• Tour du Mont Blanc

    Day 2 – Les Contamines to Refuge de la Croix Bonhomme

    It was a misty, drizzly raincoat start to the day . Pack cover on and hood up .   2 boiled eggs and toast and I was happily on my way .   No soreness in my legs gave me a bright and relieved spring to my step.    I had packed nuts and fruit and dairy milk for my 10 to 10 chocolate stop.   It was a lovely valley walk with a gradual climb . My pack was causing me the only pain I had  , across my shoulders and I knew I had to fix it .…

  • Tour du Mont Blanc

    Day I – Les Houches to Les Contamines

    After spending a day in the stunning mountain village of Chamonix I was ready to be off early .    The weather was beautiful in  Chamonix for my pre walk day so I explored and decided to take the famous – Aiguille du Midi cable car. I was planning on doing this when I finished the walk to look out at where I had  walked and reflect etc.  This sounded like a good idea  but then I heard it can close in windy conditions .. change of plan .  I didn’t want to risk missing out  so as this was…

  • Tour du Mont Blanc

    Hello France !

    It has been a dream of mine to complete this famous long distance walk for sometime.   My bedtime reading would be route plans , distances, accomodation and blogs of people who have walked it solo. To think of walking in countries  I have never visited before and through what is described as the most magnificent mountain scenery in Europe was thrilling to me.   The walk covers 170km and circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massif and with 10,000m of ascent it would be the most physically challenging walk I’ve done .   Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Western…

  • Coast to Coast England

    Day 16 – Egton Bridge to Robin Hoods Bay (from the beginning!)

    I woke up with  a strange feeling , that after 2 and a half weeks this would be last day of pulling on my boots , my pants ( that could of walked in by themselves, all scent of Hilary’s laundering long gone) and my trusty faded cap.    I felt both thrilled and nostalgic at the same time .   The final day of this 16 day dream come true.   I headed off early knowing it was 18 miles and that I wanted to get into Robin Hoods Bay early enough to catch Simon and Mum, Dad and…

  • Coast to Coast England

    Day 16 – the Final! Egton Bridge to Robin Hoods Bay

    I am lost for words tonight.  I think you all must know why … as I walked down to dip my boots in the sea  after the  final  walk to reach The North Sea I hear my name being called from Wainwrights Bar just above. “Sal…., Sal.!!”  I look up and think how much the man leaning on the railings looks like my Dad.   So I stare up , then the gorgeous beaming face of my Mum appears next to him.  It takes me a minute to actually believe it is them stood there for me and not just…

  • Coast to Coast England

    Day 15 – Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge

    I was delighted this morning to find a clean pair of socks down the side of my bag , freshly laundered and still smelling of Hilary’s washing powder.  Sweet joy of joys!!    This was going to be a good day!   It was an 11 mile walk today to what was described as one of the prettiest villages on the route, Egton Bridge.    This would be a good distance and it would act as a buffer between yesterday and tomorrows finale of 18 miles to Robin Hoods Bay.