The eminently quotable Gary once told me that whenever he finishes one of his epic multi day long distance cycle rides he tends to hurl his bike into the corner of the garage and can’t bring himself to touch it again for several months.
Hadrian’s walk was great. In fact it was bloody awesome. But it was also an incredible strain. Not only the event itself, but the run up. I’m not naturally the most organised of people. In fact I’m the very antithesis of organised. And so planning and implementing such a big event was like trying to squeeze a gorilla into a size 14 dress. It’s possible, but there was a lot of creaking at the seams.
This blog is my bicycle. It’s the vehicle I used to convert all that effort into actual results. And pretty amazing results they were too. Not only have we raised over £20,000 for an exceptionally good cause, but we had a fantastic time doing it too.
On the walk I made new friends, and cemented old ones. I walked 84 miles across the entire width of the country without any significant injury or negative after effects. And nothing went wrong, which is the real amazing bit. No one died, every hostel we booked was expecting us, and the walkers were able to have three square meals a day.
That’ll do pig, that’ll do.
But now it’s over, and all of a sudden my life is my own again.
I think it’s highly likely that I’m going to let All That Comes With It go to fallow for a little while. My enthusiasm for it has taken a real dip recently. I’m not good at being creative when I feel obliged to be so – that’s one of the reasons I’ll never be a writer. And with the need to plug the walk constantly over the last few months I’ve increasingly felt that the blog was a chore rather than a pleasure.
The urge to blog will return I’m sure, but for now I need a rest.
Which isn’t to say I’m going to be completely absent from the internet. I’ll still be doing the weekly podcast with Lee (I have far too much fun doing that to let it slide) and there is also a rather awesome collaborative project that I may be getting involved in soon.
I’ll still be hanging around twitter too, although maybe not as much as previously.
I hope no one feels like this is me kicking them in the teeth. I really appreciate all the support that the walk has got from the blogosphere and we wouldn’t have been able to raise half as much for the Trust without it. But I’m tired and need a break lest I slide into resentment and disgruntlement and end up impulsively deleting everything in a fit of pique.
Of course, now I’ve written this I’ll probably have an irresistible urge to post tomorrow and end up eating my words. But as it stands, it’s goodbye. At least for now.
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You’re like the littlest hobo, just hanging around long enough to save the day and vanishing up the road before the celebration party ends.
A job well done, you deserve the break.
See you around.
.-= Martin´s last blog ..Ouch ouch ouch =-.
Dude you are awesome at organising walks, first class, your discomfort is masked by your brilliance.
Totally feeling your blog angst. And I agree that it’s your place to use as you see fit, which includes taking a break/killing.
Keep it real. Increase the peace.
.-= Socrates´s last blog ..Forgetting to parent =-.
Heh, feeling you there, I’m not sure what to do with the blog just now. Not that I could ever be accused of overdoing it like. Anyway, thanks so much for all the organisin’ and the like the walk was brilliant, really great and sort of inspiring. It is raining today though and I’m looking smugly out the window, grateful not to be tabbing 15 miles. Here, have some tea.
Well can I be the first to voice my disgust and misplaced sense of entitlement!? How dare you stop providing us free content!!?
(Have a good break.) ;)
If it ain’t fun — you’re not doing it right. Or don’t do it. Or …
Words of wisdom from a dude that has little to offer. Last time you said you were taking a break you posted for 20 straight days. Enjoy the rest.
.-= Ed´s last blog ..Don’t Forget About Your Blends =-.
Do what you gotta do, man. When you’re ready to come back, we’ll be here.
.-= kapgar´s last blog ..Oh-oh- wait a minute- Mister Postman =-.
Dude, you deserve a break.
Thanks for organaising such a bloody brilliant event. ‘Twas the opportunity of a lifetime and for that I’ll always be grateful.
Watch out, here comes a ((HUG))!
x
.-= Ellie´s last blog ..I made it through the wilderness… =-.
Can’t type much… busy replacing teeth.
Have a good break.
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..“Free Pizza!!” or “How to completely bungle a marketing campaign” =-.
You deserve a good rest for good work done. And maybe a few trillion pints to boot.
.-= Always Home and Uncool´s last blog ..Pepsi Refresh Proving Me Wrong =-.
Huge congratulations and much awe to everyone who walked the walk. I not surprised you need a rest now from talking the talk, so enjoy your blogging break. Hwyl (as the Welsh say when they don’t want to say goodbye).
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..Hearts and minds =-.
enjoy! see you when we see you.
.-= PG´s last blog ..No Longer Teammates… 157-365 year 3 =-.
What everyone else said. Breaks are a necessary thing in blogging and God knows you’ve got a big enough excuse (still chasing a couple of checks…)
.-= Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..Hadrian’s Walk 5- Basically… =-.
I totally understand, but with tears in my eyes, and that feeling in your throat when you’re just sad that there’s nothing you can do to change a situation.
I hope you replenish and come out the other end with things you want to share with us. If not, see you on twitter.
See you when you get back then!
(But you’re right – about half the people who write this kind of post end up writing more, not less.)
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..A bloody good read =-.
I’ve come out of retirement in certain ‘interspheres’ twice – once you take the pressure off yourself often the urge comes back but for now, as you say “that’ll do pig, that’ll do”
You have done a fantastic job xx
.-= kelloggsville´s last blog ..A Day Out in Our Park =-.
blogs are like work……when it is not longer just enjoyable.. time to move……
drop us a comment when you return
take care
I love your work… may you enjoy the well earned rest!
.-= SG-3´s last blog ..Pandoras Briefcase =-.
No worries Dan, it has been my pleasure to meet you. See you on twitter.
.-= Kim (frogpondsrock)´s last blog ..Blood and Ashes Oil and Despair A work in progress =-.
Not a problem Dan – just let me know when you want me to sign that form.
Come back soon….
.-= Nota Bene´s last blog ..For Taras Gallery – can you guess =-.
Amazing achievement! Time to take a break and refresh. I’m not saying ‘goodbye’ but ‘farewell. See you again sometime’
.-= Vegemitevix´s last blog ..A very modern mother =-.
What a fantastic achievement. I think you’ve earned a good rest. Enjoy your break, and you’re right – the blogging instinct will return eventually.
.-= notSupermum´s last blog ..The times- they are a changin =-.
Enjoy your break. Enjoy your FREEDOM! See you around later.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Waiting for Star Bucs in Seattle =-.
Dan, that is an amazing accomplishment. Wow. I think you should do whatever the hell you want. Though why do I have the feeling we’ll be seeing you around here sooner rather than later? Either way, congratulations and thank you.
.-= Kristin (Wanderlust)´s last blog ..A gift =-.
I’ll be stalking you on twitter and on midmo and the other project.
I’m not that easy to get rid off.
Take a breather for now :)
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Youtube saturday – Smashmouth – Walking on the sun =-.
Well done!! That’s a huge amount of money and you have done a great job.
Great work for good cause. I appreciate you for your efforts and success.