Rehearsals
20180422 Mallards Pike
The first weekend of rehearsal for our 2018 attempt at the GR20 starts near Malards Pike and has some gentle climbs of up to 100m. Emma is quick and full of energy but flags a little over the last KM. Alex is ok once he is walking and has no significant stops. He does have a little limp from an injury he had at school. Better keep an eye on it. My hip is sore but nothing to be worried about yet.
After about 9K we have Bobs beer and crisps at the Rising Sun.
Just over 2 hours to complete 10k which is sufficient for the first GR20 day, and everyone seems quite happy.
20180505 Cwmdu
The crows were up same time as us and we know this because Alex was hungry. Fire lit, but not very warm yet. Jane makes bacon, sausage, eggy bread and fried eggs. Today we will try to re-do the walk from last year because Alex hasn’t done it and because it’s a good one.
Desert is coffee and hot chocolate.
0930 Campsite 18c 1007mbar 130m
1000 We park near Castel Dinas and cross into the valley of Rhyd-y-car. Steep ascent via the three Cairns to Pen Trumea and on to Waun Fach at 810m our highest point for the day. North to Pen y Manllwyn and descend via Y Grib to the car.
1538 back at car – 13km.
Lessons learnt: More suncream; more water; Alex breaks down in the beginning and recovers; Emma breaks down at the end. Need longer break in middle with CH for Emma.
20180506
A short walk with a steep ascent in the beginning. Parked our car at 340m, climbed up to 610 where we met some people who attempted the GR20 a week after the calametous landslide in the Cirque the Soltitude. After the climb it’s easy going to the end of the hill. Alex spots a lizard! Then it’s down to the road and we follow this up to the car. Small diversion feeding very tame sheep. Easy 7.5K walk, nobody was too hurt today. Alex broke his shoe and found a baby snake.
At 3:00, we drove to the café in Cwmdu where we ate lunch and ice-cream. Then we dropped off a lady at a stable near the lake we could see from the top of the mountain. We then sat in the shade and later, ate pasta with bolognese sauce. Then we sleep.
On the way back from the lake the car suspension makes some clunking noises.
20180507
No walking today. Visit Deep Pit and go home to water the plants.
20180513 Home to Stroud
Leave the house at 0945 and have a brisk walk to Chosen hill, and down into Hucklecote. Jane mentions about a dozen time that she has no confidence in the navigation, but we manage a straight line to Upton St Leonards where we have a break with bisquits. From Upton Alex deteriorates a bit, but at some point we have to break him in. Lots of moaning until we get to Painswick for lunch. Almost 16k into the walk so really not bad.
Over the next two weeks we do some shorter walks in the Netherlands and at home. The next slightly more serious walk is up Leckhampton Hill, north side, then across to the Cirencester Road and back along the bottom. 5.5KM.
We also buy a rucksack for Alex, rucksack cover for me and bedding.
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