I am still thinking about walking the South West Coast Path again next year. On re-reading my journal on the one hand it brings back all the wonderful memories but on the other I remember how hard it can be at times and now I will be 9 years older!

What are thinking about/planning for 2016?

For me it'll be back to E-W... probably not be any easier either, though now knowing what I didn't know last time, you never just know, I might just make it to Lovesome Hill on day 1 without any problems encountered...
I struggle to keep up my training regime for more than 6 months, so starting too early could overall be detrimental...

I have changed my mind and may do so again! I am now planning to fill in the bits of the LEJOG that I haven't walked. Looking at doing Minehead to Chepstow and then Bronygarth/Chirk to Edale. I was going to go from Prestatyn to Gargrave but reading some articles the walk along the canal in/near Liverpool can be a bit "daunting" in places!

By doing those 2 missing bits then I will have walked all the way from Land's End to Scotland. I only need to then walk from Byrness (rather than Kirk Yetholm) to Milngavie and then from Inverness to John O'Groats to complete LEJOG. I would have preferred to have done it all in one go but not sure that I'll be able to do that now.

Where's that old Brit' pioneering spirit Harland! The natives didn't put Capt.Cook off....well, not at first anyhow.

Wasn't Cook killed after he was struck on the head by some local natives and then stabbed to death?

Thought it best not to mention that...

I'm starting 2016 by volunteering at the Spine race 2016. I will be there all week, possibly in one of the mountain safety teams. The plan is then to get fit for the Spine 2017 and be the first and only over 70 year old to enter and of course finish, as I am already in the over 65 year age group.
My persistent injuries to knee and foot seem to have calmed a lot over recent months, but the real test will be when I plan to try a few hill runs in the new year, after the Spine.
Next year I would really like to do the Cambrian Way, it's been on my mind for some time. There is also the C2C race in June, with a 5 day limit. I quite fancy doing that, but at £450.. to enter now, I'm not sure. I mean Ive done the full route in under 5 days anyway, but this would be traveling much lighter as a drop bag is transported between check points. Then again I could just do a solo crossing (hopefully after last years 2 failures)as a good training outing.
Dave.

News today - The Leeds-Liverpool canal, which runs through the Eldonian Village, has been cordoned off at both sides and there are plenty of police vehicles here, with many people having to alter their walk to school following a 16-year old being gunned down and killed.

Harland, sounds dodgey. Could be an opening there for conducted 'speedwalking' tours!




Dave, good luck with the Spine 2017 plans. You'd be setting a new benchmark.