Bloody Win Hill

Well at least the training is finally up and running, well walking actually even when I supposed to be running. I managed to get three games in at the weekend despite yet more rain and the usual predictions of drought conditions during the summer. We are usually losing matches to frost if anything but I can't believe how wet and seriously heavy all the pitches are. When I used to play I was nicknamed the camel for my running (ambling) style so my sprinting (hah) through the middle gets severely hampered... have you ever seen a camel run in mud?

More importantly for the walk I have taken a weeks holiday with the intention of doing at five days consecutive walking. had a fantastic if somewhat tiring day yesterday. I went up to Castleton and walked a circuit from the town, up the Limestone way(see above), round over Mam Tor along the ridge (below) over Lose Hill (thats the pointy hill at the bottom) and then down to the Cheshire Cheese pub at Hope. Marvellous pub, bowl of beef stew and a couple of pints later I decide to take the short route up Win Hill because I am feeling a little tired but needing a few more miles.


I would attribute it to the beer but unfortunately it was probably my lack of map reading skills. The short route basically goes straight up, no passing go, collecting £200 or any of that just straight up. Fortunately halfway up the mobile rings. Seeking any justification for a rest I answer and have a surreal conversation with HR from work with me doing a dirty phone call impersonation... lots of heavy breathing... and them offering me a job and a salary. Carrying on for another ten yards I meet a lovely Belgian lady called Lutje who kindly informs me how much easier the other route is. Lutje walks these hills most Mondays on her day off and looked considerably fitter than I was feeling. Anyway we chatter about my walk and she sponsors me there and then. As I say lovely lady.

Running out of excuses I stagger on to the top and then back down the longer and gentle bridleway..doh! Finally get back to Castleton having had to lift 5 stone of dog over about ten stiles on the last section, just what I needed. I reckoon it was between 12 and 14 miles so it will be interesting how I react today. Certainly the dog was knackered and limping last night.

I would of course have photos of my nemesis i.e. bloody Win Hill but the moral of the story is don't buy cheap batteries for the camera.

Planning, Running, crashing

An eventful day today after a fair few active days. After losing match after match I managed to ref three games on Saturday with the result I could barely walk saturday night. My writing hand was certainly stiff after 22 grown men spent most of the afternoon kicking lumps out of one another. Happily I recovered sufficiently to ref the local veterans match on the Sunday where 22 grown men wanted to kick lumps out of one another but were too slow to catch their opponents.

Reffed again on Tuesday night where it was -4 by the time we finished and the astroturf was freezing. And even played 5 a side last night. Did my usual headless chicken running around act, what the others don't realise is I have to do several laps to get up to what speed I have got. thought I was going to die afterwards so had a few pints on the basis that at least I would die happy.

For once the forecasters got it right and we were treated to a shed load of snow. Conscientously I relied on our council to clear the major roads (which they did well as usual) so all I had to do was get down the narrow lanes to a major road without mishap and I could get to the office. Without mishap was the only problem though so I now have a broken car residing in a pub car park after sliding into a large kerb. Not good. Cheryl was of course sympathetic and understanding.. " I knew you would come back with bits of car missing"

Looking on the bright side trudging back from Matlock in the snow was good exercise and I will now be acclimatised if it snows in May!

Fundraising has picked up again with two of the campsites sponsoring me (thanks to hambleton Inn and to Hooks House Farm @ Robin Hoods Bay). I feel obligated to consume several fine ales at Hambleton now!! Fired out countless e-mails today so hopefully I can push on further.

Amazingly the planning aspect has also made some progress. Most of the campsites have now been booked so the itinery looks like this

Day 1 (Friday 4th) Helmsley to Sutton bank 10 miles
Day 2 (Saturday) Sutton Bank to Osmotherley 12 miles
Day 3 (Sunday) Osmotherley to Carlton Bank 8 miles
Day 4 (Monday) Carlton Bank to Kildale 13 miles
Day 5 (Tuesday) Kildale to Slapewath 11 miles
Day 6 (Wednesday) Slapewath to Runswick Bay 17 miles
Day 7 (Thursday) Runswick Bay to Robin Hoods Bay 15 miles
Day 8 (Friday) Robin Hoods Bay to Scarborough 14 miles
Day 9 (Saturday) Scarborough to Filey 10 miles

I did try and juggle a bit but I am constrained by campsite locations and not wanting to go out too hard too early as advised by others who have done long distance walking. Day 6, 7 & 8 look tough though because the coast path can be very demanding. Still looking forward to it and hopefully the rotundness may have diminished a bit more by then.