Q: What do you call a man who voluntarily walks 78 miles in six days?
A: An idiot
Q: What do you call a man who decides to do it all again the next year, but this time not even for charity?
A: A bloody stupid idiot.
I’m planning another walk. Or rather I should say we’re planning a walk as this time around the gallant Craig has offered to share the burden of organization. This would normally be a task which would prompt much tearing out of hair; however as Craig and I both have an alarming lack of follicles we’ll have to resort to mere fingernail biting and hand wringing.
This time we intend walking a section of the Cumbria Way, setting off on May 23rd where the Dales Way finishes and slowly winding our way North for about fifty five miles to reach Carlisle on May 26th. There is something very appealing about the concept of making this walk a continuation of last year’s, and my head is full of romantic ideas of making it an annual event; slowly trudging our way around the UK using interconnecting long distance footpaths.
Last year’s walk
We’ve decided to do it for fun this time rather than for the Joseph Salmon Trust. We feel that we’d begin to annoy people if we start constantly badgering them for sponsorship and the potential of our fundraising would be significantly diminished. We got over £6000 last year, and that will have to do until maybe 2010. We will all keep supporting Neil and Rachael’s charity in other ways of course. For example Dave is currently in the process of organizing a daring bank robbery caper in Turin, Italy, using mini coopers as getaway vehicles; and Oli and ten of his friends are planning an audacious casino heist in Vegas.
Anyone reading my accounts of last years walk (the 78 mile long Dales Way) might wonder why I want to put myself through all that again. But despite the blisters, pulled muscles, and sulking fits, those six days at the end of July 2008 were amongst the most enjoyable I’ve ever had. The comradeship, the challenge, the scenery, and the laughter of it all were simply fantastic.
Last year’s walk
There will probably be a few less of us this time round. So far we’ve got four concrete confirmations of attendance and three or four maybes (including one from my brother Sam. Go on Sam, you know you want to). All the invitations have yet to be replied to however, so we may yet achieve the eleven strong party we had last year. Even if we don’t though it’s still going to be bloody great.
Hopefully this year I’ll be a little more physically suited to tackling it. My current weight loss is standing at 62lb, and I’m pretty determined to add another 22lb to that total by he end of May. this of course is slightly offset by the fact that the Cumbria Way is a little more hilly than the Dales Ways was. Never-the-less I think I’m up to it.
Last year’s walk
I’m not sure if this walk replaces my “Run a half marathon” new year’s resolution. It shouldn’t do really as they are not particularly comparable. However I did go for a test jog on Sunday and not only did i not enjoy a single second of it, my knees and thighs hurt like a bastard for about three days afterwards. I’m sure it would improve with time and training; but really, can I be bothered? Perhaps I should take up cycling like Gary and Steve suggest. We’ll see, there’s plenty of 2009 left to make up my mind.
Last year’s walk
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 2:08 am
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 4:30 am
I love the scenery there.
Maybe I should look into that passport thing.
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 9:07 am
(Have you turned into Forest Gump?!)
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Lost 62 lbs …that’s great!!
Just poke Sam to put this on his list to do before he’s 40 and remind him, if he does it now, he can atleast stripe out one thing.
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Sounds like a nice thing to do again, good for the soul.
Just remember to check out the cheapest Diet Coke vendors enroute before you set-off.
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I’m in.
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Let me know if you take up cycling :)
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Just a thought.
Oh – once you get to cumbria, where next?
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Good luck.
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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on Jan 15th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
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on Jan 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
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on Jan 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
NYCWD – You should indeed. And look me up when you get here.
James – As P.G. Wodehouse once said: “Golf is a good walk spoiled”.
Whit – Well, limps.
Penelope – Now you come to mention it I am thinking of buying a shrimp boat.
Arjan – Sam’s Pennine Way challenge is a bit more adventurous than my Cumbria Way, so perhaps I should just persuade him to downgrade it.
Idaho Dad – You never know, I might join you one day.
SingleParentDad – I plan to carry 20ltrs of it in my backpack.
Oli – Hurrah
Gary – I will. Might have to buy a bike first though.
Avitable – I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t get just a little cranky. I shall attempt to internalise it this time though.
Catherine – After Carlisle it’s Hadrians Wall. Kerry used to do wedding photography and there is no way I’d consider that kind of pressure. Oli’s a lot more talented at photography than me anyhow, keep on attempting to bribe him, that’s my suggestion.
Rol – Thanks. And that reminds me I really need to buy the next issue of Pjang.
(un)relaxeddad – Of course.
Xbox – Just wait, next year I’m doing it on my hands.
Helen – She’s decided against it. Probably quite sensibly.
(another) Helen – Either one is good. I can really recommend a long distance walk, they are extremely rewarding. My advice is to get some proper walking socks though. I’m certainly going to get some this time round.
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on Jan 17th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
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on Jan 21st, 2009 at 8:02 am
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