VIDEO: and so it begins

Who can resist a long and winding path? Camino 2023

Map of part of Dorset with public footpaths in green, large and small

Greater Ridgeway with Elevation

This 6000 year old path travels the length of a chalk ridge across England from Lyme Regis in Dorset (once part of Wessex) to Hunstanton Norfolk (once the land of the Iceni people whose famous Queen was Boudicca).

The first people to exchange goods, ideas and labour along this path were the Neolithic people. \240They were responsible for Stonehenge and the biggest stone circle in the world at Avebury which the path passes through.

The whole path is made of four shorter paths.

The first is the Wessex Ridgeway from Lyme Regis to Avebury.

The second is the most famous, the Ridgeway itself from Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon.

The third, the lesser known Icknield Way, goes from Ivinghoe Beacon to Thetford.

The last path, Peddars Way, crosses \240East Anglia to Hunstanton on the Norfolk north coast.

The elevation goes from relentless steep hills to flat.

VIDEO: Insight 1: You are Born with Your Magnificence Inside

The Plan

I do love making a plan. At this stage, everything is running smoothly. \240No broken-down van, no lost dog, no twisted ankle.

If you'd like to join me on any of these stages or want to meet up at some point, let me know. \240 Dates are very much subject to change.

You might wonder why I'm waiting so long to start walking, or why I am flying out so far in advance of the walk.

The walking will be warmer and hopefully a little easier if we start a little later.

Also, I'm letting my house for 6 months and that 6 months has to include the wedding of Katie Meredith in Vancouver on the 26th September. \240Pepper needs to return to the UK within 6 months of departure to reduce her quarantine from 1 month to 10 days.

This means Pepper leaves Aus after me, returns before me and I have just enough time to stop off at the wedding before collecting her from Melbourne quarantine. \240 \240Phew!

BTW the Streatley mentioned in the plan is the one in Berks, though I also pass through the one in Beds later.

VIDEO: Camino Insight 2: Simplicity

In case you missed them first time round, this is the second of 5 Camino Insights recorded outside Barcelona with Tony and Bea helping my recovery!

This time I'm exploring what happens when you strip all but the necessities from your life - the sun has rrom to shine through and you feel the joy of being alive.

Re-watching this, I seem either very exhausted or very Zen. \240Probably both!

Provisional Training Plan

Ta Da! \240Here's the training plan.

And why is it subject to change? \240Not because I'm letting myself off but because I've not yet had the appointment with my knee specialist (whose name is, amusingly, Dr Negus).

While mostly I've learnt that 'motion is lotion', I believe that in certain circumstances too much motion is bloody agony and the accompanying swearing shocks the elderly and corrupts small children.

This is pretty much the plan I had for the Camino and it worked great. \240So, onwards and upwards!

I'm planning on doing an average of 15km a day on the walk itself, depending on elevation and at least 5 days a week.

Video: The Roadblock

Problem-schmoblem! \240Nothing gonna stop me.

I will challenge my specialist to come up with a solution to see me through the full walk and see what he says. If he can't then Dr Negus will need to change his name!

I also need to stop saying 'um' in videos. Thanks for your patience!

VIDEO: MRI left knee scan

So, curtesy of Dr Negus, here's my knee scan with commentary.

- Torn/buckled/frayed meniscus

- Bruised bone

- Maybe some loose bits floating around

- Thinning cartilege

- Arthritis as before

Options:

1) Trim the meniscus

2) Just carry on with strengthening muscles to support knee

3) Nerve ablation (deaden the nerves around the knee that deliver pain signals to brain)

For now I'll carry on with strengthening the quads and other muscles to support the knee, take Mobic 1 or 2 a week, walk as much as I can and go back in 3 weeks, in time to do any surgery required if necessary.

There will be a day when I will need a knee replacement....

'But it is not this day!

This day we fight!'

UK '25 Spring/Summer Footwear Collection

Storm Shelf Sydney Harbour

Australia is dramatic. It's one of the things that drew me here.

Unlike Europe where nature is considered benign, here you're never in much doubt that nature is in charge and we are at her mercy.

Droughts, fire, storms, flooding - we have it all.

A few days ago following temperatures in the 30's a storm rolled in and it's still with us, tearing trees from the ground and smashing cars and buildings.

Temperatures crashed yesterday to day-time 'feels like' 13 degrees C. \240 And the wind has been steady with gusts of 80kph for 3 days.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1644291753183794

We tend to think of London as wetter than Sydney but it has average of 585mm vs Sydney's 1000mm. The number of wet days are roughly the same. \240We have far more hours of sunshine per year but when it rains, it rains!

Not the best dog walking/training weather but we do our best.

Training Report

• Green is completed
• Yellow is part completed
• Red is not done

Not perfect, but good progress given storms, gale force winds and a damaged knee.

Hope for better this week!

Another week gone - it's flying by!

As well as training and knee stuff there's also the temptation to buy a van early and get the decision out of the way. Very scary stuff.

And I really must make a start on packing up the house \240(UGH!) - I'm tripping over all the flat boxes in the hall!

Thanks for your support.

LIVE BRAVE, MY FRIENDS!

VIDEO: A New Hope

This has been the most frustrating week. \240And so demoralising, I struggled to even get out of bed in the morning. It was not like being in a forest not knowing what path to take but rather being in a desert with no paths or destinations in sight.

Following a 7km walk (half the distance I aim to do every day) my knee was in agony - could hardly flex it at all, couldn't sleep for the cruel little man with a sharp chisel tapping away under my kneecap and making me scream. \240

What to do? \240Clearly if I can't walk 7km I can't walk 600km! \240

So I got it into my head that I'd postpone the whole thing til this time next year and get a knee replacement this year.

Dr Negus for some reason could not discuss this with me for 3 weeks - which is too late to make a decision as if I'm letting out the house I have to pack it up and get the publicity done etc. \240And if I'm not going, I don't want to buy a campervan, or a ticket for Pepper.

Following an appointment with another surgeon today, I won't be having a knee replacement (there will be a day, but it is not this day, etc), we'll go with exercises and an injection just before I leave. \240

I tried to persuade him that if would probably need one later, I might as well do it now so I can use it to fulfill my dream. \240He didn't buy that :). \240

He shared his experience with infection, the risk of which continues even after the knee has recovered. \240His descriptions sounded pretty horrid.

As we parted he laughed and said 'you could try living to the age of your knee!' What a stupid idea!

SO, I have an answer - watch the video to find out what it is! \240I'm very happy with it and have been dancing around the house this afternoon to Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak which somehow popped into my head out of the blue after 40 years, \240as soon as I realised I could still go. Did any of you have that album?

And yes, the knee is OK again for now.

Training disrupted by pain, generally feeling sorry for myself, 40 degree heat and more storms!

On the positive side though, I've kept up the gym and pilates sessions (Monday was Australia Day holiday). \240

Now I know we're definitely going, it's time to pick up the pace and hope the gym exercises have been effective enough to protect my knee.

When you call in all the experts to make the best decision...

VIDEO: Purpose every day

The third of 5 insights I recorded after completing the Camino.

I am starting to look more human now thanks to Bea's great care and Tony's amazing cooking in the mountains outside Barcelona. \240How lucky am I! #blessed hahaha.

Not following the specialist's advice. \240Dedicated to acting my (european) shoe size, \240not my age.

But will not be walking in these.

Name the song reference in the comments - come on Gen Xer's!

Yes I do possess a red suede pair like this. \240Used to wear them with navy pin-striped trousers - though haven't worn them for a while!

VIDEO: Black Books Tax Return

Reading requirements for filling forms for Pepper’s travel: \240 \240  

The declaration referred to in point II.1 shall be attached to the certificate and comply with the model and additional requirements set out in Part 3 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, The third option is subject to the condition that the owner or the natural person referred to in point II.1
provides, on request by the competent authorities responsible for the checks referred to in point (b), a
declaration stating that the animals have had no contact with animals of species susceptible of rabies
and remain secure within the means of transport or the perimeter of an international airport during the
transit through a third country other than those listed in Annex Il to Implementing Regulation
(EU) No 577/2013. This declaration shall comply with the format, layout and language requirements set
out in Parts 2 and 3 of Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.

Excuse the days of 40degree heat!

Are you keeping up?

In the last episode of 'Sara gains a functioning knee but loses her mind', I was left with 3 options.

Dr 1 - get knee replacement and walk next year instead

Dr 2: Whatever you do, don't get a knee replacement! Get an injection before you go to manage the pain and don't walk so much

Physio: Do these exercises and you can walk the full distance with no injection or operation.

Well, I was going to do the injection and the exercises till I discovered that the injection is the one I got a year ago that didn't have any effect.

So, I guess it's just the exercise now!

And apparently the secret is to be consistent and increase distance slowly every week. \240So, back to 5/6km. Working so far.

Transport for first week's walk sorted.

These guys are dog-friendly so will solve the problem of how to do the walk without doing circular walks every day back to the van.

Drive van to the end of the walk. Cab back to the beginning (while we're nice and clean). \240Then walk to the van and back to wherever we're staying to clean up.

Hopefully we can find similar cab companies as we progress along the trail.

Don't ask me how much it cost because I'll just start crying

The idea is that I'll be able to collect her from Heathrow in our campervan.. let's see how that works out.

VIDEO: CAMINO INSIGHT 4

Starting to look human now. \240And would you look at all those freckles! You'd never guess my mother was a redhead would you!

So, this one is about how while we all walk our own journey, we are all going to the same destination.

On the Camino this is very apparent. And everyone helps everyone else with their journeys. \240

This is something we can do in real life. Recognise the similarities rather than the differences and help everyone we meet along the way.

Like an ant colony.

Got to find somewhere else to walk that isn't too near water (she won't walk, just wants to swim!) or small dogs. \240I'm getting bored with the current routes.

With the help of All Trails, I've found some new routes so we are branching out this week.

Still fairly flat - increasing hills over the next 2 weeks. \240Plenty to choose from round here!

The physio's exercises are working well too \240- quarter leg squats 6x a day. I've set an alarm on my phone which helps.

VIDEO: PROGRESS REPORT

WTF?

AA mechanic coming to check over tonight.

Tempted to call her Vanny McVanface, but settled on Brigid. \240

The path we are walking is Neolithic so I though we'd name the van after a Celtic goddess. \240In this case, the goddess of health, fertility, and, for some reason, blacksmithing.

The pics don't do it credit. \240It's a really good quality conversion with lots of clever touches. \240I'll do a vantour when I get it.

FEEL FREE TO MOVE ALONG IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE STOMACH FOR THIS!

If you do a lot of camping or have fantasized about VanLife, you'll have had a think about toilets.

There are 3 basic options:

1. Bucket and a bag with a seat - self explanatory. \240

2. Chemical/cassette - all goes into one place which has to be poured out into a special place and then add chemicals

3. Composting - the solids and liquids go into separate places and that means it doesn't smell. \240(it's the mixing that causes the smell). \240You add sawdust or coir to the solids after each use to turn it into compost. Empty liquids into a toilet every few days, put bag which lines the solids container into a bin like dog poo bags - apparently smells like soil.

I've bought a composting toilet. \240

There's already some interest apparently. \240Hopefully they can wait till the end of the week to view as, as you can see, I still have some packing to do!!!

BEDROOM 3 CAN BE USED AS AN OFFICE

Very poor walking. \240My excuse for w/c 24th is my fabulous friend Susan, who I met on day 1 of the Camino is here and we are having a great time together. \240

Many thanks to my lovely friend Susan who took me to see La Traviata. \240I was a little worried it would be a bit heavy for me, but it was just fabulous. \240Loved every minute!

VIDEO: ME AND MY NANOSPRESSO

MAP OF FIRST 5 DAYS

Don't know if I have the measurements right. \240Working with maps and a tape measure.

At each end point the trail intersects with a road that I've checked on Street View has somewhere I can park for the duration of the walk - not one of those very narrow English country lanes. \240

Short distances on this first week because the terrain is relentlessly hilly, muddy and foggy and Pepper and I will be getting use to, well, whatever comes our way. \240

I have also started a week sooner than the plan at the beginning of this blog because Pepper arrives a week sooner and the van is bought. \240

CRATE 3!!!

Yep, the company who is bringing Pepper back to Australia (there's no company that does both ways!!!!) thought the second crate I bought \240from the company that's taking her to the UK was too small and she'd not be allowed on the plane by the airline (different airlines different rules of course). \240

So time to get a bigger crate. \240This one is bloody enormous. 133cm long. They wouldn't take the other one(s) back either - have to sell them at a massive loss. \240

Oh well, keep calm and carry on etc.

FINAL LESSON FROM THE CAMINO

The last lesson and the best. Combining learning from Professor Brian Cox and experiencing the power of life all around me. \240

It is statistically virtually impossible that life exists anywhere in the universe. \240We are likely only life that exists in the enormity of infinity. \240It is amazing, beautiful, joyful so extraordinary. \240

Don't waste it - go live the hell out of it!

PROGRESS VIDEO

How the most difficult part might be the best part of all! \240Reframing my biggest challenge.

PROGRESS VIDEO - OVERCOMING PARALYSIS OF TERROR!

This video makes me look like I'm 85 and losing my hair! \240Wouldn't be surprised!

Haircut tomorrow thank goodness.

In case I didn't explain, I have had to buy a larger crate for Pepper to travel in so need to get rid of the 115cm long one! \240Obvs I'm not selling the one she is travelling in!

VIDEO: 'Just in case'

VIDEO: Pepper loves her Hoopers Training - Perfect-ish Round!

It's always me that needs more training than Pepper due to my non-existent sense of direction/inability to remember the order of the course/giving the wrong signals with my hands or arms or feet or head/saying the wrong words at the wrong time or being too slow! \240 Other than that I've got it nailed!

We do love it though and we are improving.

On the journey, Pepper sits behind me in the car with her head on my shoulder and cries in my ear all the way there in impatience and will not tolerate red traffic lights. Snores all the way home (her not me).

THAT’S WHERE THE LIMONCELLO AND SPICED ARANCELLO WENT!

And I thought Rory and Chris had drunk it all. \240Oh well there’s always next Christmas!

Also found 12 (twelve) partially used assorted bottles of balsamic vinegar. \240Caramelised, fig, raspberry, honey, etc etc!

Also found a stack of plastic cups and some ping pong balls from 10 years ago, Joe Garcia!

ENJOY YOURSELF - THE SPECIALS

Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as you wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think

Taken to the boarding kennel this morning. \240Next time I see her will be on Monday with the van at Heathrow.

See you soon sweet girl!

Leaving the House, Happy but Exhausted

Well it’s done. \240A monumental effort to pack up the house - so much more time consuming and difficult than I’d imagined. \240

Many thanks to Nico and Vicky, Chris and also Kristina for all their help which was well above the call of duty.

Me, well I don’t think I’ve slept more than 3 hours any of the last 7 nights.

Young Pepper left a couple of days ago - just as well as otherwise she might have accidentally ended up in a box in the attic. \240She’s at a boarding kennel and will be collected tomorrow by the transport agent. \240She flies on Sunday.

How am I feeling? \240Relieved the packing is finally over and I’m on my way. \240Right now I’m still too tired to be excited. But it’ll come.

In the meantime, I’m more than grateful for all my friends who have done so much to help me. \240I know how lucky I am. I hope you have such good friends too.

SNAP INTERVIEW: MARCUS

TRENTS: Serving beer since 1599

The best steak and ale pie I’ve ever had.

There’s an open mic night tonight. \240Looking forward to it.

Very West Sussex

A PUB IN A CHURCH!

VIDEO: BRIGID!

VIDEO: IN THE COCKPIT

It’s her van now. \240

Refused to look at me for the first hour!

VIDEO: Decompressing at Anna’s

Anna and I shared a flat at uni and have been firm friends ever since.

She’s big hearted, resilient, brave, uncompromising and never stops! Wish we lived closer and could see each other more often.

Pepper’s first night in the van

Write your guess in the comments. \240Correct or funny answers win.

RUPERT AND ANTON ON A WINDY HILL AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE MENDIPS

One thing they told me was that during WWII the locals built a replica of Bristol so that the Germans would bomb that instead.

Turned out to be 6km once I’d taken the wrong path a couple of times!

Very very windy - and beautiful. Pepper’s head nearly exploded with all the new smells and animals! She’ll sleep well tonight.

40 seconds after I shut the doors for the night and turned to climb into bed, the van locked itself and switched on the alarm. Pepper twitched in her bed and off went the alarm. I switched it off and then 40 seconds later it happened again. And again. And again. \240

Afraid of keeping the whole campsite awake, and even though it was late I did the only thing I could think of. \240

I called Clare (Brigid’s previous owner) in the foothills of the Italian Alps, even though it was an hour later there.

Bless her she answered and talked me through it.

She’s amazing and I’m so grateful!

VIDEO: Nunney Castle Circular Walk

Are these bluebells waiting to bloom?

In primary school we had to create a wild flower notebook. \240Great idea unless, like me, you can’t draw.

While my friends like Elaine had a book of lovely drawings and descriptions, this was the only flower I had - and I think I probably traced it!

VIDEO: GRAMPUS INN

Beautiful village of Lee on the Devon north coast. Narrow little streets down to the cove.

Beautiful little pub and warm sunny beer garden. \240

Freehouse. Food tonight and just have to walk 20 meters back to the van in the little car park. \240

Booked the car park for free for 3 nights.

Happy days.

I met Helena when she served me at the Grampus. I noticed her Canadian accent and when her shift finished she kindly came to chat with me for a while. \240

Having spent half an hour or so comparing life stories I’m left with the impression of a very brave woman who has built many skills, lived many different types of lives and raised 3 children in situations from security to homelessness and back. \240What a woman!

Many thanks Helena 🥰

VIDEO

VIDEO HAPPY DOG

Not a performance just an informal session. \240Feels like its been like this on a Sunday afternoon at The Grampus for hundreds of years. Same people, same instruments, same music. Just different clothes.

Time travel.