Quarter Distance & the Great British Summer

There's been a lot of talk lately on Trailwalker forums on Twitter and Facebook about feet taping, surgical spirit, compeed, stride oil and poles. Up until now there's been sore feet and a few blisters on the team but nothing that's stopped us from walking (touch wood!). Just recently I managed to acquire a set of poles and was planning to use them on the walk planned for Saturday 27th, but in the end, they remain unused!

We met up at the car park for the Royal Armouries Museum opposite Fort Nelson on Portsdown hill, overlooking Portsmouth & the Isle of Wight. The photo doesn't do it justice as it was actually a lovely day with a bit of a chilly wind at times.

The team were slightly depleted this weekend due to birthdays and foreign trips, but the rest of us met in the deserted car park and set off just after 9am. The route had been pre-planned and, we hoped, avoided any of the nightmares we had in February with flooded paths and mud!

The route took us around Fort Nelson (which although local, none of us had ever visited) and then across an empty field (thankfully there was a well-trodden path through the middle), down towards Boarhunt (pronounced Borunt).

We came across one other fellow walker (of only 4 out on the route), before turning west and heading downhill towards the Wallington River. At this point, I'd wish I had a camera recording everything we encounter (plus a memory to recall things), but as we passed a farm heading to the river, we had to bypass a couple of guys by walking on their field...'Gerrof my wheat' one old guy said, to which we wanted to respond, 'Well, don't bloody block the path by mixing cement on it!'. Thought better of it, farmers & guns!

We hoped that we'd avoid any puddles, mud etc, but were left struggling at one point where the path (and stile) were located in the middle of a huge puddle. No way around...all we needed to do was hop over the barbed wire fence. Easy when you've the leg length of Phil, or the elfish body of Clara, but you can imagine the comedic sight of me straddling the wire with the crown jewels threatened! Thankfully we came through virtually unscathed, poor Shaz managed to catch her knee on a barb.

Chance for a group shot just after that episode crossing a bridge over the Wallington.

So 6km in just over the hour was good going - we're aiming for a 27 hour finish overall in Trailwalker, so to actually be ahead of the plan means we're on track.

Pretty uneventful next few kms to be honest as the path wound through fields, past farms and skirting forests...until we emerged from a wood to find ourselves in a field of hay attached to a farm, but with no path in sight. Despite a 5 minute wander through the farm (and manure covered paths) we only came upon locked gates! So, eventually we grabbed the bull by the horns (not literally) and made our own path out of the farm. We all then questioned...who 'polices' when farmers block these paths?

Onwards and downwards, we decided on a slight detour from the original plan, which would have taken us along a fairly busy road. So after 10.5km we headed back west again through copses and forests to our rest stop, which was supposed to be halfway, but in the end we walked a little further to the picnic stop at Bere Forest West Walk - 14.5 km in 2h 35 mins, just under 6km/h average!

After a good 20 minute stop, which consisted mainly of cups of tea/coffee from the little store, peanut butter sarnies and a bit of sock/boot re-arrangements, we headed off through the forest on the Pilgrim's Way down towards the West Meon Trail. Having spent 20 mins around lots of people at the rest stop, it was great to get off the beaten track and into the real forest.

The West Meon Trail is a cycle & walking trail that follows the old railway line from Alton to Fareham, and runs from West Meon down to Wickham. A lovely walk (being flat of course and following a nice cuppa!)...and we were still walking at 6km/h after 4 hours - definitely the rest stops are a help, so thank god for the checkpoints along the way!

Now, I guess we're all ones for checking the weather before (and on) our training walks! We're no different and had been expecting rain at 1pm...but it had held off! HAD...being the operative word. As we made our way south and east back towards Fort Nelson, ominous clouds behind us threatened. Did we get wet? Well, actually not really! Why? Well, it DID throw a bit of hail at us for about 5 minutes, but that was it! Always better to have hard rain than wet rain! When the sun was out, it was actually rather warm (and it looks like we all got some good colour on our faces!).

As we headed further south, we came across the biggest group of walkers in our path. They'd obviously had a good day and were ready for bed!

We ambled behind them for about 5 minutes when we were able to sneak past and head back east towards Fort Nelson. We chose to follow the road back up the hill and retraced our steps around the Fort, arriving at the cafe (always a good finishing point) for a cuppa and a slice of cake! A great walk and it looks as though we're on track with our training...26.4km in 4h 41m at an average speed of 5.6 km/h. OK, there will be more hills on the South Downs Way, we'll throw a bit of hill training in soon!

Nope - we're not in Trafalgar Square! Who knew there were two of them?

Thanks to all of our sponsors so far in helping get us to £1250 (still a little way to go though until we hit £3000) and to all those that have provided us with raffle prizes for our planned Charity Quiz (date to be confirmed). If you sponsor us, either visit our justgiving site or text TRUS99 to 70070 to donate £5 to the charities (Oxfam & the Gurkha Welfare Trust).

Keep Trailwalking all!

Let's Get Ready To Ramble - Good Friday 2013

I was thinking that I might be the lucky charm for our treks having had a lovely day for No. 2...then again, I was due out on the failed adventure a few weeks back (see below!). Thankfully, our 4th training walk promised far better weather this time for the New Forest on Good Friday.

Sadly being Good Friday we were a little down on numbers this time round, but nevertheless, 4 of the extended team (we've got 2 teams entered for July) plus one of our support team turned up on a cold, but clear, Friday morning at Bolton's Bench car park near Lyndhurst.

Kai, Dan, Shaz & Jam - Getting Ready to Ramble!

The route had only been planned a few days beforehand (I had the luxury of a few days off to do this...NOT that it took me a few days!)...and having led the last one across bogs and flooded valleys, I decided we should stick as much as we could to some of the great paths across the New Forest for both walkers and cyclists (the benefit of being a MAMIL as well!!!).

Here's the route we took...

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206968503313066408789.0004d9111880aa4c62952

And so it was, at 9am the 5 of us left the car park and wandered through Lyndhurst south towards our Forest track and the start of the our circle route. Very uneventful start and a nice easy wander across paths that we actually walked along rather than sank into! Through the first gate and our first encounter with the public that day...it was early on a Bank Holiday. Say our 'Hellos' as we pass - looks like it's going to be a great day. Not 2 minutes has passed and the couple come bounding up behind us and fly by in the direction they had come saying they were looking for a black glove! Well, it must have been a very important black glove...but no, 5 minutes later, and with sheer relief on their faces, they waved the said glove (nothing remarkable at all - but no doubt missed on a cold morning).

Hooray - Solid paths!

Very few people were encountered in our first hour of walking, with the exception of what must have been twin runners...it seemed that the guy running past us appeared not 20 minutes later as we walked on...I mean, who'd be out at that time of the morning? As we progressed, we found ANOTHER black glove pointing the way (or was it trying to point us elsewhere!?). Our minds turned to scaring ourselves...creating storylines for movies that we could create, based in the forest and resembling The Village! The stories became a little more inventive as we walked on...walking trees, evil spirits, haunted gloves...I'm thinking we're onto something....working title of Lord of the Gloves!? 

A minor diversion from the planned route due to a boggy path meant a little more distance than planned but nevertheless, we enjoyed wandering the paths and encountering the odd dog walker or two. Oh, and if you refer back to Walk No. 2 you'll remember the little Jack Russell that greeted us on the way to Old Winchester Hill and that scared the bejesus out of Kaila. Well, it looks as though she has attractive ankles!!! Once again, as we emerged from the forest towards Brockenhurst, once again her ankles were nipped! Just over 9 miles and 2 hours down, we'd made it into Brockenhurst where I had promised the gang a great place for a cuppa and a well deserved bacon sarnie...we weren't disappointed either. The Buttery, at the head of the High Street, is a great little cafe with some great offerings....I had been before with a group who were on a Treasure Hunt round the Forest and thought it would do us all good to put our feet up, our bums down and quench thirst and hunger.

The Buttery, Brockenhurst - they DON'T DO ROLLS!

And so the entertainment started! Walking in (we weren't that bedraggled) we were greeted by a rather interesting gentleman serving behind the counter. Jam was first to order and it went downhill from there. 'Do you do bacon roll?'...menu thrust in his direction...'Baguettes and sandwiches'...'So no rolls?'...'No rolls'....'Do you do takeaway drinks?'...Huff 'How many?' and grabs a couple of takeaway cups. The baguettes were good (although Dan didn't rate the sausages), the tea was hot, but more importantly the rest was welcome!

So, nicely fed, watered and rested, we set off through Brockenhurst to catch the track up through the Forest again to Lyndhurst.

More good paths - a little boggy to the sides!

Our path through the moorland was again nice and solid (a few puddles at the start, but easily negotiated)...and a few more people about as it moved towards midday. And guess what...the New Forest Easter Glove Hunt continued as we found our 3rd of the day hung on a bush!

Yet another abandoned glove!

And so we trekked further north through the forest with just a few more Hi's and Hello's to fellow walkers and cyclists, before meandering into Lyndhurst again. Overall, 14.4 miles in just under 4 hours...a little ahead of our planned timings, so looks like we can ease back!

Next time out will be the morning of 7th April when we are looking forward to meeting some of our fellow Trailwalkers at the QE Country Park. Oxfam are laying on an introduction event and we'll hopefully put faces to names and wander across a couple of the Checkpoints of the actual walk together.

We'll blog again after next weekend's event and, in the meantime, if we could encourage you to help us raise money for Oxfam by texting TRUS99 to 70700 (to donate £5) or go online to www.justgiving.com/Trekkers-R-Us.

Keep Trekking!

Trailwalker Practice 3 (that wasn't!) - March 2013

   

The plan was to get out and up our distance to 25 miles this weekend, despite being a couple of our team missing. I say the plan, that was up until 0730 this very morning!

Up at 0630 myself to get everything ready for the trip to the New Forest...it would have to be the train today as those local to me couldn't make it. All ready for the leave until I discovered water pouring out of my new camelbak that I bought specifically for Trailwalker. OK, I'm a guy...I don't read instructions really and thought I knew everything about it! Typical schoolboy errors of a) not tightening the screw and b) laying the pack down! So, panic time spent mopping water from the kitchen and rescuing all the food in the pack! Eventually, having sorted all of that and ensuring the second bag (with a change of clothes and towel) was picked up, I started my mile long hike to the station.

 

Uneventful walk/stride/march although I did say to myself "Do NOT look at your phone to check the time!"...I was very disciplined, but might have been better doing so. As I arrived at the top of the station road, there was the train pulling in. I thought "Run or not" and decided I didn't want to be one of those runners and missers of a train - making myself look foolish in the process! As I got into the station, the guard on the train shouted to me to come to his door as he had held the train for me! Bless him - what a star! I sat down for the 5 minutes it takes to get to Eastleigh (where I was to change) and gathered myself for the next leg!

Off at Eastleigh and another schoolboy error - check everything before you go! If I HAD checked my phone I would have been a little more clued up. Sent Phil a text to say all on track and I then bought my ticket for the journey from the ticket office (as a good boy that I am!).

There was the reply from Phil saying everyone else had dropped out! Ah, decisions...just spent money on the ticket, but the weather had been closing in and, currently, the rain was coming in horizontal and the wind whipping up. Gave Phil a quick call, had a chat and decided to follow the rest in postponing today...ultimately a VERY good idea.

I'm sat here now watching the rugby and sipping on a cuppa (beer for the game later) having walked back from Hedge End station and getting incredibly soaked. The rain (and sleet even) cut through me and soaked me to the skin - that was just one mile...what would 24 others have done to me?

OK, I now feel guilty as I have friends competing in the Reading or Kerry Half Marathons, some of you are walking the South Downs Way AND it's even turned sunny outside. I could get out and do a little walk, but the good news is I am off just before Easter for a few days, so I will just have to make up for it then. I might even test out the next planned walk....have a look at it here.

So...any learning to share from this experience? Well, if you're walking with pals, make sure you give them your mobile number, make sure you look at your mobile before setting off and always read the instructions!!!!

Trailwalker Practice 3 (Part II) will be live once we've completed! In the meantime, once again, could we encourage you to donate to our cause on Trekkers-R-Us JustGiving Site.

Keep Trekking everyone!!! :)

Training Walk 2 - 16th Feb 2013

Trailwalker Practice 2 - Saturday 16th February

A Saturday this time round for our second walk and a new route for us all to follow - February route

An early start meant (well, was supposed to mean) that we would be finished by just after lunchtime...and so it was our two teams ended up outside the Shoe Inn in Exton around 9am on a cold, but thankfully dry Saturday morning in February.

On the South Downs Way - half-way up Beacon Hill

Our route was to take us along the Western path of the South Downs Way and the first steps off of the road in the village was the indicator of what was to come...a short slope covered in mud! A trek up Beacon Hill ensued, but thankfully a hill means little boggy ground! 

View from the top of Beacon Hill

The view from the top was great and reminded us why we're doing this!






Walking along the ridgeway we made good time thanks to good farm tracks before we headed off from the South Downs Way onto the Wayfarers Way north towards Kilmeston and Hinton Ampner. Dropping down into the valley meant a return to the muddy footpath and, on reaching Kilmeston, the boggy field filled with horned cows! Onwards and along the path towards Hinton Ampner House was again boggy and considerably muddy, our first break was to be at the house for a deserved rest, relief and food! We were a little behind time but keen to make up the time again on the ridge.

On reflection, I definitely needed more liquid...on reading the literature now a few days after, it states that around 400-600ml per hour...I had that for the full walk! Note to self...trawl ebay for a good camelbak!

However, rested we pushed eastwards out of Hinton and along more sodden tracks and bridleways...oh for a horse! We changed the route slightly to get onto the road a little earlier and help our tired feet on the way to West Meon. Another boggy forest track led to  another road, but not before we had the surprise of our life. Whilst walking past a little farmhouse, we were spooked by something flying at us through the hedge! Lo and behold, there was a tiny puppy who had found his way through a hole...eager to greet us, he made his way sniffing muddy trousers and boots, before disappearing back through the hole again! Hearts were pounding a little quicker for a few minutes!

On down the hill into West Meon and, after a brief stop at the Post Office so I could stock up on a quick flavoured drink and some flapjacks (yummy by the way) then we broke  a little further down the road in the bus stop. Boots off for some, a nice seat to rest weary bones and plenty of snacks consumed (bananas and peanut butter sandwiches for me) and a time to reflect where we were in the walk (about 3 1/2 hours in...a little further behind than planned!).

After a good rest, we headed off towards East Meon before turning south up towards Meon Springs Fishery, situated on the South Downs Way below Old Winchester Hill. A long slog up hill eventually gave us a view over the valley down to the Fishery and to our next goal, the radio mast on top of the Downs. A steady wander down the road and across a farm road brought us back to the South Downs Way and the uphill challenge. And what a challenge it was...thankfully mainly chalk meant it wasn't boggy at all, but still it was hard on the legs...more fool the cyclists going the other way...at least they had gravity on their side though! More bog at the top but we'd made it and were back on top of the Downs!

We'd been walking for about 5 1/2 hours now and fatigue still hadn't set in (although there was a lack of water and certainly my feet were very sore!). Still, onwards and upwards to the Nature Reserve at Old Winchester Hill meant we only had downhill to Exton left. After a brisk 30 minutes we made it to the top and then wandered round the old hill fort and started our descent (and what a descent it was!). Finally we had made it to level ground and we knew (or thought we did) that we were on the easiest leg! With a little over 5km to go, we encountered some walkers coming the other way saying that the lower path was flooded and we might need to take a detour! Flooded...that's nothing to what we had been through in the last 6 hours! 

Kaila hitting the deck with her bum!

Oh how wrong were we! Having descended to the valley floor, we spent a good half hour wading, slipping and sliding (and at one stage falling on backsides) across around 100m of path. The best thing about making it through was the boot wash in the stream at the end (not that it mattered!!!).

Again, thinking that was the last of it, we wandered on with a little over 2km to go...to be thrown a final problem. The river had flooded the path and there was no way round...except for escaping across country and dicing with a small river crossing on logs (sounds more dramatic than it was). A great effort from all concerned (particularly in Barbed Wire holding) meant we finally reached the A32 and the road into Exton!

Back to the cars and a final celebration of the 7 1/2 hours walking together (and a great pic of the boots caked in mud!). A quick pint at the pub before the journey home allowed us to reflect on the day (long & tiring but rewarding nonetheless). 34km in 7 1/2 hours meant we averaged just under 5km an hour...translated to the full Trailwalker 100km means a time of about 24 hours...right on track!

Well done to all of us and looking forward to stepping up the extra 5 miles again...although let's hope for less boggy tracks!

To make the pain a little easier for us, we'd be grateful if you would sponsor us at the following website...http://www.justgiving.com/Trekkers-R-Us