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My story

 
I'm Back!!!!

Philip Pelling
Aged 53 (Born 10/01/1955
Married 28 years with 2 daughters
Occupation – Various but still searching
p.pelling@protektit.com

The Little Big Walk and the Very Big Walk for the World Land Trust

Hello Everyone – Phil Pelling here!

Nearly 3 months since The Little Big Walk and starting The Very Big Walk and I am back home in Rainy Aldershot. I will not bore you with the entire story of my trip but suffice it to say it was quite an adventure. A quick summary:

Winchester – Southwick – Saint Malo – Rennes _ Nantes – La Roche sur Yon – La Rochelle – Il de Ré – Rochefort – Bordeaux (slightly North of) – Agen - Toulouse – Carcassonne – Narbonne – Perpignan – Figueres – Girona – Lloret de Mar – Barcelona – Tarragona – Castellon – Valencia – Denia – Calpe – Benidorm – Alicante – Torrevieja – San Javier – Murcia – Totana – Lorca – Puerto Lumbreras – Almeria – Adra – Calahonda – Herraduria – Torre de Mar – Malaga – Fenguirola – Purto Banus – Sabinillas – AND LOTS IN BETWEEN...

I have kept a record of my progress on a daily basis and will need to go through that in detail if I am to give an exact figure of the distance covered but it will be, no doubt, rather more than the 1250 miles first suggested and even more than the extended estimate of 1450.

There were occasions when I did as I thought I might have to and take a hop on wheeled transport but those travelled miles are in ADDITION to the ones walked. The reasons for taking a ride are varied but include dog attacks, dangerous roads with no paths but with heavy traffic, injuries such as when attempting to negotiate a cliff above the sea, stumbling and bashing the living daylights out of my leg as I stopped myself from plunging onto the rocks and sea below! – I shall not attempt that again while carrying 30lbs on my back.  The main reason would be record breaking bad weather however.

When in France the weather was atrocious from the very first day – a day on which I walked a little over 30 miles. It was raining for much of my time in that country and possibly the most serious day was the one along the canal when I could find no Hostel or Campsite, no Café or Restaurant. I figured that if I walked until I was sufficiently tired I could then pitch my emergency tent by the canal side and sleep. At 9.00pm it started really heaving down so I quickly pitched the tent which was full of water by the time I had finished. So I lay for the next 10 hours in a pool of water with the pegs coming out of the wet earth and the tent flapping around me. I dozed in my waterproof suit until it started getting light at about 7.00am. It might be worth pointing out that my tent is not big enough to sit up in but it did at least keep the worst off. NO supper for me that night but I did have a wry smile at myself – it was me that put me there after all.

Conversely I also stayed in a beautiful Chateau near Bordeaux one night with a feast of Caviar, Roast Beef and Fine Wine. I had met the owner at a Regatta that afternoon and he offered me B&B but advised me that as he had to go out the place was mine for the night. What a Gentleman – he came back the next morning to make me breakfast.

I had expected Spain to offer an improvement in the weather and it sometimes did but I was also “lucky” enough to be there during a period when the country experienced record breaking weather the likes of which had not been seen for decades. Floods coming down roads like rivers. Rain and more rain. Storms that lasted for hours on end and even Snow!!

So that meant that I either stayed until it changed or negotiated my way around the odd mountain by public transport. My time was limited so staying was not an option. I had to press on and if you have ever tried a Spanish Mountain Road with no Footpaths but loads of trucks and lorries in a Storm you will understand my decision. I walked a few and it was “exciting” to say the least.

So I have been away for about 12 weeks and while having enjoyed a few days off in places like Il de Ré, Barcelona and Valencia I walked for nearly all of that time. My expectation was to average 20 miles a day but I had not allowed for the time spent looking round for food and accommodation which can add a significant amount to the total. As can spending hours looking round a city on your day off. The longest day was between 35 and 40 miles and many were 25 – 28. To give you an idea the last 8 days was almost exactly 200 miles and that would not have been out of the ordinary. As I mentioned I will try and work it out but based on the last week being pretty accurate I reckon 1500 miles walked would be a conservative estimate.

I have made some new friends and met up with some old ones and can quite honestly say that loopy dogs and hideous weather apart it has been a terrific trip. Maybe I am incredibly lucky but I did not cross paths with anyone who was anything other than kind, supportive and helpful. In France in particular the people were remarkable – many thinking me a Pilgrim (?).

Physically I seem to be in remarkably good shape with the worst being a few less toe nails than when I started out. It would be fair to say that the first couple of weeks were not too much fun as, along with the bad weather, I was experiencing big foot ware problems. My boots seemed to be cutting off my circulation and my legs were swelling up and I was really concerned that I might have to stop. That seemed to be largely cured by changing to a shoe rather than a boot. The Cliff accident wound cleared up quite quickly and the resultant twisted knee and hip did too after a few recurrences over the coming weeks. The odd blister, sprain, strain and twinge is hardly surprising and I seemed to cope with those better as I got used to the routine. Carrying my rucksack took some getting used to but a conscious effort to keep rolling my shoulders and exercising my neck sorted that out. Lost a couple of trouser sizes despite eating anything and everything.

My thanks go to my amazing wife Clare for her support, patience and incredible understanding. To my friends Jon, Barbara and Stuart. Stuart and Jon walked a while with me and Barbara kept me entertained with some brilliant emails. And of course thanks to all my sponsors.

Collectively we have raised a fair few £££s (more than it states on the webpage) but of course it is never enough. If you agreed to sponsor me and waited until the end please do so now either at the web address below or by sending me a cheque. If you did not agree then why not do it anyway? If you have already sponsored me feel free to add another few quid!!

So would I do it again? Absolutely. My youngest daughter is looking at a walk in Peru next Summer and, as she is under 18, I might have to go with her. After that I intend to consider a serious adventure in 2010. One friend has suggested a walk across the USA and I have my eye on a place in India called “Pelling”. See http://www.north-east-india.com/sikkim/pelling.html

Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you.

Phil Pelling

Thanks for your support ladies - Phil Donation by Philesta & Pat 08/01/09  

£85.00

Better late than never!! Good work Archie Donation by Paul Wallace 14/11/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

At least there is another nutter in the family!! Donation by Mick CP 12/11/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Great to meet you early in your big adventure - pleased you made it! Hopefully see you soon. Donation by Andy and Kate Fuller 10/11/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I hear you came back by plane, you lazy git... Donation by Mark Pelling 10/11/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Unbelievable! Not sure any of us will quite appreciate how hard that must have been! You're a top man Phil. Donation by Ian Colley 10/11/08  

£100.00

good luck Phil...sorry it's taken me ages to get this sorted! Donation by Bob Dickinson 25/08/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Hope it goes well - best wishes Donation by Auntie Ruth 15/08/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

It's a great cause - best of luck! Donation by Averil Pearson 14/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck you crazy fool! Keep us posted. Donation by Mark Pelling 11/08/08  

£150.00 + £42.31 Gift Aid

Good luck big Cous Phil - was great to see you last weekend Donation by Andrea Jones (Dowell) 07/08/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Go for it! Sorry I can't join in! Donation by Eve's Tattoos 07/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Ichi, ichi, ichi, ichi, ichi......good luck sensei! Donation by Raul Marengo 14/07/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck You Planet Saver Donation by Jo Holder 08/07/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Son in Law!! Donation by Una Caffyn Parsons 23/06/08  

£100.00

Great Job hope the GS helps too Donation by Brian Robinson 06/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Sarahs Flatmate here! See you on the 16th - with bells on! Donation by Whizz 23/05/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

You're a star, someone the rest of us should look up to, good luck and I'll see you on the little one! Donation by Sarah Darling 23/05/08  

£60.00

Here's to a wonderful adventure! Donation by Erica Tucker 23/05/08  

£12.00 + £3.38 Gift Aid

still some good people left in the world then! Donation by andrew dewar 23/05/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

I am delighted there are caring people like you. Donation by Christine 20/05/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Best of luck mate, marvellous idea. Donation by Dave Millard 24/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

We wish you the very Best of Luck Phil, We will be there on 16th driving one of the back up vehicles. Donation by PARENTS OF "THE LEDGE" 19/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Phil, would love to come with! Donation by Becky 16/02/08  

£20.00

Great Cause - Good Luck! Donation by Robert Kerchey 14/02/08  

£20.00

Good luck on the big walk Philip! Donation by Justclick International Ltd 13/02/08  

£50.00

Good luck Captain!! Donation by Tombola Pocock 04/02/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,222.00
  Offline donations: £1,365.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £221.97

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