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
Our blog was prepared collectively by all walkers as a big team effort.Highlights of a Walk over Wales by people with McArdle Disease, a rare metabolic disorder affecting all skeletal muscle. 210 miles and 35,000 feet of ascent, from the Great Orme on the north coast to Cardiff Bay on the south coast.
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!!!
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
Valley, Peak, Valley, Peak, Valley...'nuf said! Wales never looked so beautiful with the sun shining down upon the hills. Poleless. The long way 'round. We didn't get lost today.
Lost again. Rain Dance = Success. Rain, heavy rain. Mist, thick mist. Hello. Arrived at Cwm Clyd Isaf.
On the missing list!! 7hours 15 minutes. Beautiful scenery and inevitably Dan takes a dip. SUNSHINE.
Relocated. Press Release. More Walking on a rest day! Great Evening.
Knee high mud. We break open the first aid kit. Sometimes all you can do is laugh. Kendell Mint Cake.
An easy day at last. Andy finds another use for his walking pole. Dan goes for a swim. Zig-zagging! Extra mileage.
Feeling better on Day 12 compared to Day 1 or 2. Andy arrives from Singapore. Rain, mist, wind. On the up hill, we are typically walking at 1/4 to 1/3 the speed of the average walker
The day the sun shone. Farmland, Seaside, Estuary, Meadow, Forest & Mountain. Four legs good - Two legs bad!
Dr. Ros Quinlivan joins the team for the days walk! Stacey is back in the game. Is that sunshine we see? Saved by the pole.
We're all exhausted from all of this resting! Beware of Stinging Nettles. Barmouth (Abermaw).
Rain - 5; Sunlight - 1. Nuclear Fallout. Soggy boggy footsteps! Second wind saves the day once again.
Continuing to recover. Can you say BULL! Slow and steady all the way.
Safety first! Revisions, revisions, revisions...Hang on for dear life. Who's leading who? Don't panic.
One giant step for mankind...one small step for McArdles. Today's forecast - Rain and highwinds with a sprinkle of fear. Dan & Andrew conquer the cantilever. Where is the cairn? Drink, drink, drink.
Keep the comments coming! And then there was one. What flies at 300 ft & frightens the bejebees out of you? 2...1..0 rags. Gwern Gof Uchaf - basic...but fine as long as you don't have to pee in the night. An experience with varying terrain.
Change of plans! Today we tested our rain gear...to the max. Technique + aerobic capacity = success.
How many sheep are in Wales? Conwy Castle is FINALLY behind us. We travelled 8 miles and climbed 360 m. Slow and steady was the name of the game today.
Sheffield to all. McArdle's and the wind. Why everyone should have a cuddly dog. Ice cream at Conwy Castle. 5 miles down.