I'm a reasonably fit 56 year old who, having worked non-stop for over 30 years, I decided, in 2010 that I was ready for something completely different.
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| On the E4 in Austria |
I love walking, but had never attempted anything on the scale of the E4 before. The longest unassisted walk I had done before was the Haute Route, but 12 days from Chamonix to Zermatt didn't prepare me for 180 days from Tarifa to Budapest.
Adding to this lack of qualification is a total absence of any linguistic skills (not even mastered the shouting louder in English technique). My map reading is OK, but finding my way was an integral part of the adventure!
As well as having the time to do it, my main asset was a supportive wife and family. My wife Christine, who also loves to walk, was fantastic. After some initial scepticism ("you're too young to stop working") she added the necessary steel ("you have to go now"). She also joined me for large chunks of the walk as did other family members and friends.
I do quite a lot of walking in Nepal and love the people there. In particular I have got to know the people running the Britain Nepal Medical Trust and the brilliant work they are doing. So far, through sponsorship and writing articles I have raised nearly £6,000. If you're interested in helping me raise more money than please contact me or go to the fund-raising site via the attached link.
