Sand walking

I'm off to sunny Bournemouth for a week's holiday now, so I won't be checking in on the computer.

But I will be beach walking as part of the training.

Glo tells me it's the best there is for desert trekking - and she should know, having done a trek in Sinai a couple of years back.

See you in just over a week, fit and tanned, I hope.

So why do it?

Have a look at the before and after pictures at the side, and it becomes clear. Have a closer look, and I'll tell you a little background from Tony, our Programmes Director.

The 'before' picture is a slightly fuzzy shot of what looks like 7 men and one woman sitting on the edge of the hand-dug well. With no tools other than those powered by human muscle, through sand baked as hard as rock, they dug a hole some 2 metres in diameter, probably the same deep, before they reached the water table. In Mali, afternoon temperatures are between 33 - 39° C throughout the year (that's about 90 to 103° F). The few scrubby trees in the barren land suggested that they might find water for all this effort. But in what was the 4^th poorest country in the world at the time, 65% of which was semi-desert and getting worse, there was an incentive. This was in 2003.

They had asked TREE AID and its local partner AMEPPE for help to meet the ongoing needs for wood, initially for building poles and fuel (all cooking is done over wood fires.) Clearly there wasn't much left locally.

TREE AID trained a local nursery man to grow and care for tree seedlings as well as techniques to restore the degraded soil, and provided what was needed. Initially fast growing eucalyptus trees were planted, first around the outside edge of the nursery to provide protection from the dry and dusty Harmattan wind.

By 2004 the nursery began providing seedlings of various trees, for use in community and individual woodlots. Plenty of fast-growing fuelwood trees mean that other, more productive trees can be left to mature. Other seedlings were planted within the nursery, to be planted in the community's compounds and fields. The other clever part was in training people to make fuel-efficient stoves. See more here: http://www.treeaid.org.uk/shop.asp?productID=1166&returnto=shopstart.asp

There were in fact 13 neighbouring villages involved in the whole project – and 8 nurseries set up. More than 100,000 tree seedlings were planted out – 90% of which survived. There were 27 different species, including moringa, baobab, cashew and acacia. I could go on…

The fruits and leaves of these various native trees have provided food, medicines and raw materials to the local communities, and have also protected and replenished the soil for the crops that were planted in their shade. A small oasis has been developed, with its own microclimate and ecosystems. Look at the 'after' picture - you can now barely make out the well in the background (the pink circle shows the cross bit at the top).

And it can only get better - for example, the returning bees now provide for a small honey production business. People locally have been convinced to implement the new soil improvement techniques, and to work together to protect the existing trees from the triple dangers of bush-fire, goats and firewood.
But here's the really good part.

The project may have ended in 2006, and TREE AID moved on to other areas, but the nursery, with its well and its trained nurseryman is still there. An enterprising and hard-working business man, he now produces seedlings for private use and other local government funded projects. And other communities, learning of the success of this project, can come to buy seedlings and learn how to transform their own environments.

They say an area the size of New Zealand is lost to the encroaching Sahara every year. This is not empty space, but home to millions of adaptive and hard-working people. If we want to save them from migrating to the slums around the big cities, we have to plant trees. It really is that simple.

So that's why. 

Now, where was I?

My Mum was recently doing some clearing out and came across the letters I wrote to her from university – not many, and rarely more than 2 sides of A5, often in big writing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that each one began with the words: “Sorry I haven’t written for such a long time, but …”

Take it as read for the blog too.

A quick update:

1. John has updated me on the Devon walk details. The Nose we walked around was Hope's, where there is, by the way, a small herd of Soay sheep - the same sheep that are so happy at Mark and Linda's homestead I visited earlier. They're happy because: a) they're not dead (they were rescued on their way to the slaughterhouse), and b) they have lovely living conditions, which include 5 star winter accommodation and a hill to play on (yes sheep do play - Mark has the video to prove it)
2. The total height gained over the week-end was the equivalent of 1 Snowdon, from sea level to tip, although of course, as a mature walker, I know that in climbing Snowdon you would need to do quite a lot of those metres several times - such being a noticeable drawback of living on a lumpy planet. But then you probably wouldn't actually begin at sea level either.
3. Did my first Car Boot last Saturday. A small affair in the car park of a local posh school - possibly not the most lucrative, but it did begin at 12.00 rather than the somewhat alarming 6.00 (on a Sunday usually) that seems to be the norm. Anyway, got rid of some things, including some vintage pyrosil casseroles (see more here: http://www.helium.com/items/570057-all-about-bakeware?page=2) Quite strange the things that go and those that don't. The first thing to be snapped up was my 40 year old (and much used, so rather smelly) butter dish disguised as a Hovis loaf. Anyway, made a profit on the day of just under £20 and bought a brand new camping stove for only £3 - bargain, or what! And spent a lovely afternoon with Sarah and her kids - we shared a boot to cut down on entry costs.
4. The training includes learning how to camp (hence the need for the stove) - will start at the end of June when I go with Sue to watch puffins on Skomer Island.
5. Cycling still gong well - cycled 5.39 hilly miles each way  to Ashton Court Mansion for a conference on Thursday, and still doing the daily (3x a week really) work thing.
6. Haven't done any more punitive swimming - but might do one after work this week, as I'm getting through quite a few biscuits these days, and don't want to take to many extra pounds to the desert. My friend Gary bought some boots recently that were 3oz lighter per boot than his previous pair - these things obviously matter!
7. Will be back soon because I want to actually write about why  I'm doing all this, but need to get to B&Q, and get food in for Tuesday's salad (moved on from soups for the summer).
8. Oh, and I finally sent out my begging letters - let the money roll in....

More fundraising: Cooking Heaven

Had just the best time on Friday.

Decided that if I’m to raise money by cooking, then I ought to brush up my skills a bit, so signed up for a one-day course on Moroccan and Southern Spanish cooking at the Vegetarian Cookery School in Bath.

What a joy! The course was a combination of demonstration and hand-on do-it-yourself, and we fairly whizzed through a selection of 5 different vegetarian Tapas, including spiced almonds (or to give them their proper name, almendras con sal picante) and patata bravas y alioli (roasted spicy potatoes with hand-made garlic mayonnaise to you and me), moorish semolina bread with broadbean and pumpkin bissara, and potato tortilla. Then on to the main meal of vegetable tagine, cous cous and wonderful salad, followed closely by the most delicious desserts.

From this …

  to this…                                                                       

and this ...                

with puddings still to come!

The 2 chefs (Rachel and Helen) were skilled, funny and generous in the information they imparted – they threw in sessions on such arcane skills as swiftly peeling and crushing garlic cloves, and segmenting oranges – pith-free: not easy, but so satisfying when you get it!

Only 4 other people on the course, so very friendly and cosy.

And of course we got to eat everything we made – well we had to, how else would we know that it was OK? All washed down with fine wine and juice. I foresee a lot of couscous celebrations and tapas feasts in the weeks ahead.

Definitely putting the fun into fundraising.

More Devon Training

30^th April

Breaking in the new walking boots. Bought them a couple of weeks ago – lightweight, good ankle support,  joined-up tongue to keep out the sand – and half price in the sale. Perfect. They’re a size bigger than I normally wear, but the sixes pinched a little, and I’m guessing my feet will swell in the heat. Was reluctant to pack them, because I didn’t want to get them dirty, but good sense prevailed. They were fine, as were the very expensive special socks (over £5 a foot!) that I was also persuaded to buy by the young girl in the shop.

The boots (with a glimpse of sock)

We walked 10 miles altogether from Brixham back to Torquay (including 1½ miles from the ‘cottage’ down to the harbour).  I’m perfecting my new approach to ascents (‘think like a mountain goat’), but overall it wasn’t a particularly strenuous section, climbing 500 metres overall John tells me. Mind you we did climb several of those metres a few times over, I think, with all the ups and downs.

Was very tired at the end though, needing a serious cream tea to revive me (awarded 7/10 in the Grand Cream Tea scheme of things). A similar mileage to what we’ll be doing each day on the trek though, and that will be at 40°C, so plenty more work to do!

When I was visiting the happy sheep in Wales a few weeks ago, we did a few miles in the Brecon Beacons too. Was keen as mustard and fairly raced up the hillsides, so I am noticing a difference in approach, if not necessarily stamina. Can only get better with practice.

1^st May

Sue had to stay at home today, suffering from the results of seriously losing an argument with a railing earlier in the week. Yesterday’s ups and downs were probably a walk too far in the event. John and I walked northwards from Torquay, hugging the coast (including around Somebody or other’s Nose – loved it but can’t remember the actual name), although disappointingly when we came back to the road to make our way back, we were still on the outskirts of the town, the road having taken a bit of a short-cut. Still did 10 miles though in all, as we then walked back to the cottage. Lots of height again – waiting for the details from John. Apparently yesterday’s height figures were the grand total of metres climbed in all, including ones we went down again. Today’s figures are even more impressive, I believe, and the 2 days total gives us the equivalent of a couple of Snowdons. John gets it all from the GPS.

Big flappy OS maps are so yesterday – everyone seems to be stroking their little GPS screens these days. 

A Special Day: 29th April (written then, but posted later due to technical difficulties)

Sorry about yesterday’s rant –got a bit carried away there.

The ‘Grumpy Old’ persona is terribly seductive, and while it may be mildly amusing (and I appreciate only may be), it really is somewhat self-pitying  and defeatist.  Not what you’d call keeping interested, engaged and active, which is the main personal aim of the doing the challenge. So, no more mourning what’s gone, going ,or basically just not what it was, and a bit more rejoicing in what is or might be with a little clarity and effort. 

Time to join the nation in positive thoughts!

More training this week-end – joining Sue & John in Torquay for 2 days of the South West Coastal Path (they’ve done about 493 miles on and off over the last 4 years). Stopped off on the A380 for toasted cheese sandwich and tea, just in time to watch the Happy Royal Couple leave the abbey and process back  to the palace. Seriously impressed with the trees in the abbey!

Arrived early, so stopped off in Maidencombe for a little beach walking, then set a cracking pace exploring  the steep streets of Torquay until we could get into the cottage. Bit of a misnomer – more like House and Gardens made flesh. Went to sleep in the princess bed – appropriate for the Special Day I thought.

The Princess Bed

Cycling City

First - a great big THANK YOU to the family Nicholls for being the first (and very generous) donors on my Just Giving page (and also the only ones so far - don't be shy gentle reader!), and also to Nikki for your helpful exercise tip - great idea, but I think I would struggle to keep up  regular commitment at the moment.

Cycled into work again this morning - another beautiful day. Yes, that's right - the words 'cycle', 'work' and even 'again' in the same sentence.

I am now a confirmed cyclist, having cycled into work on 6 successive occasions in the last 3 weeks, so I think I'm going to stop counting now and accept it as a fact of my new blogging/trekking life.

Mind you, it was a bit of a sticky start. On the first day I was freewheeling happpily down the Gloucester Road in the glorious sunshine, mentally composing the blog entry for the day, when I passed not one but two collisions between cyclists and white vans (no word of a lie) within a hundred yards. Both involving ambulances, sadly. In the first one everyone was standing, but the other involved a stretcher, although the cyclist was conscious at least.

Philip (the boss, and fellow keen cyclist after his mega charity ride last year) said to think of it as 'a warning' rather than 'a sign' - he was right.

So, on a daily basis I now jet the 2.82 miles into work, and puff the 2.82 miles home (uphill is a full lung experience for me) - and actually really enjoy it. I have joined the legions of smug cyclists.

After that first morning I have investigated a few diversions into smaller streets, but essentially, for those who don't know Bristol, my route is a major arterial highway (the A38) into town. For parts of it (we are the nation's first cycling city after all) there are cycle lanes with the picture of a bike so that you know. You do however share the lane with several tones of bus - now there's an incentive to keep those little legs working.

But what really gets me, is that, just when the road narrows dangerously and you need a bit of support, the cycle lane just disappears, without so much as a by your leave. No warning. Just stops. At least they could put a 'You're on your own now kid' a few yards in advance, just so that you're prepared. Then perhaps a jaunty little skull and crossbones, for those who can't read at speed. But nothing. Come on Cycling City -get your act together!

However, I am pleased to be on two wheels - and it is even quicker than the car/walking combo that I used to do - even going home.

Hooray for the fitness campaign!

Back soon