Counting
months has gone, counting weeks has gone, counting days has now also
gone..... now down to counting hours, and not that many left, hours
until I start probably the hardest thing I have ever undertaken, an
attempt to walk approximately 268 miles on The Pennine Way. Yes, I
will soon be taking my first steps from Edale in the heart of the
beautiful Peak District.
Sometime
last year my wife Liz said to me, "Right Mick, its your 65th
birthday next year, do you want to do something a bit special".
After thinking for what seemed a vast ammount of time, about 5
seconds if I recall, I quite casually said "Yeah, I want to walk
The Pennine Way". I can't remember what she said, probably
thinking the baft buggar's going senile. Before she had time to talk
me out of it, I then added that seeing as she's asked, I wanted her
to accompany me!!!!!!!! No, no, no not to walk it with me, but to
travel up in the car meet in the late afternoon/evening in b&b's,
pubs, hotels that we would stop in. Being the person she is, she
agreed to it, and as they say, that's how it all started.
O.K.
I have a good idea of the sort of thing I am letting myself in for, I
walk regular in The Peak District, walks anywhere between 10 to 20
miles over all types of terrain, from limestone dales in the south to
the more adventurous gritstone tors and peat hags and bogs around
Kinder Scout, Bleaklow and Howden Moors. I have no fear of doing any
one stage, just the unknown of 16 to 18 days back to back walking, at
present I am sure I'm as physically fit as I can get, and probably
more important, mentally prepared.
Was
going to start on friday 3rd june, then travel back that day as we
only live an hours drive away, saving on accommodation for that
night. I was then asked by my good friend Lew when I was starting as
was off work the day before. Didn't need to think about it, so Lew
will be joining me on the first stage from Edale to Torside. Right
now though I will be looking forward to a good nights sleep, but
somehow I don't think I'll get much, I feel like a big daft kid at
Christmas
