Author: admin

[I originally posted this in June 2018, but have reposted it to fix a broken image link]

DISTANCE WALKED: 21.9 miles

BRAVEST PERSON: No award. So, the award goes automatically to the bravest person on day three, which was Julian.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I have a fetish for shower caps” – Bev  “Sorry about her” – Julian  “Can I just say, you have very nice eyelashes” – Bev  “Test it and see how hard it is” – Bev  “It’s still a bit fluffy” – Susanna  “I thought you were Ian Botham” – random member of the public about Dave  “Can you put a finger in?” – Susanna   “She always presses her treasures between her buttocks” – Susanna

Well, that was another long day. We set off early and I’m writing this at 00.23, primarily because I’ve been kept chatting in the bar. It’s a hard business this walking… I also know I’m behind with photos, but they will be added this week!

Anyway, I had breakfast at the Miller of Mansfield in Goring and I had a rather lovely selection of yoghurts and a bacon sandwich. I had a good night’s sleep and was ready at 09:15, which was the agreed time. Susanna however faffed about and so we didn’t actually meet until 09.30, although no-one complained. Other than Bev.

The walk in the morning was leisurely and I reassured everyone how well they were doing. We look a relaxed pace and started to eat through the miles, which made me full of confidence. We reached the only church where the Ridgeway actually crossed their churchyard and we thought we’d go in.

So, at the church I had a go at getting through the door, but as I’m a slight idiot, I couldn’t get through. So Bev, Steve, Dave and Susanna had a go, and at that stage we realised that it was locked. As I’m British, I thought that was the end of the matter, even though there were interesting medieval wall paintings inside. But Susanna was having none of it, she bravely phoned up the number on the board and a very kind man went to open the church up.

We spent some time looking around the church and it was a delight, the photos of that will come in due course. We all enjoyed that little slice of history and we continued on our walk, all confident because I reassured everyone how well we were doing.

We had a very leisurely lunch, plonking ourselves on the path itself on a little grassy knoll. Bev enjoyed her sausage whilst we all decided who would play us in a film. Bev managed to come up with a load of offensive suggestions for everyone, but I agreed with Susanna that Marlon Brandon could have played me, but only in his very younger days.

After our long lunch of nearly an hour we ploughed on, really enjoying the rather more interesting terrain that we’ve had in recent days. It was less exposed today and we had much more walking through trees and by the river, and that change made things much easier on my feet.

I haven’t mentioned my feet yet today, the very feet that nearly fell off yesterday. Fortunately, they held up well today and I didn’t encounter any real problems. Everyone had tired feet that were quite sore, but that’s different from broken feet.

We stopped a church in Nuffield as they advertised outside that they had tea and coffee available, now that the village’s pub was shut. It was a lovely church, although the quality of the coffee was questionable, but I was really impressed that the church opened itself up. This was very much the Christian spirit and Bev rewarded them with a large donation. She probably thought it was some form of religious indulgence to forgive her sins, but nonetheless everyone appreciated the stop.

The stop in the church was also interesting as a couple came in who were in charge of the floral displays. They gave us some information that was particularly intriguing, including telling us that David Frost was buried in the churchyard, and we went to look at their graves.

At this point, a little problem appeared on the horizon. Everyone thought that we were around two hours away from the end of the walk, about five or six miles. I looked at my map, and to my confusion, we were only half-way. I had seriously under-estimated where the hotel was, and although that’s good news for tomorrow as the distance is shorter, it was very bad news for today.

So, given this dreadful news, I sidled out of the church to have a panic outside. I took the opinion that a trouble shared is a trouble doubled, so I told Steve who was calm, cool and collected. This is why he’s the group’s official driver, as he doesn’t buckle under pressure.

I don’t think it’s sexist to admit that I told the men first about the situation. We all agreed that we would rush the next few miles and then come clean. I say we, but I take responsibility for my little miscalculation. Anyway, we rushed through several miles and no-one complained. Other than Bev obviously, who came running at the front. She thought she was making a subtle point about the speed, but I can read her like a book.

We continued on and I told the ladies in the group what I had done, but only when we had ninety minutes left. Maggie walked off during the explanation, but I think that was because she was distracted with her feet rather than being angry at my little mistake. Bev went loopy, but I have her wrapped around my little finger, so I wasn’t too bothered.

The last ninety minutes weren’t the easiest, as everyone was tired and had hurting feet. Reaching the hotel was particularly exciting, as it had been a long day and the afternoon was hard work. The rooms were clean though and I got my free drinks vouchers for Accor status.

We had dinner and I was very impressed, my sausages and mash were lovely, although I replaced the mash for chips. Lots of gravy and everyone enjoyed their meal. Well, other than Bev, who complained about the croutons.

I thought we’d be having an early night at 21.00, but no such luck, the chat went on until the early hours of the following morning. I will probably regret that tomorrow, but such is life. There was a lot of gossip and a lot of chat about people who we know. We also talked about the people we miss, and there are some who would have really added to this week. But that’s the great thing about Hike Norfolk, we’re welcoming and we miss some of our members.

So, that’s pretty much it for today. We all had fun, but it was a difficult day that was full of challenges. Well, one challenge really, the bloody long way that we had to go. The distance tomorrow is a little lower, and I hope that we can sail through without too many problems. My foot will need some repair, but hopefully that can be managed and I can be as brave tomorrow as I was today.

Just one full day and one half day now left, the end is in sight!

[I originally posted this in June 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

Some bonus photos of the travails of Hike Norfolk on day three of our Ridgeway walk….

[I originally posted this in June 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image link]

DISTANCE WALKED: 19.8 miles

BRAVEST PERSON: Julian (for exceptional bravery with his foot). Special runner-up award has today gone to Julian (for exceptional bravery with his hayfever). Also worthy of mention are Julian (for exceptional bravery with his other foot), Bev (for bravery with her groin), Maggie (for bravery with her foot), Steve (for bravery with his hayfever) and Susanna (for bravery with her calves)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “They look like Andrew’s balls” – Susanna  “A feel and a fondle and it all goes tits-up” – Dave  “It won’t reach over there, I assure you” – Steve  “My daughter made one of those out of mashed potato. No, hold on, I mean papier mache” – Bev  “I’m not having mine peeled back like that” – Gordon (first award ever for someone not actually on the walk)  “I’m now a vegetarian” – Andrew (second award for someone not actually on the walk”

Firstly, I’ll upload another three albums of photos from day 2 relatively soon (they’ll go further down the page, so you’ll need to scroll down below this post).

But, back to day 3. There are some days when someone stands out for their bravery. And I achieved that today. I’ve finished the day with a blister on my left foot, which I’m trying to treat with blister plasters. Hopefully I’ll be successful, but we’ll see tomorrow.

This morning five of us started at the Star Inn in Sparsholt, with a rather lovely breakfast. We mused and debated how long it would take to rejoin the path by walking there, and after much calculation we got a taxi. I’d stress that there’s no cheating here, we will walk every foot of the Ridgeway itself, but getting onto it can be done by whatever means we feel fit.

We didn’t initially tell Steve M and Maggie that we’d done that, as we wanted to look brave. I wasn’t too bothered by that, as I look brave anyway, but I let the others have a turn. Steve M started asking me a series of questions, and since I’m a dreadful liar, he soon found out that we had got a taxi. He didn’t tell Maggie, she remained in awe of us all day.

The walk in the morning was pleasant enough, I tried to set a pace to eat the miles up. However, the miles didn’t seem to be eating up, much to my annoyance. We reached a lunch stop and I ate my lunch, which didn’t take too long as I didn’t have one. Of significant interest to some of us, primarily Dave, Bev and myself, we watched some pigeons being set off on their first homing expedition. I videoed it, I’ll post it later. Steve M was quite blasé about it, he wasn’t going to demean himself by watching a load of pigeons.

We carried on walking and I carried on getting grumpier. I then realised that I was way under-resourced in terms of salt, and after much subtle hinting via Bev, some crisps were found for me. Thank you Steve and Maggie. That little bit of salt powered me through to the end, and I reached speeds of nearly 1.5mph at times.

We were all noticeably quieter today than on the first two days, as several of us felt that it was quite tough going. The ground is hard and a bit stony, and it’s difficult walking on that for long periods. Today was also hilly, but the scenery was beautiful. Was Bev quiet I hear you all cry. Well, yes, she was to a degree, which goes to show just how the group mood has shifted.

However, Dave and Steve M boosted our spirits with their energy and good health. Well, they didn’t boost mine, they bloody irritated me. I’d feel better about my hobbling about if they hobbled about too. So tomorrow I will sabotage their walk efforts so that they struggle. Because I’m like that…. Bev said she’d help. Because she’s like that too…

My feet were giving me some problems, but I’ve fixed the right foot, and I’ll work on the left foot as well to try and resolve that problem. Brave? Yes. To a ridiculous degree, and that was widely commented on.

Anyway, we nearly ran to the end point of the walk. By nearly ran, I mean hobbled. Some of the group were staying at the Bull in Streatley. Frankly, the less said about that place the better, so I won’t go there, either in this blog or in person. Instead I was at the Miller of Mansfield, which offered a friendly welcome. Unfortunately it didn’t have the bath that I was looking forwards to that was confirmed on the Expedia booking, but such is life, everything else was fine.

We then had a group meal at the Indian restaurant, having had to divert our plans from the Bull, and that was certainly large portions. We’d had rather a heavy night last night, so this one was much more refined and laid-back, and it was noted again by several people how brave I was being about my foot.

So, we’ve done three days out of six, and I’ve remembered how difficult this walking thing is. I’m certainly not doing the LDWA 100, and I’m going off doing a 50 to be honest. I’m wondering whether I should get into short distance walking. Maggie and Steve M have decided to walk much less than the rest of us, and I’m quite envious of their decision now.

So, what will happen on day four? I hope there are more quotes of the day than on day three, and there’s less pain. But, hurry back here to read the details of another traumatic day with Hike Norfolk.

[I originally posted this in June 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

Below are the photos from the walking in day two, mostly from the morning and early afternoon as I’ll create separate posts for what happened in the late afternoon. Bev told us far too much information. Andrew would be appalled.