Somerset Memory Walk

I arrived at Butlins Minehead at 8am this morning, straight to the desk to check I'm registered.

It isn't just me today, several other people are also doing the walk for a great charity.

We follow the lead person to get us on the coast path, along by the golf course we start walking towards Dunster beach.

It doesn't take long before you have some space in between myself and the people behind me, still a few in front, headphones in and music playing, I settle in quickly.

Walking along Dunster beach past all the private beach huts just a great reminder of simple holidays by the sea, everyone seems to do different things with their hut, the beach is brilliant and looks inviting.

Past Dunster I go, the castle in site to my right, before long I'm in blue anchor the first check point soon comes to site, water filled a sneaky Jaffa cake and off up the hill towards Watchet, sticking close to the sea and through lots of wooded areas it's just beautiful.

Watchet is a suprise when I arrive, I'm smack bang in the middle of a forties weekend, old cars and people dressed up in real good vibe.

Walking along Watchet beach heading to my next checkpoint at Doniford, then I continue to Kilve beach, 12.5 miles I'm half way and feeling great, I quick water fill and I continue trying to keep the gap between the other walkers.

Lilstock next then I continue towards the towering site that is Hinkley C, the biggest building site in the UK, so they say, I reach a 17 mile marker, my knees are really starting to hurt now, so I decide to strap my right knee, it's the worst one at the minute, continuing around the new build perimeter then the running stations and up to Stolford, there's and ambulance there, it's very tempting to ask for something to help my knee pain, but I'm a man 😂 so I keep walking.

When I'm about two miles from Steart marshes I start to think I'm probably not going to finish, I take off my boots to reveal a nice blister on the bottom of each foot, ouch 😪 blister plasters on and dry clean socks, I'm not going to fail this one, not today.

At 3.30 I arrive to awaiting charity helpers dragging my legs behind me hardly able to walk, 7.5 hours continuous walking 😂 25 miles walked a drink, a rest, and a medal.

Then I have a really bad idea 😮 the sign in front of me says Combwich 2.7km in my wisdom I'm thinking I can do this, big mistake although I make it back to my village, I can now barely walk, the pub is the first place I have to walk past, I didn't get passed thanks to a friend and work colleague, instantly he plonks a pint in my hand 😁 and two nice people give me another £15 for my sponsor form.

I'm very sensible though and only have one, as I stand up afterwards, I realise I ain't walking back to the house, call the wife time 😁.

So I'm home a little pain in my feet and not sure how I will get around site tomorrow 😂 but today has been an awesome walk for an awesome charity, I'm truly at my best when I'm out in the fresh air and by the sea.

Thanks to everyone that donated.

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