I guess I really should introduce myself

It's finally time for me to say hello. I'm Sean Galloghly and I'm looking forward to joining Martin and Dave on our stroll south through England's green and pleasant land. Of course, when I say "looking forward", what I actually mean is "wondering what I've let myself in for"!

Looking at the previous post to the blog, I've finally seen the full route in all it's full technicolour glory.... and I'm off to go and buy a few more pairs of 1000-mile socks and anti-blister cream!

Hope this is the first of many entries from me and I hope to raise the profile of the walk from my end over the next few weeks.....

See you soon!


Sean

The route is finally mapped out

Now the route is final I have managed to map it out and it doesn't look too long this size, but I am guessing it's probably some kind of optical illusion.

Don't say anything, but Sean hasn't seen the full route yet, let's just keep it between us!

Click on the map for the full technicolour version.

Thank you, Wendy

Big thank you to Wendy at Village Link Magazines for not only her donation of advertising space but her generous personal donation.
The Village Link Magazines are popular, useful directories delivered free of charge to villages around the Grantham area. So, if you need a trustworthy service in the South Lincs area, you'll find one in here. Keep up the good work Wendy!
We truly appreciate all help we receive and every penny we raise will be invested into the research required and not into admin as with many large fundraising organisations/charities.

It's getting nearer !!!

Well ! Time is racing on, and the time to take positive action is almost upon us. The equipment is coming together nicely. There are the anti blister socks, the pedometer, MP3 with FM radio. All I need to do now is start some sort of training. Although I am still recovering from the exertions of the Carlton Scroop Ironman Triathlon - you know sack race, egg and spoon etc. which you will doubtless have seen and marvelled at.
One of my main hopes for the walk is to refresh my memory of what Martin looks like. For weeks now all I've seen is the back of his head as he sits hunched from dawn to dusk over the keyboard doing a wonderful job of pulling all the logistics together. I have suggested that next year we could do a bank raid - 10 minutes work, a lot less planning, and hopefully a substantial financial gain for charity.
Since I last wrote I have made one of my regular trips to the surgery and was initially thrilled when the doctor told me I had a top of the range BMI. That was news to me as I drive a Skoda, but that would sure be handy for the walk; a sleek piece of German engineering (perhaps only for the use on the uphill bits though) However I slumped a little when he explained the full implications of his words. Coupled to this my blood pressure (controlled by medication) had risen. So this really was the time for positive action, and the drive to lower both the figures faster than John Stalker could drop his roller shutters began. So this week I shall mainly be sucking lettuce leaves. Fortunately on Monday I leave for warmer climes, and prepare to undertake a bit of altitude training in Andalucia. This should stand me in good stead for the trek south across Lincolnshire. Must dash and sneak a quick Ryvita while noone's looking.
Best foot forward

Three becomes Four!!

Don't panic Hotels...this one won't need an extra bed!

.

Today we were joined by our Walking 4 Barney mascot "Barney Bear".

He will join us everyday as we go in town centres and we hope to get playgroups and nurseries, on route, to hold teddy bear picnics that he can visit.

Anyone else notice that his tummy profile bears a striking resemblence to those of the walkers' ?

All accommodation finalised

Thank you to:

Laurie at Premier Travel Inn - Colmworth Park, St Neots
Sarah at Premier Travel Inn - Peterborough A1(M) J16 Norman Cross

For you confirmation and for the additional accommodation for Sean.
Very much appreciated.

Bourne Accomodation

A big thank you to Shirley at the Dormy House, Bourne Link for her kind donation of accommodation for us on Day 1 it is very much appreciated.
Generous offers like Shirley's really boosts the morale of the troops and means one less logistical worry.
Thank you

Thank you Ann

Thank you to Ann Ward at the Premier Travel Inn, South Mimms for her kind donation of accommodation for Day 5. Her generosity giving us 2 rooms ensures our 3rd walker has somewhere to sleep too. That's two out of five nights Sean!

New walker accommodation

Thank you to Annette Fox at the Premier Travel Inn, Stevenage North for the the donation for Day 4's accommodation.
With the addition of Sean my original request for a room is now defunct but thank you for the offer of a reduced rate room to keep him safe and warm!

Two becomes Three

Today saw our team of honed atheletes increase by 50%. We have another victim, Sean Galloghly has volunteered to join myself and Dave for all 150 foot blistering miles!
Sean will open the walk up to a whole new audience and enable us to increase our ability to raise additional funds and awareness.
He will also be able to contribute to the walk with his seemingly never ending stories from his illustrious career (I've heard most of them mind you!) sill it will be a treat for Dave.

Welcome Sean and thank you.

Red Tape

Well today saw the last of the applications to the nine different borough, city and district councils I have had to make to secure the necessary permits and licences to allow us to collect money as we go. It's amazing how although all governed by the one law of the land each council had their own take on what was required.
Un fortuanately we aren't allowed to collect in London on Day 6 as there os only one week allocated for collecting by the MPS, such a loss of potential cash... if anyone has any bright (legal) ideas please letu know.
So I just need to wait by the door for the postman to get all the licences back then I can start applying to HMSO for the required certificates and badges. Good old red tape, it's great to be British!
It's probably been the most gruelling task of the planning yet (incliding the walking) but the grief will be worth it.

It's a very long way

With the complexities for the permits for the walk and notifications to local authorities we decided that Bank Holiday Monday was not the day to sleep off the Easter Eggs but to not only finalise the route but to actually make sure it existed, just in case there were any uncharted rivers or canyons on the way south.

So armed with copious amounts of sandwiches drinks and sweets we set off in the car to drive the route. Suzanne and Caity were also armed with notepad and were busily noting down every pub, major business or factory (and roundabout?) we passed with the corresponding distance logged for reference, however, due to the few wrong turns these got less and less accurate.

The exercise was worthwhile as it flagged up some interesting facts...

1. It's a very long way
2. Remember not to follow road signs and walk around ring roads go through the towns
3. It's a very very long way
4. The road to Bourne is very very hilly, poor calf muscles
5. It's a very very very long way
6. Disturbing lack of footpaths on fast roads
7. It's a bleedin' long way!
8. The Sunday of the walk (Father's Day) is the longest leg at 28miles and by far the most boring, apologies if you live in that area!
9. Driving the route was exhausting, let alone walking it.
10. What have we let ourselves in for!

All joking aside it was nice to get out and experience the route, and a lot of the info we gathered can be used to fine tune the route and ensure we get into the right parts of the towns we pass through. Wrong turns in the car are a LOT less hassle that when walking!

Now the "serious" training begins

The Easter break has focused our minds on the task ahead. Having spent last week trawling through the paperwork required to obtain licences and permits for the walk the it suddenly hit me that is only just over two months until the walk... where did the time go? what happened to the training? [valley girl voice...] Oh my god!

With this realisation there is a need for serious a training regime, this began today with a family sports day. This hardcore training activity consisted of such favourites as:

• Sack race
• Three-legged race
• Egg & Spoon race
• "Walking with a beanbag on your head" race
• "Supposed to be a sprint" race

I understand these are activities that all top Olympic athletes use in their training programmes. Thankfully cheating was ignored and no scores kept or positions remembered. Not only did we manage a top-level aerobic workout, but I also managed to get a sunburn in April !?! Keep up those carbon-emissions!!!

Accommodation News

After a few phone calls in the past couple of days I've managed to secure accommodation for 4 of the 5 required days. Thanks to Premier Travel Inn's generosity we have a bed and more importantly a hot bath to recover in!

With a few amendments to the original route we will now be starting and/or finishing most days at a PTI location, this has simplified our press launches no end!

Many thanks to the local management at Premier Travel Inns...

• Norman Cross, Peterborough
• Colmworth Park, St Neots
• Stevenage North
• South Mimms

Just accommodation needed in Bourne for the first night surely it's not right going back home!

Long Time No Write

I have finally got round to updating my prepartions for the walk. Time has been at a premium of late, as we are mid house sale, trying to arrange moves, sort 30 years of collected "treasure" etc. However through all this I have not lost focus, and am still collecting my thoughts on the best way to prepare. I feel that it is akin to that of a finely tuned motor vehicle.
There is the bodywork - Good for the year, average milage, regularly washed and shampooed. Sadly lacking in the waxing department.
The engine - Again not bad for the age, good starter, built for comfort not speed, and regularly NHS serviced.
My main concern for this walk was fuel. I am, as those that know me, a keen fan of food, and am a little perplexed at where I may be able to take on the necessary supplies to sustain me for the duration. To this end I have been studying the work of the Roadkill Chef and have decided to prepare my own signature dish. I call it "Startled Rabbit".
The main ingredient being - the startled rabbit, but served on a bed of gorse and ragwort with a nettle and dandelion coulis. If that doesn't see me over the finish line I don't know what will.
Best foot forward till the next time.