Colwall brought us sunshine and Devon Malcom - a much-loved cricket favourite- he was brilliant and sponsored me a pair of boots to help my cause.

Wet weather accompanied me back to the road as my tent was flooded again whilst attempting to camp at Stourport. Walking through the night I found the Bowling Green at Bewdley still open and the barman let me stay there whilst cashing up after a big party. He then took me off for a full breakfast and dried my clothes. I was over-wealmed by his kindness, leaving my faith in humanty restored and the day's journey a welcome event.

Crossing the bridge I walked the banks of the Severn and stopped at Hampden Station to enjoy the olde-worlde flavour of steam. It was just the tonic I needed and after continued into Bridgnorth where I stayed at an inn. Here I met other athletes having just completed an event for a cancer charity. They had a collection for me and the lady in charge, who was a breast cancer sufferer, gave me a sleeping bag to help with the cold weather. 

I spent some amazing days camping out under bridges at football stadiums and even nearby parks. By the time I reached Mansfield the game was rained off and I spent the night at Duncan's place (MD of Barmy Army).

Returning to the task I walked on to Leek and Congleton, heading into Wigan and Lancashire where I camped in a pub yard next to the river, enjoying the merry-making of local people over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The next two days were so damp I took shelter indoors and the publicans Ian and Claire, from the Cock and Dolphin let me stay for free as a donation to the cause. They were kind and thoughtful, looking after me in my hour of need as they could see I was struggling. You didn't need to be a prophet to be a weather forecaster these days either. Good work if you can get it!

I was relieved to reach Penrith after a testing journey via Shap Fell and my host at the cycle lodge gave me a good route to Gretna Green which I reached by dusk walking into the village itself.

After 42 days of foot-slogging I come to the end of PHASE 1 and our last cricket match which will be hosted at Lancaster. Next week I head for Ireland - sunny or otherwise!

PHASE 2

Isle of Man (2-3 days)

DIARY OF ISLE OF MAN

The steam ferry from Lancaster docked at Douglas around 6pm and from here I embraced stormy weather as I marched the old road to Fairy Bridge, taking in the suburbs and countryside as far as the airport. Beyond here lies Castletown and a lovely little inn beside the railway aptly called The Sidings. Here I met Widget, the bar manager and Dave the owner, who both made me welcome letting me camp in the beer garden. We enjoyed a great evening and the next day I made arrangements to stay with them at the end of my little joueney which would take only a couple of days.

Starting out amid yet another downpour, I made my way to Port St Mary using a mixture of coast path and road and had the pleasure of watching the narrow guage steam pass by on its way to Port Erin. On arrival I checked out the local museum and railway artefacts before stopping for a break and a chat to a local decorator.

leaving town I ran into a film crew along the coast road and had to make a detour through the marshland where I continued to Peel. Stopping here for a while I enjoyed fish and chips before setting for the evening session to Kirk Michael where thankfully I found a campsite. The owner,  called Bryn, was very generous allowing me a free stay and purchasing one of my books on travel in New Zealand. After a visit to the Mitre Inn I retired to the comfort of my tent for a peaceful night's rest.

The next day brought more rain initially and I strained my back lifting a now heavy pack drenched through wet weather. Soldiering on in pain I covered the road to Ramsey in good time and later the sun came out to ensure a brighter conclusion to journey. At Laxey I enjoyed a further glimpse of the eternal life of steam and took in the sea air along the promenade to Douglas. Needless to say we all celebrated at The Sidings Inn and Widget and I finished the day with a bottled of red wine.

The following day was lovely and we soaked up the sunshine beside the harbour. It was great to savour a few more moments on the island where its lovely people reminded me of old England and memories of what humanity once was.  What good friends I had made some good friends in such a short time, and after a couple of farewell beers at the Sidings it was off to the airport for a brief trip to Ireland, which now entailed the next and final phase of this long journey.

IRELAND WALK

Commencing in Galway on 4th September 2008.

Tuam

Charlestown

Sligo

Ballyshannon

Lifford

Limavady

Ballycastle

Glenarm

Belfast

Castlewellan

Newry

Ardee

Balbriggen

DUBLIN(Bray)

Wicklow/Arklow

Wexford

Rosslare

DIARY OF IRELAND WALK

Arriving in Galway at midnight I marched to the outskirts of the city where I camped in a nearby field. My only neighbour was a solitary cow which grazed heartlily in the corner of the paddock as I decamped for a hectic day on the road facing gale force winds and on-coming rain. The rain grew so heavy as the day went on I was drenched through and could not move my fingers. Annette Fleming from Eascai B/B took pity on me taking me in for the night and drying my gear as well as feeding with a lovely plate of Irish Stew. Her kindnes enabled me to recover sufficiently to continue my quest in now reasonable conditions.

On saturday I reached Tobercurry, camping at a farmyard and sunday morning I stopped at a cafe for breakfast where 3 young ladies brightened up my day. From here the journey took shape around the coast as I walked through Sligo, passing its famous church then stealing a glimpse of the coast which made up the scenery for the next 2 days. There were famous monuments and historic castles adding to the aesthetic charm of the land which is eternally green and fresh punctuated by stern lofty mountains.

I successfully camped for three days (people's gardens, riverbanks and under bridges)until wet weather forced me into B/B accommodation at Ballybofey, where from here I crossed the border into Northern Ireland. The weather remained the same but my pound lasted long enough to celebrate my arrival at the local inn in Claudy. I was so wet the landlord went and lit a fire to dry my gear. The wind was so strong outside that when the rain stopped my tent was dry in no time at all.

Continuing to Dungiven the Cancer Research UK representative stopped by issuing waterproofs for the oncoming storm and paying for my breakfast at 'Skippers' cafe.

Beyond town I leaned into the mountain and embraced the windy wet weather. It was from Dungiven Castle up this mountain that the Cancer group haulled a lorry last year to raise an enormous amount of money for the cause. I was simply glad to climb over it as my boots filled up with water - now 6 inches deep in a flowing torrent. Stopping at the highest inn in Ireland the landlord made me welcome supplying hot tea and toasties to revive my weather-worn body.

Descending beyond the mountain the night-time session saw me  to a steak house near Toome where I camped in the beer garden. Oliver the maintenance man woke me the next day and paid for a breakfast before leaving for Belfast.

Passing through Randalstown and the beautiful city of Antrim I stopped to buy my 7th pair of shoes - this time I chose trainers to combat the hard roads. By 9pm I made it to Belfast were a young couple were kind enough to show me to the YHA where I got a bed for the night. Belfast is now a vibrant city geared for tourism and destined to become the new Dublin. Southern Ireland is too expensive - Northern Ireland, beyond troubled times, has all the right ingredients for success.

Enjoying the sun I passed through Lisburn and Hillsborough, stopping for tea at Dromore where Orange traditions still live on.

Nearing dusk at Loughbrickland, a lad called Dennis, from the local inn took me to his mother's house where I camped on the lawn. I then enjoyed a drink with his friend Malcom and others who took an interest in what I was doing. Sally (Dennis's mother) was a good woman and made breakfast and a pack lunch for today's journey and by 9am I was back on the road and bound for Newry and then southern Ireland. Crossing the border around 3pm the rain kicked in again and on reaching Dundalk I had to seek shelter at a B/B called Homestead where the landlady, called Christine let me stay for jst 25euro.

Having benefitted from a good night's rest I was able to push on stopping at an authentic tea room called Folly's and later camped near the 'Oldest Inn in Ireland where the landlord was very kind making a meal with a free pint to end the day.

Walking into Dublin was a wet experience and I was glad to get a bed in the Hostel but the next day was the start of some good weather and my whole journey along the Wexford coast path was one of pleasure as I ticked off all the little villages along the way. At Courtown Harbour I was treated to a free night at The Taravie Hotel by owner Maureen Willoughby who had sadly lost members of her family through cancer. This little coast town was like an oasis and Taravie was a great place to enjoy its sedate characteristics. It was a special treats in my journey and the rest of walk to Wexford was one of pleasure despite the distance I covered. I managed to reach the town before dusk and met up with old friend and fundraiser Mick Morrissey from Kilmeaden, who helped me last year when I was lame from a serious foot injury. Mick took me out for a fantastic Chinese meal and after we parted I returned to the hostel for a decent night's rest before walking to the harbour to complete what is now officially a round trip of the British Isles.

Leaving the harbour at Rosslare I now departed for Wales which would serve as a lap of honour having walked in total over 12,000 miles of the British Isles during my years as a fundraiser for cancer charities.

    These include A walk around Great Britain, 2 walks around England, 4 coast-to-coast walks in Ireland. I have also walked John O'Groats to Land's End and the Kingdom 6 times.

WALES

Fishguard

Newport (Pembrokeshire)

Carmarthen

Llandovery

Hay-on-Wye

Herefordshire

DIARY OF WALES

Leaving Hamilton Backpackers at Fishguard I walked the coast path to Newport village where I was able to stay with old friends, Mike and Judi at Cnapan Guest House. They were celebrating son, 'Ollie's Birthday' and were in good form. It was great to see them again and now they are still doing well in troubled times. I guess the weather has dealt tourism a bad hand this year, but I still think the British Isles is one of the best places to visit and enjoy diverse scenery.

I required some hard graft to reach first Carmarthen and next Llandovery where the main roads were a constant hazard. My last campsite was next to a stream in Three Cocks Village where I enjoyed a final meal on the road at The Barn Inn were I chatted with locals - one of them sponsoring me £10.

From here I crossed the border into Herefordshire, just beyond Hay-on-Wye and concluded the event. What a relief after 72 rather wet days on the road.

POST WALK EVENTS

The Carharrack Stars Auction - Scheduled for Saturday 18th October - 6pm onwards.

This is the most significant event linked to the fundraising for Cornwall Hospice Care as it celebrates not only the Summer Walk but the finish of The British Isles Portfolio of Walks around the kingdom. On the night we hope to raise funds from an auction of mixed prises ranging from Barmy Army archive merchantise signed by England players to a whole range of expensive products sponsored by local companies. We will also run a raffle, provide live entertainment and hot food for the occasion.

THE ROADSHOW SWEEPSTAKE

Presented by The Coppice Inn at Lanner.

We will be running a sweepstake over the coming two weeks to raise funds for Cornwall Hospice Care based on Robin Moore's walking effort this summer. Contact Robbie Burrow for details or visit the inn and support a worthy cause.

We also hold collection boxes and sponsor forms at these premises.

PLEASE HELP WITH OUR CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORT CORNWALL HOSPICE CARE.

GENERAL NEWS

For information about all other projects refer to Spring Newsletter 2008. We have pilgrimages,online books/printed and new releases for the Autumn. All will be revealed in the Autumn news letter. The Cornish Pilgrimage booklet is now available as a free download from this site, and we are in the final stages of setting up for the Cornish Pilgrimage Passport scheme in support of Cornwall Hospice Care.

THANK YOU FORSHOWING AN INTEREST