The Care For A Walk fifteen mile hike in 2014 had begun with mud and fallen trees. There were blisters too, thankfully not on my feet. It was drizzly and wet, not the best weather for walking and we’d stopped to let some of the tail walkers catch up. At this point, we still had the hard miles ahead but everyone was still in surprisingly good spirits.
Continue reading Care For A Walk, mud, pubs and sunshine – first published 22 March 2014
My mid August New Forest walk was turning into a nightmare. Not only was I hot, hungry and thirsty, now I was worried about Commando. He’d sounded so down when he called me and knowing he was almost out of water and lost too made it worse. In truth, neither of us were far from civilisation and would be unlikely to die of hunger and thirst but it did go to show how easy it is to get into trouble out in the forest when you’re not properly prepared. Continue reading Cows, or are they Bulls? – first published 18 August 2013
Commando was training for his first marathon. His first Sunday morning run of August was fifteen miles, his longest ever. He ended up, hot but otherwise unscathed from his long, long run. He did say his calves were a little achy so I added peppermint oil to some of my body butter and gave them a massage which he said did the trick. He could have just been trying to make me feel better though. Either way I was very proud of him. The next run was eighteen miles. Continue reading Loneliness of the long distance runner – first published 18 August 2013
My Summer Sunday walk had led me to the edge of Matley Woods and the campsite. Rather than walking through the busy campsite I decided to take a path through the heather, not knowing where it would lead. The going got rather tough, dense gorse and a steep slope with very little sign of the path. Things did not look good and I thought I might have to turn back. Continue reading out of the heather and into the woods – first published 11 August 2013
21 March 2015
This Saturday morning I got a lie in until six thirty, more than an hour after I’d normally be prising myself out of my bed. After such a hectic week it was a bonus and even better because I didn’t have the office ahead of me. The day of the annual Care For A Walk New Forest hike had arrived. This is one of the highlights of spring for me because I get to wander through the forest with no fear of getting lost, guided by Pete and Mike, who know the trails like the back of their hands. It’s also satisfying to know I’m raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support, a bunch of wonderful nurses who make life a little more bearable for those suffering with this terrible illness.
8 March 2015
On Sunday, Commando had a fifteen mile run scheduled on his London Marathon training plan. When he said he fancied running in the New Forest I was putting on my boots before he’d even finished speaking. In my head I had visions of beautiful blue sky over purple heather on White Moor and maybe a pony or two in the distance. The actual walk couldn’t have been further from this if it had tried.
Continue reading Ponies, ponies everywhere and a bit of running