AN WE 'AS SURVIVED AN ALL INIT!

Sat 28th May 2011 - Back from the edge


Cor blimey guvner 'at wos a tuff un and no mistakin!


So here we are back from the Challenge after an interesting and exciting two weeks.
Lot of fuss over nothing I say. A bit of dodgy weather for a few days and folk come over all panicky and the like.
Anyway, apart from the moaning (me), it was really a fine Challenge. Indeed it brought true meaning to the word Challenge. More importantly it rallied the Challenge family together even more than usual, so I say roll on 2012.


Nuff said on the matter!


I am now sorting out photo's and write up, and will publish that over the next few weeks.


As it happens, after weeks of drought, I appear top have brought some rain back with me.
It was probably hiding in my Tent Soup in my rucksack.


I reckon now I am probably fit enough to do the Challenge.
Had a run with the dog today, about 7 miles, felt fine.
Might do a longer one tomorrow.
I also did some weights in the Garage. Be a shame to waste all that effort.


So just 2 little snippets.

So, he really can walk on water!

Never  disagree with this man!
Look what happened to the tree.

OK, it was the wind!

Survival by YES

TOO LATE NOW!

May 10th 2011 - See you soon


Well, it is too late now. 
Tomorrow I am off leaving family behind to plod across Scotland again.


The weather has been fantastic for nearly 3 weeks, so I expect it will change rapidly for the worse on Friday.


You can see the intended route HERE and when I get back, the actual route will get posted (eventually).


See you soon! I hope.


But not as soon as 2004  

READY STEADY ....................

Today I have Mostly Been ........... (8th May 2011)



Kelly Joe Phelps - See that my grave is kept clean (well a bit of it)


Not a lot to report at this juncture what with all the TGO packing and stuff.
So no walks, no scenery, no excitement.


Anyway, the good news is that the RIBS are feeling much better (not perfect, but better).
It doesn't hurt when I breathe or attempt exercise (well no more than normal), and I have been out testing said ribs with dog the last 2 days on 8 mile runs. I could have taken it easy, but I didn't. I mean, I only have 4 more days to get fit, and 2 of them will be spent in trains and buses.
On the other hand, the knees were not so good today, because the ribs were.
There comes a point in your life, where no matter what you are doing, something hurts somewhere for no apparent reason. Unfortunately I am at that age. mentally I have not arrived at my chronological age, but there are many who reckon men never do. Although it has to be said, most of them are women. To be honest, they are probably correct.


I also managed to cut the grass, then hover mower the overgrown bits at the end of the garden, trim the hedge and strim all the edges, (apart from the bits near the trees that I was given a b0110c£1ng about the last time (and the time before that).


So I have everything ready for the TGO.


Parcels packed and will be posted tomorrow.
The few bits of accommodation treble checked in moments of Paranoia,
Kit all planned and ready to go.
Food all sorted.
Medical kit all ready
Maps all printed
New batteries ready
Essential MP3 music all uploaded to player
and other stuff as well


Shame I cannot find the spare battery for my phone though.
I had 3 now I cannot find them.
Last seen in the Lake District.
Bugger!


So all I need to do now, is pack my rucksack on Wed, and then await the arrival of that nice Mr Lambert who is picking up myself, and then the equally nice Mr Sloman, so we can sleep our way to Inverness.


So the BIG questions are...


What bit of essential kit have I forgotten?
And
What am I taking that I will not need?


I am still in 2 minds about the Micro-spikes.
They weigh about 650g, and I only have them on the list because I am going over
Coire Dhondail, which in the past has had quite a covering of ice. 
However, this year the weather has so far been unusually mild, and I am not expecting ice. 
The weather forecast for the next 10 days does seem to imply moisture though.


Decisions, Decisions!


Here's hoping  ........


So if you are on the Challenge, see you in Montrose in a couple of weeks, if not before.

I CAN DEFINITELY RECOMMEND .........

Sat 30th April 2011 - Now my knees don't hurt anymore!


Well I'll say one thing for smashing your ribs.
My knees used to hurt, but now they don't.
Now that could be the amount of pain killers I am currently taking, or just the pain in my ribs and breathing difficulties, but the knees no longer hurt.


So there you go. 
TOP TIP .... If your knees hurt when you walk, get a friend or enemy to smash you really hard in the ribs, until breathing is difficult and swelling is obvious, and your knees will be cured.


Today I mostly walked with the dog, and it was interesting.
But.. what I cannot fathom though is why when I tripped last week, there was little pain, and the next day what with the fence and the long run with the dog and the bike ride all was still ok,
but 2 days after that it all got much worse and now it hurts even more. 
Must be some medical reason for it, or maybe I damaged more than I thought,
but    Hey .... the knees are feeling good.


So apart from that I am still getting ready for the Challenge.
It's just going to be a bit more of a Challenge.
Anyway, there are still 12 days before the start. Time to apply more ice packs.


And here is a picture of the B@$tard Root!

I did discover this fine blues guitarist today though!
The Photo is only a still image (and yes that's an electric guitar and the track is acoustic), because the U Tube video is rather poor quality, but the album is rather fine.

And to finish a bit of the Boogie (I'll not be boogie-ing just yet though)