Up a bit earlier this morning as we slept in a layby along the side of the very busy A road. I made a decision not to return to Pennybridge and walk along the banks of the river because it had been torrential rain all evening and was still raining now. Instead, I took a slight detour to Haverthwaite where Fiona dropped me off.
Mainly road walking again this morning but my the route promised to go off-road into some woodlands. However, when I got there there was a sign saying danger, no access and so I decided I would have to stay on the road.
Fiona met me in Cark at the Brookes Garden Centre café which had an excellent choice of freshly baked goods. I opted for a toasted cheese scone and a cup of tea. It was very tasty indeed. We gave out a few hearts.
One of my feet is particularly sore today. I was originally wearing my Hoka boots but swapped for my trainers at lunchtime which are much lighter on my feet. I was on my way once more.
I felt a bit fed up today because I realised we’re missing so many opportunities on social media to raise funds. Also one of our original plans was to create Christmas cards with Poppy and Poppy footprints and to create short videos with Poppy speaking a Christmas message. We’ve not managed to achieve any of those.
I’m due to get to Blackpool by Thursday afternoon and then on Saturday we’re doing our special dance to the Proclaimers ‘I will walk 500 miles’ which we’re hoping to develop into a viral video donation machine. However, I’ve got so a few followers that I’m not sure that this will happen. I really need the power of social media but I don’t have the skills or the energy to do this while I’m walking. We’ve got a press release ready to go out, but what I really need now are my group of younger adults to help me as much as they can.
Back in October we filmed my Fitsteps class practising and doing the dance so that we could promote it on social media but so far all I’ve got are a few photos.
I’m looking forward to meeting up with our Fitsteps crew at the weekend. I will have actually walked 500 miles to get to Blackpool. Can you believe that it all seemed so far away and distant when we were originally talking about it but now it’s here.
I’ve been walking on some single track lanes today and large tankers have been coming past which really don’t give me any room at all and so I have to squeeze myself into the hedgerow. The trucks and tankers are so big and heavy. I can feel the road vibrating under my feet. It no wonder the road has cracks in the surface.
Last night my legs, feet and particularly my ankles were aching. I think it’s from all of the walking along the pebble shoreline.
I felt a bit weary today and called on Angela to help give me strength. She was so strong and managed to battle through all that life threw at her. I hope I can do her proud.
It’s the first time I have had thoughts of why am I doing this? It’s exhausting. Can I continue? I just feel like sitting down and stopping. It’s taking all the strength of my character to keep going.
As I entered Grange-over-Sands I came onto a very nice wide promenade with panoramic views of Morcambe Bay. It’s a shame it wasn’t any clearer as we were supposed to be able to see Blackpool.
A lovely lady called Deborah popped into Priscilla to see me. She was originally from New Zealand so we chatted about mine and Angela’s trip there with the boys.
More road walking and then the final 4-5 miles was along a very exposed embankment alongside the estuary and the wetlands which had giant reeds growing in them. The wind gusted at about 25 mph into my face which didn’t help progress.
The last part of the day was to cross the very busy dual carriageways of the A road in the dark.
We had a lovely meal at the Gilpin Pub. Then I was feeling cold and tired and my feet were sore so I had to retire to bed at 7:30pm.
Best bits: cheese scone
Worst bits: crossing the A road at dark
Distance: 19.9 miles
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