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 3 June 2010

Sorry readers that a general lack of phone signal is playing havoc
with my blogging! It's Thursday evening as I'm writing this but I
suspect it will not post until Friday.

Day 26, Wednesday 2nd June

I left the Youth Hostel in Earby at a reasonably punctual 8.30 and
headed for the recommended cafe in town. Having had only beans on
toast, chocolate and fruit for supper the night before a little
breakfast treat was definately in order. My walking schedule now is
being dictated by the need to be at a train station by Friday morning
to journey down to London for the weekend for my very good friend
Damians stag do. This meant Wednesday and Thursday were going to be
easy days with only 16 and 12 miles respectively to cover. After a
very satisfying breakfast I set off for Malham; I'd heard that there
was a shop selling walking boots there and if I made it there early
enough might be able to get rid of this horrible pair of torture
impliments that are currently gracing my feet. The walking was easy
going and all at a low level, along the Leeds and Liverpool canal,
following valley bottoms and just a few gentle ascents up the valley
sides. I made Malham by half past three to find the Malham safari in
full swing and the village packed with hundreds of visitors. Each year
model animals are put on display all around the village and it looks
like a great event for young families. Sadly the outdoor clothing
store was just a small part of a larger cafe and gift store and they
stocked very few boots all of the same make that I had now come to
hate! I will persevere with the current ones until I find a decent
store and have been getting boot recommendations from everyone I meet
in the mean time.

I spent the evening under canvas in Malham and looking obviously in
need of some company and beer at the campsite was taken pity on by the
lovely Mariah and Alanah and had a very nice evening chatting till it
was too cold and dark to carry on. Coincidentally Alanah was already
planning her own lands end to john o groats trek!

Day 27, Thursday 3rd June

Today was a short but very beautiful hike from Malham to Horton-in-
Ribblesdale once again getting up on to the high moors and limestone
pavements this region is famous for. Starting at 7.30 and with a 20
minute break I arrived in Horton at about 12.30. I was unsure whether
to catch the train tonight or tomorrow but have now opted for the 7.30
train in the morning. The first half of my trek is complete, it's been
extremely hard at times but very interesting and a lot of fun. I shall
have this weekend break and come back refreshed and with new pair of
boots for the second act which mostly takes place in the wild places
of Scotland! I hope you will all join me there!

Pictures:
A bridge with a loft conversion on the Leeds and Liverpool canal
(Wednesday)
Some animal models at Malham safari (Wednesday)
A view across Malham tarn (Thursday)
Pen-y-Ghent from a distance, one of the highest peaks in the Yorkshire
dales (Thursday)