w/c 18th June

With the weekends now being two days of walking the suggested training also gave two cross training sessions in the week. However as my gym instructor had said give myself a rest before I go I decided not to do anything and won't next week either.

Monday - I had leave from work and hence decided to go for a walk first thing. I just did half an hour which more than made up for not walking across London Bridge! Afternoon spent in Canterbury with Kedra who is also doing the trek stocking up on most of the remainder of our kit with a 20% voucher that Blacks had sent to me. A little walk involved from the car to the shop. Then once home off to see the nurse for an anti-malaria prescription. It is a very costly business this trekking!!

Tuesday - more spending at Nomad Travel Victoria where they give charity challenge participants 10% discount for some hiking sandals for the river section of our trek. Walk up from Bromley South.

Saturday - Joined stage 4 of the Charing Cross to Hastings led walk which was from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge. See photo at Tonbridge here. If I remember rightly there was about 13 of us. Met at Sevenoaks station at ten to 11. The walk followed several footpaths and made use of the walking sticks purchased on route to Bromley South station with my nectar points at Argos! I just used one of them and lent the other to 77 year-old Margot. We stopped for about 45 mins for lunch sat on the benches of a small cricket pavilion. Tonbridge station was reached just after 4pm and a train a bus took me back to Bromley South. I departed the bus rather than sit on it round the traffice of Bromley and more and continued walking home heading on a little detour down the road to Shortlands station and along almost to Ravensbourne coming up to London Rd via the green chain route. Upon reaching home at 6pm I realised the rain cover had fallen from the back of by rucksack. So I retraced my steps and found it on the edge of the zebra crossing near shortlands station. So an extra 45 mins took me to approx 6 for the day and 23.30km reading on the pedometer.

Sunday - The Rotary Club of the Weald of Kent North Downs Walk 10 miles. Arrived at the latest possible opportunity to register and start this walk at 11am. Start/Finish at Harrietsham village just off juction 8 of the M20 past Maidstone. The walk was though various footpaths and extremely muddy fields. Some walkers were doing 5 miles and the organisers were advising this due to the weather however I stuck to doing the 10 miles. There were 5 check points/pit stops along the route and apart from stopping at these briefly I did the 10 miles non-stop in 4 and a half hours. Ploughmans and strawberries awaited and alas a drive home! Just about made it back. The walk was in aid of Cancer Research but I just made the minimum donation of £10 to walk. Glad I did it although my legs are feeling it!! Note the muddy shoes in pic above.

w/c 11th June

Suggested training 2 cross-training sessions and 2 6 hours walks at the weekend. However as my weekend was busy with work and family dos I just continued with one walking day at the weekend and postponed the two day weekends to next weekend and the one after.

Wednesday - 1 hour walk from work to Tower bridge and back in loop along thames path as previous weeks with Hazel.

Thursday - swim 50 lengths.

Saturday - marie curie walk 5km in Greenwich Park. Took train to Hither Green arriving at 10am and from there walked towards Belmont Hill and along to Blackheath then down to Greenwich. During this time I got showered with rain and so was happy that I was wearing my craghoppers trousers which dry quick and also had my waterproof jacket. As I got to Greenwich early I walked through the foot tunnel to the other side of the river and along a bit and back. I also went in a few shops and Greenwich market before at noon heading for the Kings Arms for registration for the walk and lunchstop. The rain also came down just as the marie curie walk started and as I stayed with a group I probably did walk slower than I would normally. Back to the pub in 1 hour 20mins. I had a quick half pint of beer and then headed for the DLR and bus back home. Took the bus which was there that didn't take me all the way and so I walked an extra half hour uphill home. Total walking approx 4 hours.

w/c 4 June

same suggested training as last week 2 x cross training 2 x 1hr walk 1 x 8hr walk

Monday - lunchtime swim 50 x 15m lengths.

Tuesday - afternoon walked to from work meeting 30 mins there (got there early) and 20 mins back.

Wednesday - came back home and back in to London to watch England match 15min walk to Bromley South. Lunchtime went to gym to get body fat measured and had lost about 1% body fat since last measured 22 March.

Thursday - lunchtime walk 1hr to london bridge/tower bridge over to the south riverbank and back. Thanks to my parents I have now reached my second target of £1,500 fundraising. Third target of £1,750 had already been set.

Feeling very shattered towards end of week so no further swimming or walking for training purposes.

Sunday - Crusaid's walk for life 10Km sponsored walk with Rob Started with 20min walk to Shortlands station 1.06km Elephant & Castle tube to Hyde Park Corner and walk down to registration 20 mins 1.78km from train inc tube change to registration. 11.78 pedometer reading for walk itself. Left Hyde Park 12.15 arrived back just after 3.15. More photos here. After a little rest at event village walk back to Hyde Park corner and a pint in the Hard Rock Cafe. Left Hyde Park Corner at 5.18 walked back down same route to Trafalgar Square and straight to Charing Cross station. pedometer reading on train 3.8Km/30mins Caught 5.49 train to Hither Green arriving 18.12 and walked back from there. At verdant lane instead of turning the green cross chain route to Grove Park headed through Downham woodland walk way towards Downham Way and walked back way round to rejoin main road back up to home 5.52km arriving 7.30pm. Total reading 22.89km (from Elephant & Castle). Total hours approx 5.5 hours.

w/c 28 May

Suggested training 2 x 1 hour walks 2 x cross training 1 x 8 hour walk.

Monday - as with the day before a rest day from training. I was happy that my training for the bank holiday weekend had been during the good weather on Saturday. Short walk in Watford from car park to pub!!

Tuesday - a day off work to spend with my friend Geraldene with an afternoon walk near Marlow. As the longer walks were being saved for the weekend I chose a shorter circular walk (the water walk) at Bourne End This took us an hour and three quarters and read 7.04 km. (last pic)

Wednesday - Evening gig at the Astoria (first pic) so walk down from there to Charing Cross afterwards no walking the other end as I missed Grove Park and got a taxi back from Elmstead Woods!! Plus a little jumping up and down inside the venue which was quite hot!

Thursday - lunchtime walk again with ex-colleagues. 1 hr from office down london bridge thames path to tower bridge across to the south of the river and back along london bridge. Evening work do walked back across london bridge and got off the right stop!

Friday - Intentions were for a lunctime swim but I felt too tired and a little hungover so I gave it a miss!

Saturday - I had intented to do the Hither Green to Chelsfield stage 2 of charing cross to hastings but I had a better offer in a call late Monday from one of my fellow trekkers to train together. We met at Shoreham and set off for a circular (or more accruately a triange) to Eynsford Castle (2nd pic above) and back. Total walking time 5 hours distance as stated on the walk card 8.5 miles. More photos here.

Sunday - rest day and a little shopping!