Current location:	Office
Current mood:	cheerful
Entry tags:	walking

I walked approximately half of The Forest Way on Friday, September , and returned home sore and knackered by train and, regretfully, a taxi from the station, cause I didn't trust myself not to fall over.

I think I completed about 16 miles, before the lure of a pub on route, and a sensible decision about my physical state of well being resulted in a stop for something to eat and the decision to go home.

Notable events on route - the two men with large rifles who were walking along part of the path as it went across some cultivated fields who, on seeing a group of deer dropped to the floor and took aim - on the deer (the deer were off running by this stage). I made myself known to them, explained where I was going, asked if that was OK, got told, "not really cause we are shooting" explained where I was going ON THIS PUBLIC FOOTPATH (show map to hill billies)and set off again hoping not to get shot at. Only a couple of rounds sounded in the time I was crossing the field, and the men were well out of sight. I'm sure they weren't shooting at me.....

Later, a massive deer ran out of the undergrowth, looked at me, walking towards him. I stopped, we exchanged further looks and he went back through the hedge.

At one point, I was walking along a green lane when I saw a couple of ankle snapper dogs - a terrier and another unknown breed. They ran up, yapped from about 5 feet away so I stopped, they went behind me and I continued walking, slowly, looking back to see what they were doing. There was a rustle in the hedge and another dog appear - a Rottweiler! He too came up to the now worried walker, growled a little, past my no immobile body and allowed me to go on my way. I think they belonged to a house along the path, but I was lucky to escape without further incident.

A minibus decided I was taking up too much of the road and nearly swiped me as I walked along one of the short road sections, which was annoying.

Upon my return, I found two nice blisters on the back of my heals, which made walking in proper shoes (Mike and Tara's wedding was the next day) difficult with the constant pain from my feet.

It was a good day, albeit, exhausting. I didn't do the full 25 miles, but considering the shape I'm in, I feel happy with the achievement. Next time will be further.......