How frustrating...

Date: Monday 25th Feb
Distance: 5.3km - Easy
Location: Central London
Conditions: Flat
Weather: Dry, Cool, Dark.
Participants: Carl

Frustratingly still not broken the 50 minute barrier - despite avoiding the bottle-neck at Oxford Circus and not stopping at the cash machine, still only managed to get down to 51 minutes.

Next time, I'm going to wear my trainers and commit the cardinal sin of jay-walking, as stopping for traffic is clearly costing me dearly.

Carl.

The Gunpowder Plot...

Wednesday 27th Feb:

Just put in a quick 3 miler at the Gunpowder Park, urban wasteland turned into a park recently as part of the redevelopment of the Lea Valley Park; a round trip from Waltham Abbey to Enfield Lock and back - quite impressed by whats on offer, total solitude on the outskirts of London with paths and fields, woodland and wetlands, saw only 2 other walkers and two cyclists in an hour - will make this my lunchtime place of training. Not much going on in the way of fireworks though. Got me thinking we could perhaps do a big training walk along the Lea Valley, say Hertford down to Tottenham Hale, or Broxbourne to Liverpool Street, then back on the train?

Daniel.

Walking on water....

Date: Friday – Monday

Conditions: Wet

Points of Interest – Same plaster on floor for 4 days

Not wanting to be the only team member with ailments, over exuberance on the allotment 4 weeks ago (the time of the plastic erection with Gee) has resulted in a bad back. Whilst the Robbo instinct is to ignore it and get on with making it worse Mrs R has been having sneaky words down the allotment to ensure that she has eyes and ears all over the place to make sure I am not over doing it.

As a result walking has been off of the agenda but I have had special dispensation to head down to Hartham pool with my Speedos– over the last 4 days I have put in 3 miles swimming to make up for the lack of walking and points to note of special interest has been:
Friday – boiler only just fixed so pool was freezing
Saturday – don’t those pescky kids have anything to do apart from scream and shout?
Sunday – boiler really working now and it was like swimming in a bath
Monday – back to no kids and nearly enjoyed it

Robbo.

Mickey vs Eminem....

Sunday 24th Feb:

Eminem only managed 8 miles, Mickey Caravan does 9 miles (and 3 of those with a young hoodlum on his back), and on the mean streets of Waterford and Stapleford to boot. Call yourself a rapper?. Bring on the hammer, I'll take you on in Broxbourne woods - you can't touch me.

Daniel

Mickey's search for an old banger...

Saturday 16th Feb:

Not strictly a walk, but this tested my patience and levels of endurance - drove down to south london Saturday morning to barter on a Saab I'd agreed to buy, got completely lost in Sydenham (which is shameful as I grew up a mile
away) and when I finally found the dealers the bloke had just sold it to someone else. Several times on the 4 and half hour stuttering round trip I found myself nearly in tears and threatening to leave the car at the side of the road a la Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Next time I will walk as I'm sure it will be less hassle.

The evening was spent in London, nice little stroll from Holborn to the Peacock Theatre to see some Argentinian Tango - must have been ooh a good 400 yard round trip. Wish my eyesight was better as the Argentinian ladies on stage were in their underwear for some of the dances. A totally unexpected bonus. 2 wines and a Guinness negated the exercise.

Sunday 17th Feb:

Cranked up the pace today and managed a 2 mile round trip round to Valeside for lunch. The walk on the way home seemed a lot quicker, but I was a bit leathered by then.

Daniel

Some quality time with my boy...

Date: Sunday 17th Feb
Distance: 13.5km - Easy (ish)
Location: Hertford, Waterford, Bengeo
Conditions: Generally flat, few slight hills, muddy
Weather: Sunny, Dry, Cold
Participants: Carl and youngest.

Towards the end of a beautifully sunny (but cold) day, me and youngest son headed off for jaunt into the countryside. After schlepping through Hertford via Hartham Common, we headed off to Waterford along the river to Bullsmill, then up via the quarry to the back of Bengeo, down to Hartham again and back home. A very pleasant, easy-paced 2 hours 50 mins in which we covered subjects such as how thunderstorms worked, why he can kick better with his right foot than his left, how you flash car headlights, and the merits of a pub in Chapmore End where he had a very nice lemonade once. I felt he could have gone on for hours longer, and I'm sure if provided a regular supply of snacks, he'd complete the 100km no problem. I on the other hand am struggling to come to terms with the fact we have to walk 8 times this distance in a few months time...

Carl.

Day trip to York...

Date: Friday 15th Feb

Distance: 6km - Easy (ish)

Location: York

Conditions: Flat, but some steps to climb

Weather: Dry, Cold

Participants: Carl, Paula and kids

Spent the morning at the Jorvik centre where we learnt all about viking life in York around 900AD. Kids bought some wooden swords and proceeded to "kill" each other in a variety of brutal ways. After some lunch to build up the energy levels, we embarked upon our walk on the city walls, with slight deviations to visit York Minster, the Shambles and go up Clifford's Tower. Youngest thought York was cool and wants to live there....

In echoes of a previous post by Mickey, any slight upturn in fitness was later destroyed by cocktails, Black Sheep and Erdinger.

Carl.

Pounding the streets (II)...

Date: Tuesday 12th Feb
Distance: 5.3km - Easy
Location: Central London
Conditions: Flat
Weather: Dry, Cool, Dark.
Participants: Carl

As per previous entry, but cranked the pace up a bit and completed the walk in 53 minutes. I reckon I can get that to sub-50 if I avoid the bottle-neck at Oxford Circus and don't stop at the cash machine....

Carl.

Pounding the streets of London...

Date: Monday 11th Feb

Distance: 5.3km - Easy

Location: Central London

Conditions: Flat

Weather: Dry, Cool, Dark.

Participants: Carl

In an effort to kick-off some training, I decided to scrap my tube journey home and hit the streets instead. This involved walking from Mayfair to Liverpool Street station. A pretty uneventful 56 minute walk along Bond Street, Oxford Street, High Holburn, Holburn Viaduct, Newgate Street, Cheapside, Poultry, Threadneedle Street and Old Broad Street. Had to keep my wits about me when crossing roads and weaving through the crowds on Oxford Steet, but other than that, pretty un-taxing (just how I like it...). I can also dispel the rumour that the streets of London are paved with gold - complete rubbish.

Carl.

Mickey's world of small walks...

Saturday 9th Feb 2008:

After overdosing on Ginger Beer on Friday night, the newly christened Mickey Caravan found himself getting absolutely no sleep and in a right mood when Saturday morning came along. Jo duly left Mickey in charge of baby Isaac all morning while she went to have her hair done. Isaac wasn't having anything to do with Scruffy the Donkey or In the Night Garden, so him and his Dad decided on a little Hertford round trip to get the old pins moving. No sooner had we got to St. Andrews Church than a nice lady came up to us offering fudge and telling us of the toy fair with cakes inside. The walk was cut short there and then and a nice Victoria Sponge taken on board. Got to keep my energy up. We managed to get round town after that, bumped in Morse (he gave nothing away) and wandered back feeling a whole lot better.

In the afternoon Jo took Isaac off to a 1st Birthday Party which admittedly I couldn't face; decided to do a quick solo 1 hour powerwalk in between the Rugby. Set off down North Road towards Molewood, then up to Bengeo, down to St. Leonards and through Hartham Park before turning back through town.

Gorgeous weather, like a late Summers afternoon. Felt good, would love to have done some more but was on cooking duty for our guests in the evening.

Destroyed all my good work with Shiraz and Sauvignon later on.


Sunday 10th Feb 2008:

Much better sleep, which proves alcohol beats Quentin Crisp drinks hands down. Isaac feeling a lot better so we went off for a walk round Stanborough Lakes in the morning; got there before 10 - there was only the 3 of us and 4 kids smoking 'herbals'. I think Jo was considering a citizens arrest. Took some lovely photos of Isaac with the ducks before he fell asleep. Again a beautiful morning, though a little chilly. Wanted to get on the swings but Jo wouldn't let me disturb Isaac, boo. Nice stroll though.

Went for another walk in the afternoon, down to Hartham Park, and finally got on the little swings and the nodding red elephant. Isaac had a go too. Loads of yummy mummies down there. Hertford Skate Park seems popular too, never was much good with a skateboard though, as you can imagine. Should have worn my Korn t-shirt.

Daniel.