70 year old grandfather walking from the Pyrenees to the Pennines

[BigWalker]

To celebrate my 70th birthday next year I plan

to walk from my home in the Aude to the house in Blackpool, Lancashire,

where I was born. Taking 70 days for the walk and arriving at the house

of my birth exactly 70 years after the event.

I have a blog for interested parties at:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

Will shortly be posting the outline of my route through France, in the

hope that people in the various regions I pass through will be able to

help me refine it, especially in the interests of safety. I will be

walking on roads. The Grandes Randonnees are great, but too long for my

time limit.

[BigWalker]

Walking the French section. Stage 1 of 3. Puivert to Sarlat le Canada.

Ok, listen up, here it is:

Day 1. Puivert to Mirepoix. 33 kms

Day 2. Mirepoix to Salles sur l'Hers. 38 kms

Day 3.Salees to Gardouch then to Caraman. 34 kms

Day 4. Caraman to Lavaur. 24 kms

Day 5. Lavaur to Rabastens. 18 kms

Day 6. Rabastens to Bruniquel. 33 kms

Day 7. Bruniquel to Puylaroque. 27 kms

Day 8. Puylaroque St. Pierre Lafeuille. 41 kms

Day 9. St Pierre Lafeuille to St Germain du Bel Air. 19 kms

Day 10. St Germain to Sarlat le Canada 38 kms

Total for Stage. 287 kms

I believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.

If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge of

DIRECT, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I would

like to hear about it.

If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:

www.multimap.com

Click on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns.

[BigWalker]

My Walking Route Through France - Stage 2 of 3

Stage 2 of 3. Sarlat to Chatellerault

Day 11. Sarlat to Le Lardin St Lazare. 32 kms

Day 12. Le Lardin to Lanouaille. 36 kms

Day 13.Lanouaille to Bussiere Galant. 35 kms

Day 14. Bussiere to Le Dognon. 31 kms

Day 15. Le Dognon to Gajoubert. 36 kms

Day 16. Gajoubert to Persac. 34 kms

Day 17. Persac to Touffou. 36 kms

Day 18. Touffou to Chatellerault. 25 kms

Total for Stage. 265 kms

Again,

I believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.

If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge of

direct, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I would

like to hear about it.

If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:

www.multimap.com

Click on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns.

[odile]

Good for you BigWalker - hope you enjoy it and that the weather is kind to you. Is there anybody here who could offer accom + meal for BW on the way? Wouldn't that be great. I would love to, but I live a LONG way from the route.

I think it is a great idea BW. Bravo et bonne chance.  Odile in the Jura

[BigWalker]

Stage 3 of 3. Sarlat to Chatellerault

Day 19.Chatellerault to Rilly sur Vienne. 32 kms

Day 20. Rilly to Langeals. 36 kms

Day 21. Langeals to Couesmes. 30 kms

Day 22. Couesmes to Requeil. 33 kms.

Day 23. Requeil to Preuille le Chetif. 27 kms

Day 24. Preuille to Fresnay sur Sarthe. 40 kms

Day 25 Fresnay to St Denis sur Sarthon. 23 kms

Day 26. St Denis to Serans. 34 kms

Day 27. Serans to Potigny. 31 kms

Day 28 Potigny to St Martin de Fontenay. 22 kms

Day 29. St Martin to Ouistreham and the ferry to Portsmouth. 23 kms

Total for Stage. 331 kms

Again,

I believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.

If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge of

direct, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I would

like to hear about it.

If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:

www.multimap.com

Click on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns.

I

have listed only walking days. There will be rest days punctuating the

trip. I plan to take a total of 40 days, including rest days, to reach

the ferry, leaving 30 days to walk through England.

Rest days will be announced on the blog at least one day before, as will my specific walking plans for the next day.

[BigWalker]

Raising Money For Charity

There have been many suggestions to me, via comments to my blog, e-mails, various forums which carry news of the walk, that I should be using the event to raise money for a charity.

I have decided that I shall do this. The charity I have chosen is Pancreatic Cancer UK. Did you know that this very nasty and, in my experience, heartlessly rapid cancer, is responsible for 5% of cancer deaths, but receives only 1% of cancer funding? We need to try to change that.

This is a matter particularly close to the heart of me and my daughters Karen and Nicola. My first wife, their mother, died of this dreadful illness only a very few short weeks after diagnosis.

I will set up an arrangement with Just Giving, so that sponsorship donations can be made direct from the blog. I would do that today, but there is a problem with Just Giving's new website. As soon as that problem is fixed I will post more details and a button to "press

[BigWalker]

I expected a quiet week of walking, as we have visitors, but have managed to get in 133 kms - much of that accompanied by my brother Septimus - bringing my total,  for the year so far, to 2304 kms

There has been a new entry in my blog almost every day this week, of which the latest is:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com/2009/06/septimus-on-march.html

[BigWalker]

I put this on my blog today. How appropriate it is for this sudden onset of weather we have not seen, certainly in the Pyrenees, for 3 years.

LIFE GETS TEE-JUS, DON'T IT ?
(Robison)
Carson Robison - 1948
Tex Williams & The Western Caravan - 1948
The sun comes up and the sun goes down
The hands on the clock go round and roumd
I just wake up and it's time to lay down,
Life gets tee-jus, don't it?
My shoe's untied, but shucks, I don't care
Cuz I reckon I ain't a-goin' nowhere,
I'd brush my teeth and comb my hair
Just too much wasted effort.
The water in the well gets lower and lower,
Ain't had a bath in a month or more
I've heard it said and I'm sure it's true
That too much bathin'll weaken you.
Danged ol' mule, he must be sick.
I jabbed him in the rump with a pin on a stick
He hunched his back, but he wouldn't kick
Something cock-eyed somewhere.
Hound dog's howlin' so forlorn
Laziest dawg that ever was born
He's howlin' 'cause he's sittin' on a thorn
Just too tired to move over.
Well, the cow's gone dry and the hens won't lay
And my well dried up last Saturday
My troubles keep pilin' up day by day
And now I'm gettin' dandruff.
Roof's a-leakin' and the chimney leans,
An' there's a hole in the seat of my old blue jeans
Now I've eat the last of the pork an' beans,
Just can't depend on nuthin'
Mouse is gnawin' at the pantry door
He's been at it now for a month or more
When he gets through he'll sure be sore
'Cause there ain't a dang thing in there.
Well, it's debts and taxes and pains and woes
Aches and miseries and that's how it goes
And now I'm getting a cold in my nose,
Life gets tasteless, don't it?

[confused of chalus]

Vic, can offer you a bed for the night when you arrive at Bussiere Galant. (and meals of course). We are a few Km off the route but could pick you up and drop you back next day. Tried to pm you but it wouldn't go through!

Kathy.

[BigWalker]

Sorry Kathy

Only just seen your note, for some reason.

Your offer is very kind. I am making a note of all these offers and will get back to you nearer the time. I seem to remember already having an offer for Bussiere Galant, but would be delighted to meet you in any event. I don't know if you have read my blog and seen that my wife will be driving a back-up campervan, which will be our home most of the time. But I believe one can get "cabin fever" and welcome a night in a proper bedroom. I must warn you that I intend to start my walking days at about 7 in the morning (I mean, to start walking then), to avoid any possible build-up of the sort of horribly hot, humid weather we are having at the moment.

Regards

Vic

[BigWalker]

So far this year I have walked 2,386 kms, which with my little legs (I am not really such a big walker) equates to 2,982,500 steps!

I have one pair of shoes (Columbia Trailmeister IV) which have covered 1,500 kms - 1,875,000 steps. Not a blister in sight.

For more, see my blog:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

Some interesting news today.

A major shoe manufacturer, having heard that I am giving their shoes some major punishment, is interested in:

1. Framing my shoes and exhibiting them in one of their stores, or making some other use of them.

2. Putting a link on their website to my blog, to "create some buzz".

 

3. Making a story to be used through their PR agency, so that even more people start talking about me and my big challenge - of course I would need to refer to their shoes, which I am happy to do because I think they are most excellent.

I am very happy to do this or  many other things to maximise the publicity because, now I have decided to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, the publicity will help that cause.

More about that very soon. I expect to have a link from my blog to the charity donation website up and running in the next few days.

My blog is at:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[powerdesal]

Bigwalker,

Best of luck on your walk but.......could I ask if you would / could consider diverting some of your charity to 'Help for Heroes', the forces people really need it and they do really give their boots 'he**'

[BigWalker]

Steve

I understand what you say. There are many deserving charities out there. You are not the first to ask if I can support another charity as well. But one can only do so much. Not only that, but the collection system is set up to deal with only one charity.

But most importantly, the fact that I am walking to help defeat the disease which killed their mother in just five weeks from diagnosis, is very, very special to my daughters. They would feel let down if I backed down now.

----------------------

My blog is at:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

I have just put the following on my blog:

I mentioned a few days ago that I was trying to get hold of Columbia to

see whether they wanted to make any PR hay out of the fact that I had

walked 1.500 kms in one pair of their excellent Trailmeister IV shoes,

without any problems of the feet. I have another two pairs on the go,

one of which is already a veteran of the VBW training program. At well

over 100 kms a week, it doesn't take long to get through 1,500 kms,

which I now take to be the norm for this type of shoe, with the action

I am giving them. I have other redundant Trailmeisters and several

brand new pairs waiting for a chance to strut their stuff.

It

proved a little difficult to get through to the right people at

Columbia, a company which produces many excellent products and which is

still managed by the redoubtable Gert Boyle, now aged 85.

However,

once I made contact with Pascale Graffman and Nathalie Snowden, things

moved very fast. I had a teleconference with them yesterday afternoon

and, not only do they want to frame my shoes and exhibit them in one of

their stores, but they are backing me to the hilt in my walking

project. They will supply me with whatever Columbia clothes I need, or

anything from their subsidiary, Mountain Hardwear, they will have a

link from the Columbia website to this blog, their PR companies will

produce stories about me, and lots more. I now seem to have a major

sponsor. Not only that - they are sending me a copy of the book about

Gert's life story, which I am very keen to read. They are lovely people

to deal with, as well.

I have had some press coverage and more

is in the pipeline. I have been asked for photographs of me walking.

There are not many in existence, so during our walk to Quillan and back

this morning, Gay was snapping away so that we would have some to

supply to the press and anybody else who wants them.

The

photograph above (on the blog)  is one of the results of this photoshoot. I am, of

course, wearing Columbia shoes - always do, even in "civvies". As with

all pictures on this blog, if you click on it, it will grow.

---------------------------------------------------

Big Walker's blog is at:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

Let’s Nail This Serial Killer

Pancreatic

cancer is the most deadly of the cancers. There is a shockingly low survival

rate. And yet it is also the least known cancer. 5% of cancer deaths are from

cancer of the pancreas, yet it receives only 1% of the funding. Most people are

not aware of its existence.

I have a

very personal reason for wanting to help in the fight against this deadly

illness. My first wife Gaile died only a few short weeks after diagnosis. My

daughters miss their mother dreadfully. One of my grandchildren has never seen

his grandmother. The others have only dim memories because they were so young

when she died.

So what can

we do to help? I am going to walk 1800 kms. You can support me with a donation

to Pancreatic Cancer UK, and I hope you will do so. Even if

you do not live in UK, the work done will benefit people

in your country, possibly somebody close to you.

Today I

have inserted a “JustGiving” link in the header of my blog. If you click on

that (or copy and paste into your browser), it will take you to my fund-raising

page on JustGiving. The procedure for donation is simple and quick.

After you

have donated, I would like you to write to everybody on your address book,

asking them to do the same. Also asking them next to write to everybody on their address books, and so on down the

line.

We all

receive enough chain letters which are nonsense, about non-existent or

redundant viruses, or like the one about Starbucks refusing to send coffee to

the troops in Iraq while in reality they had special

arrangements in place to send coffee to the troops. Let’s start a chain letter

which will actually do some good.

Please

click that JustGiving link now. Then

please write the letter to your friends. They will need the address of this

blog, or just tell them to Google “Vic’s Big Walk”. That will bring them to the

blog and the link will be staring them in the face. The link which could save

lives.

You can go straight to the donation page by clicking on this link, or copying it and pasting it into your browser:

http://www.justgiving.com/Vic-Heaney/

[BigWalker]

Just put a thing about dehydration on my blog. Would be pleased if anybody who knows anything about dehydration through exercise, and replenishment, could give me the benefit of their wisdom.

-----------------------------------------------

Blog address:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

One Tough Mother

Those wondering what to do with their time in

retirement should have a look at the book "One Tough Mother" that I

recommend on my blog today.

An 85-year old woman running a company with over $1 billion turnover,

jetting all over the world opening stores, meeting presidents, starring

in advertising campaigns!

No need to put your feet up just yet.

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-tough-mother.html

[BigWalker]

The more I read about people doing long distance walks in France, the

more I come across references to frequent attacks by dogs. As I shall

be walking the full length of France, from almost at the Spanish border

to the ferry ports to UK, I don't suppose I shall be immune.

So earlier in the week, I was asking in my blog if anybody knew whether

pepper spray is legal in France. I am still not sure whether this is

the case. I know they are available. I believe it is legal to own one,

but it may be illegal to carry one. But that the gendarmerie turn a

blind eye to ladies carrying one in their purse for self-defence. What

about an old man carrying one in his rucksack?

Then came the news from New Zealand about a female jogger being savaged

for fifteen minutes by EIGHT pig-hunting dogs. She is luck to be alive.

If you haven't seen the story, just

Google "Jogger New Zealand" and you will have a vast choice of news

reports about it. It seems to have been covered by every newspaper in

the world. The news also sharpened my own thoughts.

What about tazers? I met an interesting man

who had a stall at Mirepoix market the other day. He was selling a wide

range of splendidly made marble Buddhas. He had a very interesting life

story to tell and I would be keen to hear more of it. However, the

relevant bit of our conversation concerned tazers.

He had been

on a market somewhere and on an adjacent stall someone was selling

tazers. Probably not the full monty type as used by the police but, he

said, just the sound they emitted was enough to deter a marauder, human

or animal. And that's before the ultimate sanction of applying the

electricity to the beast.

Does anybody know anything about these, whether they are legal in France, where they can be acquired?

The Buddha man is called Howard Owen and his website is:

www.marbleart.fr

His stuff is excellent.

My blog:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

Booking My Place

Well, a week of hard work, and I have sent off the synopsis and several

chapters of my book to a publisher, and also to a literary consultancy.

If you would be interested in receiving details - with no

obligation or commitment - of when the book will be published, please

e-mail me at:

[email protected]

Please put the word "Book" as the subject. I will keep all these

e-mails in a separate folder and will keep you informed of progress. I

will also notify you of publication date and details of how to get the

book, if you so desire. This will, of course, be after the walk has

finished, which will, of course, be July 23, 2010.

This week I have walked 86 kms, still restrained by the heatwave. 3063 kms for the year to date.

_________________

Big Walker's Blog:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

A Bird's Eye View

The buzzard soars high over the plain that once was a lake, until it decided to move from here and drown Mirepoix. Hshe casts an eye to the east, where a small aircraft is lifting off from the tiny Puivert airstrip. Invading hir space, but no threat to this creature which can shift hir position up, down or sideways in mere seconds.

Below, the wheat fields are already harvested and ploughed, the corn is readying itself for its job as cattle food, and the sunflowers are blackened, looking moribund, but the massive seed heads are ripening for their own harvest, and their position in the food chain.

Far below, a small figure marches briskly along the dusty track. Big Walker – actually small but perfectly formed – is nearing home. Only 5 kms to go, 13 kms and a 310 metre climb behind him.

But what is this? Only in France could it happen.. As Big Walker passed the churning and vaporous sewage farm at Nebias, he thought he heard, above the sound of the thrashing paddles, the strains of music. As he leaves one noise behind, the notes increase in volume.

Big Walker and the buzzard can both see a vehicle parked in a field which has probably never seen anything motorised except a tractor or combine harvester. Standing next to the van is a man, of hippy appearance, with a beard and longish hair. He is playing lustily on an accordion, that most French of instruments. What is this all about? Is he not allowed to practice at home? Do hippies have homes, or people who will not allow them to indulge their hobbies? Answers on a postcard, please.

Big Walker shakes his head in disbelief. The buzzard, without moving a muscle, it seems, slips sideways and is soon two kilomtres away from this strange scene.

---------------------------

Big Walker's Blog:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

I mentioned some time ago that I was rethinking the whole idea of walking through France mainly on roads. After a year of experimenting with walks on the public highways, I have definitely abandoned the idea, in the interests of my continued survival as a member of the human race. There are too many nutters out there - too much possibility that I may meet one of them on a blind corner, with no means of escape.

Now I will walk from Puivert to Caen/Ouistreham on the Grandes Randonnees. It will be further, it will take me longer, but it will be more likely that my ferry ticket will not be wasted.
 
I have scores of maps and it will take me some time to refine the exact route. This may be easier once my eyes are fixed.

Once in England I will, as before, walk from Portsmouth to Oxford on various long-distance tracks, then from Oxford into Lancashire on canal towpaths.

Follow my blog on or donate to Pancreatic Cancer on:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

An otherwise fairly accurate article about Vic's

Big Walk in the English-language French newspaper Connexion, has me

walking 70 kms a day for 70 days. This would give a total of 4,900 kms,

which would get me to New York.

I think most of that would involve swimming, not walking. And it's

not the sharks that bother me, it's the fish - what would a vegetarian

eat in all that time?

I first crossed the atlantic by sea when I was 17 but this new way would be a novelty - there is always something to learn.

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

I said some time ago that I was reviewing my planned route through France to cut out road walking wherever possible.

Today I have published the new route on my blog. In France it uses mainly the Grandes Randonnees.

_________________

Big Walker's Blog:

http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com

[BigWalker]

Sorry, I said the other day on my blog that I had received, both in the post and via the needle, my swine 'flu jab.

That was incorrect - it was just the "seasonal" 'flu innoculation, which has come out a bit early this year.

Didn't want everyone wondering where their swine flu jab was, if I had had mine.