Slips, trips and meeting some trailtrekker chicks

7.15 in the morning and were sat in the car on the way to Yockenthwaite. The support crew (Nat and Katie) are dropping us off at our destination. Driving through the hills the only thing that seems to be awake are Nat, Katie and the occasion sheep standing in the middle of the road.

At this point we could play the newly established "where's Dave" game but the answer to that is simple..............nobody cares!!!!!! as time we come prepared and packed our own camera (Daves uses are become less and less)

Setting off at 8.30am our route was a little over 27 miles and we soon (or I should say "I soon) found the conditiond very slippy, on my backside in a record breaking 3 mins! Having forgotten to pack my ice skates we made hard work of the first few miles, following the dalesway to Kettlewell. A nice easy route in the dry conditions of May im sure. A slight incline from Kettlewell to Conistone the the first of the butty stops (Ham, cheese, lettice, tomato, cucmber and salad cream for me and Nuttella for Martin) A quick check of the map!

Once lunch was completed we headed over the moors to skipton as you can tell from martins mud wrestling antics the going was tough.

On the way to Skipton we meet a couple of ladies walking their dogs and as it turns out they two were doing trailtrekker in May. Maybe t-shirts are in order to identify us "trekkers" to the rest of the walking world.

After a quick chat we decided they were walking too slow for us and we were off. 9 Hours later and back at the car the groans from the roadside were to much for one resisdent who quickly shut the curtains (martin in his boxer shorts again!)

Good times

1.Meeting some fellow trailtrekkers - there was only two of them walking too - names and numbers exchanged as there walking partners sound a slack as ours! So we could form a new team

2. All but 5 miles of the route have been covered now so there should be no getting lost

3. A night time walk has been planned (probably past daves bed time though so will just be me and martin)

Bad times

1. Sore bits........readers we need your help? what are the best creams, powders etc.. for chaffing, and when i say chaffing i mean on a grand scale! Think Rick Waller wearing Cherl Coles pants for a week!

2. Dave writting on the blog!!! Bad boy dave, this blog is for WALKERS ONLY!

3. Thanks to all those who have sponsored but we still need £2,095

Team in turmoil

Good times:

Thanks to Hayley for donating £40 into the fund and being my scapegoat to get out of training sessions.

Happy Birthday Martin!

If you'd like to read the article that featured on page 2 of the Yorkshire Post, click here. Catering manager's walking boots ready to help the needy

Bad times:

In my defence, I feel that the empty invite to join Ant and Martin playing squash (which I haven't been invited to before and I'm sure is a two-man game) in the early hours of Saturday morning doesn't count as skipping a walking training session, ...on this occassion.

Ant receives a written warning (from admin, that's me :-) ) for using the blog to boast his average squash skills and posting derogatory remarks about fellow team-mates.

Snow walking this week!

The snow fall this week has taken its toll on this country of ours! With London at a stand still, footie games called off, motorists left stranded on their way home from work and some even dodging falling sheets of ice on the seven bridge. Most of the postponements or crying off has happened down south. Southerners are noted for their SOFTNESS on most matters, you wouldn't catch us northerners chickening out over a few fakes of the white stuff!

Back to the walking...this Sundays walk was postponed due to heavy snow and a lighter weekend warm up of squash was decided upon. Once again Mr Milner had better plans and is still A.W.O.L from our training sessions (that's only 1 session completed in 2009) This weeks excuse was a hangover (your only 26 Dave!)

Good times
1. Beating Martin at squash even though i had been on the sauce the night before. (It was his birthday but there was no sympathy from me dont know who the Nadal of the squash seen is but I would have given them a good run for their money)
2. Treating Martin to his first NIL game of squash were he failed to score a single point in one set!
3. With no Sunday walk planned Saturday night was free not only to toast Martins birthday but my superior squash skills demonstrated earlier that morning good times were had cider was drunk and stig had his helmet eaten! (birthday cake not actual helmet)
4. Not liking cricket that much so being able to laugh at how rubbish England are. (think i could score 51!)

Bad times
1. Thinking of starting a "Where's Dave" club similar to Where's Wally but Dave had no specs but I would need to take a few pictures of him walking first!
2. Next weeks walk has been set and it looks like a 30 mile trip starting at 6.45am on a Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Still more money needed £2110.00 www.justgiving.com/fourdo100k

Woah!!! Were Half Way There!!

Sunday 1st Feb

It's another lovely Sunday morning and the team (when I say team I mean just me and Martin, (Dave as usual has something or someone better to do!) arrive in Horton in good time (before 12). Todays walk is is a gentle 7 mile there 7 mile back and after completion means half the route has now been ticked off.

The walk starts at the Crown Inn and follows the Pennie way for 6 1/2 miles. A steep climb to start gets the legs warmed up and makes you wish you too had stayed in bed but then the hill begins to flatten out and the walk become quite easy. The views of all 3 peaks are amazing! We arrive at the Pennie Way/ Dalesway sign and then down the hill out of the wind which is our que to stop for lunch and celebrate the half way point of the 63 mile trek we will soon be undertaking.

Good times
1. The offical photographer (Dave) absent as usual means no bad photos of me and martin looking wind swept while Dave looks like he is on a model assignment
2. Martin remembers to bring a spare pair of pants so for once I dont have to spend the journey home worried!
3. Its the 1st Feb and at last I can finish the walk off with a nice cold pint after not drinking throughout Jan (I did break the rule the night before after watching Leeds poor effort at Wallsal which was enough to drive anyone to drink)

Bad times
1. The realisation is now setting in that 14-16 mile just aint going to cut the mustard and the training will have to be cranked up a gear or two.
2. Getting home and bloody Dancing on Ice is starting! Next time we keep walking for longer!
2. Realising we still have £2150.00 to raise. HELP!!! www.justgiving.com/fourdo100k

A Good Sign

Today me and Ant trekked from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, along the Pennine Way to just after it meets the Dales Way (approx 7 miles each way, so a good 14 mile training session).

It was, however, increasingly obvious that by the time we reach our starting point today, we will have walked around 20-25 miles already, including the climb up and down Pen-Y-Ghent. This was an extremely sobering thought, as we passed the warm and enticing pub at the start.

To cut a long story short, it was a pleasant walk (despite the long and sometimes painful uphill drags). Lots of great scenery and the views of the Yorkshire Three Peaks were spectacular. We didn't get lost once, which was a good sign - this either means that the route was extremely easy to follow, or our map reading skills are improving (my money is on the easier route and regular signposts).

There were also plenty of sheep who seemed completely dumbfounded by the mere sight of our new walking hats.

Please sponsor us by following the link below:
www.justgiving.com/fourdo100k