The Penultimate Day

The finish is in sight and the intrepid walkers grow more determined with each step. Whether it's the call of the sea or the promise of an alternative watery mixture, I'm sure they will never again be so pleased to hit the beach. Especially knowing that a Rock Cottage breakfast and 48 hours rest awaits.

We have been overwhelmed by the support shown to the walk and below are just a few of the people who have sponsored Tony.

Ben Collier
Teme Vets
Elizabeth Vine
Craig Hudson
Paul Dunning
Barbara Hall
Carol Smith
Richard Spencer and family
Alison Enmarch and family
Tom Williams
Howard Bethell
Rob, Jane and Lucy Williams
Lesley and Philip Richards
Mark Andrew Poots

Rocky and Reba will be so pleased to see Tony back, as will I, as they have felt the need to stay close to me all week. By close I mean demonstrating the connectivity of a limpet! Most of the time this is lovely and one of the best things about Bernese Mountain Dogs is their attentiveness, with them wanting to share every waking (and sleeping) moment with their owners. Unfortunately though having two huge berners attached to your side and two little ones around your ankles proves to challenge the balance of an ice dancer especially when manoeuvring hot pans around the kitchen or rushing for the phone. Would I change them - not one bit. And as we haven't had a cute puppy picture for a while. Here's one we made earlier.

Rock HQ is so quiet! I'm not saying my husband is loud but the place seems very empty without him. In the past when one of us is away or we're short of time the animals joyfully conspire against us to see just how flustered we can get. I am amazed (and probably foolish as I am not normally one to tempt fate) but the past few days the animals have all been behaving themselves. No muddy paw welcomes from the dogs and no nibbles from Trevor, who i'm sure does it just to see how high you can jump and believe me, bitten in the right place I can certainly jump. The goats sedately came down off the hill, instead of the usual dragging ones owner as fast as they possibly can with me in the position of a downhill skier, clinging onto their ropes praying for a safe return. They have all been great, apart from Reba. Now she has been a perfect mum but unfortunately is now trying to relive her youth. Her party tricks include leaving my new shoes in the middle of the lawn - in the rain; sneaking food off the table and today shredding a cushion so finely that our living room resembled a winter wonderland. The puppies, sensing my frustration at this, hid under the desk not wanting to be implicated. Reba however, not as bright as her offspring, tried to deny all knowledge by sitting on the sofa with a mouthful of feathers.

As we speak, Tony and Stuart are nearing their destination for the fourth night. A tough day of 30+ miles, failing feet and limbs that have gone past the point of aching, leaves them exhausted but definitely nearer their final destination. The eta is late on Friday night so god willing and blisters behaving Rock HQ should be back to normal Saturday morning.

Thank you to the following people for their support

Jill and Derrick Smith
Steve & Carol Barnes and family
Mel, Danny and Abi Herbert
Sue Griffiths
Holly Cook
Joyce Brand
Kay, Tim & Matthew Holt
Mandy and Ian Cook
Paul Sheffield and family
Robin Hooper
Maggie and Rob Burton
Sam Clements and family

Taking a well earned break

Another 26 miles today from Kington to Churchtown - over half way.

Our thanks today go to following people for their sponsorship of the great To Do.

John and Wendy Evans
Bob Young
Sharron and Jaffa Jefferson
Janet and Paul Cordey
Nick Sherwood
Peter Oakley
Ian West
Shane Finnegan
Tina Turner
Gill and Phil Day
Jim Day

And then there were two

Rock HQ at 6.30am is beautiful, even when dark clouds circle menacingly overhead. I never fail to feel blessed living here but I've had a good nights sleep. Those who received three hours max in a windblown tent somewhere near Monmouth may not have agreed with me. Committed as ever though they polished off 9 miles before breakfast and as I speak Stuart and Tony have reached Rock HQ for a well deserved bath, dinner and sleep after 33 miles out in the mountains. What of Sara and Jim I hear you ask? Unfortunately the great To Do has claimed it's first two victims and Sara and Jim bowed out today. Congratulations to them both for what is certainly a great achievement and best wishes to Tony and Stu as they embark on day three.

Our thanks go to the following people for their sponsorship today

Julian Parker
Stuart Fletcher
Tracey Taylor
JJ & Kay
Irene Kew
Nick Denny
Kris Hadman
Beth Collier
Leigh Courbould
Faye Saunders
Matt Burton

Day One

Rain? Those of you that keep up to date with our exploits on talesfromtherock may recall that we have experienced heavy rain and very heavy rain at Rock HQ but that was nothing compared to dawn this morning - this was not mountain mist. Nevertheless our intrepid explorers, my wonderful husband, my brother Stuart and friends Sara and Jim were determined to start the epic To Do.

Car loaded, bacon butty consumed, we hit the road thinking that maybe a boat would have been a better idea. However, determined to keep spirits up, cries of "it's brighter over there" and "I'm, sure it's easing off" where shouted over the ABBA tunes emanating from the stereo. Stuart, however was able to avoid my taste in music and had enjoyed a very civilised morning, having breakfast at a B&B near Chepstow.

So, today is day one, and I have to say I am very proud of the quartet, undertaking this challenge in aid of a charity very close to my heart. Hopefully as I type this they will be enjoying a meal, kindly delivered by Beth and Tom, together with a well deserved Guinness.

Here a Rock HQ the animals, relieved to be undercover during the morning deluge, enjoy the evening sunshine.

We would like to thank so may of you for your best wishes and good luck messages and today would like to thank the following for their sponsorship.

Will Holden
Mark Whishaw
Matt Pritchard
Jan Cousins
Adrian and Annie Newton
Adrian Vine
Tim Foulger
Andy Griffiths
Lisa Whitehouse
Dale Rouse
Martin and Jenny Smith
Ross Varley
Agnes King

Lucky Man

Today we took the day off from Rock HQ and the rain and set off to go to Naomi and Richards wedding. I was lucky enough to be there with the the two best looking women (apart from the bride obviously) and here they are pictured above, Beth our lovely daughter, Naomi the beautiful bride and Tracey looking as beautiful and radiant as the day we met.

Below is a picture of the unique wedding cake, it tells a story, Richard is an Army Air Corp pilot and from the wreckage on the cake you can guess what he has done at least once.

All in all it was a fantastic day, I drew the short straw and drove, a big mistake given the unlimited Pimms, Champagne and other beverages on offer free, but as it is the day before The Great To Do it was probably just as well that I had to abstain.

We got back and changed out of our posh togs and returned to muddy smallholders, but for a while it was nice to be clean and tidy.

Warning

For the next six days do not give this man chocolate under any circumstances

Another bloody night

We are used to Geisha sleeping under our window snoring through the night. Sometimes it wakes us, most times we can filter it out, its background noise like a fridge humming.

Last night we were woken by the sounds of murder in the hen house. Tracey got there first and found it had been emptied except for the white hen that survived Kitlers attack a few months back. There are rumours that urban foxes are trapped and released on the hills around us, they, having no idea how to hunt anything more animated than a bin are allegedly hunting in packs.

After a pointless search of Rock HQs extensive cliffs and gullies we went back to bed at half four leaving the horses wondering why we were up so early, and, more importantly, if we had made the effort to get up the hill to see them why didn't we take an early breakfast. Tracey had seen a fox just before I got to her, it was intent on collecting the last white hen so we, and she, were lucky.

In the dreak light of day we found evidence of more than one fox had been here. A classic pincer movement, the barn was robbed of its two Black Rocks that perch above the pigs, the feather and chaos of the visit was everywhere. In the lane a sad collection of pretty gold feathers from the bantams, by the kennel the striped grey and whites of the Marron and inside the hen house more black rock decorated the floor. Total is six hens missing presumed dead.

I don't think it was a pack of urban foxes, more likely a Vixen and cubs. Once The Great To Do is over I will have to dedicate some time to sorting them out. 80 birds in 12 months is a bit greedy.