The Final Day

The final day started with news that Oscar hadn't had a great night, he'd had a further seizure and been heavily sedated to keep him calm and rested. Although there still wasn't any conclusive evidence of what the cause of the seizures might be the hope was that it was something he had ingested and it would work it's way out of his system.

I only had 9 miles left to walk, so we made the decision to get the walk completed this morning and then collect Oscar from the vets in the afternoon when all his tests were finished. This wasn't quite how I imagined the final day of the walk would be!

I started the day in Compton Valance somewhat distracted, but looking forward to completing the walk. There were some steep up and downs on this section, but the weather was pretty much perfect, it was a lovely bright sunny day with a cool breeze.

The Penultimate Day

Things didn't get off to a great start on the penultimate day of walking. I set the Sat Nav to the Sheaf of Arrows where the back up team picked me up at the end of yesterday. The journey time came up as 45 mins which was the same time as the drive home, but after about 20 mins we realised we were heading in the wrong direction. What's the odds on two pubs with the same, unusual name, being equidistant from our holiday accommodation. Frustrating but it just meant I had a later start than planned and we had a bit of a drive round some of the beautiful Dorset countryside.

Sat Navs and Emails!

Day 20 of my walk, two more days to go to complete the full 290 miles of the Macmillan Way! Today I am walking from Sandford Orcas to Melbury Osmond, a total of 15 miles.

It felt a bit cooler today following the heat of the previous few days, but the humidity remained high and things really warmed up again in the afternoon.  Oscar was still limping, so we gave him another rest day, and hopefully he would be fit and ready for the last two days.

You Can Sit Anywhere But You Can't Sit Here!

Unfortunately Oscar has picked up a leg injury and was hobbling around looking very sorry for himself this morning, I can't think how he could have done that, I did have a chat with him, "let that be a lesson to you", but I just got the slightly quizzical look as much as to say, what's this muppet on about now! Anyway I thought it best to let him rest today, which with hindsight, was probably just as well as today's walk included a lot of road walking.

Is that your Cat?

Today's walk took me from Trudoxhill to Bruton, 14 miles, a more straight forward walk than yesterday, following lots of trails and forest paths. This meant Oscar could be off his lead for most of the walk.

It was a really hot day and the dappled shade provided by the trees helped to keep us both cool. No rivers today but plenty of puddles for Oscar to sit in and cool off, it's amazing where he finds water.

Fancy a Swim?

It's great to be back on the Macmillan Way, I've had a bit of a break over the Summer due to hols and a mysterious foot injury, but all good now and I'm really looking forward to completing my journey over the next few days.

So far I have walled 215 miles from Boston to Beckington near Frome, and I have just 75 miles before I finish my journey in Abbotsbury, Dorset.

My wife (the back up team) and Oscar the Dog have both travelled down to Somerset with me, Alison will be dropping off and picking up, which means no heavy rucksack to carry, and I'm hoping that all three of us can finish the last leg of the walk to Abbotsbury together.

Blood, Sweat & Beers

Conical Water Tower.

I've made it to Somerset, 215 miles completed 75 to go! I'm pretty chuffed with that. I'm raising money as I walk for a fantastic charity, if you'd like to support me click here to go to my Just Giving Page and donate directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. I'm doing the hard work you just have to click a button or two! £30 is only 10p a mile, just think of the blood, sweat and beers I've had to go through to get this far!

I started the day in Box, in Wiltshire, having been well looked after by my airbnb hosts. If you have been following my blog you will be aware that finding the right accommodation has sometimes been challenging and might include a bit of a detour. But this airbnb was pretty much right on the trail, out of the front door past two houses turn left and I was back on it. The rain that had been threatening for the last couple of days finally arrived and it was a bit of a soggy start to the day, but undeterred I set off to complete this 13 mile stretch.

Neolithic Health and Safety?

I'd fell out with Whiltshire yesterday afternoon as my walk was a bit uninspiring, with overgrown paths and in one case a field almost impossible to pass. But today it redeemed itself. Some very scenic walking, lovely towns and villages.

The walk today was from Littleton Drew to Box, crossing the M4. After a lovely evening in the Neeld Arms at Grittleton and a good full English breakfast, I was well set to face the day. Grittleton, was a couple of miles off my route and the landlord, Charlie, not only offered to drop me back in Littleton Drew but also knocked £20 off the bill to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support - thank you so much!

Of Course I'm Not Lost!

I realised as I unpacked at my Airbnb that I'd forgotten my toothpaste. Now is this bad, but I was sharing a bathroom with another guest, who conveniently had left his toothpaste out. So the phrase 'necessity is the mother of invention came to mind', and not knowing if I would pass a shop selling toothpaste on my journey, having taken a small blob to clean my teeth that night, I decided I needed to fill the lid of my deodorant just in case! I smoothed the tube back as best as I could. I think I got away with it! He was probably thinking bloody hell you don't get as much toothpaste for your money these days!

Happy Smiley People

Its great to get back to the walk, the long weekends come round quickly and it always feels good to head off again on another adventure.

I had an early start with the train to London, then a short hop to Paddington, train to Kemble and bus back to Cirencester where I left off 3 weeks ago. Today I'm walking to Avening a total of 12 miles. After my Cirencester detour I also re join the main Macmillan Way.

Bus Stop I Spy!

I woke up to the sound of rain, which didn't fill me with joy. I checked the weather app on my phone, and yep rain followed by more rain. In fact I had a moment  where I debated cancelling today's walk and just getting the train back from Cheltenam! No, I thought stay positive, I've been so lucky with the weather up until now, man up a bit and get on with it. This is supposed to be a challenge not a Sunday stroll in the park! After a lovely breakfast from my Airbnb host off I went, bus back to Northleach and then picked up the trail again in Hampnett.

Vaseline and the Lonely Walker

I've not mentioned my chafing for a while. It's not gone away and usually by the third day it's getting quite sore. I have measures such as cycling shorts and Vaseline which help, but today about two hours into my walk, I was getting quite uncomfortable. I'd stopped for a water break (in and out) and was just debating about applying some more Vaseline to help. I had a quick look around there was no one about, so I went for it. If anyone had walked passed at that point I've no idea what they would have thought. I had my hand down my trousers rubbing away and a tin of Vaseline on the bench next to me!

How Your Garden Shed Can Earn You a Fortune!

After yesterdays trauma the day started with a wonderful breakfast to set me up for the day. I felt so much better after a good night's sleep and ready to face the walk to just south of Little Compton, a total of 13 miles.

The day was much cooler and fresher than Saturday, with a nice breeze, but I was told by Clare my B&B host to expect rain at some point during the day.

The Restorative Powers of a Cup of Tea.

I have a thing about Amazon, in that they are trying to take over the world, and with Amazon Prime who on earth is so desperate for something that they want it delivered the next day or in some cases the same day?

Well 2 days before the start of the next section of my walk I went into total meltdown, as I realised that I'd left my Guide Book and update sheet on the train on the way home from work. The back up team sprang into action and a new guide book was delivered the following day and an update sheet emailed from macmillanway.org the same night. Amazon and of course macmillanway.org- you are amazing!

There's More Than One Boston?

Things to remember for my next walk - sun cream! It all started off a bit dull on Friday but by the end of Sunday, after 45 miles of walking (including the 3 miles from Market Harborough  station to the start of the walk), I had a nice red glow and white lines on the side of my face where my glasses had been. It's easy to forget that the sun in early May is as strong as late August.

Bovis, Bovine & Beer

Well after the rain and sleet of Friday, Saturday was a much more pleasant day, sunshine and perfect temperatures as I walked from Maidwell to Flore, just to the west of Northampton. I didn't break the 100 mile marker, but tantalisingly  close at 99 miles, I did take a couple of wrong turns yesterday though, so I'm claiming it, even though its not to the official mile markers in the book! Actually if I'm claiming wrong turns I probably hit it about 3 walks ago!

The Raging Bull!

Brampton Ash Church

Re joining my walk feels like catching up with an old friend, I have a nice warm glow looking forward to the walk and twists and turns ahead. It was tinged with a bit of sadness though as I was unable to bring my little mate Oscar with me, because I was unable to find any accommodation that would take dogs. As I left the house he looked at me with those big sad dog eyes, as much as to say I know what you are doing!

Halfway through today's walk I had a phone call from my youngest daughter, Meg, to say she had reached Everest Base Camp. What a fantastic achievement, I think elated but exhausted would be a good description, you can follow her exploits here Well done Meg.

Pub Garden Party Trick

Day 5 and I am a quarter of the way through the walk 72 miles completed. Today's walk took me from Brooke just south of Oakham to Brampton Ash east of Market Harborough.

So far I've raised £255, for Macmillan Cancer Support, thank you to everyone for your support, if you haven't donated to this fantastic charity and would like to, you can do so here.

Oscar's Nose Causes Cyclists Near Death Experience!

Meg and Oscar

What a beautiful day for the start of the second section of my 290 mile Macmillan Way walk. I am walking in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, you can donate by following the link to my Just Giving Page here.

I started my walk from the Railway Inn, Ketton, where I left off at the end of the last stage, (I wonder if they ever solved the murder mystery?). Meg, my youngest daughter decided to join me on this leg of the walk, as part of her training for her Everest base camp trip. I'm not sure that she will have to deal with altitude sickness today, but the walk will be similar in distance to some of the trekking she will be doing. So off we went, one man, his daughter and of course Oscar the dog - plus of course the obligatory bag full of tennis balls.

3 Counties and the Funfair Caravan Park

We set off from Baston in glorious sunshine, although with a cool breeze (perfect walking weather), and found our way back to the Macmillan Way. I was familiar with this initial stretch having walked it many times. We passed through the hamlet of Obthorpe, Wilsthorpe and then headed towards Stamford. If someone had  previously said to me, come on lets walk to Stamford I would have thought they were off their rocker - mmmmm how times change!

The scenery was changing again as we left the Fens and the river Glen, the countryside is more undulating (I love that word) and after 2 days of walking we came to our first hill. At the summit we were at a head spinning altitude of 150ft above sea level, you'll be pleased to know, there was no altitude sickness experienced by man or dog.