The Training Continues In Earnest!

A well earned break during a 12 mile trek through the New Forest to Brockenhurst from Beaulieu Road Station. Yes, it would have been easier to get the train back, but we resisted the temptation and walked it. 12 miles in 4 hours (including ice cream stop) - a good pace for the Isle of Wight me thinks!

And, more news, we are now officially signed up to do the Fire & Rescue Service Dorest Coast Challenge Walk next Saturday. The walk starts from Worth Matravers at 8am and must be completed in 10 hours. It takes in the coastal path from St Albans Head, through Kimmeridge Bay and then on to Warbarrow Tout before returning along the Ridgeway to Corfe and then back to Worth Matravers. A spectacular route - with some challenging hills - all we need now is some good weather and it will be a great day, rounded off by a welcome pint at the Square & Compass.

Planning, Training, Sponsorship & Publicity

Don't want to worry anyone but from this coming Friday - 24th April 2009 - there will be just 6 weeks to go until the WightWayRound walk starts.

Planning:
We need to get together in the next week or two to finalise plans for the weekend. A meeting at the new Wetherspoon's pub in Eastleigh on Friday lunchtime has been suggested - anyone free? If not please e-mail with some possible dates for lunchtime or early evening meeting. Ash and I can usually be found at the Bellemoor in Hill Lane at about 6pm on a Tuesday evening if that's any help!

Training:
We talked about doing something over the coming Bank Holiday weekend. The LDWA have a 25 mile challenge walk along the Dorset Coast on Saturday 2nd May - click here for a link to the details.

I would be quite happy to have a go at this. It is a fantastic route and if the walk I did at the weekend is anything to go by it will be well organised with regular checkpoints and refreshments. Alternatively I would be happy to look at organising a 20/25 mile route on the Saturday or Sunday anywhere (but probably part of the Test Way!).

Sponsorship:
We are starting to get sponsors and donations online via JustGiving. Now is the time to maximise opportunities to promote the walk and start getting sponsors. So that we can make sure Grassroots get their fair share we need a good spread between online and sponsor form donations so please promote both avenues for giving.

Publicity:
Andy has an e-mail which is due to go out across the area in the next few days. I have been in touch with the British Heart Foundation PR team and they have written a press release - due to go out mid May. They would like some pictures so don't forget your make-up if we go walking together on 2nd May.

Thanks for all your support. I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to the weekend. It is going to be a real challenge but great fun at the same time! To encourage you still further, here is a link to some information about the pub close to our accomodation - looks good to me!

The Fighting Cocks

Pewsey Downsaround

26 miles in 7 hours 45 minutes and a certificate to prove it! (and some blisters too!)

Today I took part in the Pewsey Downsaround Challenge Walk organised by the Wiltshire Long Distance Walkers Association.

A good climb up the Giant's Grave in the first 3 miles and then along the Mid Wilts Way, down into Avebury and then a very pleasant walk back through the bluebells of Gopher Wood.

Pompey Bear came too - but was a bit disappointed that he was clocked in at 7 hours and 46 minutes because he was just behind me!

A few pictures on Flickr but we were walking too fast to take many! Even forgot to take a picture of the ice cream in Avebury.

Click on picture for more!

The Sunny Isle of Wight!

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Took the oppotunity while on the Island to walk 10 miles of coastal path from Shalfleet to Cowes (the opposite direction to that which the WightWayRounders will be doing in June).
A fair bit of walking on road and some very muddy, slippery paths but more than compensated for by the fantastic views along the coast. Hopefully by June the paths wil have dried out a bit. Oh, and by the way, watch out for the path along the sea wall at Gurnard when the tide is in!