Wearing-in

I'm pleased to say that my boots and feet seem to be happy with each other. After my strenuous hilly walk on Sunday, I had a small blister on my left little toe - smaller than the past two blisters - and a slightly sore patch on the heel of my right foot. There was no pain on the soles of my feet which is brilliant as that was starting to put me off using the boots altogether.

Another observation is that my legs didn't ache at all after that walk. I really expected at least some twinges or aches but nope, nothing. What a result.

Ellesborough, around Chequers up Beacon Hill, 7.2 mile circular

A cracking walk today. A good stomp up a steep hill got us underway, and we threaded and wound our way through woods and up and down hills for just over seven miles. We saw Red Kites and a few Buzzards, but hardly any other birds apart from Rooks.

The hills around Chequers provided suitable challenges til the last. Our final hike after lunch was a steady gentle uphill followed by the steepest, longest ascent I've done so far - I shot up Beacon Hill near the church in Ellesborough in less than three minutes. I pushed myself incredibly hard, using my pole to pull myself up. By the time I reached to top I was heaving for breath but so elated at having made the climb so quickly and without stopping. The sun came out and the view was simply astonishing. I had an overwhelming feeling of achievement and wonder at such an astounding sight. I could have spent ages up there just taking in the surroundings, but my parents were moving on so I had to follow down the side of the hill, dropping 75m to the car. I'd definitely do this walk again and I'd love to take others to see the view.

Buckingham - Maids Moreton - Chackmore - Stowe - Akeley - Maids Moreton circular, 8.25 miles

What a great walk! True to my post this morning about being gagging for a good walk, I said 'screw the weather!' and struck out for a good eight and a quarter miles from Buckingham to Stowe and back via Charmandean and Akeley. The clement weather broke at the outskirts of Stowe and I donned my new jacket to find it perfectly waterproof during the windy deluge which followed. I wore it for a few minutes after the rain abated until I climbed a hill and found my arms were sweating heavily in their sleeves, so I took it off and cooled down.

While at Stowe, I was buzzed by two very low Apache helicopters - low enough for me to see the pilot's face - as they hugged the terrain. I whooped and danced afterward; what a noise, what a buzz!

I also got a chance to look around my childhood home at Lamport as it is being refurbished for new occupants since Nat Thornton retired. It hasn't changed a bit since we moved out twenty-five years ago, and it even had an indescribable scent of nostalgia inside and out.

There was plenty of muddy ground and wet grass which gave my boots their best workout yet. Despite the soles at the front of my feet aching somewhat, they stood me in good stead and I'm really enjoying using them.

Finally, I fed my remaining apple to a horse in a field outside Akeley. She acknowledged the feed by dipping her head and tapping her hoof on the grass, which I thought was rather sweet.

All in all, a great walk. I faced the rain and won, I got myself off the bloody sofa and back into the great outdoors and blew out the cobwebs, which I've needed to do for a few days now. I'm proud of myself.

I'm seriously itching for a good walk now. It's been too long since I tired myself out with a good long stomp and I've been lazy in motivating myself to get out of the house. I notice this is having the effect of letting me close up and go back to some of my old ways, which is something I want to avoid.

The weather currently is rubbish, with wind and rain, although neither should be an excuse considering I bought what seems like a reasonable waterproof jacket last week. Maybe I should take the plunge and test-drive it - it's great weather for ducks, after all.