Over 50

Please don't forget to donate using the link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/500mileschallenge
Today the weather was a bit better than I expected so Mum and I went for a short walk. I knew I only needed a few miles to get over the 50 barrier. We went over to the semaphore tower and went for a short wander up there. We then came back over the heath land towards Wisley Airfield. This is an abandoned airfield that I had no idea even existed. So close to home but I didn't know it was there.  It was pretty eerie walking down an abandoned run way, that is slowly being taken over by grass but it's nice that people can come and see it - well not that many people know it's there. Apparently they want to turn it into houses ... I really hope they don't.
From there it was back to the car. Not far and not very fast but it's a few more miles and it's nudged us over the 50 barrier.

Walk total: 3.4 Miles
Total distance: 51.8 Miles

Apparently I needed my photo taken ...

I got my own back

Wisley Airfield

Three in One

Hey everyone!
Since I last posted I have done three walks in quick succession so I thought instead of annoying everyone with constant blog posts I would roll them into one!

Silent Pool - St. Martha's - Silent Pool
So after the 14 miles of Friday I thought I would take it easy and go for a nice quiet afternoon stroll with a couple of mates. David (Spratt) and I went round to Robin (Beeson)'s house (they are bracketed as we usually call them by their last names) who we had left in charge of the planning of this walk. We turn up and he has forgotten, nevertheless he grabbed his stuff and we headed over to Silent Pool to start the walk. From the car park we went steeply up on to the top to meet the North Downs Way and followed it along the top to Newlands Corner where we had been just a few days before although the pace was much slower which was nice for a change. We then dropped down before climbing the sandy hill to St. Martha's on the hill. We have been here so many times in the past with church but this time it was different the light was fading and I was having a laugh with some friends. We then headed down the South side of hill and along to Albury through some very muddy fields - Spratt wasn't best pleased. We did however catch a pretty cool sunset which would have been even better had we been on the hill at the time. From there we plodded along back to Silent Pool. It was really nice to have my mates out there with me just having a bit of a laugh - after all it's what Jim and I would have been doing.
Walk total: 6.2 Miles

Euston - Camden Canal - Euston
I went up to London to meet my good friend Libby from Ulverston and she said that we should go for a walk. We walked up Camden High Street, a place I usually go at night to see bands. We passed venues like KOKO, The Underworld and The Electric Ballroom and up to the lock itself. Most people know that I am not a city fan but this shone a new light on a place I usually go to for a different purpose. It was interesting not catching the tube but connecting the dots on foot. We then walked along the canal towards London zoo and beyond it was nice to find a bit of peace in amongst the rat race. I hadn't turned my tracker on but did at the half way point so I doubled it to get the mileage seeing as we were going back the same way. I was surprised to see that we had covered 6 miles by the time we got back to Euston station. It was something different but that's what this challenge is about seeing new things and discovering new places.
Walk total: 6.2 

Dorking - Merstham along the North Downs Way
The weather was looking great so I decided to make the most of it. The Morgan's from church asked if I wanted to walk the North Downs Way from Dorking to Merstham as part of my challenge - more miles, how could I refuse? We started from Dorking Deepdene and headed up to the stepping stones before ascending the mighty Box Hill. Once on the top I thought it would be a nice stroll along the top to Reigate Hill and then down into Merstham. What we encountered however was a seriously muddy path that rose and fell many times. Several times I slipped but managed to save myself. At one point we thought it would be best to bypass the path and climb higher ... into a group of thorn bushes ... great. We were relieved to get to the top of Colley Hill as that marked the final climb before the end. Once on the top we had great views to the south, Reigate and Gatwick. We then strolled on down the other side of Reigate hill into Gatton Park and down into Merstham. It was 10.6 miles over all but all the dips and climbs had meant we had covered over 2,000ft as well. One word, knackered. Great fun though.
Walk total: 10.6

Total 48.4

Don't forget to donate using the link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/500mileschallenge

Dad I know it's your birthday but we are going for a walk: Guildford - Fetcham

The second walk of the challenge saw us go from Guildford High Street all the way back home to Fetcham, something I have never done before though most of the route is familiar.  Today I was joined by my Dad and it was his 56th Birthday, Happy Birthday Old Man. We set off around 1:30 from a grey Guildford and trudged up on to the top of Pewley Down. We were out of the town surprisingly quickly and had a nice view across the surrounding hills. As we made our way along to Newlands Corner we caught a fleeting glimpse of St. Martha's on the hill church - which we have walked to numerous times. After getting to Newlands Corner we zipped along the top, through Combe Bottom, along the North Downs Way before reaching Ranmore Lodge. From there we wiggled our way along to Polsden Lacey and avoiding the large puddles we made our way back to Fetcham. Some of the puddles were huge and I very nearly ended up in one of them ... very nearly. As the light started to go we gunned it through Fetcham and made it home for our targeted 6pm at 5:59. It doesn't sound like much but we managed to cover 14.1 miles today - not bad! Well done Dad for walking so far on your birthday! It's half term this week so I'm hoping to rack up a good few miles so look out to see where you can join me and remember to go to the link below to donate! Thanks to those who already have!
Catch you all soon, 
Charlie

Today's walk: 14.1 miles
Total: 25.4 miles

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/500mileschallenge 

Newlands Corner

56 and still just a big kid ;)

Studying the map - "I'm sure we're on here somewhere..."

Trace of todays walk

And we're off! Fetcham - Denbies - Ranmore and back

The first walk of the challenge is done! It felt very strange leaving the house this morning knowing that this walk was the very beginning of something huge. It wasn't the best weather day but it could have been much worse. I was out on my own today so I took it easy and didn't rush it.

From home I headed through the houses up on to Norbury, past the saw mill to the famous view point and looked out over Mickleham. I checked my tracker and it said I had already done 2.5 miles ... and that I wasn't in the right place. Great. 2 and a half miles into a 500 mile challenge and you can't follow a route. Whoops anyway I dropped down into the amazing Druids Grove, it was so nice to walk along a much smaller path and explore somewhere I don't know too well. The colours were stunning with the varying shades of green bursting from the undergrowth. The path then took me down by the river and along to Westhumble before joining the North Downs Way. The path was nice until it turned into a tarmacked road around the back of the Denbies estate. From here the path gradually climbed to the top of Ranmore and passing St. Barnabas Church and then skirting the main road over Ranmore. Just before a small house I turned right back into woodland and followed a new path up to Chaple Lane. The forest was lovely and quiet which was refreshing considering the busyness of Surrey life surround it. It was then over the top back on to Norbury and down through Fetcham back home. Whilst wandering back through Norbury I looked across the horizon and there was a fantastic view of the skyscrapers in London, I couldnt believe I could see into the heart of the city from out in rural Surrey on a gloomy day like today, just a reminder of how close we are.
It was a great start to the challenge, and at several points my thoughts turned to Jim who doubtless would have been making some terrible jokes or moaning at me to slow down!

I got in and was amazed at the tracker when it said I had covered over 11 miles. First walk, not too hard and into double figures already! Anyway please donate using the link below and check out the pictures from the walk!
Look out for more info on the next section of the challenge coming soon - Keep checking the calendar too!
Thanks for your support!

Please donate using this link:  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/500mileschallenge
Total so far: 11.3 Miles

The route

How do I use this thing?

Pictures don't do it justice! Druids Grove

The mighty Box Hill

If you look closely you can see London!

Charity announcement and First walk

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for all your very kind comments and offers of support for my 500 mile fundraising challenge. I can't wait to get out there walking with you all and starting the challenge. 

I am happy to say that I will be walking these 500 miles for the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity. This was a charity chosen by Jim before he died. The work that Rainbow does is fantastic. They work with children who are suffering from terminal and serious illnesses and their families. They help support families physically and emotionally at the most difficult times in a families life. 

Here's what they say about themselves:

Rainbow Trust provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Due to a lack of funding we’re currently only able to support a third of the families in England that could benefit from our help. Sponsorship from challenges like this will help us to support more families in our 30^th year. Here are some examples of how donations make a difference:

£22 is an hour of support for a shattered mother who has been up all night with her sick child. Sometimes it’s ok to just sit with someone and talk rather than always be ‘doing’. It’s ok to just ‘be’

£154 pays for a day’s visit from a Family Support Worker to help with the everyday aspects of life. Coping with the demands of a sick child takes a lot of energy and parents need extra help to deal with everyday responsibilities.

£1,700 covers the cost of a year’s support for one family

As a youth worker young people need all the support they can get and these guys are catering for those who have it tougher than most so please do get behind this and give generously using the link given below.

My aim is to raise £500 pounds to match the 500 miles that I am walking. Please follow the link to my fundraising page and give generously: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/500mileschallenge 

So that leads me nicely on to saying it all begins on Friday! As you can see on your right there is a nice calendar which displays all the walks I am doing. Now it's rather empty at the moment but dont worry I will get around to updating it soon. However! The first walk will be on Friday and I will be walking from home down into Dorking and back up over Ranmore into Fetcham. If you fancy joining me then do get in touch! It's not a massive walk so everyone is welcome. It will be a nice ease into the 500 miles ... Considering there will be one day where I will be covering 42 miles in the Keswick to Barrow walk in May. 

So check out The Rainbow Trust, give generously to the fundraising page and join me on Friday from 11 to start the challenge!

Cheers,

Charlie