Ive finished! Ive walked 1200 miles in 7 weeks and 4 days! Ive walked along roads, through fields, along rivers, over moors and over mountains. Ive had all sorts of weather from scortching hot to bitterly cold, gale winds, fog, thunder and lightening, but on the whole I think Ive been very lucky with the weather! Its been very hard mentally and physically at times but also very enjoyable and life enhancing. The wildlife and scenery have been amazing and I was even lucky enough to see an otter and just yesterday a seal. I will continue with the blog during my recovery time in Orkney as I know some people are interested to see the amazing sights of these islands. My thanks to everyone that has followed my blog for your encouragement and your generous donations to Naomis House Childrens Hopsice. It gives me great pleasure to know my efforts will help to support such a worthy cause.


LEJOG - Lands End John O Groats

Thanks for visiting my blog... This expedition has been two months in the planning and training and will hopefully be two months in the execution. I will endeavour to entertain you with a few tales and interesting pictures of my trip as I travel the length of Great Britain in my Lejog challenge... so please call back and send me messages of support to boost my tired legs!

I am collecting sponsorship for Naomi's House childrens hospice. Naomis house provides support and respite care to people under the age of 18 who are unlikely to live in to adulthood. They have two facilities in Hampshire costing 45 million per year to run, serving sick children in seven counties. They are 93% funded by charitable donations.

You can sponsor my trek at http://www.justgiving.com/Malcolm-Woodford

Thursday 10 June 2010

I left Dufton this morning with high hopes of good weather wearing
just two T-shirts and my raincoat. As the ascent began up towards
cross fell and I started to get hot the raincoat came off. As I
climbed further the wind increased and shortly afterwards the mist
came down or I entered the low cloud. The raincoat was back on,
gloves, hat, neck warmer and it was still cold and the wind was strong
again. For the next 10 miles I was enveloped in mist navigating with
GPS. It was both invigorating and dull at the same time and I'm sure
you can appreciate why there are no pictures today. Descending from
the top of cross fell a figure materialised out of the mist; it was
Diana who had also stayed at Dufton YHA the previous evening and we
walked down a couple of miles together to Gregs Hut. Maintained by the
Mountain Bothy Association, Gregs Hut was a fantastic shelter for
those caught out in bad conditions, with wood pile, hearth, two rooms,
sleeping platform, and some food, eveything you need. When Diana left
I loitered to make a cup of soup and Graham soon turned up who I'd
passed on the ascent and we made the descent together. While the day
was poor for weather it was good for company.

Arriving in the campsite in Alston I found Phil and Steve already in
camp. These guys I'd met back near Hebden Bridge. They had emergency
camped on Cross Fell last night in the gale force winds when they got
too cold to continue at 2pm and came down to Alston today. They were
only a mile from Gregs hut but OS maps give no indication it's an
emergency shelter! I'm just impressed they had the wherewithal to get
in their tents even if Phils did collapse on him in the wind!

Distance covered - 21 miles.