While I originally started this blog as a travel blog, in the current climate travel it is out of the question. Instead I’m turning my attention to the 2.6 challenge, which has been taking place to help raise money for thousands of charities, who missed out on fundraising by people taking part in the London Marathon. Many years ago I entered the London Marathon only to fall ill on the day, so I’ve experienced the disappointment of doing all that training only to be denied the opportunity to compete. I’ve been very ill over the past few months and am now finally able to do some distance walking again, hopefully at a reasonable pace so I decided to do my walking again for a purpose. I am taking part in the 2.6 challenge to raise funds for Shelter, who provide accommodation for homeless people and work with councils to assist people living in cramped conditions, certainly some of the vulnerable in our society.
For the challenge you can choose to do anything involving the numbers 2 and 6. As I like doing speed walking my challenge is to do 6 miles for 2 days and 2 miles for 6 days. As I am myself vulnerable to Coronavirus, given my very recent health issues, I’ve been in strict lockdown since the beginning Of March. The challenge for me is fitting in the 6 mile days, which I am doing in one go.
Day one Tuesday 28 April
I decided that I would begin this challenge with one of the 6 mile walks so I set my alarm for 5am. It was very dark when I got up, overcast, but at least not raining. The reason that I’m walking so early is that I cannot risk getting too close to anyone else, so, hopefully few people will be about at that time. I managed to leave home at 5.30am and was rewarded by some amazing bird choruses. A Blackbird seemed oblivious to my presence as it hoped around the road very near to me
I was delighted to hear a Green Woodpecker with its distinctive call, which always sounds like they’re laughing to me. As I made my way down towards the steps to take me to the bottom part of the village I espies a clump of Cow Parsley, one of my favourite wild flowers, especially as it lines the sides of the roads with May blossom out at the same time.
Turning to the left on the road I was soon at the cenotaph and the pull up Porters Hill. One of the problems with doing a distance like 6 miles is planning a route that doesn’t take me too far away from home, and I wanted to avoid main roads.
From here it was a slog all the way up Village Road to Piper’s Ash. One of the lovely things about walking at this time of the year is just how beautiful the countryside is and as I turned into Hare Lane I was rewarded for my efforts up the last hill with a few Hawthorn trees in full flower.
From Piper’s Ash I turned into Bellevue Lane and it was another push up the bridge over the motorway.
By now I could feel my energy flagging, a combination of months without walking and lack of food. I decided a little fuel on board would be useful so I returned home for a couple of Nutrigrain bars and the rest of my cold coffee. Feeling better for the food and a fifteen minute gap I set off again on the same route as before, but this time I took the little path by the pub and headed off towards the Gowy River. I came in on the road into Arden’s Farm to avoid people with horses, but still passed one girl closer to the river. I had taken some beautiful photos there on Friday, but today lacked any of that magic. I crossed the meadow to the style on the corner and retraced my steps from there as I now had less than 3k to go.
On retracing my steps I was delighted to come across some clumps of Marsh Marigolds I’ve been told that Guilden is an old name for Golden and Guilden Sutton was named after the preponderance of these pretty little flowers with their fleshy leaves.
After another slog up Porters Hill and a turn into Oaklands I was well passed the 6 mile mark and the welcome sight of my Cul de Sac greeted me. I had walked nearly six and a half miles. I have a few blisters for my efforts so some shorter distances are the order of the day now.
if anyone would like to support me with a donation to my Justgiving page it would be greatly appreciated?
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/raewyns-26-challenge?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_%7C%7C_donation_received_%7C%7C_nth_donation&utm_content=e7b1873e-c12a-4547-92da-1526e10a4a6c&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postoffice&utm_term=1588071774126