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.