Lost and found

You would think somebody would notice if they lost their boot. Unless they carry a spare pair around with them. What happened? Did whoever it was get home and someone point out they had no boot on one foot and that's when they realised? Lost boot person: 'Oh! Do you know, i thought i was limping a little after i walked through that mud.' Friend: 'Idiot.'

Anyway let's get away from me making up conversations that never existed. It was lovely today, apart from the wind. My hat nearly came off at one point it was blowing that much. There were quite a few people about as well which was nice.

The last few walks i've had my ipod on but i haven't sung along. I just wasn't in the mood, i was in a mood but not to sing. Today that all changed again and i was warbling away with all the skill and grace of a X Factor reject.

Here's an embarrassing admission for you, well two as it's on my ipod. Saturday Night (Whigfield) came on and after checking there was nobody within viewing distance i proceeded to do the little dance. Just thought i'd share that with you.

In other news i saw a fish and a moor hen.

Total so far: 314320
Total left to go: 685680

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

I saw a baby dragon

It was quite windy today but i think that was a blessing in disguise because i think if it hadn't have been it would have been rather warm. It was nice actually, not to windy and not too hot.

Yesturday was a day off purely because i spent the day watching the motorsport on tv. The F1 was good for a change and the BTCC was even better. Cars were pinging off left right and centre in the touring cars. My heart was in my mouth when Jason Plato rolled his car but fortunately he was okay. It just goes to show how safe the cars are these days.

As i was walking along i looked down and saw a dandelion and had a childhood flashback. It took me back to when i had my albino rabbit Topsy and picking leaves for him to eat. Only in the last few years did i discover that my other rabbit had died. I was only little and i remember my dad taking it away and telling me that it was a wild rabbit, that's why it kept escaping. He was going to set it free so it would be happier. I couldn't believe it when he confessed and told me it was actually dead but they didn't want to upset me.

There was something i kept meaning to take a picture of but thought i'd do it next time. I kept repeating this and today i walked by and discovered it had gone. It's just typical, you wait but after having numerous opportunities you find that your chance has gone. The moral of this story, do something when you first think of it.

In a field some cows have appeared which were lying down. I can't remember the old saying but does that mean it's going to rain?

The horses were all just stood absolutely still when i walked passed. It was almost as though they were playing their own game of musical statues. Bizarre.

In other news a bumblebee flew into the back of my head and there was a bird that looked like a baby dragon. I suspect it was not.

Total so far: 271940
Total left to go: 728060

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

Quackers

Another pretty uneventful days strolling.

A car came at me at some speed so i did my best to get onto the practically vertical grass bank next to me. It's not like i'm invisible. I do worry that one of these days i'm going to get mowed down by some idiot. In the mean time i do my best to keep out of their way. My excursion left me bleeding as i lost my footing and went sideways with my hand landing on some sort of thorny plant. At least i didn't land on my bad hand, now that would have been annoying.

There were lots of ducks about today. I don't know where they have all come from. In one of the fields i crossed there was a male and female. I managed to get relatively close before they flew off in a panic. You might be able to see the duck shaped dots in my picture.

In other news i was walking along when i heard one of those shepherdy type whistles and a dog running at full pelt appeared from the hedge just in front of me. Honestly it doesn't do my nerves any good when things like that happen.

Total so far: 261390
Total left to go: 738610

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

Blimey it's warm

The end of last week and the weekend was a little unexpected and so i neglected my walking duties. Not an excuse but a fact and i'm back on track now.

What a lovely day. It was nice and sunny and rather warm, 18 degrees apparently. This did pose a little problem for me and i expect will do in the near future. Do i have my good arm uncovered and potentially get some colour into my Daz white arm or do i keep it covered so it matches the pasty pale poorly one? I went with uncovered today. I also feel like in this nice sunny weather i should wear shorts but i wouldn't want to blind someone with the reflection of my white legs and cause an accident.

Aw it's that time of year where the little lambs appear and aren't they cute. It is also that time of year when you can see that most off the fields have been planted with rape seed. Oh joy. I may have to confine my walks to a treadmill indoors somewhere until they get rid of it. There is a huge difference in the fields. A few weeks ago they were brown and now they are all full of green.

In other news there was a pheasant cooking on the side of the road, it was like something out of a horror film. It looks like the railway workers are actually doing something. The river looked rather inviting in the heat and i got asked why i was wearing a hat.

Total so far: 223430
Total left to go: 776570

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

Bloody weather

So today was delightful sunshine or it was until i was part way through my walk. I had got about 1.7 miles into it when all of a sudden there was a growl of thunder befitting of one of those sky emptying of all its contents moments. As a result i quickly got a move on. By the time i was nearing the village i was heading for it was spitting. Rain and plaster casts do not mix. It was at this point i turned my walk into a run. I got to the shop an not long after it started to bucket down. Fortunately despite my protests i got a lift home which saved me a soaking, thanks Gill. Now that i am home guess what? It's fine again. Bloody weather.

On my travels i decided to take a bag because the amount of things i am needing to carry appears to be increasing. It has its positives but i find because i'm not carrying my water i'm not drinking it as much. Also it's a bit cumbersome whilst trying to sprint from the rain clouds.

I was thinking whilst i was walking, once upon a time i would have got in my car to go to the shop. It's only 2.5 miles away (5 mile round trip) which isn't really that far. Some days it feels like it's a million miles away but in reality it's just across a few fields. Shows how lazy i was before i started this walking.

So in conclusion i didn't walk very far today which i am very disappointed about but i guess every little helps.

Total so far: 208190
Total left to go: 791810

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

I have a new toy

Well i purchased a little gadget the other day and it arrived today in the post. Normally i go for my walks and i have to remember things to write on my blog. Not any more because i have a dictaphone. So today i shall transcribe what i said on my wander. I apologise in advance for the bad language.

By the way it was a lovely day, clear skies and really rather warm. Anyway my thoughts:

1. Wearing a white t-shirt is really not good because i'm getting covered in bugs.

2. There's an inhaler in the field. I hope nobody needs it.

3. Walking along talking to a dictaphone i suppose doesn't look as worryingly mental as walking along just chatting to myself.

4. Watching some sort of bird of prey trying to unsuccessfully catch some thermals. (laughs) Shouldn't laugh really. If i were a bird i couldn't do it.

5.(laughing a lot) I just waved a somebody because i thought it was somebody i knew. (laughs a lot more) Oh dear. I bet that confused him, well the look on his face was confused. (laughing) Note from now on i won't wave at people.

6. There's a male and female duck on the river. I wonder if one day i'm gonna come done and there'll be little baby ducks?

7. Are planes like motorbikes? When there's good weather there's loads of them about because there seems to be load of planes.

8. I think somebodies WD40'd the gate because it seems rather easy to open. Unlike the rest of the times i've gone through it.

9. Crows are noisy bastards aren't they.

10. Watching a bird of prey catch some thermals. Bit more successful than the other one unless it's the same one. It's actually quite impressive. It's quite a big bird of prey, i don't know what it is. It's not a kite i know that. I wonder if it's a buzzard? I don't know but watching that in the clear sky, f***ing bugs, erm, it looks quite amazing really.

11. Bumped into a lady well i kind of passed her on the beginning of my walk and we've crossed paths again. Just stood chatting for a while, it was kinda nice and she asked about why i'm doing my walk. It's nice that somebodies showing an interest. Listening to the skylarks, oh, and she told me that the birds catching the thermals are buzzards. I was right, yay. Nice little chat really. She thought i was, she saw me in the distance and thought i was a noticeboard. Well i am walking around with this t-shirt on, advertising CRY. Bloody hot.

12. Just noticed i haven't been stalked by the err RAF helicopter today. Bit disappointed.

13. WTF! There are like corn on the cobs all over the place. Is somebody going for a walk and having a munch at the same time? They're along here, they're up the road. What? I don't understand. Is there some sort of corn related shenanigans going on that i don't know about? Bizarre.

14. Do you know some people are just f***ing ignorant. How hard is it to move over a tiny little bit like onto your side of the f***ing road? Rather than aiming at me. Aw pisses me off. It's not even as though you can't see me either with my white t-shirt on. I'm hardly camouflaged. F***ing people, i'm not saying i'm perfect when i'm driving but i don't aim at people walking.

15. There be a chinook coming towards me. F*** me that's loud. Awww i knew the RAF would stalk me before the end of my walk. They're big buggers aren't they. I don't feel quite so disappointed now. I wonder if they're doing manouv....God it's bloody loud. I think he is doing manouvers. It's that low you can see the windows. That is what you get with living here. I don't know what it's got to do with here. They seem to like playing around in the fields. Oh it's going over towards 'Call Me Dave's'. I don't know what's in that direction.

16. Just got really close to a bloody pheasant and a car came and scared the bastard off.

17. Road kill No. 3 - A worm.

So you get an idea of how much i actually talk to myself when i'm off on my wanders. My language became increasingly worse as i got closer to home. The problem with writing it down is you don't get to here the actual expressions in my voice which add to it.

Total so far: 183390
Total left to go: 816610

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

Who can you trust?

I was walking along next to a field full of sheep and i noticed one staring at me with it's beady eyes. This sheep was laid on the ground eating. How hard is a sheeps life that it has to lie down to eat?

There was a pheasant strolling along which i didn't see until i saw a blur out of the corner of my eye. Seriously this pheasant was fast and it went in just the one direction in a straight line. Which begs the question, why when they run out into the road do they walk at a snails pace and can't make up their mind which way to turn? Clearly they are capable of running at pace so bloody do it rather than ended up as a cloud of feathers.

I was just about to walk down a bridlepath when a bloke emerged from the other side of the road and started to walk rather slowly the way i was going to go. Now i thought not a chance and carried on up the road. He was probably minding his own business on a wander as i was but i just didn't trust him. I don't particularly want to end up as another statistic and because of that i am not going to take any chances. It is sad that you can't go for a walk without being suspicious of people. Especially as i think of how i roamed about as a child without a second thought. Is the media to blame for making us more aware of 'disappearances'?

In other news i swallowed what must have been my own body weight in bugs. They were everywhere and i even had a little fan club following me for a while. Also an old WW2 type aircraft flew over, i couldn't tell you what it was but it was going so slow i thought it might fall out of the sky. Finally i came across my second roadkill. It looked like a flattered piece of horse dung but on closer inspection was a toad/frog. It was hard to tell.

Total so far: 177980
Total left to go: 822020

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

First sign of madness

What a lovely day it was today. The sun was out and the birds were chirping. In fact such a lovely day i went for a walk. Again.

My pace today was pretty good. I did the first two miles in 35 minutes which i was impressed with as most of that is up a bloody great hill. Although the more i walk the more i find these huge hills seem to flatten themselves out. Seriously it is almost as though i'm getting fitter with every day that passes. I don't want to believe it myself in case it's just a figment of my imagination. Anyway i walked 6.04 miles in 1 hour 46 mins which i think is bloody good going for a mere amateur like myself.

I listen to my iPod as i'm walking. There's nothing like singing at the top of your voice and then realising that there is someone walking behind you. It has happened! As well as listening to music i have found that i talk to myself. First sign of madness many may say. Too late i lost my marbles a long time ago. I think in some instances i do it to give myself encouragement if i'm struggling sometimes i must just fancy a one sided conversation. What would be more embarrassing, singing to your self or talking to yourself? I don't care to be honest. Maybe one day i will record one of my walks on camera.

Other things that happened. I stood on two railway bridges and two trains went under now that is what i call timing. Not at the same time obviously that's just laughable. I saw a few ramblers sitting in a field eating their packed lunches. I now have a blister upon a blister upon a blister which really hurts. Oh and the badger didn't smell quite as rancid.

Total so far: 161090
Total left to go: 838910

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

A long stroll

Today i walked the furthest i've walked so far. 6.07 miles is a bloody long way when half of it is uphill.

It was lovely and sunny but quite chilly at times. I was checking my phone whilst gazing across the fields and a lady stopped because she thought i was taking pictures and was going to offer to take one of me. What a kind gesture from a complete stranger.

As i was walking up the road someone i know stopped and asked me if i was on my travels again. Upon my confirmation of this said 'You won't be needing a lift then'.

I popped in the shop to pick up my magazine and a sausage roll. Well it's hungry work all of this walking so i thought i'd treat myself to some unhealthy fuel. The sausage roll was only purchased because there was one there and they are yummy. It looked so lonely sat there on it's own.

At one point on the way home i was nearly at the top of the hill and i could see 7 different villages/hamlets. All scattered amongst green fields. When you look at a view like that it makes me wonder why on earth anyone would want to live in a city?

It was a nice walk albeit painful. I had developed a nasty blister by the time i got home. One thing that does spoil it a little is the amount of rubbish on the sides of the road, mindlessly tossed from a car window or dropped by a pedestrian. It's a shame.

Total so far: 124910
Total left to go: 875090

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

1/10th of the way there!

Woohoo! I've done over 100,000 metres which means i'm 1/10th of the way to finishing.

I have to be totally honest, yesturday i did nothing. Did i feel bad, a little. I think i needed a day off though just to let's say recharge.

Today i felt so much better and more motivated. I went out in my jacket, long sleeved top, fleece, hat and gloves as usual. It would possibly have been an idea to take note of the sunshine and fine weather. I fear i was a little over dressed.

The ground was drier than when i last went out, apart from where it is flooded still. This makes for much easier walking. I do wonder if all the slipping and sliding attempting to stay on my feet actually does any good? Maybe helps the balance? I put my ability to not slip over so much down to ice skating/ice hockey.

I came across two girls who were having their picture taken in the most peculiar place by a chap. Let's just say i didn't hang around. There were some deer feeding a few fields away and i was followed half of the way home. This caused me to feel a little paranoid so i sang and talked to myself in an attempt to, well who knows? I think i just succeeded in looking like a complete fruit loop.

Total so far: 101260
Total left to go: 898740

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.

At least i didn't fall on my bum today

I must admit i wasn't really in the mood for a walk today. Despite that i went anyway. I could quite happily of lazed around the house. It wasn't raining for a change so it was a bit more enjoyable.

There's a rather steep incline i have to walk down at one point on my circuit. When it rains it is rather slippy. As i walked down it today i could see my bum print from yesturday where i ended up on my arse. Let's just say the rest of the walk was hindered yesturday from the field of mud i was covered in weighing me down.

Today i took a different approach, i ran down said hill. Now it could have ended in two ways one being painful but fortunately i escaped unharmed. Probably not the wisest decision taking into account the state of my wrist.

There's also a field i walk through that is flooded at the moment. Usually i tip toe across the squelchy mud and inevitably end up covered in it as i slip and slide my way across to avoid the water. Not today, oh no, i ran straight through the water and surprisingly came out relatively clean, albeit soaked.

Total so far: 95950
Total left: 904050

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tracey-Ashworth82 to donate.