Walk(ed) the Wight
Word of warning, the only beer in this post is the one I'm drinking right this second. Allow me a minute to wander again to the photography part of this blog to recap our adventure known as Walk the Wight.
For the last 9 years or so, an island hospice has held a fundraiser where participants walk through the middle of the island from the east coast to the west coast. This 26.8 mile trek has grown from a meager 50 hikers, to over 11,000. Around the 14 mile mark, I started to refer to the walk as a death march. The fact the walk is for a Hospice, is not lost on me.
For a Google Map of all of the Walk Marshall spots and a general idea of our path, click here.
Our walk was dotted by several unique walkers too. Superman, Batman, Wolverine, and at least 2 Stormtroopers. I wish I had pictures of them all.
As has been usual as of late, the day started off beautiful and sunny. Of course it was also 6:30 AM, so it wasn't that beautiful to me...yet. The first part of the trek led us through fields, forests, hills, and finally to the door step of Carisbrooke Castle, the halfway point.
Zoe was able to meet up with several friends, which helped pass the time. The first half was really, really enjoyable. The second half, however, about killed us.
The weather turned cloudy, and at times cold. I had to reattach my feet, at least twice, and every time Bob said, "almost there", he was wrong by at least three hills.
The hardest climb was up Tennyson Down. Named after Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet, this one mile climb upward was a little daunting after marching the past 20 miles. I couldn't even look for Superman for strength, because last time I saw him he was eating an ice cream at the bottom of the hill with Batman.
The three of us trekked on and laughed several times inappropriately as the pain we were all suffering was wrecking havoc with our brains. Zoe has blisters, one the size of an egg, Bob had general stiffness, and I had...adult chaffing. Not very pleasant I might add.
After beating the wind and light rain, we rounded our way to the finish line, and none to soon. We dropped off our last check-in card and received our medals (have it been known I'm still wearing mine right now, I only took it off to shower, and that required some delibration...I'm quite proud of it).
This was all Zoe's idea. I think we all agreed we will never do it again. All of the training we did...wait, just kidding. There was no training and the fact I had to just about crawl to the beer fridge is even more evidence of it.
In the end, the walk was for a great cause and gave us a unique opportunity to see so much of this island. It was a time we will never forget, especially when we look at our scars.
For the last 9 years or so, an island hospice has held a fundraiser where participants walk through the middle of the island from the east coast to the west coast. This 26.8 mile trek has grown from a meager 50 hikers, to over 11,000. Around the 14 mile mark, I started to refer to the walk as a death march. The fact the walk is for a Hospice, is not lost on me.
For a Google Map of all of the Walk Marshall spots and a general idea of our path, click here.
Our walk was dotted by several unique walkers too. Superman, Batman, Wolverine, and at least 2 Stormtroopers. I wish I had pictures of them all.
As has been usual as of late, the day started off beautiful and sunny. Of course it was also 6:30 AM, so it wasn't that beautiful to me...yet. The first part of the trek led us through fields, forests, hills, and finally to the door step of Carisbrooke Castle, the halfway point.
Zoe was able to meet up with several friends, which helped pass the time. The first half was really, really enjoyable. The second half, however, about killed us.
The weather turned cloudy, and at times cold. I had to reattach my feet, at least twice, and every time Bob said, "almost there", he was wrong by at least three hills.
The hardest climb was up Tennyson Down. Named after Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet, this one mile climb upward was a little daunting after marching the past 20 miles. I couldn't even look for Superman for strength, because last time I saw him he was eating an ice cream at the bottom of the hill with Batman.
The three of us trekked on and laughed several times inappropriately as the pain we were all suffering was wrecking havoc with our brains. Zoe has blisters, one the size of an egg, Bob had general stiffness, and I had...adult chaffing. Not very pleasant I might add.
After beating the wind and light rain, we rounded our way to the finish line, and none to soon. We dropped off our last check-in card and received our medals (have it been known I'm still wearing mine right now, I only took it off to shower, and that required some delibration...I'm quite proud of it).
This was all Zoe's idea. I think we all agreed we will never do it again. All of the training we did...wait, just kidding. There was no training and the fact I had to just about crawl to the beer fridge is even more evidence of it.
In the end, the walk was for a great cause and gave us a unique opportunity to see so much of this island. It was a time we will never forget, especially when we look at our scars.
Mike Lang