Training Walk: Table Mountain with company and chocolate!
So on Friday my friend Sarah came all the way from Oxford to the Brecon Beacons to climb some mountains with me. We had a lovely time. On Friday, what with all the travelling, we stuck to a nice short little stroll up Table Mountain (a mere 451m), which I still managed to pretend was training because I carried an 8kg pack.
I think my LEJOG pack may end up weighing a little more than I anticipated, because the 8kg was base layers, pyjamas, water, suncream, toothbrush and snacks - almost exactly what I'm planning to take on LEJOG, but on LEJOG I'm aiming to carry rather more food with me. Because, let's face it, snacks are a large part of my motivation to walk long distances.
Anyway, we had a pretty nice day for our walk - a very mild 9-10 degrees and clear-ish skies, meaning we did get a bit of the advertised panoramic views from the top of table mountain, although not quite as far as Abergavenny. We ate our lunch at the top, sauntered down, and were rewarded when we arrived at the B&B with a pot of tea and welshcakes, which despite my long-held view that all dried fruit is the work of the Devil and is, essentially, grapes with the joy taken out, I actually quite like. Plus, almost anything eaten after a walk tastes like manna from heaven.
This all confirmed that the plan to stay in B&Bs and hostels the whole way is the correct one. A hot shower and clean clothes and some lounging around in a very cosy room reading was a great sequel to the walk itself!
We then wandered into Crickhowell and had an absolutely amazing dinner in The Bear - our dessert choices were made almost as soon as we sat down - and the rosewater pannacotta and warm pistachio cake that we shared will live on in our collective memory for years to come.
Blister count: none from this walk!
Boot cost per mile: £2.44
Dinner score: 5/5 would eat again
Blood: no; Sweat: obviously; Tears: no, we managed to feed ourselves enough to avoid that
I think my LEJOG pack may end up weighing a little more than I anticipated, because the 8kg was base layers, pyjamas, water, suncream, toothbrush and snacks - almost exactly what I'm planning to take on LEJOG, but on LEJOG I'm aiming to carry rather more food with me. Because, let's face it, snacks are a large part of my motivation to walk long distances.
Anyway, we had a pretty nice day for our walk - a very mild 9-10 degrees and clear-ish skies, meaning we did get a bit of the advertised panoramic views from the top of table mountain, although not quite as far as Abergavenny. We ate our lunch at the top, sauntered down, and were rewarded when we arrived at the B&B with a pot of tea and welshcakes, which despite my long-held view that all dried fruit is the work of the Devil and is, essentially, grapes with the joy taken out, I actually quite like. Plus, almost anything eaten after a walk tastes like manna from heaven.
This all confirmed that the plan to stay in B&Bs and hostels the whole way is the correct one. A hot shower and clean clothes and some lounging around in a very cosy room reading was a great sequel to the walk itself!
We then wandered into Crickhowell and had an absolutely amazing dinner in The Bear - our dessert choices were made almost as soon as we sat down - and the rosewater pannacotta and warm pistachio cake that we shared will live on in our collective memory for years to come.
Blister count: none from this walk!
Boot cost per mile: £2.44
Dinner score: 5/5 would eat again
Blood: no; Sweat: obviously; Tears: no, we managed to feed ourselves enough to avoid that
You didn't say how far this walk was ... or how long it took you.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next post. Can you put pictures in too?
ReplyDeleteI probably could but that would involve getting them off my phone...
DeleteWhat a wonderfull training section. I like how you think about food. Wie are thinking THW same way
ReplyDelete