BigWalker Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 To celebrate my 70th birthday next year I planto 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 houseof my birth exactly 70 years after the event. I have a blog for interested parties at:http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.comWill shortly be posting the outline of my route through France, in thehope that people in the various regions I pass through will be able tohelp me refine it, especially in the interests of safety. I will bewalking on roads. The Grandes Randonnees are great, but too long for mytime limit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 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 kmsDay 2. Mirepoix to Salles sur l'Hers. 38 kmsDay 3.Salees to Gardouch then to Caraman. 34 kmsDay 4. Caraman to Lavaur. 24 kmsDay 5. Lavaur to Rabastens. 18 kmsDay 6. Rabastens to Bruniquel. 33 kmsDay 7. Bruniquel to Puylaroque. 27 kmsDay 8. Puylaroque St. Pierre Lafeuille. 41 kmsDay 9. St Pierre Lafeuille to St Germain du Bel Air. 19 kmsDay 10. St Germain to Sarlat le Canada 38 kmsTotal for Stage. 287 kmsI believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge ofDIRECT, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I wouldlike to hear about it.If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:www.multimap.comClick on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 My Walking Route Through France - Stage 2 of 3Stage 2 of 3. Sarlat to ChatelleraultDay 11. Sarlat to Le Lardin St Lazare. 32 kmsDay 12. Le Lardin to Lanouaille. 36 kmsDay 13.Lanouaille to Bussiere Galant. 35 kmsDay 14. Bussiere to Le Dognon. 31 kmsDay 15. Le Dognon to Gajoubert. 36 kmsDay 16. Gajoubert to Persac. 34 kmsDay 17. Persac to Touffou. 36 kmsDay 18. Touffou to Chatellerault. 25 kmsTotal for Stage. 265 kmsAgain,I believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge ofdirect, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I wouldlike to hear about it.If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:www.multimap.comClick on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 Stage 3 of 3. Sarlat to ChatelleraultDay 19.Chatellerault to Rilly sur Vienne. 32 kmsDay 20. Rilly to Langeals. 36 kmsDay 21. Langeals to Couesmes. 30 kmsDay 22. Couesmes to Requeil. 33 kms.Day 23. Requeil to Preuille le Chetif. 27 kmsDay 24. Preuille to Fresnay sur Sarthe. 40 kmsDay 25 Fresnay to St Denis sur Sarthon. 23 kmsDay 26. St Denis to Serans. 34 kmsDay 27. Serans to Potigny. 31 kmsDay 28 Potigny to St Martin de Fontenay. 22 kmsDay 29. St Martin to Ouistreham and the ferry to Portsmouth. 23 kmsTotal for Stage. 331 kmsAgain,I believe I have selected quiet roads throughout, for walking safety.If anybody has local knowledge which contradicts that, or knowledge ofdirect, off-road footpaths between any of the above points, I wouldlike to hear about it.If you want to know exactly which roads I will be using, to:www.multimap.comClick on "directions", select the "walking" option, and put in the "to" and "from" towns.Ihave listed only walking days. There will be rest days punctuating thetrip. I plan to take a total of 40 days, including rest days, to reachthe 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted June 24, 2009 Author Share Posted June 24, 2009 Raising Money For CharityThere 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted June 28, 2009 Author Share Posted June 28, 2009 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 kmsThere 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 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 - 1948Tex Williams & The Western Caravan - 1948The sun comes up and the sun goes downThe hands on the clock go round and roumdI 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 careCuz I reckon I ain't a-goin' nowhere,I'd brush my teeth and comb my hairJust too much wasted effort.The water in the well gets lower and lower,Ain't had a bath in a month or moreI've heard it said and I'm sure it's trueThat too much bathin'll weaken you.Danged ol' mule, he must be sick.I jabbed him in the rump with a pin on a stickHe hunched his back, but he wouldn't kickSomething cock-eyed somewhere.Hound dog's howlin' so forlornLaziest dawg that ever was bornHe's howlin' 'cause he's sittin' on a thornJust too tired to move over.Well, the cow's gone dry and the hens won't layAnd my well dried up last SaturdayMy troubles keep pilin' up day by dayAnd 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 jeansNow I've eat the last of the pork an' beans,Just can't depend on nuthin'Mouse is gnawin' at the pantry doorHe's been at it now for a month or moreWhen 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 woesAches and miseries and that's how it goesAnd now I'm getting a cold in my nose,Life gets tasteless, don't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused of chalus Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 3, 2009 Author Share Posted July 3, 2009 Sorry KathyOnly 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.RegardsVic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 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**' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 10, 2009 Author Share Posted July 10, 2009 SteveI 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 I have just put the following on my blog:I mentioned a few days ago that I was trying to get hold of Columbia tosee whether they wanted to make any PR hay out of the fact that I hadwalked 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 wellover 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 actionI am giving them. I have other redundant Trailmeisters and severalbrand new pairs waiting for a chance to strut their stuff.Itproved a little difficult to get through to the right people atColumbia, a company which produces many excellent products and which isstill managed by the redoubtable Gert Boyle, now aged 85.However,once I made contact with Pascale Graffman and Nathalie Snowden, thingsmoved very fast. I had a teleconference with them yesterday afternoonand, not only do they want to frame my shoes and exhibit them in one oftheir stores, but they are backing me to the hilt in my walkingproject. They will supply me with whatever Columbia clothes I need, oranything from their subsidiary, Mountain Hardwear, they will have alink from the Columbia website to this blog, their PR companies willproduce stories about me, and lots more. I now seem to have a majorsponsor. Not only that - they are sending me a copy of the book aboutGert's life story, which I am very keen to read. They are lovely peopleto deal with, as well.I have had some press coverage and moreis 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 backthis morning, Gay was snapping away so that we would have some tosupply to the press and anybody else who wants them.Thephotograph above (on the blog) is one of the results of this photoshoot. I am, ofcourse, wearing Columbia shoes - always do, even in "civvies". As withall pictures on this blog, if you click on it, it will grow.---------------------------------------------------Big Walker's blog is at:http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 Let’s Nail This Serial KillerPancreaticcancer is the most deadly of the cancers. There is a shockingly low survivalrate. And yet it is also the least known cancer. 5% of cancer deaths are fromcancer of the pancreas, yet it receives only 1% of the funding. Most people arenot aware of its existence.I have avery personal reason for wanting to help in the fight against this deadlyillness. My first wife Gaile died only a few short weeks after diagnosis. Mydaughters miss their mother dreadfully. One of my grandchildren has never seenhis grandmother. The others have only dim memories because they were so youngwhen she died. So what canwe do to help? I am going to walk 1800 kms. You can support me with a donationto Pancreatic Cancer UK, and I hope you will do so. Even ifyou do not live in UK, the work done will benefit peoplein your country, possibly somebody close to you.Today Ihave inserted a “JustGiving” link in the header of my blog. If you click onthat (or copy and paste into your browser), it will take you to my fund-raisingpage on JustGiving. The procedure for donation is simple and quick.After youhave 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 theline.We allreceive enough chain letters which are nonsense, about non-existent orredundant viruses, or like the one about Starbucks refusing to send coffee tothe troops in Iraq while in reality they had specialarrangements in place to send coffee to the troops. Let’s start a chain letterwhich will actually do some good.Pleaseclick that JustGiving link now. Thenplease write the letter to your friends. They will need the address of thisblog, or just tell them to Google “Vic’s Big Walk”. That will bring them to theblog and the link will be staring them in the face. The link which could savelives.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/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted July 26, 2009 Author Share Posted July 26, 2009 One Tough MotherThose wondering what to do with their time inretirement should have a look at the book "One Tough Mother" that Irecommend 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, starringin advertising campaigns!No need to put your feet up just yet.http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-tough-mother.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 The more I read about people doing long distance walks in France, themore I come across references to frequent attacks by dogs. As I shallbe walking the full length of France, from almost at the Spanish borderto 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 whetherpepper spray is legal in France. I am still not sure whether this isthe 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 ablind eye to ladies carrying one in their purse for self-defence. Whatabout an old man carrying one in his rucksack?Then came the news from New Zealand about a female jogger being savagedfor fifteen minutes by EIGHT pig-hunting dogs. She is luck to be alive.If you haven't seen the story, justGoogle "Jogger New Zealand" and you will have a vast choice of newsreports about it. It seems to have been covered by every newspaper inthe world. The news also sharpened my own thoughts. What about tazers? I met an interesting manwho had a stall at Mirepoix market the other day. He was selling a widerange of splendidly made marble Buddhas. He had a very interesting lifestory to tell and I would be keen to hear more of it. However, therelevant bit of our conversation concerned tazers.He had beenon a market somewhere and on an adjacent stall someone was sellingtazers. Probably not the full monty type as used by the police but, hesaid, just the sound they emitted was enough to deter a marauder, humanor animal. And that's before the ultimate sanction of applying theelectricity 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.frHis stuff is excellent.My blog:http://vicsbigwalk.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 Booking My PlaceWell, a week of hard work, and I have sent off the synopsis and severalchapters of my book to a publisher, and also to a literary consultancy.If you would be interested in receiving details - with noobligation or commitment - of when the book will be published, pleasee-mail me at:vicngay@gmail.comPlease put the word "Book" as the subject. I will keep all thesee-mails in a separate folder and will keep you informed of progress. Iwill also notify you of publication date and details of how to get thebook, if you so desire. This will, of course, be after the walk hasfinished, 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 A Bird's Eye ViewThe 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 An otherwise fairly accurate article about Vic'sBig Walk in the English-language French newspaper Connexion, has mewalking 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'snot the sharks that bother me, it's the fish - what would a vegetarianeat 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalker Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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