Challenge Stu

I have today ordered the full set of six South West Coast Path maps from Harvey maps. This means I can soon start detailed planning! Thanks to Harvey maps for supporting the challenge with a 25% discount on these.

I have had a fun last 10 days... Last week I was skiing in Val Thorens, not a great deal of snow but just about enough for some decent skiing! And of course, the ressurection of the one piece ski suit for "One Piece Wednesday"! Just before holiday though, I managed to make it over to BETD Goldtec in Newcastle-under-Lyme to collect my new Yeti ARC. It's second hand, but getting it through the shop means it's had a full service and is all lovely and sorted. Sunday was the first time I got to ride it. Al, JC Nick and I went out for a very hilly 43 mile mountain bike ride. Nick planned lots of checkpoints, and Al planned a route between them. We had a great five hours, even if the last climb was pretty tough! I really enjoyed riding the new bike, it feels more forgiving than the carbon frame so I can be a bit more relaxed downhill. Still need a bit more practice before APEX though! Last night I also ran a short race, the 4 mile Trunce. It was hard and hurt a lot! ...

Yesterday Alasdair Bruce and I raced our second Open 5 together. Last time was Bakewell and we finished 4th, but that was part of a very knackering weekend, so we hoped to do better this time! Before that, on saturday the APEX team (Al, JC, Lucy and I) set off for some paddling on Windermere, in the boats we will be using in the race... double sit-ons. Not the fastest, but no worries, they are un-capsize-able... Definately. Anyway, we had a good half day's paddle, Lucy and I learnt a lot and are off to Rother Valley to start our practice tomorrow! After the kayaking, Lucy went off to stay in a lovely house in Ulverston and left the three of us to our tents. Low Wray was a nice site though, we had a good pub dinner and in the nearby Co-Op I found a 50p Christmas Pudding, which was a winner for breakfast! Anyway, the Open 5... Somewhere during the lead-up to the race our preperation went slightly amiss and we did not spend as much time looking at the map as we should have. Con...