Who's into hill walking?

Any advice?

Learn to wee behind a tree? 

Learn to wee behind a tree? 

Totally not in the cards, I'm afraid.   

Totally not in the cards, I'm afraid.   

Me neither! 

Even though I am into long walks, I haven't run into that issue because if you map it out...you can figure out where the pubs are along the journey (pubs are noted on most maps). That said, it would be interesting to hear what Carolyn has to say since she is the queen of big walks.

Ha ha, ladies!  I'm afraid that I have learned to wee in almost any sheltered spot -- unavoidable really if you're going to do long treks, or even short ones 'cause I usually have to wee a lot.  Steve says it's like walking a dog - in the best possible poking-fun-at-me sense.  I always take a small pack of tissues with me.  Obviously, it wouldn't be my first choice, but what are you going to do?!   Steve, on the other hand, appears to have one of those industrial strength bladders - but of course, it's not the same for men when it comes to peeing behind a tree.

Failing that, there must be some NASA technology available as an answer to this problem?

Like Jules said, if you can find pubs or shops along the way - that's a preferable alternative.  But many walks we take around the Yorkshire Dales & Moors can be more remote than that -- the advantage being you are less likely to encounter other people very frequently.

Like Jules said, if you can find pubs or shops along the way - that's a preferable alternative.  But many walks we take around the Yorkshire Dales & Moors can be more remote than that -- the advantage being you are less likely to encounter other people very frequently.

Same here - most of the walks we do are along the coast path where there are no buildings of any sort, much less pubs or loos! It does make it a much more countryish and pretty walk, but it can be dire for people like me!

Once you've had to make 'like a bear' -- just to wee somewhere in the great outdoors doesn't seem that big of a deal anymore.

My MIL had to cope with a bad tummy when they were in Ethiopia last year -- running out into the woods in the middle of the night among the baboons!   Everything else pales by comparison to that.

I don't know if anyone uses the O/S maps for their walks or not, but the maps do have little pub symbols on them - wherever a pub will be.  There may be more pubs tucked away here & there than you realise -- although the maps do go out of date & of course don't have any info on opening hours, etc.

Pubs? Pubs? We don't need no stinking pubs! Crouch down behind anything and have a go. Just don't put your hand down on a clump of stinging nettles like I just did walking to Caer Caeradoc in Shropshire day before yesterday!

I'm interested in doing some walking in the countryside when I am in London. I hope when I get there maybe we can arrange some meetups and maybe do some walking. I don't have the geography of the UK down yet, so I don't know how feasible it is to go out to the country for a day and do a walk though. 

I'm not afraid of peeing in the bushes, though!

Just don't put your hand down on a clump of stinging nettles...

Or your bum either!  Man - that would hurt.  Also, it pays to be careful around prickly gorse bushes (though they make great shelter ) and for holly - same reason.

I don't have the geography of the UK down yet, so I don't know how feasible it is to go out to the country for a day and do a walk though. 

I can't help you around London - I'm 3 hours north of there on the train.  Surely some folks from around there can chime in?  I'm sure there must be some lovely countryside in that area as well?

Failing that, there must be some NASA technology available as an answer to this problem?

And behold:  Adult nappies are used on space walks and during take-off and landing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6640035.stm

And behold:  Adult nappies are used on space walks and during take-off and landing.

LOL!!! 

We finally did the Wuthering Heights walk today!   It starts in Haworth (Brontë mecca), goes past the Brontë Waterfall & the 'Brontë Seat' & then up to the Top Withens ruin - believed to be Emily Brontë's inspiration for Wuthering Heights.  It has a 3-star rating (highest) for difficulty in our West Yorkshire walks book, but I'm not really entirely sure why -- maybe because it's 7 1/2 miles but other than that, a bit of steep uphill here & there, it wasn't really too bad.  Fortunately, despite the original forecast calling for rain, the weather held & it was actually quite nice -- not too hot & not too cold, and sunny.

Interesting day too -- Haworth was having a 1940s Weekend, which we didn't know about beforehand.  So lots of people (men & women both) were in 1940s style fancy dress walking around there, including British, 'American', and 'Nazi' servicemen...plus there were Army vehicles & such.  We didn't stay in town for the festivities -- just gawked as we passed through, but they were having events with someone apparently impersonating Churchill, a parade & all sorts.

When we were having our picnic up at Top Withens, a mama sheep & her two lambs came right up to us, just as bold as you please, and wanted to help themselves to our sandwiches!   They weren't scared at all, so I guess they are used to people feeding them.  (We didn't.)  As we left, there was a bigger group also lunching & those sheep were trying to get at everyone's lunch.

Well the training programme is nearing its end...we did 12 miles today to a place called Mossdale Scar - near Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales.  Yes, I'm tired & hurty.  But I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg...

I bought new boots (again) when I was in Paris -- at a really cool store called Le Vieux Campeur (the old camper - ha ha ha!).  They had such a great selection -- more more than anything I've ever seen anywhere here.  Well anyhow, I love the boots I had, but they were all leather & quite hot when the weather gets warm.  They are a little cooler, more mesh, feel a bit like a trainer really -- but still have Goretex & some ankle support (although don't go up as high as my other ones).  I will have both available to wear, depending on the day.

My Brazilian friend has a Spanish friend who owns a pharmacy in Madrid.  He was saying that a lot of people who walk El Camino de Santiago de Compostela will smear their feet with Vaseline at the beginning of the day & then put the socks on over that.  Some say with a thin sock before the hiking sock, some with just the hiking sock.  I may try that.

Anyway the BIG walk is rapidly approaching.  Here is how we're splitting it:

Day 1 - Ilkley to Appletreewick, 12 miles
Day 2 - Appletreewick to Kettlewell, 12 miles
Day 3 - Kettlewell to Oughtershaw, 9 miles
Day 4 - Oughtershaw to Cowgill, 14 miles
Day 5 - Cowgill to Sedbergh, 10 miles
Day 6 - Sedbergh to Greyrigg, 10 miles
Day 7 - Greyrigg to Stavely, 9 miles
Day 8 - Stavely to Bowness on Windermere, 6 miles  (piece 'o cake!  6 miles )

Then collapse & catch the bus back to Ilkley on Day 9!

We are hoping for not miserable weather, but a bit of coolish weather with some cloud cover would not be unwelcome 'cause that's a helluva long way to walk in boiling heat & direct sun.

A funny & sort of cool thing happened today...  I was in Millets getting some more walking trousers & a lot of socks (for our walk).  I saw the same kid who sold me the good boots last autumn - he's a nice kid.  He recognised me & says 'Hi - nice to see you in here again.'

I said, 'Yeah, just getting a few last things, as we're walking the Dales Way this month.'

He looked stunned, like he didn't believe me, says 'You must have been doing a lot of walking lately then?'  (As if to say, you've got to be kidding me?!  You?!)

I said, 'Yes, I walked 12 miles on Sunday.'

'Even I don't walk that far.  Wow!'  (The surprised look on his face, priceless.)

He's a very thin, fit sort of young man.  And there I am - big as a barn.  It was great!  It's fun blowing the hole in a stereotype.

_{Now let's hope this doesn't kill me!  What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.}

Carolyn...your itinerary is amazing. You have worked really hard to prepare for it! I am jealous! 

We haven't been out for the past two weekends because its been way to warm for me (I prefer the autumn/winter)...at least you continue to give it a go! I know the heat doesn't bother you (I wish I was the same).

When is your trip...I know its sometime in June. Will you be stopping anywhere with internet to keep us posted on your travels or will it be too remote? Actually the more remote the better. I know it will be tough but what a great experience.

PS - I wouldn't normally say this except for walking in the countryside but some cloud cover would be a good thing!