The Grand France Walk

I am delighted to say I have already had the offer of one walking companion - cheers. Pedthered! The offers may increase as my plans are made clearer in this blog. I don't seem to have posted for ages and can only really blame the sunshine. Weak and pale it might be and the wind can be freezing at times but oh how pleased I am to see the sun. So much pleased to see the sun that I have been working in the garden!
Besides working in the garden I have been sitting in the garden sheltered from the wind and reading "And Did Those Feet" by Charley Connelly. This is a wonderfully satisfying and witty book about Charley doing several long distance walks in the UK along trails taken by famous historical characters, Boadicea, Saxon Harald, Mary Queen of Scots, to name but three. This is a marvellous intertwining of history and walking.
In the light of my planned Grand France Walk (see previous postings - 1100 miles from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote)I am fascinated by the whole book but particularly by his early chapters on walking itself. This quote is from page 8:

There can surely be no better way to ease your way to a healthier mind and body than by walking. It's leisurely. it's good for you, it's easy. You don't need any special equipment*; you don't meed any particular skills or training. Walking is a scandalously under-rated and ill-appreciated human trait. (C) Charley Connelly.

The asterisk * is my addition to the quaote because by page 15 Charley does adjust that statement to: you do need "the right equipment" and he cites "chafing" as been one of the main reasons. My own personal painful experience backs up this comment.

Charley quotes other great minds who equate walking with thinking. Many was the time I was trapped in meetings with colleagues or with the head teacher and I had to excuse myself to get up and start pacing up and down. My brain felt waterlogged with ideas, concepts and decisions. The only way I could get my brain to function more effectively was to be up on my feet. I also found that I taught better if up on my feet and prowling the classroom. The subject matter and the delivery may have been boring but the pupils never knew where I was going to end up next.

Charley also relates that his early walks exhausted him (page 15) and now I have started walking everywhere in the local vicinity - I even walk to my exercise classes at Langstone and at Hilsea - I know what he means. I also know what he means by moisture wicking clothing. Being a large man incline to perspire freely, I have found the need for moisture wicking underwear and T shirts an imperative acquisition. He also recommends light cotton walking trousers of which I have already a few pairs as I have found them invaluable in the past for camping and walking. I have waterproof over-trousers but need to find a much lighter weight pair. I have no need yet of fleeces, socks of different thicknesses and base layers but figure I may have to invest carefully when I begin the Grand France Walk for real.

I have a pair of good quality walking boots which I have had for a number of years now. I suspect that they may need replacing more than once on the 1100 mile trek across France. I am using Google Earth at the moment to way mark the journey across France and have so far reached Chinon. I am interested in seeing the topography of the walk as I know that the challenge of mountain walking will be presented to me several times and I have expressed my fear of heights many times in previous posts. I am also working on the logistics of how to achieve the walk and the problems of overnight accommodation. I do have a number of viable options already and may take a leaf out of the best beloved's flexibility manual and try a variety on the journey. I would remind regular readers that the journey will be in small sections in spring and autumn over about four years - 150 miles per section or 300 miles per year should see the enterprise achieved.

The Firstborn has already got me to agree to monthly Sunday walks with her. We will probably begin at the five mile length and build up. I hope to do the Wayfarers Walk and parts of the South Downs Walk as preparation or rehearsal for the Grand France Walk. However I am hoping I will be able to persuade the Best Beloved that we can begin in autumn 2009 and walk the first section from Ouistreham to Saint Denis sur Sarthon or 128 miles on the Grande Randonnee (GR)36. This is eight days' worth of walking but could be spread over two weeks of camping in late September and/or early October with rest days interspersed amongst the walking.