Some Great People I Met (3)

Me with a fellow trekker - Christien from Holland - at Stoke Hartland campsite - she's ready to go but I still have some washing, charging and bits to do in prep for the next stage that I know is very tough (nothing new there then!).

Richard the ex police officer - walking the Cornish coast for a bowel cancer charity.  Assisted by his lovely devoted wife who follows him around the coast in her car!  Fantastic!  What a dedicated team.  Good on you guys.

I'm still plodding on, towards Bude which is at the end of that sandy bay behind me.

Christien does a little dance - not sure if it's Pink Floyd or Beethoven she's listening to but she's really looking good.  She tells me she needs to split because she wants more time alone :( - of course I understand this - isn't that one of the reasons we did this anyway?

OK - well - Goodbye again my fair Dutch maiden.  Text me if you get stuck.

Later, in Boscastle, we meet up again!  Purely by chance of course.  But soon we split again.

I walk on alone to Trebarwith Strand where I meet AD who also works in Unix and IT.  Let me know how the Brecon Beacons yomp goes!!!  Oh and OMG there's that Dutch wonder woman again!  I know she's trying to shake me off but I just keep ending up camping right next to her again!

My friend Steve alerts the newspapers that a Nutty man from Wiltshire is doing something nutty.  Hopefully no one will recognise me in those shades!

Some Great People I Met (2)

An Austrian walker stopped me near Saunton/Braunton and showed great interest in what I was doing.  We took each others photos and I waved back at him across the valley as I made my next ascent.  I can't remember his name - it wasn't an easy one to remember.  But hello whoever you were!

It had rained hard from Dawn until 5pm.  I was feeling jaded, washed out, low in spirits, low in energy.  I tried to cheer myself up by opening a tin of beans and sausages but I couldn't open it!  A lady called Gill stopped whilst walking her dog Charlie and tried to open the tin for me.  We began talking and the next thing I knew I was drinking hot tea in her kitchen where she lived nearby.  Thanks Gill for showing such warmth and kindness on this - one of my toughest days.  (I threw the tin away as I didn't see the point in carrying it further, having already carried it for 7 miles!)

Gill and Charlie

2 very friendly guys at Hartland campsite - was it John and Dave?  Had a joke with me as I stumbled off towards a pretty tough stretch to Bude.

Some Great People I Met (1)

It is impossible to forget moments like these.  This is me with an Unawatuna fisherman in Sri Lanka exactly one year after the Tsunami destroyed his boat and his livelihood.  Fishing was all he new.  He told me that he had suffered for many months to survive and rebuild his life.  At the time of this photo he had received a new fishing boat via International Aid and he wanted me to know how important that was to him.  He was a very natural and simple man, with a burning heart of gold.  There were oil candles burning around us, thousands of them - each one representative of a single person lost to the Tsunami.  How could I ever forget this brave man, this stalwart of human strength and courage?  I have included this photo as I think it really captured the moment and how we both felt.

The official start of my trek - Minehead - August 2010

3 days later I awake right here, after putting this tent up in the darkness (using a powerful head torch).

I spend some time drinking beer with the locals at the Hunters Inn.  Sorry I forgot your names.  But thanks for the company, humour and encouragement.  Maybe see you again next year!

I'm in shock!  Bring me another beer!

The beautifully positioned Hunters Inn, less than 2 miles from the cliff camp shown above.  Great beer, great food, great people!  And thanks for letting me crash out in your field.  Hello to the gorgeous barmaids too!  Wish I had your photos.

This man from Poole in Dorset stopped for a friendly chat a mile or 2 before my ascent of the Great Hangman (1000 feet summit).  His children were horseriding nearby.  He had a good laugh with me over my dread of the hangman and gave me TEN POUNDS towards the charity.

Kerry had traveled in India and was quite a laugh with her stories of Filth n Gloom and Combe Martians!
I had such a tricky time in the web cafe Kerry - I wasn't able to make the other pub in time to catch you and your friends - never mind, maybe next year?  And just where do you think your left hand is going?  Naughty!

A wonderful young chap called Zak (is that spelt right) and his Father - camping at Combe Martin. 
Zak had been stung by a wasp on his ear a day or 2 earlier - but the doctor didn't need to cut it off in the end.
I taught Zak how to get rid of wasps - the gentle way - hope you all got home safely.
Thanks for the bacon sandwiches - mmmmmmmmmm - just the job.

BACK AT HOME

Hello friends

I arrived back in Trowbridge at 9.30pm Wednesday and Steve treated me to a Chinese curry and chips!
lovely.

I was back behind my desk on Thursday and Friday - felt a little strange after 3 weeks in a tent on the wild cliffs but wow was it good to sleep in a real bed with real pillows and a nice warm shower in the morning!

Total miles walked was about 152, Minehead to Port Issac.  I have returned without injury and feeling much fitter than when I started, despite a few hair-raising moments!  I didn't hit my target of 302 miles (this time!) but I gained much knowledge about how to go about it next time.  I did in fact do this the hard way, the "real" way - without recourse to luxuries like Bed and Breakfast, luggage transfer - and did a mix of campsites and spontaneous wild camping.  I often drank water from streams (first treated/boiled), carried my own shelter, bed and half the food I ate.

I am currently engaged in sorting through photos, videos and voice recordings I made en route, with a view to making some compilations for youtube and this blog.  I am also enjoying being able to eat some food/calories without burning off the energy within hours - I lost over 3 quarters of a stone in weight in 3 weeks! (that's about  4.8 Kilos or 10.5 Lbs).

If you are one of the many fabulous people I met along the way please bear with me as I catch up and get organised.  Not a single day passed without reminding myself of the plight of the Tsunami orphans.  I had some great times, fulfilling moments, serious challenges, pain and pleasure too.  THE DONATIONS SITE IS STILL OPEN AND WILL BE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS YET.  SEE  http://www.justgiving.com/nigel-goodwin

ALL photos taken will be uploaded very shortly to  http://s775.photobucket.com/home/bigplateman
So if I took a photo of you en route - you should find it here - I don't think I lost any.

THANKS to everyone who helped in any way they could - support, Donations and so many words of encouragement along the way.

Regards, Nigel  (AKA nutty nige)

Count down

Hi guy's,

I received a text on Saturday telling me that he's ditch one of his t-shirts, purchased some new headphones in Bude and backed up his camera files. His headlight failed at dusk despite putting in new batteries and had to use his back up pack to make camp.

He's going to be walking from dawn to dusk from now on to try and cover more ground. His plan is to try to reach Padstow then catch the bus to Bodmin Parkway, train to Taunton and then home.

I received another text yesterday saying that his phone was working again now and that he had breakfast in Boscastle with Christine. He finally text me at 8.15pm telling me he was in a dip just past Trebarwith Strand and that was the last location I received. I should hear from him again by mid day tomorrow.

Well I guess it won't be long now before Nigel will be coming home again. We have booked a day out on a Barge this Sunday when we can chillout, drink beer and talk about recent events. A well deserved break I say!

I don't know if I will need to update you anymore before Nigel's return but if I don't, I would like to say "It's been a pleasure for Retro DJ to sponsor Nigel and I'ts been a pleasure keeping all you nutty Nigel fans updated on this blog".

Steve.
www.retrodj.co.uk

aborting this web cafe - too slow - it was quicker in Sri Lanka on dial up!

Hello from Bude

Hi it is Nigel here

have to be quick, as usual, gotta get back on path...

am uploading some more photos to  http://s775.photobucket.com/home/bigplateman

Pushing on this afternoon.... I am really enjoying the views, sounds and smells of the sea.  Every day comes with new unexpected challenges.  My feet are dyed black (die from wet socks), my feet feel like blocks of granite, my shoulders havent stopped hurting since Minehead, I havent heard or read the news since I left Trowbridge!!!, ...

and Steve my friend... I can't find time for too much romance, she is really great company and we look out for each other.  I cannot let romance sway me from the focus of my goal - to walk as far as I can, as safely as I can, and to get back unscathed.  I am sure this will be a lasting friendship, but remember what Rocky Balboa's coach said....."women weaken legs" - so far she has only given me strengh, and we laugh a lot.

The real x-rated version of evens can be found here.....http://www....oh know is that the time???!!! sorry gotta go, bye

NIGEL in Bude, Cornwall, Sat 11th Sep 2010

Good Times

Hi everyone,

No I haven't abandoned you all, I've just been really busy with running my business.

Nigel's spirit is on a high since he met a fellow trekky near Hartland who is travelling the same way as him. Her name is Christine from Holland and her friends call her mountain goat. She's been pushing him along a bit and he said that she's a bit nutty just like he is. They were walking in the dark last night to make up some ground and they both had a tough section in heavy rain to Bude and have been travelling together for the past few days. They reached Bude around lunchtime today.

The walking is going to get a lot easier now as the worst is behind him. He doesn't know how much ground they can cover or whether he will reach Lands End in time but he's just going to enjoy the rest of the trek.

I know what you are all thinking! Is there romance in the air? Well I honestly don't know! There certainly hasn't been any mention of it but they do seem to have a lot in common. No doubt he will have a dig at me for saying this but you have to admit, it does sound romantic. Now I'm probably in trouble again for reading into something that's not even there. Oh well make your own minds up! ............ If there is anything there, then she might read this and scare her away. What am I doing? Shut up Steve! Oh my God, now I'm argueing with my keyboard. Ahhh!

I know this is Nigel's blog but I hope you all don't mind me mentioning that if you would like to meet me, I (Retro DJ) will be at Cleeve House Wedding Fayre, Seend this Sunday between 11am - 3pm. There will be a fashion show with catwalk and I will be providing stage lighting and plus I will have my own stand. Details are on my website. Why not come along for a nice day out?

I have another busy weekend but will get back to you all soon.

Steve.
http://www.retrodj.co.uk/

Bad Weather

Hello loyal subjects,

Nigel's been having a tough time of it lately but he asked me to inform you that he's still enjoying it over all. His location is somewhere close to Black Church Rock. Yesterday he had 12 hours of heavy rain from 6am - 6pm and felt like a drowned rat. His boots are wet and his sleeping bag is damp but will reach Hartland tomorrow entering Cornwall and leaving Devon behind when he hopes to dry out his gear.

He is going to carry on reguardless but say's that reaching The Lizard is highly unlikely giving the weather conditions and time left but is going to try to reach Lands End.

I hope to bring you some better news next time but for now this is Steve signing out.

Tough Times

I'm back to update you with more info on Nigel. Sorry for keeping you waiting but I've had a busy weekend with Retro DJ.

Nigel said that walking past Bull Point lighthouse was better than my disco lights but I find that hard to believe!

He had to push himself extremely hard on Saturday walking between Saunton and Chivener late into the night as there was nowhere to pitch his tent because of a mlitary training area and an embankment. This lastest for about 8 miles.

He was extremely tired and slept till 1pm at Chivener. It took him a while to find someone at Chivener camp site as he needed to get his laundry done, feed himself and shower.

The weather is taking a turn for the worse so he has some tough times ahead but Nigel is a strong willed person and I'm confident that he will battle through it.

Speak to you all again soon,

Steve.
http://www.retrodj.co.uk/

Hi all - all my photos are being uploaded here for now (it's quicker).


http://s775.photobucket.com/home/bigplateman

videos will be posted back to Steve.

BIG THANKS to Anita Moss for your donation - an ex colleague of mine - big hug to you Anita thanks!

byeeeeeee

photo

photos

I don't get it - uploaded loads of photos but it only shows one of them when i publish the post.

i need to get away from this pc and back out on the cliff.

trying more photos cos the nasty man isn't here and a nice man put more RAM in...

Ilfracombe

Only me,

Nigel is currently at Ilfracombe. He has another 4 miles of hard trek which he said he will complete early tomorrow and then he has a few days of good ground where he will push hard to cover a lot of ground. He will have some more tough ground to cover when he reaches Hartland - Bude.

He didn't get much help from the internet cafe at Ilfracombe as the guy was rude and tried to overcharge him. The sign said that they were open until 4.30pm but around 4pm the guy was trying to get him to leave as he wanted to go home. Nigel said that he just needed to get some video's and pics uploaded as he was doing this for charity and the guy just said "well that's your choice, no-one is making you do it". The internet connection was extremely slow so he only managed to upload a couple of pics. Nigel has met a lot of nice people on his trek until he met this plonker.

He's having a few drinks tonight with Dan who he met whilst on his trek near Ilfracombe.

I might not be able to update this blog again until Sunday as I have some big gigs to do this weekend but I will get back to you all as soon as I can.

Bye for now,

Steve.
http://www.retrodj.co.uk/

pics from first 4 days - and nights

photos

High Spirits

Hello again loyal followers,

Nigel went for nearly 2 days with no signal on his mobile but was able to get a message to me before I called the emergency services. He was very tired on Tuesday but after a big feast at The Hunters Inn and a well earned rest, his spirits are high and feels he is adapting to the rigours of his trek. He will complete the hardest part of his trek tomorrow and intends to push hard and cover a lot of ground when it all levels out for a while. His feet are healthy but is in some pain with his shoulders. That's not suprising as he has a lot of weight to carry.

He asked me to say a big thank you to Kieth from Poole for stopping, chatting and donating £10 to his cause while he was on his trek.

He neglected to mention why he called his last blog Shooting Star. Apparently he saw a shooting star hence the title. I guess he will explain in more detail later. Lets hope he made a wish!

He telephoned his Dad to wish him a happy birthday today. He gets a lot of encouragement from his Dad as he has a lot of experience in treking and gives him a lot of sound advice.

Well it's just turned midnight and it's time I got some sleep myself so I bid you all farewell.

Steve.
http://www.retrodj.co.uk/