Supporting Epilepsy Action Blog

Jersey Itex Around the Island Walk

On 19th June 2009 I flew to Jersey (in the Channel Islands) to take part in the Itex 1 day 48.1 mile "Around the Island Walk".

Photos from the walk can be seen by Clicking Here.

Since it's inception in 1991 - when fifteen intrepid walkers started the first of what would become an annual event - the Walk has become one of the largest fund raising events held in Jersey, with 11,700 walkers over the years helping 103 local charities.  Although not for Epilepsy Action, it was a great target for me to train for, plus I have cousins and friends who live on the island, and one of the team members from the Baffin Island Expedition - Nucky - lives on Guernsey.  Nucky had already done the Itex walk around her own island, and flew over to embark on the Jersey Walk with me.

Over the past sixteen years around half of the walkers who venture out at 3am into the 48.1 miles challenge, make it to the finish line.

The walk started early on a fairly clear and dry Saturday morning, after we had ventured from our hotel at 2am to the Elizabeth Ferry Terminal, past drunken revellers spilling out from the clubs and bars, via kebab shops to taxi ranks!  Needless to say we hadn’t much sleep prior, and scoffed down a cereal bar, banana and some water to get us going.

From the Ferry Terminal at 3am - along with 1,200 other walks - the route headed anti-clockwise around the island, heading east around to Longbeach Gorey, then up to St Catherine’s where we had our first “Bag Drop” check point, along with a bacon sandwich and tea.  We had walked 11 miles by 6am!  Bags are ferried around the route so you can walk with the minimum required, which was a fantastic help for thermal tops, waterproofs, spare socks and first aid kits.

From there we continued up to the spectacular cliffs of the North Coast – past White Rock and La Pierre De La Fetelle, to Wolfs Caves.  By 9.30am we had covered over 20 miles and were going strong, although the feet were starting to feel the pinch with all the climbs and drops of the cliff paths.

Devil’s Hole was roughly the half-way marker at 23.7 miles which we past at 10.20am, and onwards to Greve de Lecq and Grosnez at 12.30, which put 30 miles under our belts and the cliffs of the North Coast now behind us.  Although we’d be snacking all the way, we had a light lunch, changed our socks and got back underway before the stiffness in our legs started to set in.

From here the 5 mile West Coast of St Ouen’s beach stretched out to Le Braye, before turning the South West Corner onto Beauport at 3.20pm, marking 39 miles.  The pain really started to kick in by this point, but with 9 miles left to go we couldn’t afford to rest and risk our legs seizing up, so after a brief drink, snack and stretch, we continued on to Noirmont Point, which at the opposite side of St Aubin’s Bay, gave us just 5.4 miles to go, and gave us a moral boosting first-sight of St Helier, and the Elizabeth Harbour Finish Line!

But those 5.4 miles, passing St Brelade’s and onto the promenade was tough going – not just physically but mentally.  Nucky and I strode out and allowed ourselves to start dreaming about taking our feet from our boots and dipping them in cold water!

The Finish Line – when it finally came – was full of supporters applauding us in, and we were welcomed with tea, water, chocolate, congratulations, and the knowledge that we had placed ourselves at 294 & 295 from the 1,200 walkers who started, finishing in 15 hours and 10 minutes.

It was tough going, and a Big Thank You to all the supporters, organisers and especially the Check Point staff.  The cadets, boy scouts, ATC, Itex staff, Freedom Church and many others who welcomed us in, sorted us out and waved us off were a great support and put in a lot of appreciated effort to make it an enjoyable and safe challenge.

"One Big Drop" - Abseil down Earls Court Exhibition Centre

At lunchtime on Sunday 14th June I took part in "One Big Drop" - a Charity Event organised by "Children with Leukaemia" being held at a number of venues around the country.  The idea was simply to abseil down a landmark building, which for London was the front of Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which is conveniently a 20 minute walk from my front door!

A few friends and colleagues also did the abseil which was held in glorious sunshine.  The views over London from the top made me sorry to have not taken my camera up with me, although I did have a few taken on the way down for you to see.

The total descent apparently from the roof to the top of the entrance was around 20 metres, although looking down it felt higher!

A big thank you to the organisers and supporters for a fun (and safe!) day and great experience!

Thames Path - Greenwich to Tower Bridge

With the "Itex" 50 mile walk around the island of Jersey on 20th June fast approaching, another training walk was in order.  But with weekends busy it only leaves evenings after work to pack it in.

So at 6pm on Tuesday evening, Michael and I met at North Greenwich tube station (next to the 02 Venue) and walked along another section of the Thames Path, West to Waterloo.  We saw first hand the regeneration of Greenwich with its numerous buildings sites, following the Thames along the South around the Isle of Dogs looking up to Canary Wharf.  From the Cutty Sark Pub and the Greenwich Tunnel, we walked through Deptford up to Rotherhithe through to Bermondsey.  We saw the numerous Piers that line the Thames, the Greenland and South Docks, walked through Pepys Park and down Drakes Steps.  At one point the detour around a building site was gazumped in favour of climbing down the sea wall to the rubble strewn beach for a few hundred yards!  We resisted the urge to pause in the Mayflower, Spice Island and Angel Pubs, and made it to Tower Bridge by dusk to see her lit up in all her glory.  The whole area around there and HMS Belfast is buzzing with restaurants, pubs and bars, but we carried on past the South Bank for dinner at Waterloo before getting the bus home.  Another wonderful evening on the Thames and highly recommended!