This morning we set off to Henley in Arden for our next adventure into the world of walking. It was a bright and dry day, but seemed fairly cool.
Our walk started in a car park at the end of the town which led directly on to a part of the Heart of England Way.
There were just a few other walkers out - some exercising dogs and others whose more serious intent was signalled by their maps and rucksacks. The seriousness of my intent (to be fit to walk 8.5 miles in the June 6th Fun Run) was signalled by the presence of my supporters Pawel & Kamil (the Walking Poles).
Now it's come to my attention that some people question whether P & K are real people or not - some have said they are mere cartoon characters who cannot leave the screen or page to enter the real world - the guys find this quite hurtful! So here's a picture of them in action on today's walk - and I have to say, I found them a great support.
There was a longish steep climb near the start of the walk, which was a challenge for the knees of both my brother and me, and where both pairs of Walking Poles - his remain curiously un-named - proved their worth. The view from the top was worth the effort.
This was quite a "stylish" walk - that's to say, there were quite a number of stiles, another challenge to our not so supple limbs.
One of these led us into a field that was home to a very "friendly" horse and sheep who greeted us so enthusiastically that the awkward climb over the stile was as nothing compared to fending off their welcome. They were probably pet animals who associated visiting humans with being fed, and the horse, probably not believing anyone would try to enter his paddock without food, decided he had to taste every bit of body, clothing or equipment that came into reach. We eventually managed to persuade them to return to the other end of the field, though when we reached the gate the sheep came running up determined to leave by the same means as us. It was quite a struggle to keep it in the field as we exited.
It was shortly after this that we lost our planned route, though a while before we realised. We decided to continue and navigate by sense of direction and roadsigns, as it was apparent that we would now have to complete the circuit back to Henley mainly by road. This was not without attractive views though.
We eventually reached the car park we had started from. We estimated our route had been a little shorter and that we had done about 6.5 miles. We made up for this with a short walk to the town and back where we enjoyed fresh and very reasonably priced baguettes washed down with coffee/cider in one of the town's hostelries.
Pawel and Kamil also had a rest!
We're thinking of Cannock Chase for our next major sortie.
Well you never know what to expect, do you? That flash of insight when I realised that it was really not on to keep talking about two walking poles and gave then their names.....blow me, they've only gone and set up their own fundraising page http://www.everyclick.com/walkingpoles - can you believe it?! When they said they were going to support me, I thought they were just thinking of taking some of the weight off my knees.
Incidentally, when I was ambling about one of the West Midlands fine suburban shopping centres this afternoon, I was asked if my feet were better, as I didn't seem to be walking so awkwardly. I realised that my feet were no different to usual really, but my knees had improved - is my investment in fou-fou tablets starting to pay off? Come tomorrow's walk it may be a different story!
The next phase of my plan, started last week is to flood my body with natural anti-inflammatories - things like ginger and turmeric - I know, that sounds like eating loads of curries, which would do for me, but complicated when you live with someone who really doesn't like spicy food - rose hip etc. which I've bought from my trusted food supplement supplier (I used to scorn such things, but years of trying to manage with healthy eating and conventional medicines - very little help from the NHS! has led me to try herbal and natural remedies, most of which I ditch as ineffective after trying them for a couple of months!). So far it's not been a particularly good week in terms of joint pain and stiffness, but mostly I'm just realising that there were very good reasons why I scaled back on walking and carrying.
This week I've been off work, but with two funerals, two theatre trips, one AGM, three Samaritans shifts and a museum visit, there's not been time to fit in a walk yet (have done a couple of walks to the shops etc. and the museum trip did involve a lot of walking though not continuously).
So the next "proper" walk looks set to be Sunday when a seven mile walk around the Henley in Arden area is being planned. Provided that the weather is dry that should be a nice day out. Seven miles is quite a jaunt and I don't doubt will cause some pain, but it's only about 3 weeks to "The Big Day" now and I've got to be ready for that. If I can do 7, I won't be worried about 8.5!
Just to say I spoke to soon about my knees! Monday when I wrote I was feeling fine, but by Tuesday morning I could hardly move!My feet and knees hurt so much, as well as the muscles in my calves, and my wrists. It was pain at a misery-making level and I was glad to creep into bed at the end of the day. I had a routine appointment at the doctors, but was kept so long in the waiting room that I didn't have time to discuss my walking progress and whether the doc could help me with my mobility (some hope!). I just had to accept the good news about my cholesterol etc. - the stuff they bother about (= get paid to do) then dash off back to work so as not to exceed my allotted medical hour.Today is not so bad, though I was conscious of the effort of walking about. Some of my friends think I'm barmy to do this. Who am I to disagree! My supportive mates Pawel and Kamil (the Walking Poles) say they will make every effort to support me in any way they can - what do they mean?
The poles arrive and look as though they're going to be up to the task in hand.Too busy even for a walk to the shops though...a walk around the supermarket is about all I can fit in till last Friday when once again the leg-powered shopping trip makes it onto the agenda.My brother Steve has found us a circular walk for Sunday morning. It's 3.5 miles, I think he says - so a step up from what we've done so far, but still less than half what we have to do on the big day!Saturday, there's heavy rain for several hours, so I'm expecting the going underfoot to be a bit soft - OK, I'm thinking it might be a mudbath! But come Sunday morning which is fairly bright, but also fairly cold and breezy - but overall comfortable walking weather - though the puddles on the canal towpath where the walk starts are like a miniature Lake District, there's actually not much mud.So the two poles get their first outing - the extra length makes them much more comfortable on the wrists and I also think they support me better, so that my knees and back both benefit. They've done such sterling work that it seems rude and heartless to keep referring to them as "the two poles" so I've decided to name them Pawel and Kamil after two Polish students who worked in our office a while back.At one point in the walk Steve tells me we have a choice of routes, one of which is a kilometre longer - I opt for the longer one, thinking I don't want to do less than the 3.5 miles planned, but when we've passed through woodland, park, nature reserve and residential street and reached the final leg of the walk which brings us once again to the canal towpath, he tells me the walk I've done is over four miles, and with the two 'detours' - okay, we got lost twice! - we've probably done over 5 miles. I'm glad to be finished, but pleased with what we've accomplished.Afterwards, once we've rested a while, I don't feel excessively fatigued, sore or achy, and today, I think my knees feel better than at any time since I started this walking malarkey. Glad that I bought those knee supports (which were comfortable) and recruited Pawel and Kamil to my team!
