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I stepped out from the front door and headed for the river. With 15 miles to walk, I decided that starting by walking in the opposite direction to pick up the riverside path the easy way wasn't really the best idea, opting instead for a nondescript footpath between houses and a fence that should lead … Continue reading Asterix and the Defence of the Thames (London LOOP Part 1)
It's been a whole month since my last local walk, (not counting walks involving the portage home of comestibles) and it really was time to get out again. I'm ashamed to say that I've lived in this area for 16 years, and never done any exploring of the walking that is to be had along … Continue reading A Toddle Around Tilbury Marshes
Yes, you heard it here first. Despite appearances to the contrary, there is culture to be found in Thurrock, which may I remind you was recently determined as the most miserable place in the country, according to Cameron's new-fangled happiness index. And I can reveal that it is more than a bit shit here. So … Continue reading Warning: Unexpected Culture in Thurrock
Today I nearly became part of the food chain, when a hulking great beast tried to eat me. Here's how it happened... Ok, I have exaggerated slightly above for literary effect, but the story itself is true. I woke to an outside temperature of -2C and then it started raining. Great. An iced-over driveway meant … Continue reading Becoming part of the food chain
I can't always go to the hills to walk, and so have to make the best of what's on my doorstep. Unfortunately, for a hill walker, that best is pretty poor. Not only does my local terrain have very little in the way of ascent, parts of it are actually below sea level, if my … Continue reading Fenplodder strikes again
It's so low and flat where I live that my GPS sometimes shows me as being below sea level, and today was no exception when I grabbed an opportunity for a last walk of 2011. Given the short daylight hours, rather than opt to be dropped off at Hampton Court, near where the rest of … Continue reading Fenplodder!
Now then, now then, first things first. An apology for the title of this post. And an even bigger apology for the pun and tenuous association with the actual subject matter! (Sir) Jimmy Saville who died this weekend was known for his brightly coloured shell suits and big chunky jewellery. And his chair which seemed … Continue reading Jim’ll Thicket
With time on my hands, now that I don't have to go to work for several months, and with (hopefully) an improvement in the weather on the way, it's time to start getting out and about. I'm scheduled to do the Cumbria Way at the end of this month, and after a winter's relative inactivity … Continue reading Training for the Cumbria Way
It's March 2005, and one day at work, the IT Director's personal assistant circulated an email inviting people to sign-up to enter the 3 Peaks challenge. Now I don't usually go for things like this, as I'm not that fit and whilst I enter these things with good intentions, my actual performance tends to fall … Continue reading UK Three Peaks (2005): Start of the Adventure