walk to Spain

Hi all. Well what a good time was had by all at La Rochelle, shame it had to come to an end. Back on the road again through port Punay, Rochefort, Pont L'Abbey and into Sujon, tomorrow Royan and across the river, which is a bit of a mile stone. Lookin forward to that. Most of the landscape is still flat, the odd hill here and there but then it flattens out again. The bridge crossing at Rochefort was fun, its just a platform suspended on cables and then it runs like a cable car. Might be a bit intresting if it gio windy!
Thats it for now. Off down the cost tomorrow for a bit of body surfing.

Pics from top: More of us in La Rochelle, the shower block at the "La Bateau" campsite and the crossing at Rochefort.

No I'm not dead. Just a long time no internet access. When you ask for it, they look at you as if your mad! Still, here we are in La Rochelle. Mad, Jen and Joe have flown out for the weekend. Good to see them. The journey down from Vannes has been "intresting" to say the least. most of the area we've been through has been closed,  when you ask why, they say " Its holiday season" ! Left Vannes, fighting off the flying caterpillers, down through Roche Bernard and across the Grand Briere, which is where alot of French salt comes from. A bit wild out here, espeially with the weather we're having, blowing a gale and horizontal rain. Crossed the river Loire at Pelleran and round the "Grande Lac" which you coudn't get to because its private. There is an invation of fresh water langusteen? which escaped from the Grand Briere and are now taking over. The one in the pics looks like its been in a bit of a fight. Only six people have permission the fish for them. The houses are changing with the landscape. Slate is givin way to Roman Pantiles, and houses to single storey. More of he gardens are fenced off and loads of vicious looking dogs. Dificult finding footpaths here so a lot of road work. Thruogh Lucon, less said about that place the better. South along the canal, so flat here you can see to the hoizon in all directions. Long stright paths which are hard going. Then through Charron, which was closed, along the coast path passed the moule farms and into La Rochelle. Done about 550K so far. We are in a hotel over looking the old port. Bit noisy as the whole area turns into a street theater in the evening. Thats it for now. might put some more pics up before I leave tomorrow.

Pics from top: La Roche Bernard, the Grand Breire, Fully restored windmill, crossing the Loire, fresh water langusteen, the sunflowers look as happy about the weather as us, the moule farms north of La Rochelle and La Rochelle

Here we are in Vannes 230 k so far mixture of walking on roads and tracks. The Fountains are all over the place and if you drink the water it shuold cure you of somthing, but you have to ask the locals what. Didn't fancy it much due to the frog in there. St Anne D' Auray is where pilgrims from all over Finnisterre to be healed. didn't see a miracle but Al's phone was reconected!!!  Did some "wild" camping down by lock 26 on the river Blavet near Quelennec, so peaceful but no facilities.
      For the Gluen free readers. I was starting to worry a bit, run out of supplies, and you can only eat so much of rice and peas. Found a supermarket here that sells g/f stuff so ok for a while.

Pics  Vannes, A  Fountain, St Anne D'Auray, The view from our tents

Down as far as Le Faouet, a mixture of scenery on the way through. some of the foot paths are very old, especially around the chapples. The storie behind the "Rock of the virgin Mary" is that a hunting woman was out one day and she was attacked by two widl boars. She thought they were going to kill her. She vsaid to herself. If I survive I will build a statue. Needless to say she stabbed the 2 little pigs with a dagger and built the statue. The huge standing stone has been there since before Chrirtyanity. A cross was built on the other side of the track to protect the pillgrims. The Chapelle St Barbe was built on a rock shelf. Makes you wonder how they did it.

Sorry cant turn this round!

Pics from the top: The rock of the virgin Mary, the standing stone and Chapelle St Barb.

It was good to get started, but not so good saying goodbye to Mads. It was a rough crossing with kids bieing sick everywhere. The walk down to Morlaix was nice. I always think of this area just being cabbages and onions, but the coast has loads of secluded bays and it made intresting walking. Stayed in the convent Friday night. Very basic but the Nuns were very friendly. Met up with Al and Eric Sunday morning and arrived at their place in the afternoon.  Its been a nice to have some R & R and have time to make adjustments to kit, but it will be good to get going again tomorrow. Weather is getting better, sunny and hot. Distance travelled so far 85 k.

Pics from the top: Leaving Plymouth, Views of Roscoffe, the convent and the first path marker I found
 

Well this is it! doesn't seem like 2 years ago that we were sitting in Al and Eric's kitchen saying "put me down for that" but its finally arrived. Everything on the table is my "life in a bag" for three months. Weight was a bit more than I would have liked ( 11 k dry weight ) but couldn't throw anything else out. That might change once we start. Hope to be at Al & Eric's on Sunday. Next update then

Well that was an adventure. Gord had three falls, but no submitions or a knock out!! Dodging the showers we covered the 30k in just over 6 hours + a few stops along the way. Not bad for the type of terrain.

Pics from top. West Bay, Us on Golden Cap, Dodging the storms, but in the end they caught up with us at Seaton

Well you can tell from the weather it was Glastonbury, warm and wet, mud up to your armpits, but what a great time we all had. Damien Rice, The Kooks, James Morrison and of course the Who. Just goes to show old rockers never die, they just need medical attention between songs!! Here are some of my Glasto moments. Joe, or Jo, claimed he had to borrow Jens mini skirt and pop socks( won't mention the underwear. Ooops. Sorry!) because all his clothes were wet, course we beleive you!!!  I think all he needs is a red nose.

From the top  Mad, Helen and the cider bus, Liquid mud, Pierre and me, Joe/Jo, THE WHO  and after its all over!!

Well, another HOT one, even hotter than 1996, the last time I ran it. I was looking to do it in sub 4, but due to the heat it took me 4:13:56 which placed me 9831 out of 36396. Going slower had its advantages, but with so many runners ( biggest since it started) it was crowded and hard to get into a rhythm, the first mile or so was a bit stop start. It was still a struggle hitting the wall around the 19-20 mile mark, but got through that and felt good towards the end, and I could still walk this morning. A very big thank you to every one who has donated to "Headway" my chosen charity, it was very kind of you.

Well now thats over I can concentrate on the walk !!!!

In training for the walk I decided I would run in the London Marathon. As April 22 looms, thoughts of have I done enough milage!! will i make it round? If all goes according to plan I should finish in 3 3/4 - 4 hours. I'm not getting sponsorship, but if any one wants to donate, my chosen charity is "Headway" they help people who have suffered brain injury.

Watch this space to see how it all turns out!!