Although I hadn’t forgotten completely, I did receive a WhatsApp message reminding me that 4 years ago, on 10th May 2017, I was “under the knife” at Wythenshawe Hospital wondering if I was going to have to negotiate, prematurely, with St. Peter! Many of the nightmares which occurred under anaesthetic still haunt me a little, especially the one when I really did think I had “karked it!” But that was then, and, this is now as I revere my “second chance” and try to make every day count.
In pouring rain, I drove out to Parsley Hay, where I lunched on a sausage and bacon granary roll…I forgot to put on the ketchup! This, with a decaffeinated latte set me up for a traipse in the rain. I was rejuvenated from a good sleep the night before, and also from not having ventured far yesterday. Not long into the walk, the grey sky brightened, became blue, and the weather turned surprisingly warm.
The day before, Sunday, I didn’t quite break my record of 24,267 steps one day ⁹in April. I did get close, however, at 22,981, at least seven miles. Eleven days in, and there is still a very long way to achieving my 300,000 steps target.
I am profoundly grateful for the generous support and encouragement I have received.
To date, my walks are a mix of 1) around the estate, 2) along the railway track-bed, part of which you can see from where I live, 3) along various local trails which were once rail routes, e.g. The Tissington and High Peak Trails, and 4, numerous established footpaths across fields and elsewhere. I plan to be more adventurous as the month progresses.
It’s cooling off again now. I don’t believe it is gone 5pm already! Now to walk back to Parsley Hay! (17.06hrs) The warm weather did not last very long; soon the sun was behind a recent build-up of clouds, some in the distance resembling smoke from a bombed oil refinery.
Thunder started to rumble in the distance and it did “try to rain”. There were faint hints of lightning, as the walk back to Parsley Hay seemed to take forever.
The car, the Parsley Hay Cycle Centre and the by now closed cafe were a welcome sight. The torrential downpour held off until I was in my car….then the heavens opened! The A515 back to Buxton was eerily quiet. Why was there so little traffic? I arrived home with the rain falling, and the sun shining simultaneously, creating a magnificent double rainbow.
Back in the house, I prepared a healthy meal of marinated chicken with mixed vegetables but no potatoes. There was little of interest on T.V. so I watched YouTube videos of steam locomotives at Liverpool Edge Hill depot in 1968, when I, too, visited that depot, one or two vintage mystery programmes which I enjoyed, and a documentary on Manchester trolley buses. I saw some amazing footage.
I remain on target for 300,000 steps by the end of the month. All continues to go well. Many thanks for reading, David, May 12th, 00.05 hrs. Time for some sleep.
David's Cruise 