Day 2 Tues 8 May

Day 2 - Tuesday

Early rise at 6am to get breakfasted & on the road to my start point. Holme next to Sea & its sand  & dunes may not be the easiest part of the journey I'm sure. Walking into Thornham was easier. Coming from Pembrokeshire it always amazes me how far away the sea is on the east coast!!

Walk in Norfolk they said . . . . Its flat they said!! Unfortunately the "coast" path turned inland at Thornham, climbing a fairly steep, straight road. Once at the top it then turned at right angles along fields for a mile, turned a right angle again & headed back down to Brancaster. All the time I was walking in the sweltering heat I kept thinking "Why??!!" Surely the planners etc could have found a flatter, easier route?

 

Never mind. Today’s stop was almost bang on the route so my lunch stop was the Ship Inn at Brancaster for crab sandwich & a pint!! Happy days 😎 A rest in the shade during the heat of the day is, was & always will be an excellent idea.
Leaving Brancaster and edging the marshes I heard my 1st cuckoo of the year. The 1st half hours walk was pleasant but for the heat and lack of a breeze. I could hear loads of different bird calls but I’m rubbish at identifying them either by sound or sight (with a few exceptions). My day was made even more perfect when I happened upon The Crab Hut, a small kiosk. They didn’t have any crab (?!)  but I did manage to get half a small lobster which I ate in the shade overlooking the marches. Made me a very happy bunny 😁

So, after my 2nd lunch!!, I set off again. I spent most of the rest of the afternoon on a dyke surrounded by birds!! It really is a “birders” paradise - if only I’d remembered my binoculars. Plenty to see to keep my mind off my aches & pains. The dyke curved in a semi-circle it’s start & finish about a mile & a half apart. Towards the end of my walk I could see the end-point a tantalising quarter mile away. It was hard to walk away from my destination thanks to the intervening marsh!!

I arrived wearily at The Hero pub in Burnham Overy and awaited Denise picking me up. I had to sup a pint of Adnams to while away the time!! Another 17 or so miles completed. Maybe tomorrow might be cooler.

Thank you to everyone for your support & encouragement.

I really do appreciate it.

Mon 7 May Day 1

Day 1 Monday 7th May

The 3 miles from near the A47/Swaffham McDonalds to South Acre was fairly easy-going but proved that Norfolk isn't as flat as you think!! (Photo 1)

I walked down past Castle Acre Priory (photo 2) through village & onto the Roman Road proper. Fortunately most of it was on the field side of the road with a hedge in between. Some of it was on the road however but I only had one idiot to contend with who tried to play chicken with me and & on-coming car!!

I met a lovely Dutch couple, Robert & Margaret, who were also walking a similar route. They were younger than I but not walking quite so far today!! Just saying 😀

I decided that, as it was such a hot, sunny day I'd be foolish to detour 3+ miles to visit the pub at Harpley - so I didn't!! See . . . I can be sensible sometimes!!
Instead lunch was a breakfast sandwich under the shade of an oak tree beside Peddars Way. The countryside is so fresh & green at this time of year. (Photos 3 & 4)

Although I had taken a fair amount of  water it still wasn’t enough for today but I was lucky enough to be able to re-fill at Sedgeford via a garden hose!!

Don’t let anyone kid you that Norfolk is flat - it had more dips & rises than Malvern!! (Well - maybe not!!)

The last three miles or so from Sedgeford to Ringstead were gruelling but I made it to the Gin Trap Inn and a lovely pint of Wherry!!

Sorry this is so late - I needed to eat & the service at the hotel restaurant isn’t the speediest! I’m so tired that I’m making silly mistakes of my computer so the photos will have to wait till tomorrow!!

Thank you to Denise for putting up with my crabbiness . . . . . AGAIN!!

2018 D-Day Minus 1

Sunday 6th May 2018

Norwich City

Today I have settled into my accommodation in Norwich ready to start my 100 Mile Solo Walking Challenge tomorrow, May Day Bank Holiday.
I will be walking between 16 - 20 miles each day for six days, along the Peddars Way and round the North Norfolk Coast to finish in Great Yarmouth on Saturday 12th May.

I have chosen this route because on the 11th May 1943 twenty-six members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the then women's branch of the army) were killed in a bombing raid on the seafront at Great Yarmouth. Their billet took a direct hit.

There will be a short Memorial Service at the Burlington Hotel (site of the original bombing) at 1100 hrs this Friday 11th May attended by members of the WRAC Association (Incorporating the QMAAC & ATS Comrades Association). It is possible that this will be the last time that members of the ATS will be able to attend this annual commemoration.

My walk is to honour the 26 ladies and the other remarkable members of the ATS (some of whom I am honoured to call my friends) who 'did their bit' for the war effort allowing us all to enjoy the freedom & rights which we enjoy today and which I would still actively protect: the right to live our lives peaceably & in harmony with ALL people. The right to live in a tolerant world.

If my cancer has taught me anything it is that:

a) Our lives are short & unpredictable

b) We should 'seize the day' and enjoy every moment

c) Trying to be understanding and tolerant is way more satisfying than bearing grudges.

If you would like to help my fundraising please do so at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MargaretDaviesWRAC

These are my planned stops (hopefully!!)

Lunch Stops –

Probably sometime between 1200hrs and 1400hrs (no guarantees!!)   

Day 1) Harpley (Rose & Crown, PE31 6TW)

Day 2) Brancaster (Ship Hotel, PE31 8AP)   

Day 3) Stiffkey (Red Lion, NR23 1AJ)  

Day 4) Sherringham (2 Lifeboats, NR26 8JR)  

Day 5) Bacton (Tea Shed, NR12 0EP) or Poachers Pocket, NR12 0LS)  

Day 6) Winterton On Sea (Fisherman’s Return, NR29 4BN)

End Stops –

Probably sometime between 1700hrs - 1800hrs.

(If no-one is waiting I’ll probably return straight to Norwich)

Day 1) Ringstead, Gin Trap Inn, PE36 5JU (Only if I’m doing OK!!)   

Day 2) Burnham Overy, The Hero, A149, PE31 8JE  

Day 3) Cley-next-Sea, The George, High St, NR25 7RN

Day 4) Overstrand, White Horse, 15 High St, NR27 0AB  

Day 5) Sea Palling, Probable pick-up at NR12 0UE and drive to Gt Yarmouth, Burlington Palm Court, for meal if anybody is planning to still be there!!!

Day 6) Grt Yarmouth, Burlington Palm Court, North Dr, NR30 1EG

Almost time to Start!

Friday 4th May 2018

It's almost time to start my 2018 Solo 100 Mile Walking Challenge in Norfolk. I will be setting out early from near Swaffham on Bank Holiday Monday and am set to finish the walk outside the Burlington Palm Court Hotel in Great Yarmouth at around teatime on Saturday 12th May.

I'm hoping that some folks might be able to meet up with me along the way so I'm posting my lunchtime and end of day stops here. If you do intend meeting up then please leave a comment here or on my Facebook page and then I will try my very best to be at the stop at the allotted times.

 

Lunch Stops –

Probably sometime between 1200hrs and 1400hrs (no guarantees!!)   

1) Harpley, Rose & Crown, PE31 6TW  

2) Brancaster, Ship Hotel, PE31 8AP    

3) Stiffkey, Red Lion, NR23 1AJ 

4) Sherringham, 2 Lifeboats, NR26 8JR  

5) Bacton, Tea Shed, NR12 0EP or  more likely Poachers Pocket, NR12 0LS  

6) Winterton On Sea, Fisherman’s Return, NR29 4BN 

End Stops –

Probably sometime between 1700hrs - 1800hrs.

(If no-one is waiting I’ll probably return straight to Norwich)

1) Ringstead, Gin Trap Inn, PE36 5JU (Only if I’m doing really well!!)   

2) Burnham Overy, The Hero, A149, PE31 8JE  

3) Cley-next-Sea, The George, High St, NR25 7RN

4) Overstrand, White Horse, 15 High St, NR27 0AB  

5) Sea Palling, Probable pick-up at NR12 0UE and drive to Gt Yarmouth, Burlington Palm Court for meal if anybody is planning to still be there!!!

6) Grt Yarmouth, Burlington Palm Court, North Dr, NR30 1EG    

Day 1 & 2 stops may not happen; it depends on how the walking goes, as these are the longest days!!!!

My fundraising is going well and my grateful thanks to all those who have sponsored me to date. My page will remain open even after I have completed my walk. My Virgin Money Giving page is at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MargaretDaviesWRAC

Ireland Training

Saturday 14th April 2018

Training Walk in Ireland

One of my favourite holiday destinations is Denise's sister & brother-in-law's place in Donegal, County Donegal. I find it very relaxing and the views from their sun-room are stunning. This year I invested in an All Ireland Map Card to use with my Satmap Active 10 GPS "gizmo" and planned a training walk taking me up into the hills to the north of Donegal town. All I needed was a bit of decent weather!! Looking at the local weather forecast Saturday seemed the best bet.

Breakfast eaten, lunch packed (there are no pubs in them-thar hills!) and kit checked Denise & I set off by car to a point just north of Harvey's Point on Lough Eske where the Bluestack Way leaves the road and heads for the hills. The sky was a bit ominous and the cloud seemed lower than I would have liked but at least it was dry when I set off.

The higher I climbed the lower the cloud got and the damper it became until eventually I decided to swap my softshell jacket for my light-weight waterproof!! I'm sure the views would have been amazing if only the clouds hadn't obliterated most of the views! I should have been able to see Barnesmore and Croaghconnellagh to the east and north of the Lough as I climbed up and around the northern edge of Banagher Hill. As I crested the col and started to make my way down into the Eglish River valley in the rain I should have been stunned by the view of the Bluestack Mountains. Sadly the clouds hid a lot of the mountain but the view as I sat under the shelter of a solitary tree to eat my morning snack was still breath-taking. I heard the call of a bird of prey as I sat but I couldn't see a thing. I know eagles have been seen in the area but sadly my recognition of birdsong isn't the best.

Once I'd had my break the rain had stopped. I continued down towards the valley floor passing what I assumed was the last person to venture this way, a scarecrow in a high-viz jacket!! The going was firm underfoot being mostly a wide, stony track. I don't think my doggy friends Tam, Tate & Dara would have appreciated it though as there was little respite for their tender paws. At least there was no mud!! 

The only problem with walking up and then down a mountain on a circular walk is that, invariably, one has to walk up and down it again to get back!! At the Bluestack Way signpost which pointed me back the way I'd come down from Donegal town or onward to Ardara I chose to ignore both! I headed upward and south along a forest track towards Banagher Lough and Burns Mountain. Again I heard plenty of birdsong and identified a bullfinch by sight, pheasants by sound and some LBJ's by sight (Little Brown Jobs!) as I walked. There was evidence of shooting with cartridge cases of varying colours lying around but little sign of any other wildlife.

As is always the way the closer I got to climbing down off the mountain and heading home the clearer the weather became and the clouds lifted. I got a slightly better view of the edge of Bluestack  and beyond as I climbed upwards again.

Banagher Lough with Barnesmore in the distance

This clearing of the weather did mean that I was rewarded with some stupendous views of Donegal Bay and the inland cliffs beyond as I sat and ate my lunch. Duly fortified I headed home down the track to the roadway and then through Donegal town and back home for a nice pint of ale, a hot bath and an excellent steak dinner!! I'd comfortably walked 11miles. I'd successfully tested out the kit that I was going to use on my walk. Happy Days!! 

April Training Walk 2018

April Fools Up Sugar Loaf

I know it wasn't actually April Fools Day BUT!! . . . Monday 2nd April 2018 was not the nicest Easter Monday that we've seen. The weather forecast was not good for Abergavenny but there was the possibility that it might stop raining long enough to actually get some walking in to try and walk off some of the Easter Eggs!!

We all met up at the Llanwenarth Car Park in the mist and set off at a comfortable pace!! Its easier from there as the car has done a lot of the climbing!!

The mist was fairly thick but we skirted Cwm Trosnant and took the path to the south of Sugar Loaf. At the south-eastern edge, by Twyn Gwyn, we climbed the path to skirt the northern side of Sugar Loaf. The 'younger' members of the party forged ahead whilst this 'oldie' stopped occasionally to admire the view, wall-to-wall mist!!

We crested the western-most edge of Sugar Loaf where the path is much less distinct. Up until then we had been walking on a grassy (sometimes muddy and snowy) wide and clearly defined path. The way down towards the car park was now steeper, boulder-strewn with deep pockets of snow. The idea was that we took our time and placed our feet carefully. Sometimes ideas fail to become a reality!! We had all had a few slips and slides during the walk and one of us had earlier taken a sit-down unexpectedly! The steepness of the slope took one of the party by surprise and she descended quicker than she'd wished, twisting her booted ankle as she tried to halt. It was a scary time as she combatted the pain and we tried to find the least problematic descent route for her. Being a true tough ex-soldier she gritted her teeth (and saved us all the embarrassment of having to call out the  Mountain Rescue Team!) and limped her way painfully back to the car. Miraculously the mist lifted as we got nearer to the car park!! 

The following day she took herself off to be X-rayed but fortunately she hadn't broken anything. Its going to be a long road to recovery. Thank the lucky stars that she was wearing boots as I think anything less could have meant a break.

And the things I've learnt from this little episode?
1) Take your time & look where you're going.
2) Wear the right kit.
3) Be lucky!!

Do I think we were foolish walking that day? No because we had all the right equipment and it could have just as easily happened on a fine, clear day. Accidents happen - but maybe I'll stick to walking on the flat till my Walking Challenge is over!!! My thanks to my lovely friends for providing me with exciting training walks.