I'm taking an easy day at home, after having had our friends from the U.K. here, and having taken them yesterday to their next hosts.
I thought you'd like to see the route maps I've drawn for our charity walk around Britain. They're not set in concrete, but give a fair idea of what I expect the walk to be.
London to Edinburgh
Edinburgh to Glasgow
Glasgow to Land's End
Land's End to London
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Hey, Louise, maybe you can only insert links at new postings as against in Comments?
So, I'll try here -
David Walking
HaHa! I checked and it works, Louise. Thank you.
So, I'll try here -
David Walking
HaHa! I checked and it works, Louise. Thank you.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
And a Bit Farther
Yesterday I got an email saying that my best friend in Edinburgh, Ian, who had suffered a heart attack on Tuesday, been hospitalised and had a shunt inserted, then released home on Thursday, had suffered another attack on Friday and was back in intensive care.
I read this after I had done my walk, had a shower, rested a bit and fallen asleep. So, I forgot to post here yesterday.
Any, I walked 9 laps yesterday which is 16.9749 kms. I did it in 3 hrs 1 M 34 secs. That equates to some 5.65 kms per hour. Short of the 6 mins I'm looking for.
The weather helped a lot, for whereas it has always been strong hot sunshine when I've wlked previously, yesterday was very overcast, and threatening rain. There was a strong cool breeze blowing.
Today, Margaret and I were in Whakatane for shopping and for my 3-monthly medical check-up. Apparently I'm still alive! Weight 81kgs; blood pressure 139 over 73. Not bad for me.
Before starting this posting, I've checked for any later news on Ian's condition. Nothing on my email inboxes, so I'm expecting that absence of news to be in itself good news.
We're getting ready to receive Sandy and susan fron Britain, via Sydney, on Friday, so I'll have to give up the walking for helping Margaret tidy house and garden up a wee bit.
I read this after I had done my walk, had a shower, rested a bit and fallen asleep. So, I forgot to post here yesterday.
Any, I walked 9 laps yesterday which is 16.9749 kms. I did it in 3 hrs 1 M 34 secs. That equates to some 5.65 kms per hour. Short of the 6 mins I'm looking for.
The weather helped a lot, for whereas it has always been strong hot sunshine when I've wlked previously, yesterday was very overcast, and threatening rain. There was a strong cool breeze blowing.
Today, Margaret and I were in Whakatane for shopping and for my 3-monthly medical check-up. Apparently I'm still alive! Weight 81kgs; blood pressure 139 over 73. Not bad for me.
Before starting this posting, I've checked for any later news on Ian's condition. Nothing on my email inboxes, so I'm expecting that absence of news to be in itself good news.
We're getting ready to receive Sandy and susan fron Britain, via Sydney, on Friday, so I'll have to give up the walking for helping Margaret tidy house and garden up a wee bit.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Almost Back on Track !
So, yesterday was the day at the Ohope Market with Margaret.
I took along some books to sell, and it gave me the opportunity to chat a number of my customers about my plans to do the charity walk around Britain. Some of them were from overseas, and particularly from Britain. Of course, I gave them this blog address, and I hope not only that they will tune in here, but also that they might offer a wee bit of assistance to Peter and myself once the walk is under way.
Today, I walked 8 laps of the 1.8861 kms course, and that equates to just a few steps more than 15 kms. I don't have an accurate time for it, since I was stopped on 3 occasions by wellwishers. One of whom invited me to attend the local Masonic Lodge on Monday 4 February, when in honour of Robert Burns the Scottish Bard they will be having something of a Scottish evening. Although I'm a Freemason, I'm not currently a member of any lodge, so I'm unattached. As such, I can go to any lodges in new Zealand on up to 3 times in any one year.
I took along some books to sell, and it gave me the opportunity to chat a number of my customers about my plans to do the charity walk around Britain. Some of them were from overseas, and particularly from Britain. Of course, I gave them this blog address, and I hope not only that they will tune in here, but also that they might offer a wee bit of assistance to Peter and myself once the walk is under way.
Today, I walked 8 laps of the 1.8861 kms course, and that equates to just a few steps more than 15 kms. I don't have an accurate time for it, since I was stopped on 3 occasions by wellwishers. One of whom invited me to attend the local Masonic Lodge on Monday 4 February, when in honour of Robert Burns the Scottish Bard they will be having something of a Scottish evening. Although I'm a Freemason, I'm not currently a member of any lodge, so I'm unattached. As such, I can go to any lodges in new Zealand on up to 3 times in any one year.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Horror of Horrors !!!!!
I didn't post yesterday as I didn't walk yesterday, and I had a lazy day.
Today, I borrowed a measuring wheel from a friend at the Kawerau District Council offices, so that I could accurately measure the lap which I had guesstimated to be 6 kms and on which I based my daily distances and times.
I was, of course, hoping that it would be a bit more than the 2 kms. Horror of horrors when it turned out to be 1.8861 kms !! So, I've been telling all of you - and myself, too - a lie!
It means that my pace has been some 5.758 kms instead of 6 kms per hour. And, so, the daily distances that I've recorded up to now need to be divided by 2 and multiplied by 1.8861 to give the true distance. Well, I'm just not up to doing that, but I've cleansed my conscience by at least putting the record straight at this stage.
I didn't do my walking today, apart from that one measuring lap, because my wife and I are preparing for tomorrow's craft market at Ohope Beach. Next walk will be on Sunday.
Today, I borrowed a measuring wheel from a friend at the Kawerau District Council offices, so that I could accurately measure the lap which I had guesstimated to be 6 kms and on which I based my daily distances and times.
I was, of course, hoping that it would be a bit more than the 2 kms. Horror of horrors when it turned out to be 1.8861 kms !! So, I've been telling all of you - and myself, too - a lie!
It means that my pace has been some 5.758 kms instead of 6 kms per hour. And, so, the daily distances that I've recorded up to now need to be divided by 2 and multiplied by 1.8861 to give the true distance. Well, I'm just not up to doing that, but I've cleansed my conscience by at least putting the record straight at this stage.
I didn't do my walking today, apart from that one measuring lap, because my wife and I are preparing for tomorrow's craft market at Ohope Beach. Next walk will be on Sunday.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Blister Bigger !!
Day 11, and I have checked and discovered that I didn't post last Sunday, and therefore made a mistake with some of my day numbers in later postings. Not to worry, I'm not going back to make changes now.
Today, I walked 16 kms in 2 hours 36 minutes and 23 seconds. This is slower than 10 minutes per kilometre, but I'm not at all unhappy about that. The main thing is that I managed to do more than the shocking 7 kms in my previous walk.
However, the blister is bigger, and certainly more painful right now as I type at 23:21 hours on Wednesday. I've soaked both feet in salted water, with some antiseptic fluid in it also, while watching television earlier. Unfortunately, my left ankle has swollen quite a bit. This is because that was the drainage point when the vein was harvested from the left leg for the heart bypass surgery, and one of the things I have to be careful about is it swelling.
So, I'm off to bed to have that left foot raised above my reclining body level, and tomorrow morning it should all be back to normal.
I'm not walking at all tomorrow, and will see about doing more than 16 Kms on Friday. No walking on Saturday because I am at craft market with Margaret for half of that day.
Today, I walked 16 kms in 2 hours 36 minutes and 23 seconds. This is slower than 10 minutes per kilometre, but I'm not at all unhappy about that. The main thing is that I managed to do more than the shocking 7 kms in my previous walk.
However, the blister is bigger, and certainly more painful right now as I type at 23:21 hours on Wednesday. I've soaked both feet in salted water, with some antiseptic fluid in it also, while watching television earlier. Unfortunately, my left ankle has swollen quite a bit. This is because that was the drainage point when the vein was harvested from the left leg for the heart bypass surgery, and one of the things I have to be careful about is it swelling.
So, I'm off to bed to have that left foot raised above my reclining body level, and tomorrow morning it should all be back to normal.
I'm not walking at all tomorrow, and will see about doing more than 16 Kms on Friday. No walking on Saturday because I am at craft market with Margaret for half of that day.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Day of Rest!
Day 10, I think (not too sure and can't be bothered checking)!
Blister is in dominating mode today, so I'm doing no walking, and spending more time on the computer, mostly sending messages to people seeking help with sponsorship.
I've just seen the article in the electronic version of Tuesday's issue of "The Scotsman" newspaper. It's very good, and I hope it might lead to some sponsorship.
I'm a wee bit down today, not being able to go out and do a decent walk, but it seems sensible to go slow at present in order to ensure I can make it to the Rotorusa Marathon in walking condition.
David.
Blister is in dominating mode today, so I'm doing no walking, and spending more time on the computer, mostly sending messages to people seeking help with sponsorship.
I've just seen the article in the electronic version of Tuesday's issue of "The Scotsman" newspaper. It's very good, and I hope it might lead to some sponsorship.
I'm a wee bit down today, not being able to go out and do a decent walk, but it seems sensible to go slow at present in order to ensure I can make it to the Rotorusa Marathon in walking condition.
David.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Damn! and Damn again!
Day 8 and not a good start to my walk today!
Maybe because I had not walked yesterday, to give a blister a chance to settle, or maybe because I started off walking today too quickly, my lower legs were almost immediately very tight and painful, both shins and calves. This lasted for about the first 5 kms. Then it got easier, and I had visions of not only walking the total 16 kms today, but possibly to finish off with a bit of speed!
HaHa-bloody-Ha!
At about 7kms there was a lovely cutting feeling at the blister on my left foot, felt as though I had walked on the sharp end of a piece of brokeb glass. Another step, another sharp pain. OK ! Not risking that, I gave up, and hobbled over to my car and drove home. Only 7 kms today, and bad prospects for the next 2 or 3 days?
I'm not sure how it will turn out, but above is a photo of the blister, taken badly with a very miniature digital camera. Taken by myself, thus difficult to get the best angle.
Anyway, if you have remedies for blisters, please post them to me !!
David.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Never Mind the Blisters! Oh, Yeah?
Still Day 7 and I've decided to walk regardless of the blister. I need to toughen up, surely.
So, after being extremely fussy and careful with my socks and shoes, I set out. I managed the first 8 kms very comfortably, and at that point even speeded up my rate. At the 13 Kms mark, I stopped because I knew the bloody blister was going to dominate me soon!
Not what I had hoped to walk, but not too disappointing either. I was maintaining my rate of under 10 mins per km all the way through, and I was feeling very good.
But, no walking tomorrow, and a good foot soaking tonight while watching television.
David.
So, after being extremely fussy and careful with my socks and shoes, I set out. I managed the first 8 kms very comfortably, and at that point even speeded up my rate. At the 13 Kms mark, I stopped because I knew the bloody blister was going to dominate me soon!
Not what I had hoped to walk, but not too disappointing either. I was maintaining my rate of under 10 mins per km all the way through, and I was feeling very good.
But, no walking tomorrow, and a good foot soaking tonight while watching television.
David.
Blister Time !!
Day 7.
I missed posting here yesterday, because I could not get on the computer last night. For a very good reason, however. I had sent an email to the editor of "The Scotsman" newspaper in Edinburgh, hoping to get a letter published there which would tell all about my WALK plans, and also seek sponsorship.
I got an email from that paper's Health Corrrespondent who wanted to interview me by telephone to fill in some of the story. That took place late last night, and since I do not have broadband I had to keep the line clear until that phonecall came through. The upshot is that an article will appear in "The Scotsman" next Tuesday 15 January, and it will include my appeal for sponsorship. So, I really do expect to be in a position to get to Britain in May THIS YEAR.
Anyway, back to more mundane things - yesterday was day 6 and I walked 14 kilometres. I did 6 in the morning while my wife was browsing around the shops; 8 in the afternoon, which is when a nice blistered on the ball of my left foot. Simultaneously, some skin was scraped off one of my toes on same foot. Now, at 13:21 hours on day 7, I'm debating with yself whether to risk walking today at all.
I missed posting here yesterday, because I could not get on the computer last night. For a very good reason, however. I had sent an email to the editor of "The Scotsman" newspaper in Edinburgh, hoping to get a letter published there which would tell all about my WALK plans, and also seek sponsorship.
I got an email from that paper's Health Corrrespondent who wanted to interview me by telephone to fill in some of the story. That took place late last night, and since I do not have broadband I had to keep the line clear until that phonecall came through. The upshot is that an article will appear in "The Scotsman" next Tuesday 15 January, and it will include my appeal for sponsorship. So, I really do expect to be in a position to get to Britain in May THIS YEAR.
Anyway, back to more mundane things - yesterday was day 6 and I walked 14 kilometres. I did 6 in the morning while my wife was browsing around the shops; 8 in the afternoon, which is when a nice blistered on the ball of my left foot. Simultaneously, some skin was scraped off one of my toes on same foot. Now, at 13:21 hours on day 7, I'm debating with yself whether to risk walking today at all.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Joy of Joys
Day 5, and I managed 12 kilometres walking with only one brief stop, and that despite me telling the person interrupting my walking that I could not stop to answer his question, for I was timing what I was doing. Well, considering it was our Mayor who wanted to talk to me, I made an exception to my rule! And, anyway, he's a really big bloke!
He is a butcher, and has a shop in our small town square. The 2-kms circuit that I use is a walk on the roadsides and pavements around the business centre of town,
He told me that he had earlier said to one of his shop assistants, "That's the second or third time I've seen that little bugger Paterson walking past over there. Wonder what he's up to."
So, he drove his vehicle out of the backyard area of his shop and stopped just ahead of where I was walking. I told him what I was doing, and he wished me well. Mind you, it means that half of the folk in town will know soon just what this mad Scotsman is up to now( there's always something I'm getting involved in), and that should prevent a number of interruptions while I'm walking. No offers of sponsorship expected here, however!
I did the 12 kms in 2 hours and 2 minutes 0 seconds, not at all bad after yesterday's fiasco of a performance.
Note that I've managed to figure out how to add a PayPal Donation facility to this blog, for any of you who'd like to contribute financially (no matter how little)to my Walking Adventure Dream.
He is a butcher, and has a shop in our small town square. The 2-kms circuit that I use is a walk on the roadsides and pavements around the business centre of town,
He told me that he had earlier said to one of his shop assistants, "That's the second or third time I've seen that little bugger Paterson walking past over there. Wonder what he's up to."
So, he drove his vehicle out of the backyard area of his shop and stopped just ahead of where I was walking. I told him what I was doing, and he wished me well. Mind you, it means that half of the folk in town will know soon just what this mad Scotsman is up to now( there's always something I'm getting involved in), and that should prevent a number of interruptions while I'm walking. No offers of sponsorship expected here, however!
I did the 12 kms in 2 hours and 2 minutes 0 seconds, not at all bad after yesterday's fiasco of a performance.
Note that I've managed to figure out how to add a PayPal Donation facility to this blog, for any of you who'd like to contribute financially (no matter how little)to my Walking Adventure Dream.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Minor Disaster !!
Day 4, and I think I've just learnt by personal experience what it might mean when they say that a racehorse has broken down!
Today I set out to do my 10 kilometres walking as planned, and somewhere about 7 kms it all went wrong for me. I had a sciatic nerve problem in my left buttock and down the thigh many years ago. It was dealt to by many visites to a brilliant masseuse in Auckland.
Today it felt as though it was striking again. A bit of discomfort to begin with, and the realisation that my left foot was flapping down rather than being a firm step as the right one was. This has happened before and I've considered that it was due to my left leg being a wee bit shorter than my right one. (To explain a bit - my lower spine was cracked in a motorcycle accident in Scotland in March 1964, and I've suffered some spinal problems from time to time, but over the many years I've learned to recognise most of them and deal to them, usually by lying flat on bed for a couple of days).
By the time I was at 7 kms tday, I was close to limping and definitely slowing down although I was trying to fight against it.
Shortly before I reached the 8 km point of my 2-km circuit, I knew I would be stupid to try to walk further, and so I quit at 8 kms. Time was some 5 minutes more than my time for 8 kms yesterday.
So, I have to think tonight what I should best do to keep this walking training going. I know that I walked 30 kms non-stop in October of 2006 as part of a local charity fundraiser, so I know that today's performance can be overlooked more or less, but also I have to consider slowing down for the first 6 or more kms tomorrow (if I can walk that far tomorrow - I'm sure I can) in order to complete 10 kms regardless of the time it takes. At this stage the daily distances are more important then the times.
David.
Today I set out to do my 10 kilometres walking as planned, and somewhere about 7 kms it all went wrong for me. I had a sciatic nerve problem in my left buttock and down the thigh many years ago. It was dealt to by many visites to a brilliant masseuse in Auckland.
Today it felt as though it was striking again. A bit of discomfort to begin with, and the realisation that my left foot was flapping down rather than being a firm step as the right one was. This has happened before and I've considered that it was due to my left leg being a wee bit shorter than my right one. (To explain a bit - my lower spine was cracked in a motorcycle accident in Scotland in March 1964, and I've suffered some spinal problems from time to time, but over the many years I've learned to recognise most of them and deal to them, usually by lying flat on bed for a couple of days).
By the time I was at 7 kms tday, I was close to limping and definitely slowing down although I was trying to fight against it.
Shortly before I reached the 8 km point of my 2-km circuit, I knew I would be stupid to try to walk further, and so I quit at 8 kms. Time was some 5 minutes more than my time for 8 kms yesterday.
So, I have to think tonight what I should best do to keep this walking training going. I know that I walked 30 kms non-stop in October of 2006 as part of a local charity fundraiser, so I know that today's performance can be overlooked more or less, but also I have to consider slowing down for the first 6 or more kms tomorrow (if I can walk that far tomorrow - I'm sure I can) in order to complete 10 kms regardless of the time it takes. At this stage the daily distances are more important then the times.
David.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
2 Down, 99 to go !
Day Two of 'The List' and I've COMPLETED a second item.
#2: I have today Monday walked 6 kms, in 55 minutes 23 seconds. Do the times, and indeed the seconds, matter? Certainly to me they do! To do the Rotorua Marathon in less than 7 hours (at which point, I believe, the organisers of the Marathon stop officially recording finishing times), I need to average less that 10 minutes per kilometre. Since I'll need to allow for slow starting rate in the Marathon itself due to the large number of starters bunching up, and also then allow for stops (apparently at each hour of walking), I need to discipline my self to check the time for each kilometre I walk. Maybe I'll train hard enough in the just less than 4 months remaining until the day of the Marathon to be able to string together some longer walking times than one hour before needing a break, and maybe I'll manage to get the time per Km down to close to 9 minutes? Who knows? I certainly don't at this stage.
David.
Day Two of 'The List' and I've COMPLETED a second item.
#2: I have today Monday walked 6 kms, in 55 minutes 23 seconds. Do the times, and indeed the seconds, matter? Certainly to me they do! To do the Rotorua Marathon in less than 7 hours (at which point, I believe, the organisers of the Marathon stop officially recording finishing times), I need to average less that 10 minutes per kilometre. Since I'll need to allow for slow starting rate in the Marathon itself due to the large number of starters bunching up, and also then allow for stops (apparently at each hour of walking), I need to discipline my self to check the time for each kilometre I walk. Maybe I'll train hard enough in the just less than 4 months remaining until the day of the Marathon to be able to string together some longer walking times than one hour before needing a break, and maybe I'll manage to get the time per Km down to close to 9 minutes? Who knows? I certainly don't at this stage.
David.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Day one!
1 Down, 100 to go !
Day One of 'The List' and I've COMPLETED an item already, so a good start!
#1: I had walked 2 kms. on Friday in 19 minutes, and I have now, today Sunday, walked 4 kms, in 37 minutes 12 seconds. So, although it's no big deal, I'm very happy because it's the 2nd successful step of a plan to prepare to walk in the Rotorua Marathon on 3 May 2008.
(I see that my postings are being shown as posted by TartanWonder, a nick I've been using for my first blog. I like that nick, so I'll leave it unchanged for this blog also.
David.
Day One of 'The List' and I've COMPLETED an item already, so a good start!
#1: I had walked 2 kms. on Friday in 19 minutes, and I have now, today Sunday, walked 4 kms, in 37 minutes 12 seconds. So, although it's no big deal, I'm very happy because it's the 2nd successful step of a plan to prepare to walk in the Rotorua Marathon on 3 May 2008.
(I see that my postings are being shown as posted by TartanWonder, a nick I've been using for my first blog. I like that nick, so I'll leave it unchanged for this blog also.
David.
Beginnings!
I believe that at this point I can do no better than quote from the beginning of the blog of my Scottish e-friend, Lou in Kirkcaldy: "After years of making wee 'to-do' lists on tiny scraps of paper and annual resolutions I thought this barmy list idea suited me down to a tea! In my advancing years I am lacking the motivation or inclination to get even the most mundane of things completed. . . . . . . . . . . .
I will post on this blog as I progress or complete things showing evidence where I can.
Maybe you feel you want to know more... . .Here's where I got the idea http://triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp . Click for more information and examples of other lists."
Well, that pretty much says it for me also.
You can view Lou's blog at http://lou2do.blogspot.com/ .
David Paterson
I will post on this blog as I progress or complete things showing evidence where I can.
Maybe you feel you want to know more... . .Here's where I got the idea http://triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp . Click for more information and examples of other lists."
Well, that pretty much says it for me also.
You can view Lou's blog at http://lou2do.blogspot.com/ .
David Paterson
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