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LEJOG 2023
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  • MaryA

LEJOG 2023

An open-ended adventure by MaryA Read more
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  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG Day 35

    May 11, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    16.4 miles 640.3m Byrness
    A longer commute for long suffering Simon and Lesley. What a splendid stay we’ve had with them. Thanks a million.
    Off back into the forest after the initial walk to Falstone that we should have completed yesterday but the pub got the better of us. Better paths and tracks took us quickly to a collection of houses where a chap said there was nowhere for a cup of tea😟. Onwards and upwards again through moorland and forest and back down along the Pennine Way to the picnic site with lovely British White cows. We saw an adder on route- a surprise for us all. Met a couple also walking LEJOG but started in Chepstow🤔. Last few pleasant miles along the river to Forest View Lodge with a very friendly welcome. Tea and cider! Lovely evening. We dodged most of the rain and lightning forecast. Feet and legs feeling tired today - but Scotland tomorrow😊Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 34

    May 10, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    16 miles 623.9
    Stannersburn
    A day threatening thunderstorms and rain was a lot better weather wise. But…Keilder Forest was hard work. Initially we crossed Hadrian’s wall. ( escaping north) Looking good and hilly as ever. The bridle paths and paths were really non existent. Felled trees, bog, fences, burns, uneven ground( sore on feet and legs). We passed a trig point ( only our 2nd of the trip) on Round Hill- no view. It was only 16 miles but felt further. The occasional opening up of the forest was a delight. And the Pheasant Inn was open. We sat outside next to a lovely couple from Hexham. They even treated us to a cider. I hope they get clear sky….Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 33

    May 9, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    16 miles. 607.9 Milecastle pub.
    Another dreich start with waterproofs on but soon improved. We walked the whole way to Haltwhistle on the old railway line. Always changing. Different flowers out , wood avens, orchids, speedwells as well as bluebells, cowslips, primroses and a wild pansy at the pub! Stopped at the Lampley viaduct for a break. Impressive structure and onwards to Haltwhistle for a cup of tea. Little underwhelming place. Onwards along the burn - must be near Scotland- to the Milestone pub and views of Hadrian’s wall. Lovely sunny cider at the pub.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler
    1

    Day 32 LEJOG

    May 8, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    18 miles. 592.4.
    Dufton to Alston
    A very wet day. We were due one😟. And we were going over the tops to the west of Cross Fell to a height of 660m - under mist all day. Firstly we went through several small fields on non existent paths, past cows, some more boisterous than others, a farm with a dead cow and sheep😟. We passed Mark Anthony’s hanging walls- a few grass terraces. Then onto the Maiden Way - a Roman Road - still with obvious foundations and very straight. Up into the mist and continued down although more boggy. Unfortunately through a ford - even wetter feet. Onto the roads for a fast decent into Alston Railway station for a cup of tea and to watch the toy train departing.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 31

    May 7, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    15.3 miles. 573.6 miles.
    Kirkby Stephen to Dufton
    Leaving Chez Tiplady. Thanks for a lovely stay.
    Misty over the tops today so our riverside journey perfect. Sun came out and a glorious day so had to have a skinny dip in the Eden. Onwards on paths and old lanes to Appleby. A beautiful stretch in wild garlic and bluebells. After a lunch stop and quick lie down Helen reminded me we still had walking to do! Off on old path to Dufton. This is our first meeting with the Pennine Way. As we’ve both done it we are going a different route from here tomorrow. We escaped rain again today. 🤞our luck doesn’t run out but the forecast is not pretty for tomorrow 🤔. Had cider outside Stag Inn. A few coronation celebrations on the Green. Always a lovely atmosphere at Dufton. Picked up by Lesley.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 30 LEJOG

    May 6, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    18miles Kirkby Stephen
    Coronation Day. Anna produced champagne for Halfway but even I wasn’t up for drinking first thing. Looking forward to it later🥂. Slightly threatening sky all day but stayed dry miraculously, and very warm. Sunny quite a lot too. Headed off up out of Cowgill along an old drove lane onto moor. A little boggy at times. Down into Garsdale and along the road and up to Grisedale. Roads very quiet. Beautiful quiet Dale. Up to Turner Hill for a cake stop. 11 am so thinking of the service but no phone reception at all. Helen relieved! Down into Mallerstangdale. Up either side of road and railway. Into Nateby- no bunting and onwards to Kirkby Stephen. All quiet here too. 🥂🇬🇧Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    HALF WAY UPDATE

    May 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    29 days in 540.3 miles. We’re HALF WAY😊. Finding it hard to believe. What an amazing country England is. So gloriously varied. We’ve used paths, lanes, old railway lines, canals, Bridleway, byways, muddy field tracks, gates , stiles, bumsqueezers. We’ve been on loads of different marked Ways- I’ll need to count up. We’ve met some great folk. Seen cows, sheep, alpacas, a zebra, donkeys, pigs, horses, deer , hares, rabbits, curlew, snipe, golden plover, skylarks, Pippits , woodpeckers, nut hatches, tits , robins, thrushes, blackbirds, ravens and more.
    Thanks for all your support so far. And special thanks to our hosts for putting us up (putting up with us)
    Our limbs and feet are a little damaged but going well still ( with my mobile pharmacy🤔)
    So onwards from here- walking through the King’s coronation because Helen won’t let me stop. But we have bunting🇬🇧.
    Not far off Scotland now.

    https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mary-ab…    Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 29LEJOG

    May 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    540.7miles. HALF WAY😆
    Lovely stay Chez Vyse in Giggleswick. 😊 Dreich start. Up the a River Ribble on Ribble way. Nice short grass in fields, lambs, goldfinches. Along road for a bit and river again and into Horton. No shop or cafe now. Both pubs for sale. Walked out along quiet lane through New Houses. Met a lovely couple gardening. Great bunting. Chatted and she kindly donated money and 2 bunting flags - Coronation tomorrow. Off to 3 peaks way towards Wernsude then Ribble way over slightly boggy moor to Gearstones. Stop for eats and watched some weather coming towards us. Great views of Peyghent , Ingleborough and Wernside. ( looks a long way for all 3!!)Proceeded on moor (curlew, lapwing , skylarks, puppets and snipe) on Ribble Way , Dales Way , Pennine Bridle way to Dent viaduct and down to Cowgill where the rain finally caught up with us. Anna there to meet us😊. My watch went flat so a few miles lost to record😟.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 28 LEJOG

    May 4, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌬 10 °C

    18miles 522.4 miles

    Last day at my Mum’s. Bit of a cooler, windier morning. Colin dropped us off before heading north. Upwards past Friendly donkeys and onwards along Pennine Bridleway. Good progress to Gisburn where we stopped for refreshments. Very nice too. North on Ribbleway. Mostly reasonably signed. Good views of Ingleborough and Pen Y Ghent. Curlews and a golden plover. Through Rathmell where we stopped to eat Mum’s cake and into Settle for a cider and provisions before ending at Fiona and Nick’s for a lovely evening.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 27 LEJOG

    May 3, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    16.3 miles 504miles.

    But I would roll 500 miles
    And I would roll 500 more

    A beautiful day. Thanks Janet for running us up. Colin , Dan and Finn with us. Down through Limestone hushings. Lapwing, curlew and a first cuckoo. Beautiful. On Burnley Way past reservoirs and into Worsthorne. Onwards past Queen Street mill - steam powered weaving mill. And into top of Nelson and to Helen’s dad’s for tea and toasted teacakes😊. Onwards past the site of our old school and to the canal - Leeds and Liverpool- where Mum was waiting. Helped a lady get through the lock. Onwards and upwards to Hamishs cafe. Mum and Colin went back for a vehicle to collect us and go to Pendle. But we had to retrace our steps a little as I’d lost my sunnies- found😊Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Extra walk up Pendle Hill

    May 3, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Forgot to say that we had a trip up our wonderful Pendle Hill for a wee extra. Mum came too. Always splendid! Someone had left a crocheted Charles and Camilla there. Excellent!

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 26 LEJOG

    May 2, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    16.5 miles. 487.7miles.
    Denshaw to Top of Burnley. Ollie dropped us back and we waved goodbye to him for a week or so while he pops over to Canada. Off we went with Colin over the moor, past the reservoir. Lovely walking over the M62 to outskirts of Littleborogh. Wheatear, curlew and lapwing a delight. Decided to take the Rochdale canal route through the valley to Todmorden. Lovely again along canal. Lots of nesting Canada geese. A few chats along the way. Stopped at https://m.facebook.com/jaxnsdiner. Snackbar for a cup of tea. So friendly. They donated too. Wonderful. On to Todmorden and a quick stop before a steep pull up the hill to the moors above with eventually a view of our lovely Pendle Hill. Great countryside. Then to our awaiting lift from Janet. Thanks. Popped into to see David on way home ( bunting and all🇬🇧). Visited Greta and visited by Mick and Sophia. Lovely to see folk!Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 25 LEJOG

    May 1, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    18 miles. 471.7miles. Denshaw. Very Misty start by farm where we stopped tomorrow. Downhill on lanes and dry paths and the mist cleared. Through Broadbottom and onto Huddersfield narrow canal. Past Bottoms ( love these names) and up onto the moor with views over Manchester and down to Stalybridge for tea and cake courtesy of Ollie. Onward along old railway track and canal. Paths getting busier ( bank holiday Monday). Quick lunch at Uppermill and in past Delph to Denshaw. A lovely day’s walking. Moors, canals, old railways, industrial heritage, goslings, mandarin ducks, rivers. Splendid.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG Day 24

    April 30, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    18miles 453.7miles. Finished at Pistol Farm!

    Started going downhill into Chee Dale. Lovely lime stone escarpment. And back up through farmland and beautiful valleys,Haydale and Dam Dale. tea stop at Peak Forrest. Onwards and up along great bit of Pennine Bridleway contouring round the High Peak. Group of mountain bikers zoomed past cheerily- we overtook again on uphill. Really great route. Lunch at Hayfield and onwards for a few miles up and down Dale. Really great scenery all day, hard to capture.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Lejog day 23

    April 29, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Thorpe to Blackwell 17.9 miles. 435.7miles
    Super day today in High Peak. Lots of sunshine 🌞. Tissington village beautiful then to Parwich. Rolling countryside then onto the Pennine Bridleway- that seems like progress north! Quite a busy cycleway with families out for bank holiday sun and fun. Had a swift half at a pub near from end at Blackwell where Ollie faithfully popped up. A long drive to my Mum’s. 😊. Blisters on both feet - very annoying 😟.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 22

    April 28, 2023 in England

    22 miles 417.8 miles. Thorpe

    Another dull start but no rain. Grass and mud wet so wet feet quickly😟. Reasonable progress once we diverted onto the small roads to Uttoxeter. Deer and a dead hare seen. Tea in Waitrose and onwards. Following River Dove and into Derbyshire. Got Rocester - home of JCB. AND the King was visiting. He was only yards away - but in the JCB academy. Couldn’t wait to see him ( Helen wouldn’t allow me). Went past a huge and very load-scarey shooting range. Lovely riverside lunch spot then up a hillside and into the Peak District. Change of scenery and architecture. Still no sun. An honesty box ice cream van by a farm was perfect. Rolling hills - long grass and multiple stiles made it hard work but very good scenery. Stopped in Thorpe where Gill was waiting😊.Feet a little sore with lots of wet irregular, slippery stuff.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    Day 21 LEJOG

    April 27, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    17miles. 3 weeks down. Back to bakery at Penkridge then off along Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. Up and over Cannock chase (lots of deer- and lovely oaks) before crossing a small River Trent. This follows the Trent and Mersey canal that we followed. Lunch at a garden centre. Onwards still on Staffordshire way that had been well marked but now wasn’t. Some poor footpaths and a bridge full of cattle to cross. Luckily no dog today. Finished in Abbots Bromley, the home of a very interesting sounding horn dance.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 20

    April 26, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    17.9 miles 377.9miles. Penkridge

    Last morning at Tenbury with Ged and George and last lift from Ollie for a while. The dogs were trying to be invisible so they could rest. Thank you all very much. Another bright morning and off on lanes so good progress to Codsall for Greggs tea and bacon butty. Fantastic! Then onwards on flat farmland to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal to Penkridge where we were met by Gill.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG day 19

    April 25, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

    1/3 of the way! Almost a rest day today. 11.6miles 360miles totall
    Helen rode the horse this pm and I walked the dogs for a little extra.
    Awoke to a beautiful but frosty morning. Blue sky all day. A few lanes initially- a slight relief not to be in mud. Quiet and pretty. Some stunning houses then in to Stafford and on Staffordshire way that we follow for some time. Well labelled and good paths. Finished early- at a shop for an ice cream. This is our last night chez Scott’s. Thanks so much for having me. Ollie will meet us again soon (hopefully!!). Lovely to spend time here, and play Poppywally😊Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG Day 18

    April 24, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    15.4 m 348.4mSue, Helen’s neighbour with us today, and the dogs again. A dreich start again. A few problems with the early footpaths with non existent or very poor stiles. Poor dogs had to be lifted over many. Nice rolling countryside, lovely flowers and wild garlic. Very slippy mud again. Wonderful cakes and coffee in Bewdley then onwards up the Severn to the Visitor centre. Sandpipers, sand martins and goodanders. Prompt pick up by Ollie. Went home via ROBINSON’s cider that we have developed a taste for and they very kindly donated 12 bottles. 😊

    https://www.robinsonscider.com/

    https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mary-ab…    Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler
    3

    Lejog day 17

    April 23, 2023 in England

    19 miles 333 miles total. A little warmer this am but dull. Within 5 minutes came across a field of a dozen big pigs that had just woken up,and we both quickly jumped back out of the mud over the stile and decided to go by road. Rolling fields took us to Bromyard where the hotel were ‘too busy’ to give us a cup of tea😟. So coke and hotxbun on a bench. Onwards over more pleasant countryside, through very wet oil seed rape and onto Clifton upon Teme where we met Tim and Lynn and Arthur dog. Thanks so much for the tea and cake. Then onwards on the Worcestershire way to Abbeley and our awaiting chaffeur.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler

    LEJOG DAY 16

    April 22, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    14.4 miles. 314.4miles. A very misty and muddy walk today. Cold too. We were on the Three Choirs Way - but very sparsely signed and rarely walked. But good walking all the same. Cleared and warmed towards the end. Past a grumpy lama. We’re doing smaller miles the next few days as we are a day ahead 😊and staying at Helen’s house. So chance for Helen to be a proper wife and mother- as well as walk. We had the pleasure of Lady and Flash’s company today. Good dogs. It’s of stiles to be lifted over.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler
    1

    Day 15 LEJOG

    April 21, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    22.5 miles. 300ml total😊. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿&🇬🇧today. Set off on a dreich morning again. Waterproofs on all day. Shame as the views over Herefordshire and back to Monmouth would have been good 😟 . Good paths up and down, but few stopping places. Quick bite in rain and onwards to Axe and Cleaver for lunch to escape the rain. And very nice too. Owners and customers donated. Many thanks. Onwards on a great series of tracks going due north brought us into Hereford. Finished at my Uncle Geoff and Jean’s for a great cup of tea and cakes.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler
    1
    1

    LEJOG DAY 14

    April 20, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    17.9m. Total 277.5miles OVER 1/4 of way! 😊Fantastic park up spot below the castle so set off from there. Sad to see Colin and Finn leave us - for better things! Such a great support. Off north on Offas Dyke path 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿on a beautiful day. Dropped down to the Wye and crossed over to Wye Valley walk 🇬🇧to a quirky pub 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.3 miles into Monmouth where we’ve been picked up by Ollie- Helen’s son - who walks for Field’s motorsports. https://www.fields-subaru.co.uk/ who’s owner Tim has amazingly leant a Subaru and Ollie as driver. Many thanks.Read more

  • MaryALEJOG 2023Traveler
    1

    LEJOG DAY 13

    April 19, 2023 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Wonderful night in pub last night. Quiz night again - and we won £90 and we’re given another £10 for our charities.
    Wee lanes by side of M5, where a BMW was close to taking us out at speed. Thankfully Finn wasn’t with us. Then over the Avonmouth bridge. A great greasy spoon - the Scran Van - for a superb egg and mushroom roll - huge! Then heads down and along the industrial estates to the Severn Bridge. Encountered a route change- badly signed - and a wee ‘encounter’. Survived unscathed. Over the Severn Bridge ( at pace for Helen!) and onwards to Chepstow castle. A real milestone for us. Into Wales, briefly.
    259.6miles done.    Read more

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