We both have close family and friends who have been, or are currently, suffering from this awful condition. Isobel's Granny had it many years ago, before there was much in the way of research or support and, 35 years later, Caroline's Dad and Auntie unfortunately have it and even after all those years the outcome, heart break and suffering is the same.

Although Parkinson's UK work relentlessly to raise funds and awareness, this cruel and debilitating illness continues to slowly destroy the lives of it's victims and their families.

Research suggests that potentially 40% of the population will have this condition in the coming years; a frightening and horrific prospect if you have ever known anyone with it, given that there is no cure and little in the way of palliative or therapeutic care and treatment.

We're both up for a challenge, as many of you know, but this will push us to our limits this year. (Neither of us are getting any younger and we're fast approaching 50 - well Izzy is anyway!) We realize that times are hard with the ever-increasing cost of living and we all feel the pinch, but that's why we're really pushing the boat out with, not just one but, 3 really tough challenges this Summer and asking you to support this incredibly worthy, often under publicized cause.

So we're starting off with the Yorkshire 3 Peaks at the end of June, followed by the Way of the Roses on our bikes - Morcambe to Bridlington across The Pennines, probably in July and finishing with Hadrian's Wall Walk in August. Hell, we may well have a dip in the North Sea at the end just to make it a triathlon!! 😆😆

Thank you so much for taking an interest and for supporting in any way you can.

Be happy, love from Isobel and Caroline. xx

Cycling Training

Day 1 and cycling training is underway, beginning with a bit of hill training in the Wolds. The hardest part, thankfully, was getting up out of bed at 0500 on a Saturday morning. The ride itself was slow and steady , but we got there and we felt pretty smug with ourselves afterwards!

Day 2 of cycling training and we decided on a 30 mile "recovery" ride! A big breakfast at The Pig In The Willow Cafe in East Cottingwith and a huge slice of cake to avoid the rain! Ocht well; we needed the calories, right?!

Walking Training

Day 1 of walking training and we thought we'd ease ourselves into the Three Peaks training by ..... climbing one of them! Whernside has long been Izzy's nemisis and Caroline's "favourite". The weather was a bit pants to begin with, but with the help of walking poles, we managed it in about 2.5 hours. We'll take that!

Day 2 Walking training will be Ingleborough, two days after Whernside. Urgh!!

Tent Pitching and Waterproofing Practice in Izzy’s Garden!

The things we do on a school night! Little tent pitched and waterproofed in the hope that it stays up and dry for the next couple of nights in the rain. Then dries so we can pack all our kit into rucksacks and do a practice trek for about 10 miles at the weekend, set it up again and sleep out in it to test everything! Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!! 😂😂

Challenge #1 Complete!

Challenge #1 done. The 3 Yorkshire Peaks; 24 miles walking and 5000ft of climbing. Really tough and just made it down and back to the tent before a massive thunderstorm across Whernside and Ingleborough. Killer walk between Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside where we could easily have rung a taxi but sadly had no signal!!

Unfortunately we didnt get a proper photo at the end because we had to dive for cover into Izzy’s car to avoid the splitting thunder,lightening and hail storm! 😂😂

Thank you to all our sponsors and friends for cash and encouragement.

Challenge #2 begins on 25th July and will see us walking Hadrian’s Wall with all our camping kit!

Hadrian’s Wall

Day 1 - Bowness on Solway to Beaumont - 12 miles

Finished Day 1 with a few wee dramas behind us. 12 miles of pretty dull, wet weather and the scenery was uninspiring, so a tough day mentally. Caroline has a first class blister and Izzy has become one one with her rucksack!

Day 2 - Beaumont to Banks -18 miles

First stop Carlisle and Macdonalds for brekkie and Boots for more robust blister plasters! Onwards!!

Day 2.5

We’ve finally arrived at Banks. Wow, what a day. Wandered round in a circle in Carlisle because there were no signs! Bloody knackered!! Greeted with a composting toilet, (in which one does not linger) an outside tap and trough and a shepherds hut with a stove! Cozzies are on and a cold water splosh wash before pasta. No alcohol available within a 7 mile radius and we‘re not that desperate. 18 miles, my big white Scottish butt!! 😱😱😂😂

And then fell the manna from Heaven! The site owners on a quad bike with chocolate and beer. We are so excited, we have had to wash our underwear!! 😂😂

Day 3 - Bank to The Sill - 12 hilly miles

The sun is shining and theres nowhere on Earth we’d rather be right now (other than, perhaps somewhere with a flushing toilet!). Coffee and chocolate croissants in the sunshine and taping up the old joints (which feel very old today) before the next leg.

A tough but beautiful walk and the sun shone all day. Again, much further than the route suggested (17 miles), so we were really glad to get to our next stopover, with a flushing toilet and fabulous booby bogroll dispensers! 😂😂

Day 4 - The Sill to Humshaugh - 11 miles - NOT! More like 17!

Struggling a bit today with blisters, tendonitis and generally knackered. But the scenery, people and general craic between us keeps us going! The weather has been cooler and there‘s a bit of dampness in the air which, to be honest, is welcome after yesterday’s heat. Other hikers are very friendly, but seem to be keeping their distance from us; don’t know why?! 🤔🤔

Day 5 - Humshaugh to Newburn - 14 miles

Today we were absolutely exhausted! Exhausted and drenched. We’ve actually never been so wet! 😂😂 We were, at one point, just counting our blessings that we were at the top of a hill when the clouds literally burst and the heavens opened above us. Consequently, we didn‘t take many photos and we were grumpy and tired when we got to Newburn.

Day 6 - Newburn to Wallsend - 11 miles

Our final day! Wow, it‘s been quite a journey. We started off in the Solway Bay which, although beautiful, was a bit monotonous after the first few miles and hard going on our feet on tarmac in walking boots. The middle section, although challenging, set us up with some stunning scenery and breathtaking hills - literally, which we weren’t really expecting! The last leg has been very different. Approaching Newcastle there’s an eerie and slightly meloncholy ghost of past industry, be it mining or around the docks. The area still seems to be in conflict with those industrial roots and there’s much evidence of the social struggles past and present. That in itself creates the paradox of harsh beauty, which feels like a fitting tribute to the use of the landscape.

Anyway, enough of the waffly stuff. We’ve had an amazing time and we’re so proud of ourselves. Thank you so much for all your support; it has made such a difference mentally - and yes, we are mental! 😂😂

We now have a week at home, before travelling over to Morecambe to begin our third and final challenge, The Way of The Roses Cycle. Stay tuned and we’ll leave you with the last few photos!

Sunday 7th - Preparation

Watching the grass grow before the next and final stage of our triple challenge for Parkinson’s UK; The Way of the Roses.

We leave tomorrow to travel to Morecambe - massive thanks to Lisa Dean for taking us over and again to all who are supporting us with donations and encouragement! ❤️❤️

So, buckle in for more tips on how not to do these challenges (and donate too, if you feel so inclined 🙏🙏) By Friday evening, we’ll hopefully have made it to Bridlington and it’ll all be over - thankfully! 😂😂 (Katie Craven and Olly Durrant Spray, please remember to come and get us, thank you! 😂😂)

PS. From Friday until September, if you’re looking for me, I’ll be in my hot tub, doing absolutely nothing. Bring alcohol (and a hunky masseuse if you have one)!

⛰⛰🥾🥾🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

The evening before…

Well, we‘ve arrived in very sunny Morecambe and it’s glorious! A walk along the promenade like 2 old biddies, a nice meal and a couple of drinks. 6.30pm and we’re back in the room, ready for showers and probably sleep! Bring on tomorrow!

Day 1 - Morecambe to Settle - 38 miles

Wow! Much harder than it was 8 years ago, but we got there in time to have a quick mooch around the shops at stuff we couldn’t buy because we couldn’t carry it! Probably a good thing really!

We were invited for a cup of tea and a mint Viscount by Pete and Frankie, who we met when we were filling up our water bottles. Thank you Pete and Frankie, for your kindness and generosity; you have single-handedly restored our faith in human nature by welcoming two weary strangers for a wee bit of respite and friendly chat. Thank you also for your generous donation; we won’t forget you and we’ll always look out for you whenever we’re in the area!

The scenery was amazing and it was lovely to see the 3 Peaks, from our first challenge, all in a row on our last. Quite a sobering reflection to realise just what we’ve achieved in the last few weeks. Incidentally, we’ve actually been pretty sober throughout!! 😂😂

An early night ready for a 5am start and a day of serious climbing tomorrow, hoping we can get as many miles in as possible before the sun comes up to frazzle us.

Day 2 - Settle to Ripon - 44 melting miles

Well, we were up long before the sun this morning and with good reason! The climb out of Settle is 1000ft in just under 2 miles; vertical to someone of Izzy’s stature! Once again, the 8 years of life which has passed between attempts has taken it’s toll. However, we both agreed that whatever time has taken from us in physical strength, it has given us in mental strength. As if that wasn’t enough for the day, we had another 3 climbs of similar height to do in temperatures topping 29 degrees. To be honest, we really have struggled today and we were desperately trying to find some respite in the shade wherever we could, but there’s very little up there and it was a bit like a scene from Beau Geste, where we had mirages of water ahead of us! Thankfully, we made it to Ripon, just as our supplies of water, dextrose, strength and humour ran out. A meal and a drink before another early night in stiffling heat, aiming for a 7am start.

Day 3 - Ripon to Pocklington - 48 miles

Another early start and another scorcher. 7am and we were off! Both up for the “flat” run. Ok, so not entirely flat but compared with yesterday…!

We were absolutely exhausted from yesterday and so wanted to take it a bit slower, ever mindful of the heat as the day went on. The villages between Boroughbridge and York are very pretty, but we dont think either of us will ever be able to afford to live there on teacher’s salaries/pensions!

York was stunning in all it’s glory on a beautiful Summer’s day. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride through into town and stopped for brunch and people watching in The Judges. But the heat was fierce and we knew we needed to crack on. Several shady breaks layer, including a half hour on the verge under a tree 2 miles from home, we made it back to Pocklington, almost completely broken. Never have we been so glad to get into our own showers and beds!

Guess what? Another early start tomorrow! It’s worse than being at school! 😂😂🥵🥵

Not for our lips…!

Caroline forgot her razor.

Day 4 - Pocklington to Bridlington - The finale -about 40/50 miles, who knows and who cares at this point!

Good morning! Today is the last day of our triple challenge and we’re ready to watch the grass grow again. Absolutely exhausted, sore in places where the sun doesn’t shine for a good reason and totally committed to never doing anything of this calibre again! However, very happy that we’ve made our target £1000 for Parkinson’s UK and quite impressed that our(almost) 50 year old bodies can still be forced to drag themselves up over 13000ft and cycle and walk over 300 miles. That said, we have the last 40 odd to do today before it gets hot again. 🥵🥵🥵🥵

Brace yourself Bridlington; we’re coming for you!

So here we are, all smart in out Parkinson’s UK tops at 6am this morning. By the time we’d dragged ourselves up through Millington Pastures, Wazza’s was round her head (a bit like a tea towel on a pre-school Nativity shepherd, although she insists super-hero) and Wizzy’s was unzipped as far as possible without being arrested for indecent exposure and potentially causing an RTA! These photos have been sensored.

Millington is always a challenge, but this morning we cursed every tree root on the road for being and extra inch to climb. WE ARE SORE, make no mistake! 😱😱 Anyway, after a bit of getting lost (pretty much in our own back yards - how did we even get this far?!) we got to Driffield for breakfast.

And Wizzy was delighted to see that we were back in civilisation!

As predicted, it got pretty hot, pretty quick, so plenty of fluids were required. Consequently, Wazza had at least 18 wee stops in the space of 5 hours; fact! Evidently Wizzy’being Scottish dictated that she was less likely to part with it once it had been paid for…🤔🤔 Don’t worry, there are no photos to support either claim! Well, maybe one… Big Daddy breeks!!

We finally arrived in Bridlington and were met by Caroline’s lovely Aunt and Uncle (and a bottle of fizz) just after 12 noon.

Exhausted, bruised, bedraggled and sweaty. Just the norm for two menopausal women. But these two menopausal women are prouder, wiser, more thankful and have renewed confidence in ourselves and in all those who we have met and who have supported us on our journeys. We’ve laughed so hard we’ve challenged our watertight status, we’ve cried tears of frustration and determination. We’ve encouraged each other when we needed it and we’ve respected one another’s need for space and privacy. We’ve raised well over £1000 for Parkinson’s UK and in so doing, have raised awareness. We have achieved all that we set out to do. With all of your support, love and encouragement, we’ve been a successfully, triple challenged team. (And we’re still friends!😂😂)

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️