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| site last updated 11th February 2008 |
| Test Walks | Sponsorship Information | What the money is for| Zermatt 2008 Pictures
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Celebration Of Life Sponsored Walk July 2006 |
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We did it! Jan and I would truely like to thank everyone who took part, including people who manned checkpoints and walkers - and everyone who gave sponsorship. We have raised just over £ 10,000!The story of the walk is below - the pictures are thumbnails - to see a picture you are interested in just click on the thumbnail. When you have finished looking at the picture click the 'back' arrow ( usually on the top left hand corner of your browser window )HAD ENOUGH YET? To keep up the good work we thought we would start a new Autumn/Winter series of walks - probably on Sundays. They will be largely social - with no plans to work up to anything major ( just yet anyway ). Watch this space for more details soon.
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Jan says: In early April I celebrated reaching the immature age of 40 whilst my lungs, although they have been mine for the last 10 years, might be a little older. I would not have achieved this age without three very important factors. Firstly a double lung transplant 10 years ago for which I am completely indebted to the donor family, secondly for the expert care and support of the Freeman Hospital Transplant Unit for the last 14 years and thirdly the constant support and care from Regional Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Seacroft Hospital, which sometimes feels like my second home. |
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To celebrate reaching 40 my friends and family did a sponsored walk to raise as much money as possible for the two hospital units.
The Three Peaks was the planned route. The plan was to stop in or near Horton in Ribblesdale on Friday 30 June 2006 and meet at a local pub for a pre-walk drink. The weather was kind, and the warm night ( rare in North Yorkshire ) enabled us mingle outside, meeting friends not seen in a while and having a deserved end of week drink. Some of us had travelled extensive distances to what must have seemed like the ends of the earth ( especially Jannie2 ) |
 The night before
 Barbara and Joan
 Sean and David enjoy a snifter
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 Start outside thePen-y-ghent Cafe (early)
 Jan gives pep talk
 The first group getready to set off
 Jan Sue and David
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The next morning the one peakers pulled themselves out of bed in what seemed like the middle of the night ( OK 5:15! ) to find a glorious morning, filled with bright sunshine, birdsong and the distant sound of lambs on the hillsides. We congregated at the Pen-y-ghent cafe, in the middle of Horton in Ribblesdale, and after booking in with Sue, recieving a number, and taking a pep talk from Jan, we set off in a number of groups to attack the first summit! I was suffering from a lack of my early morning cup of tea - and this probably resulted in me being slower up the first peak than would normally have been the case. |
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The climb up Pen-y-ghent starts nicely enough as a ramble down the main street in Horton, then becomes a pretty track which winds throughback lanes and farmyards. It is easy at this stage to kid yourself that you are not at the start of a 12 hour walking marathon, however as the track rises, reality can be denied no longer. Pen-y-ghent is the smallest of the three peaks at 694m or 2276ft, and just over an hour after we had started to climb we reached the top. About half way up, the fresh morning air could no longer counter the internal body heat generated, and I became glad of my new walking trousers ( many thanks Pat and Paul ) which converted into shorts via a couple of zips |
 The start of the climb
 The road to Hull
 Tim Davies celebrates 1 peak
( I think! )
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I reached the top of Pen-y-ghent with Felicity, Richard and Helene. We had super views from the top - although personally I tried not to look at the distant hills which were to be my next port of call. Felicity and Helene decided at this point that discretion really was the better part of valour, and took the bridal path back to the village far below. Top marks to Helene - ascending peaks really isn't her thing. Richard and I meanwhile set off across the energy sapping, boggy and undulating landscape towards the first checkpoint. |
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 Dead Sarah!
 Tim Shackleton shows a leg
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The bog, whilst not quite as trecherous as the last time I managed to immerse myself in it, was still heavy going - but with the help of Richard, long conversations about stuff, and with the recuperative powers of Kendle Mintcake - the first checkpoint eventually hove into view. We welcomed it as two round the world sailors would welcome their first sight of dry land. Uncle Maurice and Richard Wray handed out bananas and plenty of water. In the heat of the day, I had already drunk all the water I started off with so the resupply was essential. Meanwhile, Tim and Sarah, as backmarkers, arrived, and Sarah took the opportunity for some impromptue sunbathing. |
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A mere three miles down the road we came upon the party atmosphere of checkpoint 2: people were drinking; people were eating; people were laughing - obviously we were at the wrong checkpoint! |
 Jan glows brightlyat checkpoint 2
 The Merry Band of one peakers
don't know what is about to hit them
 ...and neither do Paul and Dave
two of our intrepid two peakers!
 David gives a lift to Izzy
the youngest participantat checkpoint 2
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Checkpoint 2 photos |
 Checkpoint 2
 Roger takes advantage of running water
 One Peakers set off from CP2
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Top of Page |
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The night before
Barbara and Joan
Sean and David enjoy a snifter
Start outside thePen-y-ghent Cafe (early)
Jan gives pep talk
The first group getready to set off
Jan Sue and David
The start of the climb
The road to Hull
Tim Davies celebrates 1 peak
Dead Sarah!
Tim Shackleton shows a leg
Jan glows brightlyat checkpoint 2
The Merry Band of one peakers
...and neither do Paul and Dave
David gives a lift to Izzy 
Checkpoint 2
Roger takes advantage of running water
One Peakers set off from CP2