Bill Bowler Veterinary Surgery

This summer Jon Huxley (Vet Jacqui’s other half) is walking the length of the country, from John O’ Groats to Land’s End to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The walk is in memory of his mum “Gill” who died from Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a type of early leukaemia, in January 2007. Starting on the 27th of June Jon plans to walk the 926 mile route over five weeks. He aims to average 29 miles per day; six days per week and in total will take approximately 1.6 million steps.

Why John O’ Groats to Land’s End
Jon cycled the route when he was 16 and has wanted to walk it ever since. Finally, twenty years later, the motivation and the opportunity have coincided. After 18 months planning and 9 months training he will finally set off this summer.

A day of two halves, really good morning, felt great and the scenery was impressive. Reached Loch Ness at lunchtime at which point the torrential rain started. The first hour was awe inspiring with the lightening breaking all around and huge claps of thunder rolling down the glen, then I just got wet and miserable for a couple more hours.........

After feeling really good yesterday, today was hard work all day, which was a real shame because the Great Glen Way along the lochs and the Caledonian canal was by far the best walking of the week. Thankfully the very heavy rain held off until just after I had finished. Having pushed on yesterday, today was a shorter day.

Week 1: Done! On Schedule, feet sore but standing up to it, tired and in need of a day off...

Aghhhhhhhh......................... Treenie Bell nipped up from Glasgow for lunch

Felt fresh after a day off! Best day so far by a long way. Great walking along the end of the Great Glen Way and the first part of the West Highland Way, past Ben Nevis. If this is your sort of think I would recommend these routes to anyone

One of the toughest days so far. Hard walking on the West Highland Way with lots of ascent, especially in the first 5 miles, made much worse by the nonstop rain, from 7am til 3. Got very wet, all day. Andy, Steve, Ruth and Joanne met me for a excellent hagis pub lunch at the Bridge at Orchy.

Really pleasant summers morning completing the end of the Clyde walkway through New Lanark and via
the Falls of Falloch and then quiet country lanes. Picked up a much busier road mid morning and remained on it for the rest of the day. Tough hour or two before lunch but otherwise not too bad a day. Jacqui picked me up at 5:30, very glad she`s here and very glad its Friday.

Week 2 complete. Feet a little sore but surviving, legs OK; currently about 2 miles ahead of schedule.

Day 14: Sun 12th - 29.2 miles, 2619ft ascent (To Paddockhole, near Lockerbie)

It rained for the first 2 hours of the day which was not a good start to the week, I really don`t enjoy walking in the rain. One of the muscles at the front of the shin went into spasm after about 5
miles and remained that way for the next 24 miles which caused me a significant amount of discomfort all day. What with that and the weather which remained showery for the rest of the day, the day had few redeeming features unfortunatley! Week 3 was always going to be one of the toughest weeks, I hope it improves.....................

I`ve just reread yesterdays log, now I`ve had a good nights sleep it wasn`t that bad! Showers again first thing but then dry for the rest of the day, I was expecting to get very wet today. Tough first half of the day probably as a hang over from yesterday, but the second half was much improved. Was met by David and Bruce from Paragon Vets for the second half of the afternoon and dinner, having the company really kept
me going!

Slept really badly which I thought would make for a tough day but actually felt really good most of the morning. Made the mistake of nearly falling asleep on a church bench in Temple Sowerby and then stumbled through a tough afternoon. My left shin continues to cause me a lot of grief, but on a more positive note, it remained dry and today was the first time I have had DAB radio reception all day! If I can finish one day ahead of schedule (as I am currently thinking) the end of today marked the half way point in terms of number of days..........

Two hours of torrential rain to get the day off to good start. Helen Higgins joined me at the 7.5 mile point and put in a sterling effort all day, making it the rest of the way. Really good to have the company. Beautiful walking and actually a very pleasant day once the rain had cleared. Reached the canals for the last few miles, don't really leave them again for nearly a week, it will be good to be off the roads again. Topped 30 miles for the first time, ended the day a couple of miles ahead of schedule.

Had the worst nights sleep so far because my left leg was aching so badly. The walking was good mostly along the Lancaster canal and it stayed dry for most of the day but the walking was made tough by the lack of sleep. Crossed the half way point mid morning, nominally selected a point on the road and had a small "celebration"!

After looking at the forcast last night I didn't hold out much hope for today, got going early and thankfully it stayed dry for the first 10 miles so I only had 18 miles in the rain. Dried out and had a good feed in a nice little pub near Chorley and then put my head down through the rain to get finished at 4:30. Jacqui left me until the middle of next week this morning; Peter Price picked me up, unfortunatley one of the busiest traffic days of the year and torrential rain did not make for a good trip to Alis, Elis, Joe and Libby's for my day off.

Week 3 done! I has hoping that I had turned the corner at the end of last week but to be honest my feet are slightly worse and my left shin is still causing a few problems. "Battered" would be a good description of how I feel :) Still, I got through the difficult third week in one piece. Past the five hundred mile point, two weeks to go...............

Nephews Joe and Arthur and nieces Libby and Poppy made for a relaxing day at Ali and Elis's!!

I take it all back, everything that has gone before wasn't rain, that was just light showers, today was proper rain! Today can be described as Heavy Rain - Heavy Showers - Utterly Torrential Rain - Dry - Light Showers. Very glad I purchased some improved wet weather gear yesterday. The England glan found me mid morning, Sarah joined me for the second half of the morning, pub lunch with everyone and then Gary walked with me in the afternoon. Auntie Mary and Uncle John picked me up in the evening.

Day 21: Mon 20th - 29.8 miles, 1193ft ascent (To Market Drayton)

First completely dry day for quite a long time! Walked the Shropshire Union Canal for most of the day. Really good to be back on my "home turf", I actually knew where I was the majority of the time. The morning was substantially improved by England winning the cricket! Brother Jim picked me up at the end of the day. Feeling much better this week, I've done two long days with few problems, long may it continue. Still exactly on schedule, going to start trying to push on a little for the rest of the week.

Day 22: Tues 21st - 29.8 miles, 1006ft ascent (To Wolverhampton)

I spoke too soon! A really difficult day. Have picked up a stomach bug from somewhere so did not get enough sleep last night and felt really dreadful all day. To make matters worse, I didn't eat at all last night and struggled to eat much today. I have very little recollection of the walk, it rained most of the time, and I had my head down from the start, you really know days are going to be tough when the first hour hurts. Sister Ali and the kids picked me up and delivery me to Howard and Caroline Benbows, friends of my fathers, who were fanstatic hosts for a rather poor house guest.

Day 23: Wed 22nd - 28.5 miles, 1149ft ascent (To Worcester)

Got to bed early last night and felt much improved this morning. Howard delivered me back to the start. Spent the morning on the canals again and then joined the Severn Way at lunchtime. The Severn Way was quite rough and hence slow going in places, I have a whole day of it tomorrow which I fear i may find irritating! Jacqui is back this evening, which was a real fillip.

Over two thirds of the way, under 300 miles to go...................

Day 24: Thurs 23rd - 28 miles, 856ft ascent (To Twigworth)

Really pleasant day walking the remainder of severn way in intermittent sunshine. The way is not well used, so in places very difficult and slow going, I particularly enjoyed the stands of thigh high thistles and nettles in shorts!

Day 25: Fri 24th - 32.2 miles, 2365ft ascent (To Grittleton)

Two very sharp showers but apart from that, a pleasant summers day with a cooling breeze. Good walking predominantly on lanes with a few sections of footpaths. Pushed on for a while at the end of the day to get in a few extra miles. The highlight of the day was meeting the nicest man in South West. He stopped to ask if I wanted a lift and when I told him what I was doing he returned 10 minutes later bearing water, energy bars and sweets. Genuinly the most generous thing that has happened in the last four weeks (Sorry I didn't get your name but if you read this "Thanks :)". Got to James and Anna Breens at about 7 and had a lovely pub dinner with them and Mike and Julie Hollywood.

One week and about 220 miles to go! Feet and legs fine and feeling good. I've lost a lot of weight over the last week, because of not eating much when I was ill, going to spend my day off eating everything I can lay my hands on!

Sat 25th - REST DAY

Spent the day planning the final push and then went over to see Nick and Louise Bell for a BBQ. After a lovely sunny day, it started raining the second we got there!

Day 26: Sun 26th - 33 miles, 2655ft ascent (To Wells)

One of the best mornings of walking I have had in a while. I felt really good all day after my day off, the weather was warm and the walking was really good predominantly on canals and one of the national cycle routes. Got in 25 miles before a late lunch in Midsomer Norton where Sev and Steve Tasker found us. Sev (fresh from power walking the Moon Walk) joined Jacqui and I for a rather unpleasant afternoon of heavy rain and busy roads whilst Steve entertained the kids. Jacqui left for home in the evening.

Mon 27th - 31.7 miles, 1208ft ascent (To Ruishton)

Very nice days walking from Wells to Glastonbury and then across the levels finishing close to Taunton. Showers in the morning, followed by warm sunny spells. Simon Clifford joined me at Glastonbury and was good company for the majority of the day, despite the fact that I wasn't really in the mood for walking today. Dad found us late afternoon to do the driving during the final week. Really looking forward to getting finished.

Day 28: Tues 28th - 32.3 miles, 2547ft ascent (To 6 miles East of Tiverton)

Jon Reader joined me late morning and kept me entertained for the rest of the day. Not a lot to say, yet another day of walking! Kindly accomodated by Martyn Whitehead and family. Duncan, Lou and Kate from The Vale joined us for supper. Lou left me with some of the best flapjacks I've ever tasted!

Day 29: Wed 29th - 33.0 miles, 3311ft ascent (To Lyford)

It's a new record! 32 miles in the rain!! It poured down for all but the last mile :-) Jen Hall courageously kept me company for the first 15 miles. Good walking along lanes and then a national cycle route from Okehampton.

I've said it before but I'm really looking forward to Saturday! Under 100 miles to go...

Day 30: Thurs 30th - 36.1 miles, 3996ft ascent (To Lanivet)

First completely dry day in as long as I can remember. Enjoyable days walking through the lanes of Devon and Cornwall, although, I suddenly remembered just how hilly Cornwall is. Pushed on to do the longest day so far so that I can get finished at a reasonable time on Saturday. Today was the furthest I've ever walked in a single day in my life and I suspect it will remain that way!

2 days to go, past Ł4500 on the page, THANKS!

Day 31: Friday 31st - 32.5 miles, 3268ft ascent (To Nine Maidens)
Another virtually dry day. Yesterday took a lot out of me, today (and particularly) the afternoon was tough. Today and with under 50 miles to go my right shin decided to go into spasm, REALLY irritating. The 12 miles after lunch hurt a lot and I had very little left in the physical or emotional tanks to cope with it. Whilst I am trying my best to enjoy the last few days, actually all I want to do it get finished!

1 day and 26.1 miles to go. I have a date with Land's End for 4pm tomorrow afternoon I reckon..................

Day 32: Saturday 1st August - 25.8 miles, 1520ft ascent (To Land's End!)

Made it safely to Land's End at exactly 4pm!

Really tired in the morning, so quite a tough day until I found the first sign saying "Land's End 10". Once I was counting down in single digits I knew I had it beat! Had lunch with Jacqui, Dad and Wendy and Haydn Wallis at St Buryan and then Jacqui joined me for the last 6 miles. Its still difficult to describe how I felt when I reached the marker post, the overwhelming emotion was definately relief mixed with happiness, a huge sense of acheivement but also tinged with a sense of loss. When I reached the post, I couldn't understand what all the racket behind me was until Jay turned me to face the rather noisy welcoming party she had managed to secretly convene and which I had managed to completely ignore! They were: The Gilmours (Suzanne, Vicky, Steve, Nick and Louise), Mike and Ang and the Blackman family, cousins Keith and Lynne Edwards, Wendy and Haydn Wallis and of course Jacqui and Dad - A huge thanks to you all for providing an entertaining and emotional end to what has been one hell of a journey.

I've said it to many people along the way but I can catagorically state that "Its a ****** long way"

Total Miles: 913.3 miles Total Ascent: 68,880ft

Total Time: 5 weeks, 2 hours, 42 minutes