the day after the climb before

Our Boxhill hike went really well - we enjoyed a 1 hour warm up walk down the hill to the stepping stones and back up again.

Then after a restorative sarnie and cup of tea, we strode out on the long walk with Alice deftly giving us directions as we went, and throwing in some history, geography and geology knowledge along the way, picked up from 50p's worth of handy map. We finished it after about 3 hours, and felt like we had had a good training afternoon.

My legs definately tell me it went well. Here is proof.

We also met those pesky cows at the same spot as last time I was there with Dan and the gang. Only this time the team were fearless, and it was daylight, which helped, so we managed to steal past them.

week four - feet

people have recommended that I get used to spending all day on my feet in preparation for the trek.

Well today was killer - not enough sleep from getting in late after a lovely dinner at my bro Tom's, out to my volunteering work at 7.30 till 12.30, then a nice long walk in Richmond.

Richmond is great, though - you can march up and down the beautiful terrace gardens, terrace field and Petersham Common which are all next to each other in front of the Star and Garter Home; 5 mins walk from Richmond station but for a minute you could be in the countryside.

The terrace gardens make you feel like you are gracefully wafting around in a Jane Austin novel. Even in hiking boots and a backpack. Glam.

and they are all really really steeeep!

Chloe