Monday, 19 July 2010

Woo-hoo!

We did it!
And a fine time was had by all!You've already got a good idea of how things happened, if you've read Theresa's update posts from the day itself.
This is how I remember it . . .

Up nice and early; a cool shower to wake myself; and already a potential obstacle: I'd got barely any sleep in the night, partly through excitement, partly through fear of oversleeping in the morning. Off out to the city centre . . . Sean phones me to tell me that his train is arriving at Moor Street, not New Street; that means he's stayed Friday night in Stratford on Avon, at his sister's house. I suggest he stays on the train to S
now Hill, which is a great deal more convenient for me (that's where I get off the tram) and it's a shorter walk from there to our starting point for the walk, too.

Just outside the station I buy a couple of cans of Red Bull, which is supposedly energy-giving. With all the sleep problems I'd had, I drink the first straight away. Bleeeurgh, what a horrible drink! For some reason I had expected it to be milk-based. Sean arrives on time, and we head off for the start of our walk.

I send a "good luck" text to Sparky, who should, by now, be over half an hour into his walk. He's overslept somewhat, he tells me by return text.

Martin arrives at our start point, and we set off, 19 minutes early. I have to make a short diversion to walk a few yards on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, so that the walk will cover part of four canals, whence the name for the mission. Martin and Sean find this very amusing.
The weather at this stage is pretty well perfect - sunny, with a bit of breeze, but not too warm.

We get to the Galton Valley, and pass the stretch that's usually deep in mud after wet weather - and the weather has been wet this week! Surprisingly, the really muddy bit is only a few yards long. I tell Martin and Sean that we've passed what I had warned them was likely to be the worst stretch of the walk. This seems to cheer them up a bit. It doesn't last.
We come to one of the few stretches of canal where we have a choice of which towpath to walk on. I suggest the right-hand towpath, because there will be fewer fishermen on it. There are a few, but almost none on the other side. The path we choose is poorly-maintained. And it starts to rain. Heavily, and horizontally.

We switch sides and, when we get to Dudley Port, Sean and I leave the canal to provision ourselves. There are loads of police there: apparently there's and EDL rally in Dudley today.

We resume our walk. The weather eases somewhat; we get to Tipton - near enough half way to Wolverhampton - where we take a short break; while we are there, Sparky calls me to tell me that the batteries on his mobile phone are running low, so he won't be contacting me much for the rest of the day.

We get through Coseley Tunnel without any problems, on to the most depressing part of the walk though I am heartened to see that a swan I had seen several times - but not on my last couple of walks - is now accompanied by several cygnets; all are stock-still in the middle of the canal. We take another short break, soon afterwards. Progress seems to be a bit slow: as we approach Dixon Street Bridge, I point out that this is just one mile from Wolverhampton. I'm not wearing my glasses so can't see that the towpath is blocked off here. So we take a diversion, onto street level, and we are immediately overwhelmed by traffic noise. Eventually we make it to Wolverhampton Top Lock, the half way point on our walk.
The weather is much better now: sunny, but not too warm. Martin told me later that he thought I looked "unwell." I drink the other can of Red Bull, and look forward to the rest of the walk: beginning with a long, downhill stretch as the canal passes through a flight of 22 locks in a little under 2 miles, before joining the far more scenic Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

I'd done that stretch - Wolverhampton to Penkridge - earlier in the week, wending texts to myself at every significant landmark. I knew that we wouldn't match Tuesday's time for that first stretch - I'd done it in 35 minutes then, but the usual time for it is more like 42. We do it in 39.

For the rest of the walk, we better Tuesday's times for every section. Sean tells us about his adventures, watching the England football team in away games, including one in Ukraine that tickled me. He'd been taken to a bar, full of Ukrainians, one of whom took him under his wing. This chap showed Sean a photograph of a stunningly good-looking young woman, in army uniform, holding a machine gun. "You like to see?" he asked. "Oooh, yes!" said Sean. So the chap took Sean back to his flat - which wasn't far away - and showed him the machine gun.

We make good time to Penkridge, and arrive around 8pm.

When we get to The Boat, we shake hands, and I tell Sean and Martin Susie Hewer's motto: "Pain is temporary - pride is forever." Sean looks like he needs some convincing.

At last, a sit-down and a drink, unpressured by time - we'd earlier stopped for a drink at The Fox And Anchor, a smashing pub at Coven Heath, 3 hours to the south - and for me - and Sean and Martin - a real feeling of exhilaration.

Before long, Sparky arrives. I hand him my mobile phone so that he can call Tommy Toes.

It's worth reminding people that without Tommy the walk never would have happened, and, in his role as Mission Nutritionist, he certainly helped me a great deal.

Sparky can't access Tommy's mobile number - he can't remember it. Not that I'm complaining - I've got loads of numbers saved on my mobile, but can't remember any.

By this time Sean's sister, Nicola, and her boyfriend, John, have arrived; John takes this photograph of us.
To the untutored eye, it may appear a little bit out of focus, but I can assure you that Martin (on the left), Sean (Second from left) and Sparky (on the right) looked just like that to me on Saturday evening.

Nicola and John took Sean home; Sparky ordered a taxi to take him back to Stoke - for £36 - and Martin and I left to catch our train.

Which we missed.

So we asked Sparky if he could put us up for the night, and, much to our relief, he did.

Saturday, 17 July 2010

Ultimate

Last post from SORE (or is it?) The Birmingham trio have reached The Boat in Penkridge they told our reporter "We've arrived under a mackerel sky" Dominic, Sean and Martin were relaxing outside the Boat, watching the world go by, while they drained their glasses.
We are told that they still have some way to go before they catch up with Mark.
Sparky is now expected at The Boat at around 21.30. Let us hope that their journies home are much easier on their feet.

Lock, Lock


Latest reports from SORE confirm that the Birmingham Trio have just gone passed Gayley Top Lock.

This means that they are just over an hour from The Boat at Penkridge, they told our reporter that walking is thirsty work.

Under the Junction


SORE reports that the intrepid trio passed the Pherton Junction at 18.08. Still going strong....

The March of time and the Birmingham Trio

Latest report from SORE. 16.48 the Birmingham trio were whiling away the time while drinking lemonade in the Fox and Anchor. They estimate that it will take three hours to get to the Boat in Penkridge, from there.

Moving on Sore reports

16.08 Just walked under the M54, a contrast in speeds methinks.

Special Operations Room England update


15.23 The Birmingham trio have now reached the Staffs ansd Worcs canal. Although a little tired they hope to reach Penkridge around 20.00 (ish) The staff at SORE are rooting for you.

Report Number 5 SORE


Sore point reached near Wolverhampton! All was going well till the Birmingham trio came to a sign saying "towpath closed" this meant that they had to leave the canal towpath and walk through the sunny streets of Wolverhampton, till they were able to join the canal again. Dom says that this was longer than walking along the canal.
They are still accompanied by their shadows as the sun is still shining.

Keep watching this space, next report in an hour or so.


Report Number four from SORE


12.50 Just passed The Black Country Route. Rain stopped, sun out - in fact they can see their own shadows.
Will stop for a sit down a bit further on - where there are seats by the canal.


Repotr number three!

11.40 Dudley Port, Dom and Sean went to get some provisions ...lots of police around. Nothing to do with our lads... There is an EDL march in Dudley today.

11.55 Tipton, will probably stop here for P + T Managing to keep to schedule so far (sooo Good)

Report from SORE part two



The Brummie trio are making good time, they have already walked through Galton Valley and passed under the Oldbury Road Bridge. It has rained a little but was dry when I spoke to Muntz. I hope it keeps that way. Keep up the good work lads (or should that be good walk?)

Report from SORE part two


The Brummie Trio have sent off, making good time they have already walked through Galton Valley and have just walked under the Oldbury Road Bridge. It has rained a bit but is dry at the moment, keep up the good work (or should I say good walk?)

Report from SORE


The day is here. it is dry at the moment, but some clouds. Walkers from Birmingham will be starting soon!

Special Operations Room England will update you throughout the day.


Friday, 16 July 2010

The Night Before The Morning After

All the preparation is done. Now I look forward to a good night's sleep, and pleasant weather for tomorrow.

The weather forecast is, a little surprisingly, pretty good for our purposes: temperatures at or a little below normal for the time of year; scattered shower for the middle part of the day. I'd dreaded really hot weather - which would have been very tiring - or prolonged wet weather of the sort that we've had from time to time part of this week.

Three of us will be starting, at around 920am - I'll be accompanied by my brother Martin, and by Sean Spooner, who will be coming all the way over from Leicester. Absolute earliest finsih is around 7pm - probably about half an hour after that.

I did the Wolverhampton-Penkridge bit of the walk earlier this week, and very pleasant it was - plus I took half an hour off my previous time. The towpath is nice and flat - very few of those little bridges over canal junctions (there's only one, for the Shropshire Union Canal) and wharves. Very few fishermen, too, probably because most of the canal is away from public roads. I only saw two this week, one of whom was totally oblivious to my presence.

What could I leave you with, but this?

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Less than a week to go!

Today is the final Sunday before the big day . . .

Currently it looks as though there should be three of us doing the walk from my end - me, my brother Martin, and Sean Spooner. Sean lives in Leicester but he'll be joining us in Birmingham on Saturday morning and then getting the train back to Leicester from Penkridge after the walk finishes. He works at Walkers Crisps, and he's been doing some fundraising there - with considerable success, too!

With just six days to go, the weather forecast for the 17th is pretty good - temperatures in this part of the country expected to be near normal for the time of year, but it should feel fresher than it has of late. I very much hope that the nights before the walk are cooler than they have been of late - I have great difficulty sleeping in this weather. I could open all my windows, of course, but that would mean my being disturbed by noise, and invaded by moths - which is what happened last night.

I hope to fit in a couple more hard walks at the start of the week, then to keep those muscles in shape with some light work the rest of the week.

I'll leave you with this - Kate Rusby, The Barnsley Nightingale, on Jools' Holland's show.

Friday, 9 July 2010

Just Testing


I hope to be able to bring you all the news on the day of the walk.
From the Special Operations Room England (SORE).