Week 10 - Hope to Losehill, Derbyshire

2 Hrs with Bernard and finally current news! A very challenging uphill walk for me from Hope to Twitchhill Farm, across to Losehill overlooking both Hope and Edale Valleys which was shorter than originally planned because of pending heavy rain and storms, which can be seen brewing in the picture. Making it back to Hope and lunch at the Blue Apple Gallery and into the car just as the heavens opened - the timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Week 9 - Bakewell - Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

3 Hrs - with James & Hannah - again setting off from Bakewell - A perfect summer day - where we saw the deer sheltering from the sun (in the picture), families picnicking along the river and a game of cricket, all in front of Chatsworth House. Ohh - summer days........ Then a little retail therapy in the fabulous shops at Chatsworth House and a walk along the river to Baslow where we caught the bus back to Bakewell and back home to watch the final of the world cup!

Week 8 - Curbar & Froggatt Edge - Derbyshire

6th July -4 Hrs with Bernard. An exhilarating walk along Curbar and Froggat Edge to Grindleford. Finishing off with the best Panini in Derbyshire at Coleman's Deli in Hathersage. The bonus at the end of this walk was to see the fabulous imaginative works of art of the villagers well dressing and scarecrow festival.

Week 8 - Monsal Dale, Derbyshire

4th July - 6 Hr walk with James & Hannah along the Monsal Trail, following the path alongside the disused Midland Railway line. Starting and finishing in Bakewell. From Monsal Head we took a detour - very steep (up and down) to Cresswell Mill Pond where the picture of the river Wye weir at Cressbrook was taken. Following the river through Sheldon and back to Bakewell. James and Hannah perfected an excellent 'push me - pull you' technique getting me over the stiles towards the end of the walk when my legs had lost their oomph !!

Week 6 - Briksdale Glacier - Norwegian Fyjords

16th June - 1.1/2 Hrs - How good am I training on my holiday? An uphill pull but what a brilliant experience walking right up to the Glacier and enjoying the stunning views on the way - with cake and coffee when we got back! (after all we were on holiday).

Week 5 - The Swastika Stone from Ilkley Town

May 30th - A 3.1/2 hr walk with James and Hannah. We have walked together before but this is the first of our Peru training walks. The walk starts with a pretty steep ascent up to the White Wells, a restored 18th century bath house (which is well worth a visit and can be reached from an alternative easier short walk). We continued our walk over the moorland and around the Swastika Stone taking in the extensive views across to Wharfdale, and having worked up an appetite we rewarded ourselves with a very enjoyable Italian meal at Piccolino restaurant in Ilkley before heading home!

You can't fire a cannon out of a canoe!!

As well as my walking training I also need to improve my general fitness, and a very brave young man called Gavin Wood of Esteem Personal Training in Wakefield has taken on his own personal challenge to get me fit enough to enjoy my trekking experience to the fullest. Gavin has put together a training programme focussing on my leg strength and general stamina to prepare me for the high mountain passes and altitude I will have to cope with in Peru. We are having two one hour sessions a week and I have made tremendous progress over the past ten weeks!

Week 4 - Cutthroat Bridge - Derwent Edge

May 25th - I tried out my new walking boots on a 2.1/2 Hr walk with walking buddy Bernard, who will feature again as he is a regular walker and keen to support me and show off the beautiful Peak District. It was a very breezy day but stayed dry and clear so that we could enjoy the beautiful views over Ladybower Reservior.

When Ladybower was first built it submerged two villages, Derwent and Ashopton. It is also well known as the place where Dr Barnes Wallis and his team practised his bouncing bomb in preparation for the raid on the Ruhr Dams in Germany in World War II. Much of the film 'The Dam Busters' telling his story was also shot here.

Meet Oscar & Hobbes

Meet Oscar & Hobbes - my 'Walking Buddies' for the past 7 years. (Oscar on the left and Hobbes on the right). Sadly Hobbes passed away recently - but Oscar has enough dedication and enthusiasm for both of them - although he is drawing the line at 2 hour walks - after all, like me he's not as young and fit as he used to be!

The Story So Far!

I have recently retired from my family business, handing over to the next generation and will have time on my hands to pursue other interests. My older, wiser brother warned me that it was easy to put things off when you don't have deadlines. Panic set in - for the past 33 years deadlines & projects have been my motivation!

Whilst browsing the Wakefield Hospice Website looking through their fundraising diary for ideas of how I might repay their care and kindness to me and my family 19 years ago I came across 'The Peru Trek Challenge'. It was a 'light bulb' moment! I did some research - ran it past my son & daughter who didn't hesitate to say 'Go for it mum, you can do it', and the panic subsided.... for now!

So here I am on week 8 of my 15 week training schedule! The training programme mainly consists of two walks per week, one short - one long, of increasing duration - building up to 7 hr walks, when I should be ready! At the same time I have an excercise regime to build up my strength and stamina!

September 23rd is the date I set off on my 'big adventure' - so I think I can safely say that I have a project and a deadline to take me through the first 5 months of my retirement!