24th April - Hindhead

As noted last week, we've decided that it's time to move further afield on the evening walks to get some longer and better hill walkng practice in. This week we thought we'd try The Devil's Punchbowl at Hindhead.

Meeting at 8:15pm we completed a circular walk starting out south, wending our way round to the top of Gibbett Hill (the highest point around at 272m), north parallel to the A3, across the A3 and continuing north around around the back of the 'Keeper's Cottage' and back down to the car park.

We finished around 10:40pm for 7.5 miles in all.

Wednesday 16th April - 7.5 miles

Another evening walk with some of the usual suspects; me, Will, Rich, Nicki, Chris F. and Adrian.

Crooksbury Hill and Bourne Woods and back to Farnham again via Old Man Lane and Old Church Lane, a nice long steady climb to finish off.

Highlight this week was the steady disintegration of Adrian's kit, starting with his boot laces which wouldn't stay tied ending in the total and catastrophic failure of his most important piece of kit... his underwear!

Halfway round, Adrian called a halt, ostensibly to re-tie his laces yet again, but while we were chatting amongst ourselves he whipped off his boxers and carried on commando style claiming "excessive chaffing..." OUCH....

Just over two hours start to finish (walk cut short by a couple of miles as Adrian really wanted to get back to see The Apprentice...).

There's a general agreement that Farnham and it's immediate surroundings is losing it's impact in terms of training. Those coming out regularly feel that they can manage 10 miles or more quite comfortably and the hills around Bourne Woods and Crooksbury, although good, are too short to give us the long slog climbs that we need to get used to.

Next week's evening walk is planned to be at Hindhead.... watch this space!

Holiday's No Excuse for not training...

Just got back from a week away with friends and family for a well-earned break. Took my boots with me and bought an OS map of the Isle of Wight to plan some walks.

Too much good food and too much wine meant I probably didn't do nearly as much as I should have done, just three short 3 mile walks over the week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings) although being just 1.5 miles away from the Sea Mark outside Ryde gave me a good chance to at least practice walking uphill!

Back to reality this week and time to dust off the step machine....

The sun (& legs) came out at last....

Another long evening walk at 10.25 miles, starting at 8:15 and finishing by 11:15 missing last orders! Thanks Will and Adrian for navigating again.

Putting the clocks back last weekend meant that for the first time we were meeting in the early evening light and the recent couple of days of warm weather has helped the night time temperatures; Dave and I even managed to make it out in shorts!

Those who made it tonight were me, Will D, Adrian L, Rich H, Nicki Y, Michelle T, Dave H and Steve B.

The route took us from Central Car Park, up Castle Street, right through the middle of Farnham Park, back to Folly Hill and Old Park Lane, past Middle Old Park and Burles Farm, upto to Dippenhall Ridge where we turned right and hit the mud (& lots of it too...).

Wending our way through various fields having lost the path a couple of times we eventually came out at Farnham House Hotel and the junction with the A31 when everyone collectively went "Oh, we're here....!".

Crossing the A31 at Willey Mill and then under the railway line to come past the Rugby Club and over the A325 to Pottery Lane via some back route paths to Boundstone Road. From here it was known territory via Burnt Hill Road, Fox Road and ending in a nice long walk up Old School Lane to Vicarage Hill and a short walk back to Central Car Park (or home for some of us...!)

A slower pace tonight at three hours, not helped by trying to pick a way around bogs and, deep rutted soaking wet mud tracks, stopping to scratch heads over the map etc but all in all a good long walk. Thanks again to Will and Adrian for getting us all home safely (especially around Farnham House Hotel.....)

One final note - no more 'torch-envy' for me! A new head-torch for a birthday present (thanks Mum!) lit up the night sky like a car headlight... I can now actually see where we're going! Bring on Scafell!

Changes to Team Members

Our Three Peaks adventure really began at the end of January when we paid the deposits and booked the spaces. It's a shame that, in just two months, two people have had to withdraw from the Squad. First, Des Power in February very soon after we got going. Then, at the end of March, Rob Owen. Rob came to the early meetings, and really got into the whole thing; he was one of the first to get new boots and was spotted a few times on training walks.

On both occasions people eager to rise to the challenge have stepped forward; Chris Feibusch and Chris Kirk respectively. It never ceases to amaze me how many people from such a small school want to get involved with this escapade!

We started as a Squad of 23 and we still are a Squad of 23, from just 90 families with children at the school - 1 in 4 is a remarkable representation.

There's now a little over three months until we begin the climb of Ben Nevis in the early hours of a Saturday morning, with another two mountains to "look forward" to before the next sunrise. We'll all certainly be thinking about Des and Rob then! The question is: will they be thinking about us?!