Dalby Forest

Fallen trees. The photograph comes from the trip to Dalby Forest last weekend. On Saturday, there was a Met Office warning for severe gales and a Met Office warning for heavy rain - however, there was only the occasional spot of rain, and even more amazingly there was no wind whatsoever. After being prepared for a battling walk against the elements, in fact there was for most of it complete silence - a miracle after two days of crazy winds.

In fact, the winds of the previous two days brought down so many trees (on top of some deforestation), that it was truly incredible. As we trod a popular path through the forest, the entire path was laden with recently-uprooted trees - so the walk became a fun scramble.

Altogether we walked for 6 hours and probably around 12 miles. I'm walking with Andy and Lexi who are good friends, and we all love walking and being out in the peace of the countryside.

In addition, we have planned to walk most months and I'm really looking forward to these. Future walks include the Howden 30 (30 miles!!!), possibly two of the three peaks..... and the big one which is the Lyke Wake Walk.... This is my BIG challenge for the year - it is billed as the 24-hour walk - and although I think it is more likely to take around 20 hours, it's still going to be a massive challenge. The walk takes you from the western edge of the moors - over by Northallerton and the A1!!!!! to Ravenscar on the coast!!! and so it takes you along the top of the moors.

In addition to the walking, me and my Wednesday team at hospital radio are going to start running each week - building up to September - when we're going to do a long charity run - we haven't clarified this yet - but I think we're going to run the length of the model solar system on the cycle track - and back!!! It takes you from about Bishopthorpe to Riccall and back I believe.

I sadly couldn't afford to enter the Great North Run again this year.