DARTMOUTH, NEC BIRMINGHAM AND HAMPSHIRE

BOATS ON THE RIVER DART

MOUTH OF THE RIVER DART

MUM AND DAD IN DARTMOUTH

Although work keeps me mainly in Hampshire, I spend as much leisure time as I can in Dartmouth. I have a great love for this beautiful Devon harbour town and try to contribute to the economy by shopping in the locality, being a member of the Dartmouth Conservative Club (not that I have a strong political affiliation), using the Gym at the town’s Leisure Centre and contributing to the cost of running the Flavel Arts Centre. I find the atmosphere of Dartmouth both exciting and relaxing (depending on what is going on), and the coastal walks are just stunning. Just a look at pictures! I have had excellent support for my walk from several anonymous benefactors in Dartmouth, and I thank them for this.

On 27 March I visited the Outdoor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. This terrific event gave me the opportunity to buy a lightweight Keela Sonic jacket for a mere £40, an emergency charger for my mobile phone that uses only a single AA battery and some OS maps of the Lake District (see my next entry). I also climbed a rope ladder high above the show floor and practiced ‘ice climbing’ up a vertical wall lined with foam plastic panels. Before I departed I met an amazing chap, Kevin Shannon, who is planning to cycle around the world over a period of two years. He will be cycling in aid of Combat Stress, and is training in Scotland about the time I will be starting out, so we hope to meet up again. Check out his website www.becauseitisthere.co.uk for more detail and please give him your support.

The other notable occurrence was my recent loss of income. Although self-employed, my client base has dropped over the past year to just one company. When they hit financial difficulties, I was the easiest to dispense with. There is no mercy for those without a formal contract so my notice period was…...zero. Am I miffed? – well, yes, given my loyalty to them and the fact that most of their electronic products are based on ideas that I devised.

I am sure that there is honour and compassion in business even during these difficult times, but it is not always easy to find. Am I devastated? – no, I am too resilient for that. Besides, now I can spend much more time planning my charity walk and enjoying myself in Dartmouth.

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.