Ramblings

I know - enough already!

But this is different. I have become an official Rambler.
The New year, and serious training was required. It was time to bite the bullet and join the Bristol Ramblers on their crack of dawn adventures in the surrounding beauty spots. It has meant setting my alarm for 6.00 on a Sunday morning (I couldn't think of going out without a substantial breakfast) but, as Lawrence of Arabia said, 'the secret is in not minding the pain'. Well he did in the film, which I watched last night - training in true grit (which I watched last week - the new Coen Brothers version).

The thing is, once you're up, it doesn't really matter what time it is, and I have to say that it has become easier to get up since I know it will be worth it.

I launched straight into the A team (there is a B team, which sets out an hour later, and is apparently a little more leisurely about the whole thing) - largely by accident, I have to say. But I survived week 1 - 13.3 miles of Cotswold scenery, and since they were offering an introductory hill walk in the Brecon Beacons the following week - I really didn't want to miss out.

And I'm so glad I didn't. We climbed Fan y Big (seriously). the whole walk was 12 miles, with an ascent of 2,500 feet, but boy was it worth it. We climbed above the snow line (see evidence below), and walked along the ridge as it then descended back into the valley - with the ground falling away majestically on either side. It was like being on top of the world - especially when the weather closed in and powdery snow inveigled its way into every nook and cranny of my jacket.  And also my backpack while I was eating my sandwiches - experienced hikers, I noticed later, do up their pack while eating. There's still a lot to learn!

So - here is the proof - my big adventure in Fan y Big, photos courtesy of the Bristol ramblers website - thanks folks.

OK so far - I can still breathe

You want me to go where?

 

...and along the edge. Seriously?

 

 

 

 

 

I made it - the top of the world!!

See what I mean?

And you couldn't spend a Sunday with a nicer bunch of folk, I reckon.

After that I notched up about 30 more miles, out on my own or with another group in my week's holiday. And yesterday we did another Cotswold adventure - 14 miles this time, with an awful lot of ups and downs, but still great, taking in a couple of charming little villages - real Laurie Lee (if a little more well-heeled).

All this has been great for my fitness of course, but more so for my confidence I think. Having pushed myself, I've achieved more than I thought possible - and enjoyed it! What does make it all so much easier, which I hadn't really taken on board, was the inspiration provided by the scenery, and the support of one's fellow trekkers.

Bring on  those sand dunes!

Little Known Dangers of Cycling #8

Well, I suppose it had to happen.

Indicating right halfway up pigsty hill, my extended finger made contact with the nose of an overtaking cyclist. We were fine on this occasion, but I can't help thinking that a slightly slimmer finger or a slightly wider nostril and we could have been in serious trouble. There is danger everywhere - if only you know how to look!

Meanwhile, shaken but not put off, I finally made it into the swimming pool. Well my hair did need a wash. On the advice of Marian at work, I'm trying to develop a more positive approach to swimming.

Lesson 1: Don't always immediately follow the word swimming with "I really hate swimming"
Lesson 2: Try to say the word swimming without pulling an unpleasant face
Lesson 3: Think of all the worse things that I could be doing instead, like dying for example

I'm not confident that it's going to make a long-term change, but I'll try until March anyway.

Walking's fine though. Did a 10 miler on Saturday, along the canal from Bath to Bradford on Avon, and 5 miles the week before, slithering around in the mud on the Bristol downs.

But the good news is that I've made contact with some of the other people who are gong on the trek. There will be 22 of us altogether apparently, and a couple of people have raised their head above the parapet with an email. The really good news is that there is a group of 5 people from Bournemouth, whose ages range from 48 to 58. It's not that I have a problem with 'Yoof', some of my good friends are positively child-like, but it'll be good to have company at the back of the walk (I've made some assumptions there, I know). Mostly though, it's the sense of humour. So many of my jokes fall on stony ground with the young ones in the office - and they're not all that bad. I think it's the cultural references.

Only last month, one of them asked "so what was so great about the Beatles then?"

What can you say?

Well quite a lot actually. I think the response lasted for 20 minutes. They'll never need (or want) to ask that again.

So there we are.

The Final Countdown

Wow, it's only 61 days till I actually set off. On the 2nd March I'll be boarding that outbound plane to Casablanca.

Feels like things are becoming a little serious now. Have to get my passport renewed, insurance sorted, and make sure I've got all the final bits of kit - sun-block, blister pads, wet- wipes etc. Suddenly wondering if I have enough super-socks.

I do have a pair of wrap-around sunglasses - although I haven't used them much so far, as they require a small sarcophagus to carry them around in, and, frankly, there hasn't been enough space in my handbag.

And of course the training. Suddenly I don't have all the time in the world any more.

So, here's the plan:

1. Continue with the cycling, as now, and walk to work (briskly), if the weather goes against cycling (don't think I'd do snow)
2. Go on at least one long (10 miles min) walk every week - will probably have to join the early bird Ramblers for this
3. Swim one evening per week (groan)

Will that do it?

I'll have to read through the instructions from those nice people at Discover Adventure any day now, and see what they suggest. I did have a little peep a while back, but I frightened myself, and so hid the info for a while.

Time now to be brave.

Wish me luck!

Wonder Woman 2

The other week there was an article on the local news saying that if you do really speedy exercise for 40 seconds a day, that can help prevent diabetes. I mean really speedy, like sprinting, they suggested. And you can do it for 2 lots of 20 seconds.

Well any exercise that is measured in seconds is good to me, so I thought I'd incorporate this into my daily cycle - the uphill bit preferably, as I'd be scared of going too fast downhill in case my brakes gave out.

I casually mentioned this to Rita, my triathlon-eventing friend at work, who seemed to be quite impressed, strangely, and then mentioned it on her Facebook. Then several of her seriously sporty friends 'liked' me/it - which is apparently A Good Thing. So I am now a sporting legend in my lunchtime.

My feeling is that we are not talking about the same thing. I have no idea what Rita and her chums mean, but I meant that I will go as fast as I can, which at times might mean, frankly, not very.

But in the meantime, I am happy to bask in the ill-gotten glory. It's good to be 'liked'.

And as a bonus, not only am I fighting poverty, but I'm now fighting diabetes. Life is good!

Oh dear!

November 3rd! What have I been doing?

Well quite a lot of stuff, but obviously not blogging.

I have the choice between short, sweet and a little more regular, or not at all.

While there may be a compelling case  for not at all, I'll try with the former for a while. Almost time for New Year Resolutions anyway.

So,

Training:
Did a couple of ten-mile walks back in the beginning of balmy November. Nearly killed me, since I'd obviously peaked too early with the training schedule. Nothing since, but plenty of good intentions - might even swim this weekend (aaargh!)
Cycling still going well though.
Have started the surgical spirit treatment to harden up the feet. Apparently hard feet are a good thing. Watch this space.

Fundraising:
Have now made it to about £3,500 (once Gift Aid is included.)
Thank you so much everyone who has supported me - I am so impressed with the generosity of people who are happy to give a hand up to a complete stranger in trouble.
I have quite a few irons still in the fire too, thanks to friends and family:

• a beautiful poetry book to sell online
• designer clothes to sell on e-bay
• vintage clothes to sell in trendy shops
• masses of stuff for a car boot

and a few people have pledged money too. I'm pretty confident of getting to £4,000 now - and maybe could even make it beyond that.

That would be fab, becasue it's been a hard summer in the Sahel, and will be a difficult hungry period next year.

Like Webster's dictionary ...

..I'm Morocco bound.

Joke (for indeed it is one) courtesy of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby from their wonderful film 'Road to Morocco'  check it out!  
Road to Morocco

Decided it was time to start the training in earnest, so I watched it again recently (can't believe it was made in 1942 - it's so fresh), and have added 'Lawrence of Arabia' to my Love Film list.

So, I may have neglected to mention that the bit of the Sahara that I will be trekking in belongs to Morocco. To be exact, we will be flying into Casablanca from London (hmm, another film opportunity), and going, somehow (it's not clear from  the details) to Ouarzaazate (pronounced 'Wazzazat' apparently), which is just below the High Atlas Mountains and on the edge of the desert. I'm guessing there must be Low Atlas Mountains as well, but we'll have nothing to do with them!

Anyway, there is a hotel in Ouarzaazate, which is good news, and the actual starting point of the trek is a five hours drive away in a place called M'Hamid.We drive through the Valley of a thousand Kasbahs' apparently. I can hardly wait!


I don't want to give away too many details at the moment, I have to hold something back to keep the excitement mounting, but suffice it to say that we finish some 6 days later at Foum Zguid, which is in a Saltpan (!) and a short distance from the beginning of the tarmac road, which leads us (after 5 hours) to Marrakech.
5 hours seems to be the standard length for a drive in this place. Coincidence, or suspicious? I can imagine picking up a taxi in Marrakech, and asking 'how long to the hotel?' 'About 5 hours should do it'. Or is it just me?

What to say?

Well I never thought this would happen, but my muse seems to have deserted me. Can't think of anything to say.

I've also ground to a bit of a halt on the dual fund-raising and exercise fronts. Money is still trickling in, for which I am very grateful, but I haven't actually done anything to earn it lately. A bit of research on car boot and vintage clothes sales, but no actual activity. And just riding the bike - which I now love, and can't even remember how I used to travel to work.

Might swim on Sunday morning and hope the hiatus ends (I'm not talking hernia here, just a little pause in energy).

I guess it happens - 12 months is a bit of a long run up.

See you soon with more energy I hope.