Dubai Style

#wewalkforyorkshire Goes Global!

Guess what!

#weealkforyorkshire goes global!

Yes my brother Miles Thornhill has been completing this challenge in the hot desert of Dubai too and is just over half way 54miles in 💪

Honestly this is another huge support and motivation to me! The fact we are both walking 100 miles in May in memory of our mum is really special- I know she really would be proud of us both 🙏🙏

The daily videos you are sending through make me smile and I know you are enjoying it too!  6am starts to avoid the heat and before work too, your 5mile loop you are mixing up by going backwards and finding other concrete walks at the weekends to keep motivated.

I think this walking is addictive- Emma has joined in too! Which I absolutely love too 🥰

So not only are you supporting me but also Miles too, we are both so grateful with all your donations, words of support, joining in with the walks and remembering one special person and to help raise funds for @YorkshireCancerResearch to help save lives in Yorkshire.  

https://join.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/s/3621/3968

Thank you from us both 🙏🥰

Leyburn Shawl Walk 11th May

Today was a day of lots of “Sun & Support” it also felt much harder than last weeks! It felt much longer than 15miles! Lots of ups and downs…

Leaving St Giles as planned, Sophie & Milo (doggie) jumped into our support vehicle kindly chauffeured by Tom,  Alison and I in the back! We headed on our way, we all felt apprehensive of what lied ahead.  Chitter chatter, the adventure had begun.

Arriving in Leyburn just before 10am outside Campbells (best Yorkshire deli shop!) great to see Chris was not flying solo & had brought #TeamLong Sarah Oliver and Toby and their dog Marla… our group was getting bigger, then round the corner appeared Anna and Reuben all set and ready to go! Obligatory Team Selfie, we were off!

Heading out of the market square and onto the shawl, we were all amazed by the stunning view of Penhill and lower Wensleydale looking its finest with bright blue skies & sunshine. Admiring the view and getting in our stride we were soon amongst the wood and trees and marching onto Preston under Scar, eating the miles and Reuben (10yrs) setting the pace!

Out of the wood & a short decent, we had taken the wrong track already! think we all agreed map reading is not my forte! I blame Strava and signal not kicking in soon enough! So back up the hill and into another wood with little streams which the dogs loved.. 

We had reached 3 miles in 1 hr and time for Tom to depart the group and take Digby (doggie) home to do jobs before returning to pick us up later… A big hug & off he shot. Onwards and upwards for us to Redmire and Bolton Castle… beautiful countryside, sweetie stops, liquid stops and more hill climbs we got there with photos on the way and avoiding a dive into Redmire pub although tempting!!! 

We decided to plough on to half way 7.5miles which took us to the outskirts of Carperby! Where I could open my rucksack and “lighten my load” Pop 5X Prosecco & 1 Moretti lunch was served leaning on a tree having “fizz in a field” Cheers Mum 🙏🥰

A much lighter rucksack! We hot stepped to Carperby pub for a loo break and water refills and onwards to Aysgarth falls at pace- Alison leading clearly the Prosecco had kicked in! What a tourist hotspot Aysgarth falls is- must go back when the river ure is in full force… This was our furthest point so felt like we were heading home… 10miles done homeward stretch and morale much higher!

Next highlight was the Stepping stones across the River Ure just below Redmire… where we stopped and enjoyed some refreshments… Onwards and upwards keeping the river to our left we had our longest 4miles to the end… legs got heavy, distance between the group stretched, a loss of footing and a near fall, the team support kicked in. The dogs were still charging about with bounds of energy, as was Reuben!  

Past Bolton Hall and Wensley Bridge in sight! “The never ending wood” But the pub was insight and we had made it! Where our Top supporters Andy Tom and Simon who were enjoying “Happy Hr on local ales!” And we enjoyed refreshing pints all round and several bowls of salty chips! Wow we were all so happy to sit down and get to the end safely all in one piece although broken. 

Top support, great Teamwork, reminiscing happy times of mum, beautiful scenery, appreciation for the simple things, good health and happiness. 

Felt very emotional on reflection, with us all pulling together for the greater good and in memory of one special person who really did love walking and this was a firm favourite of hers. We felt you were with us every step of the way xxxx

Thank you again for the most amazing support from you all. 

Reeth to St Giles 4th May

Firstly huge thank you to Catherine Marshall who joined me today- you truly motivated me, chatted, and kept the pace up! 

The day began at 830 where Catherine arrived at St Giles and Simon kindly gave us a lift up to Richmond on his way to Easby Church so we could catch the 9am Little white bus up to Reeth. Sadly no bus arrived (Sunday/BH) 🤦🏻‍♀️ so we gabbed a taxi and were on our way…. Such a lovely taxi lady, who when we got talking knew my mum, Geoff (who we sadly lost this wk to C too) and Catherine also knows her daughter in law. This gave us both the comfort and support to set us off to a good start..

Coffee in hand off we headed down to Grinton past the dales bike centre hitting the river and heading onto Marrick Priory! A wild wee was necessary in a quiet spot and then we were off at Catherine’s fast pace! Arriving at Marrick priory quickly before a very steep accent up steps wood apparently stone steps made by the nuns to connect to Richmond.. this was steep and I reminisced taking lily and Freddie up here a few years ago! At the top we were blessed with a glorious view or swaledale and we both commented how lucky we are to have this beautiful countryside on our doorstep.

Onwards and upwards to Marske “sleepy hollow” where we were suprised to arrive way before our planned lunch break! So we had a snack on homemade flapjack a sit and refuel! I reminisced about my happy childhood in Marske with my grandparents

The walking sticks then came out!!! I could feel my hips! So pulled them out to the right length and strided out! Not really convinced they were helping, actually annoyed me more than anything… Catherine gave them a go too whilst I spoke to Andy and Freddie who rang to check our progress.  Sticks were quickly back in the bag and we both agreed not at the age yet to need them! I best not speak to soon as may need them by the end of May!

We then made a sharp accent up to Applegarth and onwards up to and through Whitcliffe wood the new C2C signs were brilliant and even with my map/compass at hand we didn’t get lost and neither were needed! 

Richmond in sight and soon hitting white fields in Richmond we aimed for a bench at 10miles for a picnic lunch! The heavens opened but the drizzle didn’t stop us! Pop and 2 mini bottle of Prosecco consumed! Well earnt! Made me laugh that we had to hide the evidence! Always need “fizz in a field” this was a nod to mum who on my 40th birthday during Covid introduced me to this and boy this a tradition I’ll continue xx

Back on our tracks and 1 mile to the station- where we paused Strava and grabbed a coffee and had a posh loo stop spurring us on for the final 3 miles- past Easby (where mum lays at rest) onwards up the woods and across to colburn and the final stretch. 

Andy lily Freddie and Betty greeted us round the corner and what a welcome suprise 🙏 the last mile in sight! Catherine commented on the red new roof ahead of us!! Home insight.

We did it 15miles in the bag! What a great 51/2 hrs spent nattering to a good friend appreciating our local countryside and being grateful for good health & happiness.

Time to rest before I do it all again next Sunday- leyburn and Wensleydale here we come- who is joining me?!?!

Itinerary

I am planning to walk 100miles in May… working full time limits me to just the weekends so 4 x 15mile Sunday walks plus top ups!

Many of these walks were mums favourite ❤️ 

If you would like to join me for 1 mile or 100 here we go!

4 bigger walks- 9am meet for 930 start or join me enroute!

Sunday May 4th- Reeth to St Giles (C2C walk)

Sunday 11th May-Leyburn shawl walk finishing at the Saddle Room for a large drink!

Sunday 18th May-Roseberry topping walk ( like the one mum and I did on this YCR video in 2017)

Sunday 25th May Saltburn to Robin hoods bay (Cleveland way) not sure we will get that far but give it a go! Fish n chips at the end!

Or join me on Smaller walks

St Giles to Easby

The swan lakes walk from St Giles

Gunnerside Gill

Keld/ Muker

If you Watch the Yorkshire Cancer Research video on this website you will see mum and I taking on Roseberry Topping when mum first was diagnosed, we had a very happy day and laughed lots #happymemories to cherish. 

We always loved to “walk and talk”