Supporting Epilepsy Action Blog

The Jersey Itex 2010

Last year a good friend of mine – Nucky, who lives in Guernsey – was taken off Greenland after one of the team fell ill, bringing the whole Expedition to cross the vast Ice Cap to an abrupt end.  Regular readers from last year will know, that on her way back to Guernsey via London, we both decided to sign up for the Jersey Itex – a one-day 48.1 mile walk around its entire perimeter.

This spur-of-the-moment decision turned into one of the most arduous challenges I’ve ever attempted.  Despite only being one day, it was the longest and hardest day of my life, with a virtually non-stop 15 hour walk starting at 3am, staggering over the finish line at 6pm with a pledge never again to sign up.

I met Nucky on the Baffin Island Expedition in 2008, and we were both on the failed Expedition to the Magnetic North Pole this year, so it was hardly worth discussing if we would sign up for the Jersey Itex again – before the skidoos even arrived to pick us up, we’d already agreed we’d do it!

The weather this year started with thick fine drizzle – “the kind that soaks you right through” as Peter Kay would say!  And it did.  It was cold, wet and with intermittent gusts of wind to really drive it home.  It didn’t help that just before 6am when we marched into the first check point to our day-bags all laid out (helpfully ferried around by the incredible volunteers) most of the kit inside - including spare socks - was also wet through.

Despite this the weather brightened up and so did our spirits, we kept a brisk pace up all day with no pauses at check-points this year, only stopping for feet first-aid while eating and drinking as we walked.

Once again the support was magnificent but the going arduous, however we shaved a full hour off our time to walk over the finish line in 14 hours 3 minutes at 5pm.

It’s strange to think that a simple walk can be such hard work, when compared to an Expedition lasting weeks or a long run, but while each challenge has its own set of hurdles, it’s much more of a mental feat than most.

First, at Elizabeth Ferry Terminal you are starting tired (it’s hard to get to sleep early and we were up at 2am, so only a few hours rest), then there are the first 10 miles up to St Catherines past Longbeach Gorey at 6am, knowing you have another 38 ahead of you and it’s not even daylight.

Every turn along the cliff top coastal path on the northern section between 6am to 12 o’clock reveals a far corner of the island you know you have to walk to, and every time you seem to be walking in the wrong direction as you weave in and out of the jagged cliffs.  On this section however you pass Wolfs Caves and the Freedom Church check-point – simply the most welcome and hospitable group of people I’ve ever met!

From the check point at the North West corner – Groznez - the beautiful but daunting 5 mile beach of St Ouens opens up, and as you enter the afternoon you can once again see the furthest point of the island you have to walk to, all the way as you walk down the beach.  From Le Braye to Beauport Car Park check points, you’re at least walking in the knowledge the uphill sections are behind you, but from here as you walk around the last small bay to Noirmont Point, you get a sudden view of St Brelades bay all the way around to the finish, however this wide arc keeps the full view of a finish line in sight for over 5 miles, with bruised feet in pain on every step.

But of course, we went back for more punishment this year which is testimony to both the short term memory of pain, and the long term memory of a challenge successfully accomplished!

It’s an incredibly well organised and supported challenge, and please take the time to see all my pictures on Flikr.  My apologies for the language in the video!