Rising to the challenge

I am thinking I have a bit of a task coming up, it's only a couple of weeks or so when the idea of walking from Blackpool to Hull came into my head. I felt the time was right to tackle a long distance path. And with me being a bit different to a lot of walkers who like to follow well established routes, I like to make up my own. For me, finding my way with a map makes it a lot more fun.

At first my enthusiasm was in danger of blinding me, I thought it was a brilliant idea. Then the doubts started creeping in, could I really do it? Maybe it is a bit too ambitious. Negative thoughts passed fleetingly through my brain. What if my legs became too tired, what if it rained every day, what if I couldn't find anywhere to sleep, what if, what if, what if.

I mulled it over for 24 hours. It's not so far compared to some of the other long distance walks. Other people walk much further distances, and some of them are older than me. It could be sunny every day. I could meet some smashing people. I will see some interesting places, and I will be enjoying an exhilerating sense of freedom to roam. My positive thoughts have trampled all over my negative feelings, squashed them flat.

It's easy to think of all the things that you can't do, it takes no effort at all. Giving up before you start is easy, no sweat, just carry on day after day doing what you always do. The easy way is not an option for me any more, I have done it. I chose to cut my work load so I could get a life, I chose to manage on less money. And now I have a life I am going to blooming well make sure I fill it with whatever takes my fancy.

I try and think of all the things that I can do, and one of them is putting one foot in front of the other. I don't need qualifications to do that. Anyone can do it, anyone reading this could, if they wanted to, walk from one end of the country to the other. Look at Eddie Kidd, how long did it take him to complete the marathon? As long as it took him to walk a few steps each day. Another inspiration for me is Eddie Izzard, how many marathons did he complete, can't remember but it was one every day for ages. Amazing. If you are reading Down The Lane forum you will see that Richard Cannon, has just completed his John o Groats to Lands End cycle ride, that's almost 1,000 miles, and at the age of 63, his first attempt at a long ride. Well done Richard.

It's a fact, we are all dying. Every day passing is one day less we have on this earth. Having ideas on the back burner is easy, always talking about what you are going to do and never doing it, is so so easy, a cop out. I don't want to read about what people are thinking of doing, I want to read about what they are doing and have done. I will answer your questions on what I am planning, (Barb has asked what I will be taking, I'll do a list), but I don't want to bore you to death with every minor detail. Which route am I taking, and where am I going to sleep? I don't know till I get there. If anyone thinks they may be able to meet up with me somewhere between the start and finish I will happily text them to let them know my whereabouts. Email your mobi number saying which area you might be in.

So, just got to clean the house, speak to my cat sitter Janet, top up the dongle and mobi, then I'm ready. I'll be stepping on the train with a big grin on my face, because that's where my adventure begins.