Countdown is finally over!

Two weeks and counting, the Hadrian’s Wall walk is ever looming closer. Like the proverbial elephant in the room, it’s nearly here and shits about to get really real. As I type, watching MTV videos, the ‘shits just got real’ in Michael Jackson’s song ‘Bad’. I don’t remember the eighties that well, but I’m sure the gang wars didn’t involve wind machines, balero jackets, high kicks, ripped marble wash jeans and roller skates…..maybe they did ?!

The coast to coast walk we are doing involves over a hundred miles, twenty seven friends, dozens of beers, and two potentially sore feet.

I’m looking forward to the laughs and beers, not so much the aches and pains…….oh and the rustle of polyester, especially if it rains….who am I kidding, it’s going to rain.

It’s all going to become a wonderful anecdote I hope, the blisters and aches will heal and we’ll find that we look back and laugh……he says with fingers crossed.

As an empirical thinker and drinking activist, I'm reassured the views are spectacular and the beers are more than promising. Four days of quotidian marathon distance will be a challenge, especially with the mammoth hangover I’m hoping to attain each day. I’ve lost my ninja drinking skills but will attempt to do my very best, oh I do love a challenge ! If you’ve not yet sponsored us, please think of your donation as a guarantee to bolster us onwards.

My commitment ? I will post dozens of pictures of our pain, hangovers and accomplishments each day. I will endeavour to make you laugh and cry….the pain and privilege will be pleasurably all mine, isn’t that worthy of even a small offering ? So dig that parsimonious hand deep into that pocket, because I’m worthless, I mean worth it.

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Wet from Windsor writes........

Wet from Windsor writes........

Wednesday morning was spent through Windsor great park in the pouring rain!

What a difference a day makes, it was beautiful Thursday, however wednesday, I seriously thought about building an ark. 

15 miles of interval training, many of the intervals were running for cover when the heavens opened. 

Rocking the shit wet hair look and looking like I've been kicked backwards through a damp cotswold store. Bedraggled is an understatement.

Thankfully I've discovered that my waterproof coat, isn't fully waterproof....by breathable they obviously mean 'you'll get wet loser'.

Just Giving Page -Hadrian's wall walk!

#Shanghai walkabout

#Shanghai walkabout, countdown 24 days to Hadrian's Wall walk

Great few days walking around Shanghai, enjoying the sights and sounds but not so much the smells and jetlag. The underground wasn't as crazy and busy as I remembered but the air was the same. This crazy city is a great place to explore, sightsee and shop. Take the double decker bus (not the brown ones) or on foot, there's something to catch the eye every few steps.

Well, with 24 days to go, I've got all the gear and still no idea. I look a bit like a dollar store olympian, a discount version of an athlete. Still not looking good wet and still not enjoying the wet dog smell when it rains......even when I'm not walking with the dog. 

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Simon 2.0 is ready and fitter for the challenge, although the new improved version of myself has lost his ninja drinking skills. Also I've recently discovered that Guinness after only a few pints, gets me pissed quickly and totally disagrees with my ablution and bathroom habits the following day. I think I need to reevaluate the drinking menu for the walk, or it could become a run between stops.

I've never felt the siren call of polyester, but find everyday whether I work, rest or play, I'm in it. Top to toe. You'll hear me before I arrive. The continuous rustle of my walking trousers has no rhythmic soul, it's just bloody annoying, accompanying every frigging movement I make. That's a challenge in itself.

Ohhhh, I do love a challenge and I'm pretty sure I'll do most things for a dare......ok I'll do anything for beads at Mardi Gras, so I guess I'll do everything for a dare......well this challenge/dare is nearly here. 

We're off for a training walk today, a mere 20 miles, punctuated by cups of tea and finished with beer. As a professional athlete, I know how important it is to hydrate. 

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#Soloman I'm done!

#Soloman I’m done. My new, expensive, cutting edge boots have spent the last 100 miles trying to kill me. I came close to taking them off on the walk home and hurling them across the Long Walk in Windsor. My feet have been beaten, blistered and squeezed into oblivion, looking now like something reminiscent of an illegal genetic experiment, or an extra/prop from ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘The Fly'.  

Switching to non homicidal footwear now accomplished and pushing out the miles again. Training most days and trying to maintain 10/15 miles even with hangovers. I’ve counted my rest days to be slow walks, regular days pacing as fast as I can. From this month we start the training with walking poles, pushing the miles up to 20 at least once a week.

I’ve now got great waterproof walking shoes, they fit like gloves and comfortable beyond. #vibram isodry, I love, love, love them. Not in an unnatural way, as in, we go off on long sunny walks….oh shit we do.

Just enjoyed a great walk around Pen y Fan in Wales, beautiful scenery and snow on the hill tops. Unfortunately nearly being blown off, trying to reach a certain part the mountain, brought a whole new meaning to the expression. Thankfully it’s an analogy not a euphemism. It was gale force winds of only 32mph but boy did they feel stronger, at one point I couldn’t stand up. Laughing and crouching, it was great fun for a near death experience, said no one ever.

 I can’t recommend the scenery more, absolutely breathtaking, take the steeper ascent and enjoy the easier gradually descent, tough on your knees but well worth the effort.

 There’s endless walks and endless vistas to keep you amused, plenty of places to stop, unfortunately selling hot/cold drinks/snacks and not so much alcohol (insert unsmiley emoji here to add to the dramatic gravitas to the suffering I endured)

Thankfully we found a great pub not too far away, as a conscientious athlete I rehydrated with Guinness. There is a god !