yes, that's just one big mac for every 10 km and without the extra salt and fat that fries add!). Of course, a cold big mac induces the gag reflex so I was eating a different lunch as I walked today - a few bananas, a trail bar and a couple of boxed drinks.

I saw a big shroom and discovered the mycologue as I was trying to identify it? Any ideas anyone?

Here are the walking stats with 150 km to go before the big day. I aimed at 650 km knowing I would struggle to find time for the extra 30 hours walking to match the Oxfam recommendation.

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