Hiking Without Supervision

Lazing around is not a good idea for me, it makes me melancholy. I’m honestly tired of walking and tired of the weather (there have been a few weather bright spots but mostly icky). And, seriously considering finishing the adventure by bus and train, so I can come home earlier than planned.

Friday, May 12: Uneventful with more f**king blisters. Lazed around the house, read my book, took a nap, sorted out clothes in preparation for the next major section of my adventure, The Pennines. Watched a movie with the cousins which was relaxing, then went to bed. Good note is staying off my feet will help them heal.

Saturday, May 13: Not quite sitting on my arse all day. Got up earlier than I thought I would, then walked to my cousin Margaret for a visit. Had some homemade soup that was delicious, a visit with Katie and her new beau Jordan, and a grand old blether. No booze though, Margaret got me totally drunk the last time!!

Later that evening, called DB to help reduce the crap I asked him to bring to me. It’s amazing how you can do without all kinds of things when you have to carry it on your back! Ricky was out with his pals and came in singing and ready to order a takeaway curry. Watched some of the Eurovision Song Contest, load of shite! Went to bed and read my book.

Sunday, May 14: Mothers Day and really missing my family. Made up for it with a long lunch with my bestie Izzy, hours and hours of talking a load of shite and having a great laugh (mostly at the expense of others). Izzy is the kind of friend that I see maybe once a year but we just pick up where we left off. She brought me to tears with a small gift that I will carry with me on my hikes.

Monday, May 15: Sitting on my arse but very productive day. Did laundry, re-packed the backpack, and getting ready to head down to Manchester to meet the guys. Got a lot of organization done too: used our children’s inheritance to book a bag service for first 8 days of Pennines, booked a taxi to take us to Richmond at the end of the hike with Eric, created a new plan for the next part of the journey that will take us up to the north of Scotland and hopefully finish my adventure, and looked at some ideas for when Gillian and Peyton are here. I have it on good authority that taking a 16 year old to the highlands is probably not a good idea 😳

Tuesday, May 16: Sitting on my arse on a train but going to Manchester to meet the guys. Finally! I managed to tweak my back in the shower bending over to wash my hair so the next couple days will be interesting. My brother thinks I’m an “auld git” – he might be right. My cousin Ricky took me to the train station, and off I went. I listened to a book called The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I could totally relate to his thoughts, feelings, and moods as he walked. They have made it into a movie, so will need to check it out. Chatted with DB until he was safely on the plane with Eric. I’m soooo excited!!

Stay tuned, adventure stories to come.