Countdown: 22 Days
Haven't been doing much walking at all in a week. The problem? Little nagging things, like a bruised toe nail and a twinge in the right knee. Sounds pathetic and silly, but not when I'm faced with going 30,000 steps a day. So I decided to rest up and not aggravate these little inconveniences.
In the mail, I got my packet of tour book guides (excellent) and walking map (more excellent) and itinerary from Contours in England. Devoured the very informative book on Wainwright's Coast to Coast in one evening. Looks like there is little walking on pavement, which is probably what has given my knee some problems. But reading through the guidebook and looking at the maps, I'm asking myself, daily: what the heck have I gotten myself into? Particularly when in big red warning letters, the itinerary says, be sure to take a compass reading at such and such point when it is fogging over, so that you don't get lost. Guess I'd better get a compass and figure out how to use it. I got GPS on my iPhone, but I'm not taking it with me. I'm too cheap to pay for international rates and don't want to get eaten up by roaming fees.
I won't bore my faithful readers about the details, nor whine incessantly about whether I can do all this. Let's just see where this all leads.
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Brother Dennis,
ReplyDeleteI should have told you about lacing your shoes right so you don't get the bruised toenails! i lost my big toennail my 1st walk! So, you have to lace up toward the ankle, being sure the laces are tighter toward the toes and you can get looser as you go toward midfoot and ankle. Very important. Your foot won't slide around in your shoe. Also- CUT THE toenails! Keep them trimmed short. And, are yuo stopping and taking your shoes off to cool your feet off every 3-4 miles? This could also be the culprit! If your knee is hurting, you are probably walking different to compensate for the sore toenail! You can wear a Naprolyne knee brace for support, it may help you.
Keep going!!! You can do it!
Oh- and if your toenail is bruised and looks like it may have a blister underneath, tape it down across the middle of the nailbed, not too tight. That way the nail will remain in contact with the nailbed and won't be as painful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. Nice having my own in-the-family specialist.
ReplyDeleteDr. J.
Dick's biking magazine's article advised exercising one day, resting the next and so on. The second day at rest you start losing some of what you gained while exercising. Of course he doesn't do this on Coast to Coast, maybe that is why he is tired!!! Hike, when you get tired/sore consider having Contours transport your luggage AND YOU to the next destination giving you a nice rest. This is supposed to be FUN, who ever said you were supposed to be a hero, esp your first time at this.
ReplyDeleteSage advice. Let's see what happens. God only knows, I ain't one for heroics. Perhaps I'll just hike the first day, sit out the rest of the trip, report on it through this site, cribbing from my guidebook. No one will know the difference.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've read many English novels in which getting lost on the moor plays a big part. It can happen; be careful. I'll loan you a very good compass if you're too cheap to buy one. Just say the word (before Thursday -- I have to bring it down from CT).
ReplyDeleteChris