Mr Motivator

With only 6 days left in March I thought it would be a good thing to start the latest G2G challenge. Getting 42.5 miles in over the next few days is no problem but getting those to include 4000+ft would be a bit trickier. Fortunately I have the ups and downs of the Anglesey Coastal Path on my doorstep so I set of aiming to get 8 of those 42.5 ticked off. The weather wasn't great but I didn't think it would be too taxing.

After only 2 and a bit miles, I was forced into shelter as a severe wind whipped up coupled with a good deal of horizontal rain. As I changed into my Montane rainproof smock and pants I decided that I would not risk going my full distance in this wind and would shuffle down to a turning point that would offer some shelter and head back to the car. This would get 5 miles in the bank which I didn't think was that bad and would make up the rest at a later date.

This does sound a bit wussy but, in all honesty, the trail is actually quite dangerous in places. One unexpected gust or a stumble on a rock could have me plummeting 100ft into the Irish Sea, bouncing off the rock face on my descent. Fortunately, accidents are rare on the Path as people tend to stay away when the wind gets up. This is what makes the source of my motivation to go my full intended distance all the more remarkable.

As I neared my intended turning point, I spotted a group of young 'uns waiting at the top of a very steep staircase, which is one of many built in to the sides of slopes along the coastal path. As I got to the group I spotted who they were waiting for. An old gentleman was ascending the staircase, pushing himself up each step with a walking stick in each hand, the effort in each step speaking volumes. I raised an eyebrow at one of his (presumably) relatives who offered the explanation that it was the gentleman's 90th birthday tomorrow and he wanted to come out for a walk on the Coastal Path.

Suddenly using the weather as an excuse to turn back seemed massively inadequate so, after congratulating the gentleman for his efforts and wishing him a happy birthday, I re-established my intended path and trundled on. As it turned out it wasn't too bad a journey and I even put in an additional mile. Apart from about 5 minutes when the wind and hail returned, threatening to rip the skin from my face, the weather remained reasonably fair.

So, with thanks to this gentleman, old in years but very,very young in spirit, training continues feeling a tad more motivated and, tomorrow, it's a return to the hills of Snowdonia for a couple of legs with an overnighter in a remote bothy in between, which promises to be fun.

Conscious that this blog has been lacking in pictorial content so here's a couple showing that it really wasn't such a bad day!

Above - Porthwen Brickworks

Left - a pretty steep up and down!