BOOT FITTING AT COTSWOLD HEDGE END

CHECKING WHAT TIME THE STAFF ARRIVE

ROCKY, GINGER AND SCARPAS

Cotswold Outdoor (www.cotswoldoutdoor.com) in Hedge End has agreed to sponsor my walk big-time. I am told that they saw the amount of work that had gone into the website and decided I was serious. Thank you Darren Weeks and all your staff at Cotswold, and thank you Simon for your excellent work on the website.

The first thing they wanted to do was fit me up with some boots. The process started with Cotwold’s Ben Jones measuring up my feet. I think I was at school when this last happened. He then observed my gait as I walked shoe-less up and down the shop. I felt like Naomi Campbell, only prettier of course. Truthfully, isn’t it strange how stiff and awkward such normally natural movements feel when someone is looking at you. After lots of chit-chat about my preferences (leather rather than fabric, ankle support not too high, two pairs of socks rather than one to prevent blisters) we concluded that Scarpa Ranger GTX boots with Superfeet insoles would be the business. I need two pairs of boots to cover the distance I am walking, but have received a pair of highly regarded Brasher Hillmasters from another kind donor, so I look forward to comparing them.

This it the first of several visits that I will be making to the Cotswold store to select equipment. For me, that’s like letting a child loose in a sweet shop, but I will try not make pig of myself.

STILL AT HOME

APPROACHING YR ELEN IN SNOWDONIA

With the help of my friend Simon the website is coming along nicely. Furthermore, the route is planned, the charities are ‘on-board’, I am getting good responses from sponsors and everything is on schedule. I even managed to enjoy a winter walking weekend in Snowdonia in December, organised by Neil of The Outcasts (www.the-outcasts.hampshire.org.uk). The hostel was in Besthesda, which was perfectly placed for a stroll up the snow-bound summits of Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn and Yr Elen. All good practice for the JOGLE, although I don’t expect to meet much snow then - but you can never be sure?

HAVEN'T LEFT HOME YET

MOI

The reality and enormity of the commitment I have made is beginning to dawn on me. However, any feelings of trepidation are dwarfed by those of excitement. I am actually beginning to look forward to the complete disruption of my regular routines. Three months of lone walking will give me plenty of time to ponder, but I expect also to meet some interesting people along my way. I always have on previous, albeit much shorter, walks. Add to this the opportunity to enjoy a rugged existence and experience some of the more wild and rural parts of Britain, and I don’t think I will find much time to be bored.