The WoW blog
32 days, 210 miles, 35,000 feet of ascent. We updated on a daily basis throughout our walk, with just an occasional delay when there didn't seem to be enough time in the day. To use the blog: Browse the entry summaries, click on 'Read More>>' to see the full entry. Scroll right down for comments section. Please use the facility to leave comments. It is great encouragement.
[WoW page] [Route map] [Walk Blog] [After Walk Blog] [Photo gallery] [Sponsorship]
SPONSOR OUR WALKERS. This is a really easy way to do it. Your support will greatly encourage them to add on the miles. We are aiming for £25,000. [Sponsorship total]
Click on a name to go to a walker's sponsorship page. Or click here to sponsor the event as a whole.
Our Walkers over Wales
Stacey Reason, (plus Jorge the last week) from Toronto, Canada
Andy Williams, from Singapore
Charlton Thear, from the Canary Islands
Dan Chambers, from San Diego, California
Andrew Wakelin, from Wales
Walkers elsewhere with sponsorship pages
Dianne Berryman, Australia
Lorraine-Baguley, Australia
Other walkers elsewhere
Margaret Carter, Kidderminster, UK Summer Hamilton Brown, USA Tanya Rafford-Raper, Australia Bonnie Wynne, New South Wales, Australia
Please use these links to choose a blog: [Walking wiht McArdle's Blog] [Walk Blog] [After Walk Blog] [Before Walk Blog]
Packing up. On our way home. Conclusions. Plans for next year.
Glyder Fach. Exposure. Cantilever. Great finish!
Precipice Walk. Bye Peter. Harlech Castle.
Sheep tick. Dr Quinlivan. Mawddach Estuary. Barmouth.
Holyhead. Mist and low cloud. Cliffs. Sunburnt again.
Croesor. Cnicht. Slate quarries. Long descent.
Llyn Dinas, Nant Gwynant. Beddgelert. Aberglaslyn. 500 feet 'up the back'.
Starting week 2. Back to the base. Everyone gathering.
Goodbyes. Relaxation. Preparation for the second week.
Foel Lwyd 605m (1,978 ft). Tal y fan. Rain.
Telford's suspension bridge. Church Island. Plas Newydd, Moel-y-don.
Lazy breakfast. Blogging. Beautiful Llyn Dinas.
On the Snowdon range. 1,300 feet height gain. Helicopter rescue (not us!). Watkin Path.
Really a 'level' day. Fantastic weather again. Crossing the estuary.
Level walk (not). Beautiful Aberglaslyn. Everyone doing well. Lorraine surprises herself (and us!).
Arrivals. Beautiful weather. Exercise test. Evening stroll.
As we speak people are making their way to Wales. Looking forward to a great week.
Somewhere within the final few days of the trip while we were out on the trail, I recall a few words of guidance that Jorge offered to Stacey and I... (and I quote him loosely... more so in form of a paraphrase... I don't want any lawsuits headed my way...)
"Walking should be your career."
Not as many hills, but great trails - and you'll never guess what else!
Updated and completed the WoW route map. New press opportunities.
Maybe porridge with golden syrup is the answer...
There are now more videos uploaded to the WoW Facebook Group. Either go there, or try this sample one here first. When it finished, to see the others click on "Go to video" and then on the link "Show all videos".
Cadair Idris without the rain. Excellent CK test result.
It's a weird feeling not having to get out in the rain and walk!
That is it from the team. But see link on the left for the "After Blog". We want to report on how we are feeling and getting on in the weeks following the walk.
The WoW Team Left to right: Andy, Andrew, Charlton, Dan and Stacey.
The final supper; ITV News Wales; Barely concealed emotions; This trip ends, but the journey continues; Summer has arrived.
Sun at last; a scenic walk along the Taff; a costume wedding; Castell Coch: Llandaf Cathedral; our penultimate day
Charlton's first day; extra mileage; no rain - well a drop or two; stairs, stairs, stairs; where is the path?; three cheers for Marcelo; Sigh!
Mayor Dave; Cider Monkey; Chicken Land; Taff Trail; gently falling rain; best cup of tea ever; Charlton arrives!
Long, flat, unchallenging, tarmac... what have we become?!
Pen y Fan no longer ominous; 77 year old leads way with 10 and 12 year old also in vanguard; rain, wind, climbs, sun; steep, steep, steep; lots of drops; reinforcements; paparazzi Pete; calming words from Jorge “Don’t worry it’ll be much worse than it looks”.
The Boar's Head. A walk in the park. Family arrive.
Alt Y Clych, Banc Craigol, Rest Day madness, Rob joins, Brian McArdle, on to Brecon - Sunny again!!!
Two days in one. Never mind the bullocks! Brecon or bust. Ominous presence. Finally a cold drink at the end of the day. 2011 - 1 week.
Not any of us, of course! Back to climbing - exhilarating; 3 stages of the McArdle's Walk; GP joiners; cloudy, but dry - well a slight mist!
7.5 miles along the Wye, early finish, no hills, no rain - something missing!
Sun Glorious Sun. Mama & Babe. Humbled. Cider is the Solution. Barnes Wallis. Climb every Mountain. 7 1/2 hour Slog.
Sunny skies pre-walk - rain during - sunny skies post walk. Car Park Trauma. Royal Welsh Show - Otters, Pole Climbing & BBC Radio Wales.
It rained...we walked...we got wet...car broke down...we quit! All in all - a great winter's day in the Elan Valley