Wednesday 24 April 2013

Day 0: Amroth

Again the familiar trepidation!  To be fair, it’s nothing like I felt in Penzance that early April day in 2011. I think by now I may even have earned the right to call myself a long-distance walker, but that’s too easy.  Last year’s walk along the Cotswold Way with John and Yasmin was smooth enough. Now all I can think about now is how I felt on Offa’s Dyke when my leg was so painful that I thought I might have to abandon the project. Then there was the saga of the new boots on the Pennine Way and my crippled toes, not to mention my sprained ankle and smashed netbook screen in Cornwall and Devon! Strange how all the bad thoughts crowd out the positives at the start of these wanderings.

It’s the unknown, of course. I have never planned a route so carefully, or paid more meticulous attention to my gear, and all that was done in a state of high excitement. But now it really is upon me! I am expecting to cover an average of 20km (12 mi) per day for 15 walking days. There will be a number of days when the average distance is well in excess of this. It feels a little like the Great Glen Way, which was really demanding and that was after three months of daily walking!!  Also, all the coastal paths involve lots of cliffs with many ups and downs.  Why do I do this to myself?

I have been fairly energetic in my training programme in preparation for the walk, so it’s not as if I am starting from scratch. But then again, the gentle rolling hills of Surrey are hardly the same as the wild cliffs of Wales. Anyway, enough complaining!  Just get on with it!

Those familiar with these blogs will remember that I have a tedious habit of focussing on the technology of their delivery, and of course in the world of the cloud and tablets, I have been researching furiously to see whether I could find an easier (and lighter) way of getting the job done. In short, the answer is no!  To upload my photos, I need an SD card slot and to upload my GPS tracks, I need a USB connection. I tested Wordpress versus Blogger, but found the handling of photos easier on Blogger, even if commenting was more difficult. So, I’m afraid I will be using precisely the same equipment as I used on my Land’s End to John O’Groats walk. So much for progress!

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There, now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest, I’m feeling better. Obviously, I’m more comfortable with technology than with walking…..  (Why on earth am I doing this???).  Now I'm off to find the New Inn, the official start of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, and to sink a pint of the finest Welsh bitter as a consolation!


The little train to Amroth. I had to tell the driver to stop at Kilgetty, so I could get off. Such a wonderful change of gears from the city!

10 comments:

  1. Arrived!! And to 'Request a Train Stop!!! Did you have to walk to the front and tap him on the shoulder? At least he's unlikely to run the train off the tracks were he to get a fright!!!!

    Enjoy your 1st day tomorrow, Kev and mat the weather be kind.

    All love,

    Vx

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    1. Thank you my love, I'm safely in the pub and all is well!

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  2. Great to see you have actually started-we were wondering if you'd got sensible at last and just driven instead! Look forward to that special insight into all things Welsh, and not a few rants no doubt! John and Yasmin

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    1. Fine for you in Crete! I'm just watching a doubtful weather forecast for tomorrow! Still, ignore the weather!

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  3. Well, Kevin...you have to start at the start.
    (Don't I sound wise?...or just trite!)

    I just rushed home from work to read your blog!
    This is going to be a great walk; no blisters for me!! Yippee. You twice asked in today's blog, "why"; but I'm sure that will be apparent as soon as you get out there and start knocking off the miles.

    Have a great time,
    Phyllis

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  4. Hi Phyllis, so good to hear from you! You are right! It's going to be great!

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    1. Cute train, by the way. Something like the one we road to Mt Fuji last Fall, only that one was painted with cartoon volcanoes with smiling faces..."kawaii"

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  5. Good luck Kevin. The weather's not too bad here, just a bit mizzly - but what's a bit of mizzle in wet, west Wales, it could be an awful lot worse. Looking forward to joining you later in the walk, all things being well.Love F & J

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  6. Come on, where's the first day's blog? We are tucked up in bed, and waiting... Get your nose out of that pint, and get writing!
    J&Y

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    1. OMG (If I'm allowed that expression as a senior), here I am working since 16:30 without a break, and, OK, with a pint and two large reds and a delicious dinner under the belt, during which I was working my fingers to the bone, and there you are tucked up in bed, doing nothing (?!!). The post is posted....

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