Trail – Will I ever get there?

Julia Bradbury, simpering Watchdog totty presenter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCk8FlkuAlM) who fame hungrily appeared on BBC’s singing show and has recently been bluffing her way through a Wainwright’s Walks show. Totally changed my opinion of her this weekend.

I happened to flick over the TV yesterday and saw Ms Bradbury doing some climbing. Didn’t think any more of it really as she does these sorts of things, and I knew she’d had a team of people there helping her like she does on the Wainwright show. But then the camera zoomed out, and there she is, halfway up a sea stack, having hardly ever climbed before, and I was amazed.

It was repeated tonight and I’ve just sat and watched the whole thing open mouthed. I’m hoping someone will stick it on youtube so that I can link to it.

During her first climb Julia summed up what the whole Trail Fitness Academy thing was like for me – all sorts of experts telling you that the thing they were trying to get you to do was easy, but you actually finding it far from easy and being frustrated with yourself for not being able to do it. She pushed herself way further than she ever thought she’d be able to go, and bravely admitted to not actually enjoying it half the time. I think if I’d been her I would have cheerfully slapped Tim Emmett (the experienced climber she had with her) in the face for all his “good effort, come on, you can do it” over and over again… but she managed to keep her calm with that too. Massive respect to her.

The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was that they showed the climber bloke twice jumping into deep, rocky water. It might just be me, because I work somewhere where there has just been a campaign to stop youngsters tombstoning, but I don’t think it set the best example to set him up as a role model/hero and then show him doing something young people would want to copy. I dunno…

http://juliabradbury.com/outdoor.html and http://www.timemmett.com

Just checked the weather for next week and it looks ok so I think we will be heading to the lakes, just waiting to hear from Andy about how things have gone with work this weekend and whether he’s needed on Monday. Only problem is I haven’t been able to put the tent up and check it since we put it away last year, so I’m worried it might not be in the best condition. Don’t want to spend the first night damp and the second day tent shopping!

After all that inspiration from Julia I’m even thinking of revisiting Loughrigg Hell to see if we can’t swap that H back to an F. And then, when I’ve lost 8 stone, I want to go climbing!

Oh dear, too miserable last time. Needed a swift kick up the backside!

Well, it’s all go since the last update…

I have a new boss who actually seems to be trying to get some direction into our working lives, so it’s all go at work trying to impress him and get on with work at the same time.

My flat is finished and we’re just sorting out a completion date at last!

And, this is the unbelievable thing… Andy and I have a week off next week! He did phone this morning and say there’s some big thing going on (I know what it is but am not stupid enough to write it here) and he might have to spend a day in the office next week, but all being well, we are heading to Keswick with the tent. We’ve seen a bigger tent we like the look of, so this might be the last outing for my offset dome with two porches (otherwise known as the hardest tent to put up but also the most stable I have ever camped in). He’s going to have a rush because he’s working in Rutland this weekend and then coming down here to pack up and head to Keswick on Monday, but if it means we can spend some time together sans work mobiles, that will be fab.

I am in two minds whether to attempt Catbells again. Part of me thinks I owe it to myself to give it another go, and prove I can do it with less stress than last time, and part of me thinks I should just leave it alone because I found it so hard. But then I read on the Country Walking forums about peoples’ five year old kids doing it, and how it’s an easy hill, and I feel a complete idiot and determined to do it. What to do, what to do.

Off to check the ten day forecast now, in case I have to hold Andy to his: “Ah well, if it’s rubbish weather we’ll get a sleazyjet flight and I’ll take you to Barcelona for a few nights.”

P.S – Just noticed a huge spike in people viewing my blog on August 8. Very intriguing considering there was no new post. Weird!