Update 10th Sept.

Oh no!  When I said I had no idea how this year's challenge would go, I was thinking that I might struggle to complete Ben Nevis at the end, not that I wouldn't manage to finish the WHW.  Had things gone to schedule, today I should be on the penultimate leg from Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven.  Unfortunately, that's not where I am.  Those of you I spoke to beforehand will know that I wanted to take longer to do the walk, but a combination of the 'window of opportunity' between work commitments and the unavailability of accommodation meant that I needed to try to cram it into 5 days.  I was worried about doing about 20 miles a day but decided I just had to make the best of it.

With the Tibet flag on my rucksack, I started off well and made very good time for most of day 1.  By the time I got to Drymen me feet were feeling sore and I hobbled into Balmaha that evening at a much reduced pace with some major blisters.  (Mysteriously there was also a chunk missing out of the heel of my left boot, which had been perfectly all right when I checked them the night before.)  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep to the distances I’d planned, so that evening I rearranged accommodation to give me shorter days of 7-14 miles, promising myself I’d come back to do Ben Nevis at a later date.  If I could book an extra day off work, I could still make it to the end.

I duly applied Compeed and set off the next morning on an ‘easy’ day of 7 miles to Rowardennan.  People on the WHW are lovely!  I lost count of the number of times I was offered plasters, compeed and painkillers as I they passed me hobbling along.  I averaged 1mph that day!  The compeed was protecting the bits it covered, but the pressure of walking was forcing the blisters to move out from under the compeed and up the sides of my feet.  I was seriously doubting even my revised schedule.  Trouble was, the next day had to be the 14 mile leg as there was no accommodation available and I needed to get to Inverarnan where I could take a bus to Bridge of Orchy, where accommodation was available (and where I should have been at the end of my original day 3).  My plan was then to get the bus back down to Inverarnan the next morning to take up where I’d left off.  Sandie “I’ve Done A Lot Of Marching” gave me some excellent advice on how to deal with the blisters [skip the rest of this paragraph if you’re squeamish!]  Apparently you need to clean them, slice them open to drain them, leave them overnight to dry out, then make sure they’re thoroughly clean before applying the compeed.

I followed her instructions and the following day my feet felt SO much better (until I put my boots on, then they just felt a lot better).  I decided that carrying my heavy pack was contributing to the blisters and arranged to have it delivered to Bridge of Orchy so I could walk unencumbered.  I set off thinking maybe I would make it Inverarnan that evening; and if my feet deteriorated again there was an option to bail out at Inversnaid, getting the ferry across Loch Lomond to pick up the bus to Bridge of Orchy.  As I started out I bumped into James, Ally, Scott and Scoot, who I’d met on both previous days and were invaluable on day 3 in helping me keep up my spirits and take my mind off my pain so I could keep to a reasonable pace – thank you boys!  Many people who passed us today were surprised to see me – those who I’d met on day 1 because I should have been much further ahead; those who I’d met on day 2 because they didn’t think I’d have been able to take another step!  Despite the excellent company and the much reduced weight on my feet, when we reached Inversnaid I felt I was, at most, only an hour away from the state I’d been in when I arrived at Rowardennan the night before.  I couldn’t go on to Inverarnan and opted for the ferry and bus option.

I got to Bridge of Orchy and, hobbling again, made it up to the bunkhouse.  By this time I knew I couldn’t finish it, I wasn’t even sure I could make another 7 mile stage because I couldn’t keep repeating the blister treatment – I would be starting off in a worse state than I had done that morning, and without the moral support of my trail buddies.  I would have to come back at a later date to complete the challenge and I decided there was no point in struggling on the next day.  Perhaps the bunkhouse being on the station platform contributed to my decision, but the decision was made.  I took the train the next morning and am writing this from home.

You have no idea how disappointed I am to have given up after only 3 days and not even as far as I’d planned to be at the end of day 2.  Thank you so much to all of you who sponsored me, I feel that I have let you down.  Perhaps you could consider it sponsorship per blister?!  But I promise you that I will go back to Inversnaid and complete the WHW, and climb Ben Nevis, with the Tibet flag on my (smaller) backpack (the big one will be transported for me next time – I may be optimistic and over-enthusiastic, but I’m not stupid and have learned this lesson, albeit the hard way!)  Planning ahead to allow more time is definitely required, and I’ll be heading off again in May to complete this challenge for Tibet.  I’ll update you then.

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to those I met on the WHW who gave me money for Tibet Watch, or asked for the web address so you could donate.  Even though you knew I wasn't going to make it to the end on this attempt, you said you knew how much I deserved the sponsorship!  I truly appreciate your support.

Miranda x

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Update 5th Sept.

For the project managers amongst you (you know who you are!) you will be relieved to know that I managed to get my accommodation booked.

I plan to start on Sunday 7th September and should be finished within a week (I mean my challenge should be finished within a week, not me - I hope!)

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A bit of a last minute thing this time, but I promised myself I'd raise funds for Tibet in the Beijing Olympics year so here I am.

Given the recent publicity, I probably don't have to tell you about the killing, torture and oppression taking place in Tibet.  I've supported Free Tibet for many years and I'm undertaking this challenge for its sister organisation Tibet Watch.  Their websites can be accessed here:
http://www.freetibet.org/
http://www.tibetwatch.org/

I have no idea how this year's challenge will go.  My aim is to walk the West Highland Way, which finishes in Fort William so I thought I'd finish off by climbing Ben Nevis just in case you thought the WHW was too easy!

This is quite different from my previous challenges because I'm going it alone - no team to get to the top of a mountain, no fellow triathletes urging me on.  If I stopped to think about it I'd probably be a bit scared.  But I've no time to stop and think - too much to organise!  So I'll just have to rely on your donations and comments on this page to bolster me along.  Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Tibet Watch gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!