I see there was a flurry of people checking for an update today which was heartening as I said I'd defer to the beginning of the month but I'm a bit behind and have got 'The Grand Day Out' to contend with later today so please check back next weekend and I'll hopefully have some piccies and videos to share!!
www.justgiving.com/Alan-Conway
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Port Quin to Port Isaac
NB DOUBLE CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE IN HIGHER DEFINITION
Port Quin
Seals
Training day 14 - Port Quin to Port Isaac return - 6 miles, 3.5 hrs
The day started well as I spoke to a lovely northern couple in the car park, staying in St Minver, called Ann(e) and Stan. They gave me a £10 donation towards the trek - how nice. The walk itself was a joy, sunny and steep, with breathtaking views. After a poor week it was just what the Dr ordered and was enough to lift anyone's spirits. Port Isaac was teeming with tourists all looking for Martin Clunes. The path itself had a sprinkling of ramblers and the odd brave soul in sandals. As I neared the end I chanced upon a bench with a wreath next to it and a plaque dedicated to Sgt Steven Roberts, 1969-2003. Intrigued, I 'googled' it and believe he is the same Sgt Roberts that hailed from Wadebridge and was the first soldier to lose his life in the Iraq War in 2003, to friendly fire having had to give up his body armour due to kit shortages - such a shame and yet another reminder not to take our lives for granted and enjoy every day...
Port Isaac - http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/Port-Isaac/
Port Quin - Sgt Steven Roberts: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6190337.stm
Thought for the day: Ask for what you need and expect nothing more
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Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Little bit damp?
Caerhays Castle
Training day 13 - Penare to Caerhays Castle and about (6.5 miles/3.5 hrs)
Facts: My boots are waterproof and no longer hurt - hurrah. My waterproofs are - mostly. Kate - to answer your question the day sacks aren't waterproof - get a liner or a cover.
I enjoyed this walk once I got going. But hey, I'd paid Thom, my childminder to look after Oscar, I won't be able to turn my nose up at the weather in the Himilayas, and mostly, dear Lisa put up with a lot more than a bit of inclement weather during her illness so it would be poor form to stay indoors - I won't get fit watching the telly. I didn't see another soul due to the conditions and that was quite refreshing - I hear they were all at the Eden Project or Kidzworld.
I was dreaming of a hot pasty and coffee all the way to Porthluhney Cove beach cafe (shut) so I trudged up to the Castle tea rooms to have a small and expensive coffee and stale blueberry muffin. It was however, dry and there was some 'nice' diamond jubilee stylee classical music to listen to. The weather lifted on the way back and it really was overall rather nice....
http://www.caerhays.co.uk/
Thought for the day:
Instead of bemoaning what's not fair, commit to identifying how you're fortunate
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Finally, I've decided to publish updates to Lisa's blog monthly instead of weekly as it is quite labour intensive and I'm starting to repeat my training walks, and I don't want to bore anyone.... You'll still see what I'm up to but there will be more emphasis on the fundraising activities so watch this space starting 1st week in July...
Give a man a compass...
Porthpean
Training day 12 - Porthpean - Black Head (returnish) - 6.5 miles (3.5 hrs)
The coastal path outward leg was a little tricky, nice to look at, and largely uneventful so I thought I'd take a simpler route back but being a man I poo pooed and paahed at the thought of using a) the map, b) the gps map on my phone, or c) the compass on my phone as I knew better. I got lost - twice....in Porthpean. How?!! I hear you scream? Errm still not sure but by pure coincidence as I neared my goal (car) with Little Harbour Children's Hospice on my left (sniff) and Porthpean Golf Club on my right (sigh) I came across Dr Sue from Mt Edgcumbe Hospice. Lovely lady who was so kind to Lisa and I during Lisa's stay there. She was walking between the Hospices as she doesn't drive - what a coincidence/fate? Then when I got into my car and decided to call in at Asda (with the rest of the world) for essential supplies I saw another one of the lovely nurses from the Hospice in the beer aisle ( I was just passing through you understand)....so that made my day worthwhile.
Ropehaven Nature Reserve
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Industrial-relics-seen-seaside-village-people-simply-pass/story-11514243-detail/story.html
Thought for the day
Does everything happen for a reason? Of course it does - lots of reasons. But the reasons don't matter anywhere near as much as what we do with what happens.
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Monday, 28 May 2012
Looe, Looe, trip to the Looe
NB DOUBLE CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE IN HIGHER DEFINITION
St George's Island, Looe
http://www.looeisland.co.uk/
The 1911 'Spy' lighthouse, Polperro
http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page68.html
http://www.polperro.org/eddystone.html
Polperro
The Shell house, Polperro
Polperro -NB May only open on your computer!
Interesting facts:
Looe to Polperro return: 8 miles / 3.5 hrs:
Stunning views, lots of tourists and a lovely ice-cream at the end. A Cornish heatwave and memories of Polperro as I recalled my last visit here with Lisa, Ben and Oscar one freezing cold winter's day, when we dived into a bakery with the double buggy .... :-( and :-)
Thought for the day:
We can't change the nature of things but we can change how we interpret it.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
A flaming beautiful day.....
Training day 10 - Circular route around Grampound - 8 miles / 2.5 hours
http://www.grampound.org.uk/visitor/leaflet4.pdf
A lovely spring day with my thoughts on getting back home before the Olympic torch routes brought the roads to a standstill suggested a local, flattish, beautiful inland walk on my doorstep.
Setting off from Grampound down quiet country lanes I stumbled across Creed Church.
Interesting fact:
A previous rector Rev William Gregor, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gregor, was celebrated for his discovery of titanium.
Lovely church. Taking a permissive path behind the church I headed off along the upper reaches of the River Fal. You might be surprised to know that Grampound was once home to a deep and busy waterway with a Roman encampment nearby: http://www.grampound.org.uk/history/index.html. Reaching a farmtrack I turned right through Golden Mill past an old chapel towards Probus via Sunrising to Trewithen gardens (you just have to visit earlier in the year when their Magnolia trees are out - magnificent! http://www.trewithengardens.co.uk/trewithen-gardens. Past Trewithen down a bridleway and back to Grampound on a parallel 'Roman road' past the earthwork of Carvossa, http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/744/carvossa_enclosure.html (aside: this link is to 'The Modern Antiquarian' by Julian Cope (ex teardrop Explodes) - a fantastic tome) in use between 1st and 4th centuries AD and once covered 5 acres. Back down the old Turnpike road into Grampound for a Mary's pasty....ansome!
PS thanks Linzi for Oscar duties x
PPS Nothing to do with the walk but later on in St Stephen the Olympic flame went past. Not something that happens every day!
Thought for the day: There is a light that never goes out (Morrissey/Marr) from The Queen is Dead (or the Princess in my case) ...... she is my eternal flame. R.I.P.
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Smiths/The+Queen+Is+Dead/There+Is+a+Light+That+Never+Goes+Out
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Sunday, 13 May 2012
A hidden gem - Pentewan -Black Head
Day 9 - Pentewan to Black Head - 7 miles, 3 hours
What a difference a week makes. As you can see from the photos, I had my first taste of spring with a cheeky little trek from Pentewan to Black Head en route to Porthpean. I didn't encounter many other walkers and that might be because of all the steps on the way. I think I'll do this route more often nearer the trek as there are plenty of steep inclines / declines to tackle. My right boot is still digging in over the ankle (groan not the boots again I hear you cry). I'm telling you they've got to be right! You really can't beat the scenery on a sunny day of the Cornish coast - almost mediterranean azure seas, beautiful deserted coves - don't tell everyone! Just get out there and try it for yourselves...thanks to Simon for looking after Oscar. He must have enjoyed himself as when I pitched up to 'rescue' him he cried out. "I don't want to go - I don't like Daddy!!'' Nice one Osc.
Interesting fact:
Read all about the local Cornish poet/historian A L Rowse depicted on the memorial stone pictured above, here:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/511146/AL-Rowse
This
review is from: A Cornish Childhood: Autobiography of a Cornishman
(Paperback)
This is a highly readable recollection of the author's
childhood and youth in Tregonissey by St. Austell from 1903 to about 1940. It is
well structured and intelligently written, recounting the delights as well as
the limitations of life in a Cornish village but also the sobering and sometimes
tragic effects of two World Wars on the local population. In the latter part of
the book the writer describes his own intellectual development and his
acquaintance with various well-known figures of the time. Most fascinating - I
didn't want the book to end! Thought for the day:
We can't change that life always changes, but we can learn to change with it. You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf them!
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