September Distance: Not worth recording
September Floors: Ditto
Rating: Appalling
Five months to go ..
This month I should have been posting joyfully about increased steps, heavier weight packs and longer, more arduous walks … Indeed, it was all going swimmingly to plan when the little innocuous sounding Flu B stepped in. Forget the proverbial spanner in the works, this was more of an industrial wrecking ball that brought me to an abrupt collapse and kept me there for a couple of weeks. I know half of Sydney has been brought to its knees with the little blighter, so you’ll understand when I say that even the thought of walking from the sofa to the bed was a major undertaking, which required careful advance planning.
Being sick in such a debilitating sort of way was sobering. In the nightmarish way, that only fever can induce, I kept winding up in the middle of the night, thinking of how I would cope the following day if I had a 30k walk ahead of me, along the Pennines in driving sleet. In the cool, blue-skied Sydney light of day of course, I could be rational and know I would have to make a plan .. take a few days off and add the section on to the end of the walk. But Grims distort the mind, making everything feel a multitude of times worse than they actually are.
Towards the end of the month, I was once more on light duties. Very light in fact, with a vastly reduced pack and just small trips planned. However, even though I may be weak and warbly at the moment, my lovely doc has shown me the bright side of the Grim by telling me just how fabulously prepared my immune system will now be for any other viruses which may be standing in wait along the way. You could almost believe this was meant to be. Yeah, right.
I had at least finished a drawing for this post ahead of The Grim. The heavenly Bathers Pavillion at Balmoral on a windy sort of day. http://batherspavilion.com.au Hope you like it. Please join me next month for a leaner, meaner me.
Black Dog Tails
Marcia Allen of Bettendorf, Iowa collapsed in her backyard. She was suffering from a stroke and unable to get up or yell for help. Luckily for Marcia, she had a doggie guardian angel watching out for her. His name is Mack and here he is! Read more of the story by clicking on the link in the photo.
*** DONATE BUTTONS HAVE NOW BEEN ACTIVATED .. PLEASE DONATE A LITTLE OR A LARGE AMOUNT TO THE BLACK DOG INSTITUTE IN AUSTRALIA OR SANE’S BLACK DOG CAMPAIGN IN UK. THANK YOU SO MUCH***
So good to hear you are back on track my friend , looking forward to some long hikes with you before it gets too hot , just returned from a long costal walk , the weather is just perfect at the moment xox
ps : your drawings are just gorgeous
Thank you, Sophie! Yes, we’ll need to be ready for the beautiful Seven Bridges walk at the end of the month. x
Hi Jules, good to hear that you are out there walking again. I have been for a couple myself,
every day feels a bit better.
I love your little drawing, inspiring me to get my sketch book out too.
Best wishes xxx
Yes .. step by step strength is returning! Glad you’re drawing too. Jx
Hey Jules, we look forward to welcoming you here in the UK. Simone xx
Thank you Simone! Looking forward to raising money to support the fantastic work you do at SANE. xx
OMG how horrible for you. Sounds like the NHS is right to be worried about what we’re calling here Australian Flu. took me a while to get over Swine Flu in 2009 so my advice is take your time and go gently. All love Joanne X
Yes, beware Aussies coughing and spluttering and .. take your flu jab! Good to hear from you, Joanne. xx
Hi Jules
Sorry to hear about the unfortunate intervention, but good to know all getting back on track. We have a great break in store for you when it comes to the main event :). Your hike makes my 3 miles per day look very humble!!!
Yes, the great break will be a massive motivator! Thanks Tony
Hi Jules,
Love the blog, best wishes for your LEJOG adventure. I’ve just come back from completing it myself and what a journey! My two penneth; be flexible (with time/distance/food and living/cleanliness standards…) and don’t rush (especially if you’re ill). I think the slower the better. You can read more about my experience here; http://www.lucywoodwalks.com and if you have any questions feel free to drop me a line!
Cheers,
Lucy
Congratulations, Lucy .. big time!! Thanks so much for getting in touch. Just dipped into your blog and see that I’ve got my bedtime reading sorted for the next couple of weeks! Love the way your write. Thanks too for the advice .. I may well be in touch with questions closer to the time. At the moment I’m walking in Sydney, where it’s been 33 degrees one day and down to 20 the next. It’s a hilly city so I’m hoping the calves and thighs will be prepared for tackling all those steps of the South West Coast Path!
Hello Jules
From one Jules to another … hoping to walk with you next year during your trip to UK. Your Doc is right re the golden lining of your recent flu …. having come to London from Brisbane in UK’s winter for first time in 26 years- I spent the first couple of months with colds, allergies and other minor irritations while my immune system adapted!
Lovely to hear from you Julie and to hear your words of encouragement. Let’s make a plan to join up .. so interested to hear what route you have planned. Hope the training is going well for you now after the UK hit you with all those bugs. J