World's End

Date: 13th March 2010
Time: 8 hours
Distance: 13.7 miles
Weather: Dry, Windy, sunny intervals.
Morris Rating: 5/10

The team comprised of Rob (route designer), Allen (ratings and GPS expert), Martin (fitness instructor), Kirsty (motivational expert and snot bag), Adam (comedy value) and my good self (trainee).

I had woken up at quarter past 4 in the morning to ensure I was not running late (like last time) and that I wouldn’t forget bits of my lunch (like last time). I managed to leave the house bright and early and I was on target to get to Crewe for 7am. I got onto the M6 and the matrix signs informed me that junction 9 to 10 was closed so it was a good job I was early. Decided to stick to M6 and wait til diverted off and even after going past flipping junction 9 the matrix signs were still telling me the motorway was closed.

I got to Crewe around 7:10. We all got stuff together, in two cars and we set off.
We had a good run down to Llangollen, parked up and off we set.

The weather was dry but cloudy and within a few minutes we were making a steep ascent up to the castle. My calves were hurting within a few yards.

We got to the castle and had group photo but Allen doesn’t appear to be on it – most odd.
The wind had really picked up and we set off to the next phase. Joining the Offa’s Dyke path, I was really warm, but couldn’t be bothered to stop and strip layers off. The path narrowed gradually as it cut into the side of the hill. I was OK with the drop to my left for a while, but all of a sudden it seemed really steep and with the path being only 1 foot wide, my nerves made me slow down. I had to keep stopping to catch breath and calm down. It was very windy as well which was a bit unnerving, but luckily the wind was blowing me into the hill rather than off it.

Eventually the path widened and snaked away from the edge.

Lunch was taken in what looked like a bomb hole, not far past the World’s End valley.
It was out of the wind and dry so we scramble down and had a break. We did break into fits of giggles when a hound from hell appeared out of nowhere at the top of the hole, started barking and scared Adam half to death. Adam’s face was a picture.
Kirsty tried to take a few pictures of us in the hole and nearly came a cropper falling down the steep mound. The facial expressions were again very amusing.

We trekked on through heather (for miles and miles) and my knees and ankles were not happy. I couldn’t see what I was putting my feet on so kept stumbling. Lifting feet over the heather to avoid getting tangled was really hard work. All good practice though.

We joined the road hoping to go past the monument but managed to miss it and by the time we saw where it was, I was way too tired to go out of way to wander up to it.

I found the last few miles really tough. Everything was aching. I hadn’t used my poles as the paths were mostly too narrow or covered with foliage. My knees were not happy with this decision.

I had warmed up so much that I did have to take a few layers off and carry them, so my pack felt really heavy. I think now the weather is warm enough not to need thermals as well as thick trousers and 50 billion layers on top.

Back to the car and slept on the journey back to crewe.

Saturday night I was in agony whenever I tried to walk up and down the stairs. I had one blister on my right heel despite 2 pairs of socks and compeed. Left foot was fine.
Sunday I was fully recovered and back to normal, so that is a positive aspect!

My next walk is the Midlands 3 peaks. I’m having a bit of a panic about that now as I thought I’d be more ready by now for it.
We shall see. I will never find out if I don’t push myself.
I do think I need to walk more in the evenings during the day, so that is the task for this week.