I everyone, yes its me sat at a computor in the town of Therouanne. I walked here today Sat 9th July from Wisques. Just a short journey of around 10 miles.

I stayed last night in the Abbey de Notre Dame in Wisques and  I shall return there tonight. I could not get a bed further along the line but Alain kindly offered to taxi me back, pick me up in the morning and bring me back here to continue my walk from where I finished today. The lovely Nun Lucy at the Abbeye organised all this for me. She is an example of all the generous beautiful people I have had the privilage to meet on this journey so far. I have been inspired by spontaneous acts of incredible kindness and friendship.I must mention Colin and Linda who I met one evening on the Downs above Reigate. It was late and I asked them about B and B in the area. They talked for a few minuets turned to me and said, come and stay w ith us. They not only put me up for the night but Linda cooked me a great meal. They Were good company and in the morning I had breakfast and a packed lunch for the days walk ahead. I can only mention this quickly because I  am using someone elses computor. Also thank you Andrew in Weybridge. In the short time we walked ang talked together i made another friend who sadly I may not meet again.

I want to thank everyone for supporting me on this journey and although its hard at times that support sees me through each day. Im having the journey of a lifetime. People are fantastic. Life is good. Luv to you all. Bob

 So whilst Dad is away, I am acting as reporter and tasked with keeping you all up to date with his progress.

I thought I would lift some of his text to share where he has been...

The latest text from this evening (26th June) reads:

"Really hot today. the river (Thames) crowded with boats, sailing raceds and families picnicing, sun bathing. Passed so many lovely places. Henley, Marlow, Cuckham, and b&b's at Bray a mile or two below Maidenhead. Breakfast at Henley in a marquee and watched so of the qualifying sessions for next weeks regatta. Gave out a few pointers! Those coxed eights really fly.  20+ miles covered in 12 hours, had to keep stopping because of the heat.  Passed by two guys walking the other way on behalf of Help for Heroes".

The latest text from this evening (9th June) reads:

"Walked from Braunston to Fenny Compton, about 8/9 miles from Banbury.  Good 18 miles today.  Feet sore so puled up at a pub with camping alongside the canal.  The Wharf Inn.  Good weather but tow path grassy and sloping all day.  Did not help the soreness.  Rest then press on xx"

As you can see from the text he is having some issues with his feet.  Blisters put a halt on the walking for 4 days last week...when he made the call to rest and see if he can clear them up.

June 8th 2011 "Had the day off to try and sort them (his feet) out. Bought some padding from Boots.  They feel a lot better. Tomorrow will be the test.  My B&B is an end terrace cottage all to myself. Great! Just microwaving my tea xx"

So he is currently walking down the Oxford Canal heading for Reading...circa 200 miles into the journey...only another 1100 to go!

Love light and laughter, Ali (daughter of Bob) xxx

p.s find out more at our facebook pages

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I am making the epic journey, walking from Bradford (Yorkshire, UK) to Rome (Italy) in the footsteps of the Roman Legionaire...starting next Spring and aiming to land around 3 months/1700 miles later.

Whilst walking I will be camping, staying at hostels...and who knows what...and hopefully raising money for Andrea's gift www.andreasgift.org.uk in memory of my Grandson, Callum.

http://www.andreasgift.org.uk/everyonesgift/callum.php

I want you to follow my journey, through training and then through the actual walk and hopefully be there to motivate me with encouraging comments and reflections on my postings... ...welcome on board, I hope your walking boots are waterproofed and your rucksack well packed with survival bits and pieces... by the way...my family moto is Carpe Diem "Seize the day".

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Hello to everyone. I think that I may finally have discovered how to edit this page after my No1 daughter set it up for me. I have wanted to thank you all so very much for your words of encouragement and for your generosity. So hugs and kisses to all. Well, you know what I mean. I must say though I was depending upon hearing the odd word of caution. Voices of sanity persuading me to abandon such foolardy notions. "Are you sure your doing the right thing"..."especially at your age"..."What if you get eaten by wolves"> but nothing. So it looks like I have to go. One person did say "have you seen a doctor" You mean to have my brain examined? "No you fool, for a medical". 

I have been putting in the milage all year even through the cold winter averaging upwards of 40 miles per week. Alisons's (No1 daughter) partner Jamie had the idea to take me up onto Helvelyn carrying my full pack and camp for the night in a temperature of minus "Oh my God that's cold". I'm certain that some of my important body parts are missing and typing this with a high pitched voice.

My wife Lindy has been a great support in this challange and joins me on many of the walks. Along with her sisters Christine and Susan and Christines husband Chris  we entered the Grindleford Gallop. This was a 21 mile challange walk around part of the peak district and we all finished in just over 7hrs. saying it was the longest walk that Lindy had ever done I was so proud of her. With luck some of her grit and determination will rub off on me.  I am hoping to leave around the second week in May. So in about 6weeks time. Attempts by anyone wanting to convince me of the foolhardiness of my ways will be met with complete confidentiality.

I will be posting details of my route down to Canterbury and then the Pilgrim trail to Rome. The Via Francegena.

I'm smiling at the thought of all my new and old friends. Bless you all.

Bob.

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 2 May 2011.

Hi Everyone. I have just had the happy task of adding 310.00 in donations that I recieved from friends and my Mum in Law Eileenxx. Paul and Carol Seymour gave 100.00. Paul has been a friend of mine for over 35yrs and also my insurance broker. (Steadfast Insurance Brokers in Wakefield).Did I say that ? We have not had occasion to meet for such a long time now and he is hoping to retire next year. It turns out he enjoys a good walk and likes to get out over the North Yorkshire Moors whenever he can. So when I get back i'm looking forward to joining him on his walks. We have a lot of catching up to do and reminising about "The good old days". My great friend Richard Cockx has just retired from the fire service and gave 25.00. We became best friends when we played for the same Rugby league team. He went on to play professionally for Dewsbury despite the fact that I was by far the better player if been a dirty player stands for anything. I go out walking every chance  I get and often walk with a group called the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle line. All the walks use the stations along the line as starting off points and often as not will return to another station lower or higher up the line. Walking in the Yorkshire Dales with other people who love the area just like I have learned to do over the last 12 months is tremendously rewarding. I have made some great friends and some of them placed money in my hands for Andreas Gift on the understanding that I would stop going on about my walk to Rome. Andy and Rosey Feather, who give freely of their time, along with many other people, to lead some of the walks on behalf of the friends. Liz who is a font of knowledge and always a pleasure to walk with. Howard, he does'nt know how hard he is to keep up with on the hill sections because I certainly would never admit to it. All friends I will look forward to walking with again when I get back from Rome. Oh, did I mention I was walking from Home to Rome. !

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I'M OFF. 20th MAY 2011. 08:48am

The day finally arrived and I had no choice but to pull on the boots and start. But before that let me give you the route details through England to Dover.

1. Pennine Way to Standedge.

2. Oldham Way to Mossley.

3.Tameside trail to Broadbottom.

4. Etherow-Goyt Valley Way to Comptstall.

5. Midshires Way to Marple.

6.Peak Forest Canal to Disley

7. Gritstone Trail to Rushton Spencer

8. Staffordshire Way to Cannock Chase.

9. Heart of England Way to Bourton on the Water.

10. Oxfordshire Way to Kirtlington.

11. Oxford Canal walk to Oxford.

12. Thames Path to Weybridge.

13. Wey Navigation to Guildford.

14.North Downs Way to Canterbury.

When I arrive in Canterbury I pick up the VIA FRANCIGENA Pilgrim Route that takes me all the Way across France, Switzerland and Italy to Rome.

Hope I have inspired a few of you to go out walking. Bob. htp://www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Clarke-Walks-from-Home-to-Rome/174249185939341

Bob