21st March 2002
Daphne set off from Lands End at 9.30 this morning in dry but overcast weather to start her brief walk!
Her estimated day of arrival in JoG is Monday 6th May if all goes according to plan.Evening of 30th March 2002
I am now in Bristol with 213 miles gone. What a fabulous 10 days: from steephills and very narrow roads to lovely wide roads with pavements, from primroses, celandines and violets, tawny owls and foxes to the busy centre of Bristol.
Along the way we have received donations ranging from a cream cake (gratefully received!) to £10. One lady (quite elderly) giving me her 50p bus fare and walking home.
We have met some very interesting people. Yesterday we spoke with three fire fighters from Erith in West London who were going from John O'Groats to Lands End. They told us they were a day behind schedule because they were snowed in at Dornock. (Let's hope it's all gone before we get there.)
Geoff met a man in a lay-by (about our age) who told him he was planning to go end-to-end on horse-back, but was having trouble trying to find bed and breakfast for his horse. Well, they do rather rumple the sheets!
Apart from a small problem with my right ankle (I'm applying ice via frozen peas and taking anti- inflammatory tablets) everything is going to plan.
Here is a different ending - the fire alarm has just gone off in the hotel-and I'm not joking.
April 1st/2nd (sometime after midnight)
We are staying in what was originally an old coaching inn, dating back to 1701. It's a lovely and very interesting old building with old rickety stairs and original fireplaces. It also has another visitor who Geoff saw in the night. (And you know Geoff doesn't drink, so.....!!).The lady in question was dressed in an Edwardian nightgown and cap and she walked across the bedroom and straight through the wall. Geoff wouldn't close his eyes for quite a while in case she came back, so we are a little tired today.
April 2nd
On arrival at our lodgings we related our story to the landlady and she informed us that Geoff or his ancestors must have dabbled in witchcraft, tarot cards or the occult and he wouldn't go to heaven, Apparently true "believers" would not be seeing such things if they were under Gods protection. The moral of this tale?....beware of customer-friendly guesthouse owners in Hereford!
April 3rd
We have had a lovely surprise today when Liz and Bob from Abingdon Amblers met up with us on the B4361, south of Richards Castle. It was good to see a couple of familiar faces and great for moral.
April 4th
I have been in a lot of pain with my legs today, so must see if I can find a chemist tomorrow for some advice.
April 5th
We have found a chemist in Church Stretton who believes I have shin splint and has advised me not to walk for the next two weeks. TWO WEEKS??!! Rubbish, I thought, so have made a hasty GP appointment, resulting in a wait which puts me half a days walking behind. Never mind, it has been worth the wait because the GP is very sympathetic to our cause and says it is tendonitis and has given me full strength pain killers and movelat cream for the swelling and pain. It does mean I'll have to walk the rest of the way though: "no more running" says the doctor, "or you'll not make it". ( To JO'Groats, I hope he means, not generally!)
April 6th
We have arrived today at Whitchurch in Cheshire and are back on track and on schedule. Miles so far: 330. Not bad.
April 7th
Have come up through the Sandstone Trail today, a very beautiful part of the country off the main A49. We have arrived in Taporley and if all goes well we should be in Warrington by Monday evening.
Journey from Tarporley to Warrington was absolutely lovely passed a bird reserve in the Delemare Forest area. The south of Warrington looked very affluent but found getting through Warrington very difficult and quite dangerous. Walked over the Manchester Ship Canal and also the Bridgewater Canal.
April 11th
What a friendly and generous people the Lancastrians are: it was a real pleasure to walk this section. One kind lady saw us stop for a coffee and took us into her house for lunch. Warm pies make a pleasant change to cold ones!
The journey to Kirby Lonsdale from Forton was through the "Trough of Bowland", so beautiful with the bonus of watching curlews, lapwings and buzzards all soaring in the wind.
Weather still very good-how long can it last? I am still feeling fine thanks to Geoff looking after me so well. I think his Showaddywaddy tapes will be worn out by the time we get back though, but as they are not my cup of tea I am glad not to be in the car. I knew there was a good reason to walk the whole way!
April 13th
Now on our way to Tebay but not on the A683. It really is too dangerous, so we are on minor roads to the left, then to the right of the B6257.
Will hopefully be in Scotland by the next update.
