“I arrived in Hartley Mauditt at 8.30am, having walked 6.9 miles. Not bad! I hoped this would stand me in good stead for my planned arrival in Blacknest by 11.30. However, Binsted was next on my list and what a road that is! Not too many cars but LOTS of cyclists – and very merry they were too! The next time I would meet them would be in Dockenfield, where a short 5-minute rest was due. I made it to Blacknest by 11.30 exactly, so I had a ten-minute rest.
From there I walked along a short lane to Bucks Horn Oak, then on to Dockenfield. Up through Shortfield Common, then on to Millbridge, a small area near Frensham Little Pond. I continued to Tilford and, as my thighs were aching, I had a 5-minute stop and started to think about the very long stretch from Tilford to Churt. I also made a decision to take some ‘hard drugs’ (don’t panic......it was just 2 paracetamol!). That saw an end to the aches and my legs and energy felt renewed. Tilford was definitely the part of the walk where I was constantly thinking, ‘concentrate on what you have walked, NOT, what’s left!’. That did it and once I finally reached Churt I had just 3.5 miles to go.
With loads of daylight left - my watch said 3.25pm - I popped into the local shop for a bottle of Prosecco! A glass of that and a long, hot bath was on my mind! As I walked up my road, my husband was waiting to greet me.... Icing on the cake!!! He had been able to track my whole walk on his phone.
Ian asked if I enjoyed the walk. My answer is definitely YES! I love a challenge and, with your help and donations, I have so far raised £170. The real bonus is that all of the money goes to cancer research and not to an organisation that organises challenges. I declined a T shirt as that saves them even more money. So, after 30 miles and 10 hours, I was home and happy that I didn’t let my donors down.
Many, many thanks again to all of you! I look forward to putting some faces to the names of my donors!
Estella
