me

Aidan and Heather

Me ,Heather and Flint

Ayrshire

Gary and Di

Trish ,Heather and Marleen the van

Paul Di and Gary

Hughie and Flint

Bangers and Mash

Me Hughie and Flint

Keighley to Keelham lodge

My colleague Stevie Bickerstaff a Mcea engineer joined me and my step son Aidan for this walk from Keighley to to Keelham lodge farm shop,which is mostley up hill,but only about 7 miles . so we did it in a breeze, which means my poor little feet can have a rest tomorow before we do the last 2 miles on saturday morning,
we are leaving Keelham lodge farm shop at 1115 and will arrive at the George the third pub \chappel street Queensbury at 1200, with a band and some scooters I am worried it will fetch a tear to my eye's as it will be truley the end of my Naval Career and the start of my new life.
Shubert thr hoof mechanic is calling in on his way to skegvagas for a stag night ,to render my hooves with some attention thats a good mate for you! and Garry Nic up in Faslane has arranged for the video footage to be played on faslane naval bases Info Tv's.
While I think on I would like to mention the people who have helped out over the last fortnight.
Garry Nicolson who is part of the charity comittee, and did a lot of behind the scene's organisation.and walked with his girl friend Di Smart on day 2.
Heather Stout who walked on days 1,2,and 3 drove the van went shopping organised saturdays party,told me I was a big soft girl when my toes, knees,and anything else was hurting,she also puts up with my snoring and will have to now I am a civvy. (The lucky woman).
Paul Abbey.who watched me leave home to join the Navy 30 years ago and was determined to be there to watch me walk out of the gate for the last time.he walked and drove for days 1,2,and 3 and also his company donated some money to cover diesel and camping costs.
Trish Abbey, walked days 1,2,and 3 made us all laugh and cooked some great food.
Hughie Shuglet Walsh, the hoof doctor ,walker Days 4,5,6,7 and 8 bridged the gap and made me laugh he is a top man for a worm drounder.
Micheal Craddock. who came up after a run of nights and walked with me and Shubert on days 5 and 6,bringing with him some top flap jack made by his girl friend dawn.
My Dad walked and drove on days 7 and 8and took me and Hughie for a quality meal.
My mum walked and drove on days 7,8,and 11, and brought enough food and fruit to feed a battalion.
Clarky and Jenny from Baildon scooter club who walked day 9 and helped our unsuccesful quiz team to 3 place on saturday night, and have raised a boat load of cash.
William Day walked day 9 but had to go home to play cricket for Yorkshire.good effort bonney lad.
His mum Jo Day who drove day 9 and made some stew for us before abandoning her husband.
Gary Day who walked days 9,10,and 11  drove the camper van to Gargrave and then bacame a film star.
Ian Stout days 11,12,13 my brother nuff said.
Caravandy day 12 Mcea colleague and all round good egg.
Uncle John Grainger drove days 11,12,and13, brilliant.
Jessy James day 13 drove from pompey and back
Aidan Warner my son ,nuff said
Stevie Bickerstaff Mate and colleague day 14.
Brilliant all of you fantastic cheers.
and Trish Abbey who walk

Muddy Pergatory wednesday

What a contrast Ian Jess and myself were woken, slightly worse for wear by the hail stones bouncing on the caravan roof. The two not so hardy walkers wrapped them selves in waterproof clothing, and i pulled on my shorts and off we went down the tow path to Skipton.

I have been looking forward to some soft and flat walking ,but the volume of mountain bikes on the path has churned it up into a Somme like substance, so just walking upright was a chore. Anyway we are in Yorkshire and only a spit and a jump from home, I will be home tomorrow as we reached Keighley so will do a short walk and leave a few miles for Friday and a 2 for Saturday.
Heather has done a fantastic job as my Pa and party organiser, I am expecting quite a few people at the George iii and then The night will be a great night with Our Friend Little Gem doing what she doe's best and singing her Motown and soul set,and music provided by Mr and Mrs Algy at breakaway music.

Tuesday 6th March the hills are a -large

A fantastic if not tiring days walking,As I Awoke my caravan was awash with a strange orange glow that I haven't seen for a few months and when I raised my bedside blinds to discover what it was it turned out to be the sun. Fantastic.
My colleague Andy of Caravandy of Hebden Bridge joined us and we jumped into the van and headed to the westerly Settle turn off and started walking. The first four miles was taken at a steady pace culminating with a scone and coffee in the singing kettle,cafe,which we found very reasonable.

We then started walking up and up and more up,the sun was beating down and the view of the world bellow was fantastic, as we carried on up and up.exactly 3 miles further on at an average of about 1.5 mph we found the van and stocked up on water before walking along the top of the world and then a very painful descent bringing us out at the camp site.
Ian and myself thanked Andy and went for a sauna and swim at Skiptons excellent pool. On our return my old ship mate Jessy James had arrived after a long drive from Pompey, so we adjourned to the pub for tea, which turned into a party with the landlord and landlady of the Old Swan inn a Fantastic pub with a good atmosphere and friendly locals,give them a visit next time you're in Gargrave. We were also informed that my tv debute was complete so check it out on you tube Dave Stouts "Long Walk Home" - Faslane to Bradford

A new influx of personnel this morning with My Mum , Uncle John and brother Ian joining Happy ,Flint and me  on this fantastic weather day, Even though we walked through Lancashire for the first hour and half it was very pretty , Unfortunately when we crossed the border into gods own county we were in the van due to the road being too dangerous to walk along at that point (we then make up the miles on better roads) so didn't get a phot.

A promotional film maker came along this morning, to make a film of us . he interviewed me just as an aeroplane flew over our heads, but we think we got some footage in the can(check me out). Watch this space for the results.

Sunday 4th march

Moved HQ to Sunny Yorkshire. Quality!!
Just me and Happy so we started to walk ,but my toes are bleeding so we decided to cut things short, as we are slightly ahead of schedule. We went to Skipton and bought some feet repair kit.

We came back to soak my feet and we've just been out to the local curry house as a good by to happy and i am ready if not a bit worried for tomorrows walk which should bring us into Yorkshire.

Saturday 3rd feb more a6

We set of promptly this morning with clarky and mrs clarcky happy and Mrs Happy and Happy Jr,me and Flint.
Jo offered to drive so we set of up hill all the way to Shap and beyond, it was pissing it down ,but that didn't last too long and spirits were high, There wasn't as much pavement to walk on but the road wasn't too busy and the weather improved. so a good day.
It was good to catch up with Happy who I served with on the Ark with as I havn't seen him for ages.
All in all a good day and we move the HQ into Yorkshire tomorrow.
No photo today as I forgot to take any sorry.

Carlisle to Penrith

Good day today, We walked straight down the very tidy,A6 which had footpaths nearly all the way,. The weather was good culminating with Hugh and me sitting out side the caravans as if it was summer.
Flint is still going strong and he seems to get more excited day by day.
My Mum and Dad left for home and then Hoof doctor Hughie taped my tattered footsies and toesies up before I dropped him off at the motorway services to get picked up by Di who walked last weekend.
I then went down the local to meet the clarkies and the days who are here to keep me company this weekend.The locals in the pub were fantastic and donated some money as they had overheard us talking.

I am doing 15 mile stretches now and the weather is forcasted to be kack this weekend.

England oh England

Early start in Annan, mainly because we both woke up early to the most fantastic sunrise,over the distant M6.Hughie had to drive as there was just me and him until my Mum and Dad arrived at dinner time.
We arrived at the border and took this phot at a moment of supreme anti climax,as you can see the sign is the most under rated bit of tin,with a bloody pac man sticker on it.
Any way I set off for long town whilst Hughie went and picked my Parents up.who then bought us lunch.
My Mum drove the van and me ,Dad, Flint and the hughster walked the first 3 mile stint of the afternoon and then Mum and Dad swapped and we did the next session.Today's flotsam and jetsam was 2 cards. one Halifax credit card and one nectar card in the name of Mr R sole. which made us giggle.
My knee is holding up ,and the blisters are knacking.
I came back to HQ ,had a shower and hoovered up .then Hughie decided to fill his water tank and empty his waste, so i needed to move the van. which I immediately ran of the raised concrete and got stuck.he then proceeded to get the camper stuck in the mud ,so we had to be rescued by the farmers 15 year old son.embarrassing.
tonight my Mum and Dad took us for a meal which was quality and now we are back looking at the route for stage 2 of this mammoth trek.