And also a special thank you to Kele for his donation!

I had to sit down a bit quick when I looked at my Just-Giving page and saw what Kele had donated! Thank you so much Kele! Your donation is very much appreciated.

I know, since I went on an Outward Bound course years ago, that the money all of you have donated will help some young people in very special and positive ways and the experiences they have will stay with them for their whole lives. Thanks to all of you who have donated so far.

Thanks to all who have sponsored me so far, especially the IG Group!

Here's a big thank you to all of you who have sponsored me so far. And a special thank you to IG Group for doubling the contributions you all made! At a stroke, the fund was just doubled and The Outward Bound Trust will get twice the money! How brilliant is that! Thanks to you all and thanks to IG.

If you haven't sponsored me yet, then there's still time. I don't start hiking for almost two weeks and you can always pay for my pain as I'm hiking too! :-)

Hike : Another 17k from Croydon to the Fox

Croydon, Forestdale, Selsdon Wood, Warlingham, Riddlesdown, Whyteleaf,  Kenley, Kenley Aerodrome, Old Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, The Fox


That's hiking two days in a row just to see how my legs coped. And it's ok. No more achey than usual. Hooray! I think after 30k yesterday and the 17k today I am about ready. I'll squeeze a couple more hikes in if I can and then it the big day.

For the first time today, I'm ending in a pub for lunch. Terrific!

Hike : Sat 19th Mar 2011 : London Loop from Croydon to Chislehurst Rail Station : 29.6 km

Croydon, Littleheath Woods, Bramley Bank, Addington Hills, Addington Golf Course, Threehalfpenny Wood, Coney Hall, Hayes Common, Keston, Keston Common, High Elms, Farnborough, Darrick Wood, Crofton, Roundabout Wood, Sparrow Wood, Jubilee Country Park, Kyd Brook, Chilehurst Rail

So I got out of bed early enough to complete this walk! I tried the other week but didn't start early enough and had to quit at Orpington. Good job I did too because the section from Orpington to Chislehurst through Roundabout and Sparrow woods is very wet and quite remote so it would have been very dark in the failing light too. A lovely walk but at nearly 30k, a bit long! And I still have another mike to go tomorrow too.Anyway, the weather was perfect. Frost in the morning and blue sky all day long with a cool breeze. Heaven!

Here's some photos.

 A beautifully quiet and frosty morning on the way out of Croydon.

A monster viewpoint at the top of the Addington Hills

 Ponds in Keston Common

The Wilberforce Oak where William Wilberforce apparently made up his mind that slavery was a bad thing.

High Elms Country Park

Wickham Court Church

Farnborough Village

Roundabout Wood

Chislehurst Station

 Proof!