Emerged victorious

A long day of walking, mainly uphill, across 4 peaks left me feeling a huge sense of achievement - would never have thought I would have a day walking like today and still be in one piece at the end. Grateful for this career break opportunity.

Royal Welsh Show

Brief walk in the rain through the Elan Valley completing yesterday's task before enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the Royal Welsh Show - could not believe the exhibit that featured a batty looking older lady with two otters roaming freely inside her baggy clothing- most odd. Debuted on BBC radio Wales with a brief interview about the Walk and our efforts to raise awareness - amazing what you can do if you ask............otherwise a very enjoyable afternoon with an insight into rural life and the agricultural community. Still a long way to Cardiff and a tough day awaits tomorrow..........

A Great Day

The sun shone, we conquered two peaks from the depths of two valleys and in the evening I introduced our North American to the joys of the Wurzels and Max Boyce. 6 hours walking followed by blogging and photo uploads a lovely dinner and now off to the pub.

5 hours in

Its sunny but the climbs have been steep and very long, asking myself all the way up, as calves and hamstrings moan, why am I doing this? Luckily company is good, conversation easy and views spectacular. Will be tired tonight as still quite a way to go!!!

Rest Day

Thankful today is a rest day as we move accommodation. Thighs quite stiff after some over exuberunt climbing to find a non existant path. 5 or 6 high steps over heather had me concerned I had done some damage to the muscles so a little stiffness is a result. Tomorrow is another challenging day so will be stocking up on Kendall Mint Cake this morning and searching for a good cobbler...........

Saved by Kendall mint cake

Feel like a proper hill walker today as in my backpack I have a new waterproof backpack cover, rather than the ripped up plastic career bag I had yesterday.

Brother Paul, who kindly drove me to Wales and his children Alice and Henry left this morning for the long drive back to Winchester having walked with us (A and H in bin bag rain jackets) yesterday.

Awake to another windy, wet, and murky Welsh day so pleased we got rid of a long steep climb yesterday evening. A long day ahead though and will try and resist finishing with an ale today.

A tough start saw us lose our way, have to retrace and then slog along a barely visble track as cloud descended all around us. Very pretty slate quarry at the centre of our route, seeing it once was good , twice perhaps excessive.

Then it was a long hard slog uphill in a bog of a path. Half way up I became a little light headed. Thankfully Stacey had some KMC, which got me going again and gave me a good lesson. This is no walk in the park and I need to prepare accordingly and get emergency provisions in the bag from now on.

The bog was to get much worse later in the day. Did someone say drought?

This was a long day and we were all delighted to get to Machynlleth 7 hours after we started, where I celebrated with a small doner delighted in the knowledge that tomorrow is a rest day!!
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Day 1

Awake at 5am jet lag is inescapable whether you are walking or not. Good to see Intel had its best ever quarter.......... Sky cloudy but, as yet, dry. Last night's couple of pints at the George III over dinner leave me feeling slightly dehydrated. Good to meet the team who have already covered the worst of the terrain and the highest peaks. Hope I can keep up Andrew(Wales), Stacey(Toronto) and Dan(San Diego) will be my walking companions for the next 3 weeks. Swapping diagnosis and McArdle's incident stories meant for a very easy introduction.

Day one turned out to be very enjoyable despite the constant threat of being overtaken by a Saga tour on any uphill stretch. We went on a little further at the end of day to shorten tomorrow. Rained sporadically throughout the day and several long, and quite steep stretches were quite testing. Horse flies have a nastier bite than mosquitoes but to my knowledge no threat of disease. We finished the day in Abergynolwyn with a steep stretch to save doing it first thing tomorrow from cold.
Walking with fellow McArdleite's is much more sympathetic than usual as when one of us stops we all know why and stop as well. A good day's walking. Feel a pint coming on!!!!
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Winchester to Wales

Uneventful journey to the land of my fathers in gathering gloom. Lots of hills -too many hills. Stopped for afternoon tea at Llanfair Caereinion steam railway station just as the train pulled in. Then on to base camp for the first few days - glad tomorrow is an easy walk. Must apply more surgical spirit this evening.

As we drive into Dollgellau among rolling hills the enormity of this challenge hits me. I hate hills and heights, and would rather drive than walk..........

Ready, steady

Sunday evening and I am in the SQ lounge at Changi airport on the first leg of my journey to Wales, one of the perks of my former job - the red wine is flowing nerves though are building as I contemplate the size of the task ahead of me. Just two days ago my legs complained bitterly as I made the simple walk from car to restauarant with my wife , and brother just a little more quickly than McArdle's would allow. My calves are still sore - what will over two weeks of walking the welsh peaks do?? Its going to be a new experience for me that's for sure!!