Michael Walker

The Challenge is now over! Having reached 70km. on 9th May, I kept walking, as chronicled in these updates, finally reaching 255.19km. A big THANK YOU to all who contributed to my fundraising page, thereby contributing to the wonderful work of Christian Aid. If you haven't yet contributed, there is still time! This page should remain open until 6th June. Today we walked to the shop for my newspaper in the morning. In the afternoon we walked through Studley Royal Water Gardens, round Fountains Abbey, up to the visitors' centre to view the knitted tank prepared by Ripon ladies to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, then back through the deer park to the car park. I walked 7.76km., taking my total to 255.19km.   

We had 2 often-walked walks today. In the morning we walked up the fields from home to South Dowber Lane, down Stoneybrough Lane, for my newspaper and back home. In the afternoon we walked through the Millennium Green and back through the fields alongside South Dowber Lane. I walked 7.29km., which takes my total so far to 247.43km.

In the morning we walked alongside Stockton Road to South Kilvington, along Upsall Road and back along the footpath on the far side of the dual carriageway, down Stoneybrough Lane, for my newspaper and home. In the afternoon we walked through the Millennium Green, back along South Dowber Lane and through fields. In the evening I did more walking mowing lawns. I walked 11.07km. today, taking my total so far to 240.14km.

This morning Zak and I got rather startled. We walked on the path from Stockton Road to Cod Beck and turned left along Cod Beck. Shortly before we reached the path which comes down alongside Whitelass Beck, a deer ran out very close in front of us from the woodland on our left, closely followed by a second one, both just managing to avoid colliding with either of us. They turned right and headed off in the South Kilvington direction. When we had regained some of our composure, we continued on our way to The Holmes and then back home. The afternoon turned rather wet, so we waited until evening before having a walk on a circuit around pavements close to home. I walked 6.14km., taking my total so far to 229.07km.

In the morning we again walked to and across Sowerby Flatts. In the afternoon we had another walk through the Millennium Green and back through the fields alongside South Dowber Lane. I walked 9.13km., taking my total so far to 222.93km.

In the Morning Zak and I walked up the fields and round by Stoneybrough Lane. In the afternoon we walked up the fields from home, through the fields alongside South Dowber Lane and back via White Rose Way and Dowber Way. I walked 6.21km., taking my total to 213.80km., or more than 3X70 K in May!

In the morning we had a walk on Sowerby Flatts. In the afternoon we walked up the fields, across South Dowber Way, through the fields and back along White Rose Way and Dowber Way. I walked 8.11km., making my total so far 207.59km.

In the morning we walked over the bridge over the dual carriageway, turned left to South Kilvington and walked back on the footpath through the fields. In the afternoon we again did the circuit through the Millennium Green and back through the fields on the far side of South Dowber Lane. I walked 9.27km., taking my total so far to 199.48km.

The rain had stopped (just about!). In the morning we walked across the white bridge over Cod Beck, along Cod Beck, across Castle Garth, onto Sowerby Flatts and back via Cod Beck, St. James Green and Stammergate. In the afternoon we again walked through the Millennium Green and back through the fields alongside South Dowber Lane. I walked 7.78km., taking my total so far to 190.21km.

As it was raining most of the day we did not do as much walking as usual. In the morning we walked along the path alongside Stockton Road to South Kilvington and back. Late afternoon we walked a short circuit along pavements close to home. I walked 6.61km., taking my total so far to 182.43km.

We were back to local walks today. In the morning we walked round by Stoneybrough Lane. In the afternoon we walked through the Millennium Green, across South Dowber Lane and back through the fields. I walked 7.37km., taking my total so far to 175.82km.  

In the morning we walked down to town and back. In the afternoon we travelled further afield, to the Washburn Valley and walked round Swinsty Reservoir. I walked 10.49km., taking my total so far to 168.45km.

In the morning I walked to church and back. In the afternoon we walked over the bridge over the dual carriageway, turned left, walked to South Kilvington and returned through the fields. I walked 8.67km., taking my total so far to 157.96km.

In the morning we walked to and on Sowerby Flatts. In the afternoon my walking was done mowing lawns. In the evening we walked up the fields from home, across South Dowber Lane, through the fields and back via Favenfield Road and Dowber Way. I walked 11.18km., making my total so far 149.29km. 

I did not get a great deal of time for walking today as I was waiting at home for a gas engineer to come to fix a gas leak. He arrived at almost 10 p.m. I walked for my newspaper in the morning and had a walk with Zak through the Millennium Green, over South Dowber Lane and back through the fields in the evening. Zak had his morning and afternoon walks with Judith. I walked 5.14km. taking my total so far to 138.11km.

In the morning we walked down the path from Stockton Road to Cod Beck, then along Cod Beck, over the bridge by the weir, along The Holmes and back home. In the afternoon we walked through the Millennium Green, across South Dowber Lane and back home through the fields. I walked 8.46km., taking my total so far to 132.97km.

A walk on Sowerby Flatts and then shopping in town in the morning. Another visit to the dentist in Ripon in the afternoon, this time to see the hygienist, so walks from our parked car to the surgery and back, plus a short walk with Zak in the park. After returning home we had a walk round by Stoneybrough Lane. I walked 7.83km. today, taking my total to 124.51km.

There was some rain this morning for our walk alongside Stockton Road to South Kilvington and back. I stayed in this afternoon whilst Judith and Zak went out for a walk, as we had workmen coming to replace our smart meters for electricity and gas. I walked 5.54km. today, taking my total so far to 116.68km.

Another warm, sunny day for walking. In the morning we walked over Sowerby Flatts to Blakey Bridge and back. In the afternoon we had a short walk through the fields to South Dowber Lane, onto White Rose Way and back home. I walked 10.21km., taking my total so far to 111.14km.

In the morning Zak and I walked down by Whitelass Beck, along Cod Beck and back through Carr's Field while Judith was at her church service. In the afternoon we walked over the bridge over the dual carriageway and round the large field opposite. I walked 9.25km., taking my total so far to 100.93km.

In the morning Zak and I walked the circuit up to South Dowber Lane, down Stoneybrough Lane, turned left onto Stockton Road and back home while Judith was at Kids' Wardrobe in the Methodist church. In the afternoon my walking was done mowing lawns. In the evening we walked the circuit through the Millennium Green, through the fields adjacent to the dual carriageway and back home. I walked 8.58km. today, making my total so far 91.68km.

Our first walk today was to the veterinary surgery at the auction mart for a routine appointment for Zak, and back home. Then Zak had some quiet time while Judith and I journeyed to the dentist in Ripon. This always involves a walk to the dentist's surgery from our parked car and back to the car. Our afternoon walk was from home to St. Mary's Church to deliver some empty plastic bottles to be used at the children's half term club. I walked 10.79km. today, making my total so far to 83.10km.

I have now passed my 70km target but I will keep walking and logging my progress in these updates, in the hope that people will keep making donations towards the very important work of Christian Aid. We started on 9th May with a walk on the footpath from Stockton Road to Cod Beck, turned left along the Beck, through Carr's Field and back home. In the late afternoon we did the circuit through the Millennium Green, across South Dowber Lane and through the fields alongside the dual carriageway. I walked 7.35km today, taking my total to 72.31km.

Update 9 should be dated 8th May!

Yet another pleasant, dry day. In the morning we walked on Sowerby Flatts and then round shops in town. Late afternoon we walked over the bridge over the dual carriageway, turned left to South Kilvington, then back home across the fields. I walked 8.56km., taking my total so far to 64.96km.

We started with a walk to buy my newspaper. Then I headed to West Yorkshire again, this time with Judith and Zak, to Temple Newsam, Leeds. We walked in the parkland and gardens, to see their beautiful display of Rhododendrons and Azaleas and had lunch at the courtyard tearooms plus an afternoon ice cream. I walked 8.64km., bringing my total so far up to 56.40km.

I think I had a senior moment when I posted my 5th May update! Our morning walk round by Stoneybrough Lane was on 6th May, not the 5th. Everything else in the update was correct. So, the 6th May started with our walk round by Stoneybrough Lane, followed by walking to St. Mary's Church and back for my regular 2 hour slot of welcoming. Later in the afternoon we had a walk down by Whitelass Beck and along Cod Beck. I walked 8.75km. making my total so far 47.76km.

More dry weather. This morning we walked up the fields to South Dowber Lane, turned left then down Stoneybrough Lane and back on Stockton Rd. and Alexander Close, then I walked to church and back. In the afternoon we walked over the bridge over the dual carriageway then round the large field directly opposite. I walked 9.40km. today, taking my total so far to 39.01km.

Another day watching cricket at Headingley and more cricket to watch today. Again I waked from my car to the ground and back, not as far today as I parked closer to the ground, and again 3 circuits of the ground during the lunch interval plus 1 circuit during the tea interval. I was not home in time for a further walk today. I walked 5.34km. today, taking my total so far to 29.61km.

A different sort of day today. I went to Headingley to watch day 1 of Yorkshire v Glamorgan. My walking involved walking from my car to the ground and back and 3 circuits of the ground during the lunch interval. After a full first session of play, the rain started soon after lunch and got heavier until it was persistent, so I returned to a dry Thirsk in time for a late afternoon walk around the fields near home. I walked 7.50km today, making my total so far 24.27km.

Another good, fine day for walking. We did similar walks to yesterday. In the morning we had a longer walk from home around Sowerby Flatts. In late afternoon we had a walk through the Millennium Green and back to vote for our new mayor. My total distance walked today was 9.58km., making my total so far 16.77km.

I started my 70K in May Challenge on 1st May. I walked 7.19km. on Sowerby Flatts, shopping in town and walking through the Millennium Green, across South Dowber Lane and through the fields next to the dual carriageway.