Taken To The Limit

"Above all do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it..." ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Taken to the limit is God damn right!
Walking 100 plus miles on ordinary footpaths is one thing, walking in excess of 100 miles through fields of mud, rough terrain, and in awful weather conditions is a totally different matter!
Completing the charity walk along the entire length of The South Downs Way in aid of Cancer Research UK was an unbelievable experience, but words cannot ever fully do it justice. The emotions and feelings that we all went through, along with all the sweat, blood, tears, pains and joys left us all completely drained and exhausted. I know for a fact that I personally pushed myself further than anything I've physically experienced previously in my life, and I was definitely taken to my limits of physical capabilities as well as being severely challenged mentally. Despite my prior training nothing conditions you properly for what we all had to endure...but we did it, which is all that matters and to date we've so far raised £3,450 in donations.

We arrived in Winchester on Day 1 at 9.30am to be greeted by rain...and it didn't let up once all day.
With only a brief stop for a lunchbreak we walked continually to 7.30pm ~ we expected to trek in the region of 24 miles, but it transpired we trudged in excess of 32. This was partly due to a temporary route put in place just after Exton, but unfortunately along this route we encountered flooded fields of mud, chalk and clay and numerous climbs in extraordinary conditions. Needless to say when we finally reached our B&B for the night in Buriton in the dark we were completely exhausted, fatigued, bewildered and dumbfounded ~ one look at at our soggy clothing and muddied boots told its own story...I bet Julia Bradbury never went through this! Lol.

Fortunately with a good nights rest our spirits were lifted on the morning of Day 2 when we were greeted by some sunshine. We also had the knowledge that by comparision to yesterday's hellish stage, we would be encountering a fairly flat stage along well trodden paths. The only surreal sensation that we did experience though was the most unlikely of visions which had us all rubbing our eyes in disbelief...whilst comfortably strolling through a field of rape seed, we suddendly came across a convoy of three grannies travelling uphill on their motorised scooters/buggies!
We ended up in Amberley at the end of the day and even afforded ourselves the luxury of an evening meal before retiring to our beds in anticipation of another day.

Wednesday (Day 3) was forecast for torrential rain and gale force winds...and it didn't disappoint!
We awoke to these elements which seemed to be worsened by taking breakfast in our B&B under a corregated roof. Unbelievably, by the time we were ready to start the rain had stopped, but we've since heard that most other parts of West Sussex and Hampshire were experiencing flash floods and hail storms at this time. What we didn't escape however, was the vicious and cutting winds. We ploughed on regardless all day until we finally reached our daily destination of Pyecombe, situated just next to the A23. Once again we were totally exhausted, but due to our very friendly landlady (Wendy Desborough) we soon recovered to enjoy a very restful and relaxing evening...oh the joy of what a little ice can do when you are in discomfort!

Day 4 (Thursday) was always going to be our 'easy' day...and so it proved.
Just the 14 miles were due to be trekked and once again the weather was mainly on our side.
A pretty uneventful day ensued on a relatively flat stage ending in our B&B in the pretty little village of Rodmell. We decided to talk tactics for our final day, so we made the length trip (five yards across the road) to the nearest pub, and for the first time in the week we really relaxed and unwound over a beer or four! We mutually decided to start the Friday early and to really push on to get as much out of the way as possible, in the vain hope that we could actually enjoy the final afternoon.

We awoke early on Day 5, prepared ourselves with iced foot baths, ate breakfast and then we were on the trail before 9am. We pushed on as intended via Firle Beacon (see photo in my blog profile) and made it to the village of Alfriston by midday. However, this wasn't without it's price. Although the sun may have appeared to have been shining, we all suffered from severe windburn as once again the vicious winds cut into us very hard. But this meant with the exception of one very tough, final climb, we were able to complete our journey by descending quite comfortably (if you can be comfortable after 100 miles?) into Eastbourne via the promenade during late afternoon as the sun thankfully shone down upon us. Once I hit the seaside, my boots went in the bin, my waterproof trousers came off and much relief was felt I can assure you. We all ended up by Eastbourne Pier where we decided to wade into the sea for a paddle to cool down our aching and throbbing feet, ankles, shins and knees.

A few beers later and an Italian meal with Jon's parents alongside Leah and Carrie (Curph's and Jon's wives respectively) to thank them for their support during the week, and then we were all ready to collapse in our funky hotel (appropriately named The Big Sleep) around midnight!
On the train journey back on Saturday morning, we started recalling some of the things we had experienced as the scale of just what we had actually achieved finally began to sink in.

So, what did we actually learn along The South Downs Way?
* never trust the regional weather forecast.
* always trust Curph to make us smile with his scouse humour.
* never trust the mileage shown on maps and signs.
* always trust Chappers to make us laugh with his little wiggle..."everyday I'm shuffling!"
* never trust me when I continually say, "It's ok lads, we're nearly there!"
* always trust Jon with his navigational & map reading skills.

I now know how Steve Redgave felt when he said straight after winning yet another olympic rowing gold medal, "if I ever get into another rowing boat, then shoot me!" ~ well, if I ever put on another pair of walking boots then please shoot me too!

Once I was finally alone for a short while in my hotel room on Friday night, before going downstairs to join the party greeting us, I must confess to shedding a tear or two, which is totally unlike me, but I think all the emotion suddenly overwhelmed me especially when I though of Lou and the reasons why I chose to do this event...I hope she's proud of what we've achieved and despite being totally drained physically and emotionally after completing the trek, I do know that it was all worthwhile.

Further donations can still be made should anyone so wish ~ please find the link to my 'Just Giving' sponsorship page below:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

I'd like to thank the lads for joining me on the trek, as I now realise that it would've been near impossible to complete the walk on my own. I was severely challenged as it was, so to try to cope with it on my own would have been soul destroying I reckon.
And finally, I'd just like to thank all the good luck and supportive messages received during the week of the walk...believe me, they were all very much appreciated and I passed all of them onto the other lads on a daily basis ~ they really helped to drive us on and maintain our spirits.

Ramblin' Steve

The South Downs Way...Here We Come!

"above all do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."

Soren Kierkegaard

Well, after months and months of planning the time has finally come as Jon, Curph, Chappers and myself will be setting off on Monday to complete the walk along The South Downs Way in aid of Cancer Research UK.

I haven't really got much to add except for saying a very big thank you for everyone's wholehearted support and donations so far received...I'm sure I speak for the rest of the lads as well as myself when I say that I aim to do the event proud, and make sure that we reach our final destination on Eastbourne Promenade next Friday, after walking 100 miles over five days!

Further donations can still be made prior to, during, and after the event, and any amounts however small will be greatly appreciated ~ please find my 'Just Giving' sponsors page via the link attached below:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

As mentioned in my previous blog, I'll be writing about the experience of the trek itself on my return, but in the meantime I'll be uploading some photo's along The South Downs Way via Facebook on a daily basis.

And finally...
I'd just like to say a big thanks to Ange in NZ, and to Trace...for recently lifting my spirits and making me smile for remembering many happy times spent in their respective company!
I must also pay a great sense of gratitude to my great friend, Elona (pictured bottom left) ~ she has remained in my life for the past 12 years throughout all of my trials & tribulations, and has always provided me with much love & comfort, whilst always offering her unwavering support & friendship ♥

Thanks for all of your love & support...please wish us luck & we aim to do you all proud!

This is for you Lou and all the many other brave souls ♥

Ramblin' Steve

NZ & The TWL! ♥

"take me to the fantastic place, keep the rest of my life away,
 take me to the island..."

With just over a week to go before Jon, Curph, Chappers and myself embark on our great trek across The South Downs Way, I'm taking the rare opportunity to publish a blog at the weekend, as I've actually got access to a PC (yay!), and I'm also finally posting the fifth and final of my personal favourite photo's ~
'Sunrise in Paihia' in The Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand ~ paradise!
This stunning image was taken using my mobile phone around 6am, just as the sun was rising whilst I went for an early morning stroll along the beach.

After the charity event is over I'll be casting an eye forward towards my impending return to my 'spiritual home' in New Zealand, and the reunion with my great friend, Ange...aka the TWL, which explains the title of this latest blog.

Please see the photo (bottom left), appropriately taken of Ange also on the beach.

As you may recall from previous blogs, I had originally planned to re-visit New Zealand for my 50th birthday (in quite a few years time I hasten to add!), but an opportunity exists to bring this plan forward to this year to celebrate my 45th instead, so I fully intend to persue it if at all possible.
It may not yet happen, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that my plans come to fruition, maybe with a little bit of help no doubt (?).. and if not then I have a back-up contingency plan in mind, which is a completely radical and practical alternative...watch this space! Lol.
So either way this old fella will be fine...although the TWL knows where my heart truely belongs, and I'll remain forever hopeful that I'll be NZ bound come the end of October this year and not 2017 instead!?

Whilst on the charity walk itself I won't be posting any blogs ~ I'll wait until I return, hopefully in one piece?! ~ and then I'll resume by writing a full account of the whole experience. But what I will do is upload at least two photo's every day via Facebook ~ one at the start of the day, and one at the end when we've reached our daily destination ~ as well as any photo's of any funny mishaps or anything else particularly relevant which may occur along the way!

Just to recap our schedule and daily mileage is as follows:

Monday April 23rd ~ Winchester to Buriton ~ 24 miles

Tuesday April 24th ~ Buriton to Amberley ~ 22 miles

Wednesday April 25th ~ Amberley to Pyecombe ~ 20 miles

Thursday April 26th ~ Pyecombe to Rodmell ~ 14 miles

Friday April 27th ~ Rodmell to Eastbourne ~ 20 miles

Many thanks for all of the donations so far received...it has honestly been a very humbling experience for me, and the interest and support shown right back to when I originally thought up the idea to the present day has truly been overwhelming. To date the four of us have so far raised £2,189 for the cause, mainly from on-line donations, although I know there are some additional monies which I've factored in such as cash pledges and donations made via sponsorship forms, as well as the first banking of the coinage from the collection boxes, and the kind 'matches' donated by our employer, Mercer.
Please find the link below to my sponsorship 'Just Giving' page:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

Although I'm still struggling with my injuries, I'm pleased to say that I'm confident that I'll be fit enough to participate in the walk on April 23rd ~ I'm trekking 12 miles tomorrow, although I intend to take it quite easy so hopefully there'll be no ill effects other than maybe an extremely sore back...I'm ok so long as I don't cough, sneeze or breathe!
I'll be posting one final blog before we depart for our trek, but until then on behalf of the lads and myself may I sincerely thank you for all of your support.

Ramblin' Steve

Being Led Astray!

" Read some Kerouac and it put me on the tracks to burn a little brighter now,
 Somethin' about Roman candles fizzin' out, shine a little light on me now,
 Found a strange fascination with a liquid fixation, alcohol can thrill me now,
 It's getting late in the game to show any pride or shame, burn a little brighter now..."

This weeks blog contains the fourth of my five personal favourite photo's, and proves that even this old fella can sometimes let his hair down (?) and have some fun! Thanks to Sarah for leading me astray...but at the same time for making me smile!
This photo was just one of many taken at my works Christmas party last December, and I am very thankful for everyone's support at Mercer, both personally speaking, and with regards to their donations towards the charity event in two weeks time.
Reviewing this photo also reminds me that life's too short for always being too good and too healthy, and sometimes you do need to be led astray by letting yourself go and having some fun...so therefore, although I'm no longer capable of any prolonged drinking sessions anymore, I am enjoying the odd alcoholic beverage or two on occassion!
It does you good to enjoy some beers with the lads, or cocktails with the girls (Sarah!), or maybe even a few vino's (Trace!), or G&T's (Nicky!)...in fact any form of giggle juice (TWL!) usually does the trick!

With regards to the preparations for the charity walk, I have unfortunately aggrevated an old football injury and think that I may have been over-doing the training a little bit. I have a constantly trapped nerve in my side, due to some severe damage to my pelvis and hip over twenty years ago, which occassionally flares up and gives me jip...regretably, this is one of those times! The trapped nerve is caused by the muscle being permanently fused to the bone, so there is absolutely nothing that I can do about it other than rest.
And it doesn't help that yesterday I fell down my friends stairs and badly damaged my back...and I swear that I was sober! But I am determined to be fit for the charity walk on April 23rd however, so for this reason and this reason alone, I will now only commit to one final training walk on Sunday April 15th...just to keep me ticking over!

All gratefully received contributions to our cause in aid of Cancer Research UK can be kindly donated by using the link to my 'Just Giving' sponsorship page below, as well as at the foot of every blog:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

It has now been two weeks since my television set blew up...literally, and believe it or not, I've been coping fine without a TV. I liken it to the time when I was on the road in New Zealand, when all I had was my van and the open road...happy days! And it's only just over six months until I'll be doing it all again...can't wait Ange! What the lack of a TV has allowed me though, is the opportunity to read much more, (mainly travel books and biographies), as well as scheme up some ideas for future blogs ~ this includes something completely different once the charity campaign has run it's course...so watch this space!

Finally, I'd like to say thanks to Trace (pictured bottom left at the foot of this blog), and offer my apologies for inflicting upon her the mother of all hangovers!
But it was great to remember happy days and crazy times together over many drinks...it brought us both many smiles and much laughter, whilst reminding me that I was once a very lucky man!
Thanks Trace ♥

Ramblin' Steve

Easter: Tough Love & The Harsh Truth

"Easter here again, a time for the blind to see
 Easter, surely now can all of your hearts be free..." ♥

After torturing myself these past few weekends with long treks in all kinds of weather, this weekend I have a short break in Somerset & Gloucestershire to look forward to.
This means that I'll be temporarily hanging up my walking boots as I treat myself to the luxury of a hotel for the night on Good Friday in Bath, before continuing my journey to stay with friends in Cheltenham for the remainder of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

This weeks blog contains the third of my five favourite personal photo's and is relevant both to my weekend break, and to Cancer Research UK as the forthcoming charity event looms large on the horizon!

The South Downs Way ~ 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne ~ April 23-27

The photo shows my great friend, Jo Rolfe & I enjoying ourselves at a leaving party in my old local pub, The George & Dragon, in the village of Batheaston, where I used to live and where Jo's parents still currently reside. Jo now lives and works in London as part of the Olympics 2012 Event Management Team, so although I won't be catching up with her this weekend, I do hope to meet up with my dear friend Trace, and her family, before travelling on to Cheltenham to spend some time with some more great friends, Jimi & Denn, who incidentally the leaving party was for when this photo was taken.
The relevance with the charity event is that Jo worked quite extensively for Cancer Research UK for a while, and it was her fantastic efforts and achievements whilst being involved with this worthy cause, (in addition to my personal reasons already established in previous blogs), which confimed my decision to make this my chosen charity.
Also, by a rather strange coincidence, Winchester is the city where Jo graduated from last year, where I spent a few wonderful days in her company whilst sat in one pub or another...(cheers Jo!), and it is from here where our great trek is starting from!

Tomorrow (April 3rd) also marks a very significant day for someone special.
The main reason behind my charity event is out of respect to one precious lady, (my ex-girlfriend), who continuely strives to fight in her battle with terminal cancer.
Tomorrow marks her 30th birthday ~ we may no longer be in contact, but she remains in my thoughts and I wish her well. I must confess to making one final grand gesture of attempting a reconciliation, but it was to no avail. In fact she made it very plain to me that I must move on with my life; leave her to get on with what she's got left of her life; and although she's probably just being cruel to be kind, I guess the harsh truth is that's the way it's just going to have to be ~ I know I'm just a foolish, hopeless romantic, but I just had to try...
The donations continue to arrive (£2,000 and counting between the four of us!), and I can only hope that she feels proud for what I am attempting to achieve...I guess our efforts are a mere drop in the ocean when viewed within the whole scheme of things, but at least I feel that I am doing something.

Please find the link to my sponsorship page attached below:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

After this Easter break, I have a long weekend in Ireland to look forward to in June, before turning all my attentions to planning a fantastic fortnight in New Zealand in October, when I get the chance to catch up with my great friend Ange, aka the TWL (tiny, wee lady). Rather than the usual funny pic of Ange which always features at the foot of my blogs, I have now replaced it with a far more flattering photo of the TWL...I hope she approves? Lol.
Many thanks hunny...and you know why! ♥

Ramblin' Steve