Day 9-Reeth to Richmond

Had a fun day today (day 9) walking with Liz and Nadia-two friends from Sheffield. Weather was kind-no rain-and after a good start we made the 11.5 miles to Richmond in about 5 hours.

Richmond is lovely. Enjoyed stocking up (toothpaste, travel wash) and finding the other two Hunger Games books to try and read before I finish! Loved the first-gripping and thought-provoking.

Had a Thai meal tonight at a restaurant that came recommended-really nice-and staying at the Buck-a pub.

'Best-foot-forward, blister-free' moments...
-good company with Nadia and Liz
-also bumping into at least three other groups of walkers who I've met along the way
-no rain
-getting into Richmond in good time
-supplies, Olympics, Thai food, Hunger Games, rest...

'Best-foot-forward, land-knee-deep-in-bog' moments...
-back quite painful today

Another good day! Amazed I've done 127 miles-only 73 to go.
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Day 8 - Keld-Reeth

Today I was back to just walking solo-missed the company of my Canadian friends, though I caught uo with them at Grinton Lodge.

The day's walk was fairly uneventful-a 2mile walk to Keld (v small village, though with a nice tea shop-coffee and flapjack helped with the energy levels), followed by a nice walk to Reeth.

Today I crossed the Pennine Way - wondered as I did how long it would take if I turned South and walked home to Sheffield via Edale rather than continue East!

After another coffee and flapjack along the way, I blundered my way through uphill paths to Reeth-a lovely big market place with shops...had an ice cream, picked up a packet of maps that I'd sent ahead, and found my Youth Hostel.

A nice surprise in that two friends from Sheffield joined me at the Youth Hostel, and walked with me today.

'199 miles done, 1 to go' moments...
-an easier, shorter walk
-sunshine
-soundtrack-Moby, two wonderful sermons, 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue'...
-fun with friends

'1 mile done, 199 to go' moments...
-no phone reception for second day
-rain
-blister pain

A good day!
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Day 6 - Shap to Kirkby Stephen

Another hard slog today, and the longest at 21 miles. Got lost once-having the OS maps has been a help-but made it to the Old Croft House b and b. It was an amazing b and b-picture included of the bed-with-curtains!

Saw lots of sheep today (as on most days) and countryside noticeably flatter, though still beautiful.

Also crossed the M6-a milestone I guess!

Running-the-last-3-miles moments...
-weather: hot and sunny!
-contact with friends an encouragement today
-Old Croft House-luxurious b and b
-soundtrack today (loved Damien Rice's O, Sovereign Grace live Worship, and sermon on Ephesians 1)
-sending all my camping gear back home

Blister-on-foot moments...
-getting lost (needed OS map twice)
-long mileage
-sore feet!


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Day 7-Kirkby - Keld

Today perhaps the best day so far. Reached half way, and walked with some new friends I made- a Canadian family (Steve. Emily, H'yon). Lots of silly games and nice chat in mostly good weather. Enjoyed a cream coffee at Ravenscroft Farm and staying at a Farm tonight.

Downside- the first real blister tonight. I've been lucky to get away with only one so far, but the small one on my right foot is remarkably painful for something so small!

Today marks half way-into the second 100 miles and second week. The first of both have gone quickly. Roll on Robin Hood's Bay...

'George-this-is-your-life' moments...
-company of my Canadian friends
-Cream coffee
-mostly good weather
-arriving at b and b at 4.30pm-nice and early

'George-you-are-the-weakest-link moments...
-blisteringly painful blister!
-wet gear that won't dry

One more week to go!
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Day 5 - Patterdale-Shap

Today has been hard work. It started badly with one of tent poles broke. Not only had I foolishly 'parked' the tent on a slope, but the tried to dry stuff by draping it under the outer sheet. It only needed me to fall on it on getting out in a sleepy haze for it to go snap...

My leg was giving me some pain (see yday's post) and what with the pack still wobbling and a 16 miler with 1300 metres (not feet) of ascent, morale was low. Thanks to friends and family who responded to my prayer text as soon as my mobile came into range!

Some stunning countryside today along with rugged climbs-Angletarn Pike, Kidsty Pike, and Haweswater (which is huge). Then left the Lakes and almost immediately both the c2c signage and the sunshine appeared! Followed some lovely rural walking alongside streams to Shap.

I'm b'nb'ing tonight-and loving the Olympic Ceremony!

Gold-medal moments...
-amazing views
-satisfying day-made it even if hard!
-arriving in Shap
-joy at having already decided not to camp tonight before the tent broke
-getting up Kidsty Pike-and redeeming the last time I tried getting up it but got lost :)

Disqualification-certain moments...
-tent breakage (tho a blessing in disguise!)
-nearly out of water again
-various aches...

Surreal-you-know-you-need-company-when moments...
-a sheep bleat that sounded like 'watch your head' (I'm sure...!)
-my water bottle made a D major triad as it banged against something in my pocket...
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Day 4-Grasmere to Patterdale

Today an easier mileage-only 7.5. But still a killer with 400 meters ascent up to the top of Great Tongue, followed by another 400 meters descending to Patterdale. But the scenery has been the best of all the days-especially coming down Grisedale Valley into Patterdale-where I'm camping tonight.

Tired legs today but the pack has been lighter-i took the opportunity to send back three big packets of books, maps, clothes and electrical gear that I either don't need now, or I haven't used and don't think I will. I've still a lot to learn about living simply and packing light! I also brought two new pairs of socks (all of mine are damp, even after repeated spells in drying rooms) and a camelbak in Grasmere-the latter a real help today.

Tired legs and a still moody pack felled me on one occasion-i fell descending some wet stones on the way down Grisedale valley; but-not only were there a group of walkers (who'd just passed me going the other way) to help-Yahweh's providence!-but I wasn't hurt bad. I whacked my shin but just bruised it a bit. It's been a little achy since...

47.5 miles to go. A big day tomorrow-a walk that will take me well out of the Lakes.

'Yes' moments...
- beauty of the Lakes
- shorter mileage
- new socks and camelbak
- help from people along the way
- reading enjoyed today-Psalm 1 commentary by dale ralph davies, and The Hunger Games

'Nooo' moments...
-falling over
-tired legs that wouldn't respond properly all day
-camping tonite on a slope-i'm rolling down to the left...
-rain, and wet socks (waddling quickly in flip-flops from the pub tonite to rescue gear strung up to dry as it started to rain).
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Day 3-Borrowdale-Grasmere

Better day today. Pack hurt less and some moments of 'boost' on the legs. Also a shorter day-only 10 miles. First b and b at 'glenthorne'-a Quaker run establishment. Met some interesting people there-eg Pete from Newcastle. Also a group from Glossop who helped me find my way on top of Lining Crag.
First hot bath a big highlight, plus chance to dry things.

'Horray' moments...
-beautiful scenery
-mostly easy path
-using compass succesfully to navigate
-a shorter walk
-seeing sheep and sheepdogs
-arriving in Grasmere and getting a phone signal!
-overtaking people on the path!
-a piano, bath, drying room at b and b

'Boo Hoo' moments...
-realizing I didn't know where to go in the mist on top of Lining Crag (but had a happy ending-see above...)
-nearly running out of water (though I had over three litres)
-the length of walk down valley into Easedale (went on and on)

You-know-you're-tired-when moment...
-you get ready to shave by enthusiastically lathering your forehead...

40 miles down, 160 to go.
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Day 2

Yesterday (Tuesday-Day 2) was hard. 16 miles, with lots of climb up. Felt the effects of two days with a heavy pack-sore shoulders, back, hips, feet...arrived at Borrowdale after 8 hours walking glad to have made it.

Good moments...
-arriving at Borrowdale
-finding my way on top of a beck in swirly mist
- dead ringers (political aide to GW Bush...'Sir, we've a problem with the numbers.' GW Bush to aide 'I know-i struggle to get past 6...')
-managing to charge BBerry
-good walk down Honister Pass; Coffee, Kendal Mint Cake and bottle of coke at Honister Slate Mine cafe!

Not-so-good moments...
-snoring in the YHA (not me...)
-battling the 'you're on the wrong path' thought in the mist
-one blister on foot, another on finger
-getting two boots full of water after wading puddles next to Ennerdale Water

30 miles down...
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Whitehaven-Day 0

Staying with Bill and Marion Brooks tonight-friends from St John's Hensingham where my big brother was a Curate. Went with them to a small Mission service at Keekle. It was a good time-I knew Fergus the minister and Simon the (new) Curate and I got to talk about my walk, Africa, and the fundraising.

The preacher spoke on Daniel Ch 3 -where the three friends of Daniel are thrown into the fire for refuding to bow down to an idol, and God rescues them- and mentioned some verses which touched me - Isaiah 43 vvs 1-2. I am if honest quite nervous about doing the walk alone. But the promise of these verses helped me:

'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you...Do not be afraid for I am with you'. (Vvs 1, 2, 5).


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So it begins...

I'm on my way to Whitehaven! All packed, though my Camelbak sprung a leak that I only noticed 5 mins before leaving. Had to ditch it and hope I can pick another up in St Bees or elsewhere!

Am on the 1110 train to Manchester Airport and wondering why a train destined to carry passengers on their first leg on trips abroad has so little luggage space...
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Packing Progress

These three photos show my various stages of packing over the last couple of days...

Stage 1...Organised Chaos...

Stage 2...Halfway There (where to put the trainers?)

 Stage 3 - Back Trouble in a Rucksack (the trainers tied to the pack...)

Day 0...

Finished packing jobs at about 1am...awake now at 5.48am...must be Day 0! Leave for Whitehaven at 1110. Grateful to my friends Chris and Sandy who are giving me a lift to the station, and Martin who's meeting me for a coffee before the train leaves.

I may be mad, but I've decided to pack my running gear-i'll hang my trainers off my pack!-as I anticipate missing the occasional sprint. It seems to exercise different muscles than walking/cycling-muscles that complain after a few days of inactivity. I always feel better after even a short jog and it may actually help me walk the distances these next two weeks. But I may be wrong and need to mail the kit back to Sheffield...we'll see!

One disappointment in last-minute packing was small but annoying-i couldn't fit all the music bits onto my Blackberry-the media card is too small! A few things I'd hoped to listen to didn't make it-Just a Minute, some Lloyd-Jones sermons, some Cds of Nat Tasker, and most of my classical selections-but it means that what I did get to transfer I'm more likely to listen to instead of picking and choosing. Plus there's always the radio-reception permitting.

Time for a cup of tea! Roll on half 10...

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24 Hours to Go!

24 hours still to go...

Looking forward to it very much. I am playing in a concert tonight - so I'm still a bit distracted. But I'm nearly packed. One job still to do is upload music onto my phone. There are a few things I'm looking forward to hearing over the next few weeks. Here are some highlights of my playlists...

 




BBC Comedy: Blackadder; 'Just a Minute'; 'Dead Ringers'; and 'I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue...'

Albums I've not heard before:
Paolo Nutini 'These Streets'; Snow Patrol 'Final Straw'; Bellowhead's 'Hedonism' and Jack Johnson's 'To the Sea.

Some Christian worship music - a live album from Sovereign Grace, some CDs of Nathan Tasker and Dave Bilborough; and two CDs of kids songs by Ken Cope!

Sermons - four from the American Tim Keller (including two on Ephesians 1); four from Martyn Lloyd Jones; and a couple by Mark Stibbe on the Father Heart of God.

Classical - a new recording of Haydn's Creation, one of Stavinsky Symphonies, the Respighi Roman Trilogy, selections of Symphonies by Beethoven, Mahler and Vaughan Williams'; Orff's Carmina Burana; and 'WTC 9/11' by Steve Reich.

There's also some Moby, KT Tunstall, Nina Simone and George Formby in there as well...

In addition I've taken some paperbacks with me:

  

A Biography of Alfred Wainwright (the walker who devised the Coast to Coast)
'The Worry Book';
Two little devotional commentaries on the Psalms;
'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins!

Hope I won't get bored...

More Photos from Uganda...

Here are some more photos from my first trip to Kampala in 2012! The city's skyline can be seen (top left) as well as an old taxi bus that lay abandoned next to the compound where I stayed (above).

The trip included other things other than teaching at KMS - a visit to the Rapids on Lake Victoria (left, with its lizards, below...), a lecture that I was asked to give at really short notice - on Bach Fugue at Makere University (e.g. photo below!)- and a concert in Namirembe Cathedral with its two manual organ (lower left).

My teaching was mainly done in the 'Fiona Carr Room' (left) - where the organ was kept. I was there to help Paul Luggya (pictured below with me at the KMS organ console) - who himself teaches lots of organ students at the School.

Photos from Uganda

I wanted to include some photos from my first trip to KMS - in March-April 2009. I met some great people - Paul Lugyya, Chris Tendo (Chris is pictured during an organ lesson top left with the bottle of water); Ronald (the pianist,  right) and many others. I enjoyed seeing the native wildlife, including a big spider (right, near the Nile River). I loved the dusty roads and general feeling of happy, busy chaos that Kampala evoked (above right). The deep green and sandy red combination is typical of the hot, fertile Eastern African climate. KMS is currently situated in the bottom floor of the YMCA building in an area of Kampala called Wandageya; the red plaque marks the spot (top right). It has grown from small beginnings in 2001 to a busy Music School serving hundreds of aspiring Ugandan musicians.