F came home from her walkabout in Surrey, with no observable blemishes on her feet, all her toenails intact, and looking reasonably fresh. I think she could have carried me....
She did not bring many photos for me. Most of them, she said, were 'look at us' shots that other people had taken and she hadn't asked their permission to use them in our blog. I am permitted to report that I noticed her T-shirt said 'Dementia UK', and she told me that it had been a 'challenge walk' to raise funds for a charity that provide specially trained nurses to help families who are affected by living with, or caring for, someone with dementia.
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| Tigger's favourite pub in all the world.... |
In the circumstances that someone in our extended family has a dementia diagnosis and we have already noticed good days and some really bad days, it seems like a good charity to raise money for.
The walk, she reported, was not challenging in terms of steepness or distance (about 25 miles, 37 kilometres), there was a pub lunch in a village called Holmbury St Mary, which apparently was charming, quaint... and without mobile phone signal. No one seemed distressed to be disconnected from their work phones. The route passed over the 3 said 'hills', at least one of which was arrived at by surprise because the track followed a ridge of the North Downs and there was not really any going uphill to get to it. Coming down was a different story.
The route passed race horses, fishing lakes, carefully manicured cricket grounds, and a vineyard. It went through a lot of pine forests, bracken, blackberries and occasional small hamlets. I was told that two horses in stripy pyjamas had one of her colleagues amazed at their colouring until it was pointed out that they had clothes on. (I am told horses wear PJs and things like beekeepers veils to keep the biting flies off them.) The views were from the edge of the North Downs towards the South Downs - both of which are some sort of remnants of ice ages that had progressed across, and receded from, this land mass.
This is outside the National Trust 'tea room' run from the base of this folly called Leith Tower - the third 'peak' and a place a small group of them stopped for a cup of tea.
I am going to insist that she take me back to visit at least some part of it.
Well done F. 25 miles is an impressive walk!
ReplyDeleteF says thank you - not such a big deal really (they did 100km in 2018, just before we moved to Greece).
DeleteLove your first photo - it is so classic of how I imagine English countryside to be :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed - it doesn't get much more 'English' than that area between the North and South Downs
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Tigger, I think that is a much - starting, pawhaps, at your very most favourtist pub in the whole wide world??? Well done to F - the smile on her face tells me she very much enjoyed the 'challenge' and would not object to you setting that one for her! Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
She said I can be carried on parts of it - the steep bit coming down from Holmbury Hill is at least as bad as our trek down from the crater at Methana (Greece) and we are not going to repeat that experience. Fz & Pz Mr T
DeleteShe sounds very fit. Makes that walk sound much easier than it was.
ReplyDeleteShe assures me that it wasn't stressful for anyone in the group - and three people well into their 60's are in that group of 6 at Leith Tower (They were the first group to arrive at the finish.)
Deletewow on the 25 miles, the most i have ever walked is 3 miles at one time. my friend here has a ranch with 20 horses, the flies are horrible. she recently tried something new. she read that flies will not come around if there are dragonflies. she bought a plastic one and stood it up on the harness, and no flies on the horses face. she is now busy putting them on all her horses. You are right, dementia is a living horror for all family and friends of the patient and a great charity to raise funds for.
ReplyDeleteWell done, F, for completing the walk. Many of us have been affected by dementia in the family and any helpful research is welcome.
ReplyDeleteWe think 25 miles would be quite challenging enough! Gail recognised Leith Tower and says she has stopped there for tea and cake on more than one occasion when out with her London cycling club, back in the Stone Age.
ReplyDeleteAnd well done for raising money to help people with dementia. Gail's dad died of Alzheimer's nine years ago and so she knows all too well what a devastating disease it is for both the sufferer and for their family.
Wow. That’s a great effort. And you all look so fresh.
ReplyDeleteGreat work.