The Ribbon Walk, Part 2

I guess I must have triple checked that I had everything with me. Walking shoes, socks, waterproof jacket, umbrella (just in case), car park pass, and of course, pink iced cakes, pink wafer biscuits and crisps (for the salt - not pink, though J had prawn cocktail flavour, which I don’t like).

We set off really early, and, once we’re on the road:

‘We’re going to get there early you know…’
‘We could always stop for coffee, that would make it a proper handbag walk’

So around 10.30am, while others were preparing for the walk, we find a parking space on a busy Saturday morning in Wetherby, and look for a coffee shop. Luckily, for a small town, it seems well provided for, and we find a nice little café, where we clearly should also have had breakfast.

We still make it to Harewood by just after 11.30am. It’s nowhere near as busy as I’d thought it would be. I had visions of us queuing to park, and to register, but there’s none of that. We’re just guided to a parking space, and then go over and register, and to find the third member of our party, realising that this isn’t going to be as hard as we’d thought. There’s a refreshment tent, and even more tantalising, a Pimms stall.

Then it’s time for a pre-walk snack. C, who isn’t familiar with the world of the handbag walkers, looks a bit bemused as we set out the picnic rug, and the food, on pink plates, with pink serviettes. We’re taking cake with us though, to eat en route.

We get booted up, and, as it manages to spit with rain for all of 30 seconds while we are picnicking, I have to take my jacket, which I proceed to tie around me, as it won’t fit in my handbag. As I’m also wearing a bum bag, to carry all the other things that won’t fit in my handbag, I create a sort of bustle effect. Or, at least, in my head I do. Thankfully I can’t see behind me.

For the first couple of miles, it’s a long stream of people, which doesn’t make for easy walking, as we keep having to overtake, and then, we also keep stopping for photos. We’re amazed to find that after an hour, we’ve completed 3 miles.

The first rest stop, with refreshments, is at 3.5 miles, and we stock up with fruit and more water. Soon after, we’re passing alongside Eccup Reservoir, and everyone else seems to have vanished. We wonder for a moment if we’ve gone wrong, then spot a pink arrow up in a tree.

We soon seem to have reached 5 miles. Halfway. Time was not that long ago when this would have been a very long walk, but we’re going well, and don’t feel tired. We never spot the 6 mile marker, as, after 6.5 miles, we arrive at the second rest stop, which seems an outdoor activity centre. We stop and sit in a children’s playground to eat our crisps and cakes, (on which the icing has melted a bit).

When we set off again one of the marshalls says ‘the worst bit is over now’. As we head into the woods, and up a hill, we realise he was lying! After 7 miles, a hill is pretty hard going, and it adds insult when we’re overtaken by a bloke who is running, but soon we’ve crested it, and emerging from the trees, can see Harewood House across the parkland.

The final mile is up the drive to the house, and then round the front of it. We pass the little shop, and at least two tea shops at this point, but can’t stop, for the finishing line is in sight. For at least the last three miles, J has been talking about Pimms.
We cross the line to cheers (bless them) and it feels good. We’re presented with our medals, and having posed for a celebratory photo, head for a glass of Pimms, which goes down very well. We also get a voucher for free food*, which is surprisingly nice, and then head back to the car, where we have mini bottles of pink champagne.

As we sit beside the cars, raising our glasses in celebration, I feel very proud of us all.

*which doesn't feel that 'free' when you've walked 10 miles for it!

The Ribbon Walk

I can’t actually believe that we’ve done it. That I have walked 10 miles, without any noticeable after effects.

More importantly, I have reached my target of raising over £250 for breast cancer care. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, and of, course, for all your encouraging comments along the way, as well as those that reminded me of how unfit I have been my whole life till now.

A fuller report of the day is coming, but for now, here’s the proof.

Final Training

Oh yes, I’ve been training hard, having recovered from my ‘injury’ (which didn’t actually take long, but then I have no experience of such things, hence my panic).

I can’t actually believe we do the Ribbon Walk in two days time. It seemed a long way away when we signed up. Along the route, sadly one of our team members has had to pull out, but we’ve also gained a member* of our ladies walking group who will be joining us on the day.

Over the last few Sundays, we’ve done some longer walks, starting with 7 miles (with breaks), moving on to an incredibly boring (and hot) walk of 7.5 miles, without a tea shop (won’t be doing that one again). The other week we even did a morning walk of 6 miles, and an evening walk of 4.5 miles to fit around J’s afternoon concert. So that was 10.5 miles in a day, though with a considerable break in the middle. We were both shattered by the end of the day though.

Last weekend our ladies group had decided to do a 9 mile walk, so this was our ‘trial run’, as there was no tea shop or pub en route. It was also my trial with my handbag, and cakes, and other equipment. I did not look like a serious walker.

After about 4 miles, we reached a seat under a tree, and J and I proceeded to bring out, and eat, crisps and glittery pink iced buns, much to the astonishment of the others. We then continued, walking back along the river. At times it felt a bit like a route march, and not that leisurely, so I want to pace things more gradually at the weekend. It’s not a race, and it’s not about how quickly we complete it. As long as we get round before they close the course, that’s fine.

Once again though, we were pretty knackered by the end. I guess I’m glad that the following day is a Sunday.

Not sponsored me yet - here's the link

*who claims to have done ‘no training’, but was out at the front on Sunday’s walk, and is clearly much fitter than us.

Training update

Having been in considerable pain at the start of the week*, I asked our MD at work for some advice on my leg, thinking he might suggest strapping it up, or exercises.

‘Rest’
‘Anything else? It has to be better in six week’
‘Oh, it’ll be better in six weeks’

Very useful, I must say. By the end of the week, however, it wasn’t causing me as much pain, so I ventured to the supermarket in flatter shoes**. Not too bad.

So today I set off on a day out, which involved a 3 mile walk as part of it. It was, as promised, pretty much all downhill, which didn’t put much strain on it. I took it steady, and was ok. We managed the three miles in not much more than an hour, so we’re not doing too bad, I think.

I now need to start building up again from next weekend, but still taking it carefully. I really wish they’d tell us what route we’ll be walking, so I can check it out on a map.

*I acknowledge I am being a drama queen over this.
**Bizarrely, because I did it when walking uphill, and extending the muscle, I was able to wear the killer heels last night with no problems.

Training injury

I’ve always maintained that exercise is dangerous, and really needs to be avoided at all costs, and sport even more so, however, I now find myself nursing a 'training injury'. I think you can safely say it's not a phrase that I ever expected to apply to me.

When I climbed Roseberry Topping the other week, as we encountered one of the steep sections, I felt a pull in my calf muscle. Painful, yes, but it didn’t stop me climbing, and I finished the walk.

Last weekend, on Saturday I did about 3 miles with V*. I could feel the strain as we did the first uphill section, but it was ok. On Sunday, I’d planned another, 5 mile, walk with the ladies walking group.

The first section was steeply up hill. We encountered the first significant mud for a few weeks, and I did a bit of shrieking like a girl, but managed not to fall over. Then the incline became even steeper, and as I took a step, I felt my leg ‘go’.

After that, it was difficult to put any weight on it for a while, and I had to abandon the walk. I was gutted. I walked back down hill, and then along the river, as I waited for the others, wondering just when all this became so important to me.

I’m now resting it this weekend, which is good, as the weather is rubbish anyway. I’m supposed to be doing 3 miles on Sunday, but am told it is downhill, so I’m hoping it holds up. I remain determined to complete my 10 miles in 5 weeks time.

*We did find a fabulous, and highly recommended tea shop, in the village of Glasshouses, with gorgeous cake.

'That's not a hill, it's a mountain!'

Two years ago, just after we started walking, I remember Cat and Shona suggesting that we walked up Roseberry Topping. I think my reply was ‘in some other lifetime!’

However, things change, and I get fitter, and then I get a target, and the next thing you know, when this walk is suggested again, in a Scarborough fish and chip restaurant* on Easter Monday, I find myself agreeing that it is a good idea.

The planned day was this Sunday, another bank holiday weekend. It was going to be quite an outing, however, things changed, Cat had to work, Shona had pulled her back, V couldn’t manage it, so it turned out that there were only two of us facing the climb.

We’d done Captain Cook’s Monument in the morning. Having been told that it wasn’t much of a climb, I’d found it quite strenuous, but the views were fabulous. It was only when looking across to Roseberry in the distance that I felt a little daunted.

Having called in at a pub for a lunchtime drink, J and I were dropped off in the car park at the foot of Roseberry. I looked at all the small children and dogs coming back down. Surely if they could make it, I could. I mean, most of them didn’t even have ‘proper’ footwear.

We took the gentler route, through the bluebell woods, rather than the direct, and very steep, ascent. It still seemed pretty steep to me. We got through the woods to a small plateau, which we referred to as ‘base camp’. It was from there that it started to get really steep. The summit loomed. We stopped for breath a lot, and were overtaken by more small children. I wondered how the hell the likes of Chris Moyles got up Kilimanjaro!

Finally, we reached the rocky outcrop which signalled the top. Boy, was it windy. The view were spectacular though. We could see across to ‘Boro, over to the moors, and across to the sea. I really felt a sense of achievement. Looking down over the steep edge, other climbers just starting the ascent were tiny dots on the landscape.

We then looked at the next part of our route, which took us down a winding path at the other side, and up again to another plateau, as we were not going back the way we came, but continuing with our walk. Every time we turned, it was a photo opportunity.

Finally we reached the car, in a park below Captain Cook’s Monument. We’re claiming it as 6 miles, but I’m thinking it’s the most strenuous 6 miles yet**.

* Fitting, as it’s only by doing the walking that I get to eat fish and chips
** If you haven’t sponsored me yet for the Ribbon Walk, the link is here

The training continues

I’ve been trying to get a few walks in recently, though it’s been difficult as I’ve been away quite a bit, and of course, there was Easter. However, since the foggy walk of a few weeks ago, we’ve had some glorious weather, quite perfect for Spring walking, and we’ve been to Bolton Castle and Aysgarth, and today to Coxwold and Husthwaite. We even managed to fit in a three mile walk in Scarborough on Friday morning*. We’re also trying to gradually increase the distances we do. Of course, we’re nowhere near 10 miles yet, (up to 6-7 miles actually) but, despite my thinking it was never going to happen, I’m finding myself almost on schedule with my training for June. No, I can’t believe it either!

Of course, this is all fuelled by tea shops and frequent stops. I’m still not sure how we’ll be when we try and walk a longer distance without a tea shop or a pub in the middle. We’ll need to carry more with us, but I’m still hoping it will be possible for someone to provide tea and cake halfway round.

Over the next few weeks, we aim to set ourselves a few challenges, going further, and/or climbing more. My worst fear is not that it will rain, but that it will be too hot, for that’s what saps your strength.

Through it all, however, I remain a handbag walker. I may have lots of other gear now, but I still have my trusty pink handbag on my shoulder. And we still have to fit in time to shop, as well as the refreshments.

So once again, dear readers, please sponsor me, if you haven’t already.

*we were out, and walking before 9am – how impressive is that?

The training starts here

I’ve signed up to do the Ribbon Walk, (the 10 mile version, that is) at Harewood House, so I’m now talking of being ‘in training’. For many, maybe it wouldn’t be that scary, but I’ve never done a 10 mile walk before, so for me, it is.

When you sign up, they send you a training schedule, which covers the gradual build up over the 10 weeks prior to the walk. This means I should be starting my training some time around now. When I looked at the proposed schedule, my first thoughts were ‘yeah, right, like that’s going to happen!’

But, as is the way of me, the last couple of weeks, I’ve started to get a bit obsessive. I need to walk. No, I can’t believe I’m saying that either. It still has to be a true ‘handbag walk’, with all the essential elements of tea shops, shopping etc, but the walking has definitely got more challenging. I’ve also invested in new walking boots (still breaking those in), and new walking trousers. I’m starting to look scarily like a ‘proper’ walker.

I have to raise at least £250, so, if anyone would like to sponsor me, I’d be ever so grateful, and it's really simple to go - just go here.

‘I guess that’s not a pub, is it?’

For our walk this week (for we are now officially ‘in training’ you know*), V suggested that I drive her up to Osmotherley, where she was going to spend the weekend in their new caravan, and walk from there.

Once we arrived, bags duly deposited at said caravan, we went down into the village, and quickly discovered that Osmotherley is stuck in a bit of a time warp. It has three pubs, which range from the ‘quick pint for serious walkers’ standard, to the ‘Rennie Mackintosh décor and Molton Brown toiletries’ one, where we had coffee – the meals there being a bit rich for our blood outside a special occasion. It also has a walking shop, a village store, and a village hall, which is part time Post Office, cinema, and presumably, village hall. Time it wrong, as we did, and you’ll find chairs being put out for the cinema rather than being able to buy a stamp.

We also had to ask directions to the start of our walk in the shop, as the instructions told us to go by the antique shop, which has since closed.

Once on our way, though, it was glorious. We climbed along part of the Cleveland Way, and were rewarded with beautiful views. It actually felt like Spring for the first time, with the sun on our backs. By around 2, we’d almost completed 5 miles, and still felt quite fresh. We then realised that, normally, we’d stop en route, which is why it takes us longer.

So we headed back into the village, and had a bowl of soup at the third pub (mid range, very nice), before heading back to the caravan park, and leaving the car, setting off to walk another two miles, round the reservoir – it was so lovely, you could have been in the lakes or Scotland.

We are so lucky to live in an area where such places are less than an hour’s drive away. We get to look at the beautiful scenery, and also get fitter. In all, we did around 7 miles, and we’ve never done that before!

* I have been sent a training schedule, which shows the training plan over the 10 weeks prior to the walk. Hmmm, like that’s ever going to happen!