If you've been waiting for the fascinating facts and figures then your wait is over, here they are:
19 nights sleeping in tents in 19 different counties
4 hours total (approx!) spent pitching tents of one sort or another
835.6 miles driven
107.1 miles longest driven in one day
14 miles shortest, on Day 2
0 miles, Day 12
23 sausages consumed between us
7 ice creams each
13 rainy days
51 cups of tea each
1 game of crazy golf
5 geocaches
4 people joined us in more than one County (Judy, Kim, Helen & Angela)
1 Trefoil Guild joined us in 2 Counties
£715 raised so far on Justgiving PipMcKerrow
Immeasurable the number of hands shaken and wonderful people met.
Everywhere we went we were met with extraordinarily generous hospitality from our volunteer leaders, the girls and members of the Trefoil Guild. A heartfelt thank you to you all.
Our very grateful thanks go to the County Commissioners and to the hosts for our overnight stays in each County, to our family and friends for their support and encouragement along the way - even if posting a comment on the blog proved a tad frustrating and you had to resort to texts and emails! -and to all those of you who followed us on Twitter.
Particular thanks though go to the support team: Caroline for the huge amount of work involved in putting the route together for us and the detailed instructions for each day, Angela for encouragement with the concept and daily contact support, Jan for support setting up the blog and providing frequent back up, Kim and Reema for badge design support, Carole and Steve for the magnetic vinyl branding for the car and Chris for uploading to the website.
Looking back over the original concept of this trip we have certainly explored London and South East England, although when you look at our route you can see that we've completely missed our coastline which accounts for at least 50% of our Region border. We've thoroughly enjoyed almost 3 weeks camping with the challenge of travelling to a new venue each day - we've partied in 19 different places 19 different times! Our hosts were often challenged by a night of broken sleep in a tent whilst we put our heads down each night and in Nick's words: slept like a baby!
We wanted to do something memorable in Games Time - well there's no question that we achieved that goal. Our Day 1 was Day 1 of the Games - the London 2012 Olympic Games will go down in history as 'the best games ever', certainly in the eyes of the British if not in the world - 'a summer to remember' will conjure up very special memories for the two of us and we hope will be remembered by all those who joined us.
I promised that I would consider how this trip may have embraced the Olympic and Paralympic values: respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality. Jan summed up some thoughts in her comments a few days ago, but for me, friendship has been the most important value shared by us all this summer. Friendship shown to us as we have travelled around the region, friendship shown by complete strangers towards one another in the spirit of the Olympics and friendship in the form of the many who have given their time to volunteering.
So, what next? Well next year we're thinking of travelling around the coastline, down the Thames and around our coastal Counties of Kent and Sussex. Greatstone Guides have already suggested that we might camp with them! Anyone else want to join in?
Finally, a humongous, mahoussive thank you to my son Nick for his unstinting support and interest in all things guiding and without whom this trip would never have happened. Thanks Nick, you're a star!
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Day 20 London South West to home!
It's a strange experience sleeping inside after 19 nights in a tent, especially sleeping in the office, albeit under our tent.
We blasted the room with the air con last night to the extent that there was a very noticeable difference when we went down to the loo. Unsure of how the temperamental beast would work if left on all night we decided to stake our luck and turn it off. By 6 am the sun was shining in through the Velux windows .....
Didn't take long to pack everything away and to return the top floor of the office back to it's usual state. No cooked breakfast today!
By lunch time we'd unpacked everything, removed the roof box and signage from the car, done the first loads of washing, replaced the broken tent pole, packed away all the camping gear and been to Sainsbury's for a big shop. Phew. I always hate the return home and clearing away but Nick has been a superstar and everything - or more or less everything is - back where it should be.
These past 3 weeks have gone very quickly, we've both thoroughly enjoyed our very special trip and will treasure the memories of the most generous hospitality of our 19 Counties in Girlguiding London and South East England. A very big thank you to everyone for making it truly 'a summer to remember'.
Watch out for the final blog entry of fascinating facts and vital statistics!!
We blasted the room with the air con last night to the extent that there was a very noticeable difference when we went down to the loo. Unsure of how the temperamental beast would work if left on all night we decided to stake our luck and turn it off. By 6 am the sun was shining in through the Velux windows .....
Didn't take long to pack everything away and to return the top floor of the office back to it's usual state. No cooked breakfast today!
By lunch time we'd unpacked everything, removed the roof box and signage from the car, done the first loads of washing, replaced the broken tent pole, packed away all the camping gear and been to Sainsbury's for a big shop. Phew. I always hate the return home and clearing away but Nick has been a superstar and everything - or more or less everything is - back where it should be.
These past 3 weeks have gone very quickly, we've both thoroughly enjoyed our very special trip and will treasure the memories of the most generous hospitality of our 19 Counties in Girlguiding London and South East England. A very big thank you to everyone for making it truly 'a summer to remember'.
Watch out for the final blog entry of fascinating facts and vital statistics!!
Day 19 Middlesex East to London South West
Our final night sleeping in our tent outside - slept like logs as usual but I gather that our fellow campers didn't have such a good night. It's been a frequent occurrence throughout the trip, we're so used to our routine and sleep very well but it's 'first night at camp' syndrome for everyone else!
Leisurely morning, another scrummy cooked breakfast and a bit of re-sorting of bags and the car and we're almost ready for off. Warm humid morning, with rain in the air so a scurry to get tents down dry.
We've split our 'all in one pitch' tent up so that we only pitch the outer on the top floor of Region headquarters this evening, the pegs are redundant tonight! It was always the plan to use Tent 2 on our last night as being a dome it doesn't require pegs and guy lines to hold it up. Although the car is very carefully packed every morning according to our plans and we both know exactly what goes where today is a little different!
The plan is to arrive at the office mid/late afternoon to see the staff and pitch the tent. I'll be joining London South West's Trefoil Guild Summer party early evening before heading off to join LSW members on Wandsworth Common for a picnic.
On the road again - thank you Middlesex East for a great stay at your wonderful campsite!
I'd hoped to embrace the Olympic and Paralympic values: friendship, respect, excellence, equality, courage, inspiration and determination as part of our 'a summer to remember' challenge- I'm still thinking about how we might have fulfilled some of them, please do feel free to help us work that bit of our challenge out!
We've been keeping a tally of various things whilst we've been away including mileage covered - look out for an update tomorrow or Friday after we've got the washing machine on and I've made an inroad into the email inbox!
Ugh what's all this wet stuff falling out of the sky? I thought it only happened at night or when we're on the road! We've stopped off in Elstree to pick up a geocache 'A Grave Mistake' - haven't found it and based on the evidence very much doubt that it still exists. Will look elsewhere and leave another badge for a Guide to find!
Bagged the geocache at Borehamwood and Elstree station and then headed towards Wandsworth. Needed a lunch spot that we'd not been to before and thought we'd 'eat out' - lots of far-too-interesting-for-us - places en route! Settled on bagging another unexplored shopping centre, this time Westfield, White City and have had a very healthy lunch from 'tossed'. Tempted to try and grab the 'Blue Peter garden' geocache but no time!
Back at Wandsworth Common in time for a chat and cup of tea with Chrissy, Reema and Andrea before they went home. Have pitched our tent on the top floor - my goodness it's hot and sticky up there, may have to have the air con on tonight!
Made my Trefoil Guild Promise at the London South West County TG party this evening before moving into Wandsworth Common to be greeted by lots of members of my home County welcoming us home - complete with a wonderful cake (it's our wedding anniversary today too) and an ample bar!
Leisurely morning, another scrummy cooked breakfast and a bit of re-sorting of bags and the car and we're almost ready for off. Warm humid morning, with rain in the air so a scurry to get tents down dry.
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| Breakfast at Northern Heights |
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| Everything has its place in the car |
The plan is to arrive at the office mid/late afternoon to see the staff and pitch the tent. I'll be joining London South West's Trefoil Guild Summer party early evening before heading off to join LSW members on Wandsworth Common for a picnic.
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| Goodbye to me |
I'd hoped to embrace the Olympic and Paralympic values: friendship, respect, excellence, equality, courage, inspiration and determination as part of our 'a summer to remember' challenge- I'm still thinking about how we might have fulfilled some of them, please do feel free to help us work that bit of our challenge out!
We've been keeping a tally of various things whilst we've been away including mileage covered - look out for an update tomorrow or Friday after we've got the washing machine on and I've made an inroad into the email inbox!
Ugh what's all this wet stuff falling out of the sky? I thought it only happened at night or when we're on the road! We've stopped off in Elstree to pick up a geocache 'A Grave Mistake' - haven't found it and based on the evidence very much doubt that it still exists. Will look elsewhere and leave another badge for a Guide to find!
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| Lunch at Tossed |
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| Making My Trefoil Guild Promise |
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| Welcome Home Cake |
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| Nick and my Husband Mac |
LSW Welcoming Committee  When it got far too dark to see we moved back to the office for more coffee and cake. Thank you LSW for a homecoming to remember! |
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| Goodnight Everyone! |
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Day 18 London North West to Middlesex East
Waiting with baited breath for the next instalment of the beetle saga? Well it definitely woke me in the night on it's noisy way passed my ear - hmmmm! Found it lurking in the corner of the inner tent by my head this morning doing an impression of being terrified of me - what a difference day light makes, it was enormous though, honestly. Once reinstated with Mother Nature I got on with the business of hunting down my pearl earring - but to no avail.
Many years ago my friend Lesley taught me to park my earrings in the holes of my watch strap when I remove them at night on camp. It's worked beautifully for many years, nowadays the watch is slipped into a tent pocket and is safe and sound til morning. Last thing at night, clamber into sleeping bag, remove watch, remove earrings, stash all in pocket behind head. This morning - only one earring. Searched EVERYTHING in tent, no earring. Only think that has left the tent since going to bed - the beetle!
Do beetles eat pearl earrings? Discuss. Answers on a postcard or post a comment - please!
Quick up and out this morning as we had to vacate the park before it opened to the public. A very exciting overnight stay with members of LNW County team, St Pancras Division Leaders and a delightful Brownie and Guide - scrummy food again, we have some fabulous cooks in LaSER. Very many thanks London North West.
So, where to go at 8.30am on a summer Tuesday in Central London? A bit of a drive round the area - which we know fairly well, dismissed the idea of visiting the Foundling Museum - the famous foundling hospital was set up by Victorian philanthropist, Thomas Coram on the site of the present day Coram's Field (I think!) and headed north.
Still haven't paid our congestion charge, don't let me forget! When I was teaching Family Learning courses I had to drive into town with my car, loaded with resources, and had an account set up to text my payment. Unfortunately I've changed my credit card number since then so need to find a shop or presumably I could pay online.
We've ended up back on the beautiful Hampstead Heath but this time at the northern end at Kenwood House. The house is closed for a year whilst vital renovations take place but the grounds and cafe are open for exploration. We strayed over onto the Heath and left a LaSER 'silk' in the Heath Mast geocache for a Guide or Scout to pick up.
Couldn't resist the magnificent English breakfast in the cafe - hmm first rate and will definitely do us for lunch too!
We're headed north again now to Middlesex East's campsite 'Northern Heights' - plan to pick up some more geocaches en route.
Photo: Nick at Kenwood
Sadly no more geocaches today but we enjoyed walking along Welsh Harp reservoir - beside the North Circular, a walk that I had done a couple of years ago as part of the Capital Ring and then another walk in Aldenham Country Park - got a fair amount of exercise today.
Arrived at Northern Heights to a very warm welcome from Pam, the County Commissioner, the Trefoil Guild, many members of the County team and lots of girls.
Priorities: a cup of tea and good company to chat to, pitch the wet tent, air the damp bedding - easily done in this afternoon's mid 20 temps and then, joy of joys, a hot shower!
Guess what? I found my lost earring - it was tucked into the hood of my sleeping bag. So I hadn't searched everywhere after all and shouldn't have cast aspersions on the poor beetle's character!
Many thanks to my husband Mac for paying my CC online!
Great evening here at Northern Heights, another delicious meal! Many thanks to all involved.
Photos:
A couple from Coram's Fields
Nick at Kenwood
the last time that we pitch the tent outside on our trip!
Late night tent pitching!
As it grew dark we wandered along the lane for the view over London at night- quite spectacular! The campsite is situated near Elstree aerodrome and close to the M1 - amazing how notify some 'country' sites can be, at least it's constant noise so you don't notice it after a while.
A Beetle Drive this evening - brilliant! Especially after my saga with the real live one this morning! Great fun and a great age inclusive activity.
Our 18th and last night sleeping outside - what an adventure this had been and it will very definitely go down as 'a summer to remember'!
Many years ago my friend Lesley taught me to park my earrings in the holes of my watch strap when I remove them at night on camp. It's worked beautifully for many years, nowadays the watch is slipped into a tent pocket and is safe and sound til morning. Last thing at night, clamber into sleeping bag, remove watch, remove earrings, stash all in pocket behind head. This morning - only one earring. Searched EVERYTHING in tent, no earring. Only think that has left the tent since going to bed - the beetle!
Do beetles eat pearl earrings? Discuss. Answers on a postcard or post a comment - please!
Quick up and out this morning as we had to vacate the park before it opened to the public. A very exciting overnight stay with members of LNW County team, St Pancras Division Leaders and a delightful Brownie and Guide - scrummy food again, we have some fabulous cooks in LaSER. Very many thanks London North West.
So, where to go at 8.30am on a summer Tuesday in Central London? A bit of a drive round the area - which we know fairly well, dismissed the idea of visiting the Foundling Museum - the famous foundling hospital was set up by Victorian philanthropist, Thomas Coram on the site of the present day Coram's Field (I think!) and headed north.
Still haven't paid our congestion charge, don't let me forget! When I was teaching Family Learning courses I had to drive into town with my car, loaded with resources, and had an account set up to text my payment. Unfortunately I've changed my credit card number since then so need to find a shop or presumably I could pay online.
We've ended up back on the beautiful Hampstead Heath but this time at the northern end at Kenwood House. The house is closed for a year whilst vital renovations take place but the grounds and cafe are open for exploration. We strayed over onto the Heath and left a LaSER 'silk' in the Heath Mast geocache for a Guide or Scout to pick up.
Couldn't resist the magnificent English breakfast in the cafe - hmm first rate and will definitely do us for lunch too!
We're headed north again now to Middlesex East's campsite 'Northern Heights' - plan to pick up some more geocaches en route.
Photo: Nick at KenwoodSadly no more geocaches today but we enjoyed walking along Welsh Harp reservoir - beside the North Circular, a walk that I had done a couple of years ago as part of the Capital Ring and then another walk in Aldenham Country Park - got a fair amount of exercise today.
Arrived at Northern Heights to a very warm welcome from Pam, the County Commissioner, the Trefoil Guild, many members of the County team and lots of girls.
Priorities: a cup of tea and good company to chat to, pitch the wet tent, air the damp bedding - easily done in this afternoon's mid 20 temps and then, joy of joys, a hot shower!
Guess what? I found my lost earring - it was tucked into the hood of my sleeping bag. So I hadn't searched everywhere after all and shouldn't have cast aspersions on the poor beetle's character!
Many thanks to my husband Mac for paying my CC online!
Great evening here at Northern Heights, another delicious meal! Many thanks to all involved.
Photos:
A couple from Coram's Fields
Nick at Kenwood
the last time that we pitch the tent outside on our trip!
Late night tent pitching!
As it grew dark we wandered along the lane for the view over London at night- quite spectacular! The campsite is situated near Elstree aerodrome and close to the M1 - amazing how notify some 'country' sites can be, at least it's constant noise so you don't notice it after a while.
A Beetle Drive this evening - brilliant! Especially after my saga with the real live one this morning! Great fun and a great age inclusive activity.
Our 18th and last night sleeping outside - what an adventure this had been and it will very definitely go down as 'a summer to remember'!Monday, 13 August 2012
Day 17 London Over the Border to London North West
Early start to run 2 Games Makers down to the station. Guides had been sleeping out so were wide awake and chatting since 5 whilst the two Leaders sensibly slept on!
Back to bed for an hour before a delicious cooked breakfast on the resurrected wood fire.
Eventually packed up and ready to go at 11.00 only for Nick to point out that the front spoiler was hanging off. Arghh I don't 'do' cars! Luckily 'Young Tony' came to our rescue with his tool kit and has done a running repair for me - what a super star.
I was ultra miffed about the car because I thought things were supposed to run in 3's : first the puncture in the air bed, then the broken tent pole, yesterday the toe post went on one of my new Fit Flops so I reckoned that would be it!
Thank you LOB and Chigwell Row for your great hospitality, off to explore Hampstead Heath now . .
Swimming in Highgate ponds! Well I did, Nick ultimately managed to get in and swim 6 strokes before clambering out as fast as possible! Wonderful experience to wild swim in a quiet spot in inner London. Another first for me, why have I waited 33 years to try it?!
How about a LaSER Wild Swimming challenge? I'll start designing the badge right away!
I knew that this spell of fine weather was too good to last. We got rained off the Heath and so decided to call in at Pax Lodge on our way into Central London. Pax is one of 4 Guide World Centres - soon to be 5 - sited in London, Switzerland, India, Mexico and the new one in Africa. Nick quizzed me on WAGGGS - the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts as the World Bureau is next door to Pax.
Easy drive down from Belsize Park to Coram's Field in Bloomsbury where we're camping tonight, we waited til after the Congestipn Charge and parking restrictions were finished for the night. The park is a special children's park and not open to unaccompanied adults. It closes at 8 pm and reopened at 8 am when we have to be out!
It's great fun sleeping in the heart of the city but hot and sticky. So, the down sleeping bags have been unzipped and we're tucked into our silk liners, wondering where the massive black beetle that I discovered scuttling around has got to. I know it's in our zipped up inner tent somewhere but can I find it? Give me slug or a spider any day - this thing is really freaking me out!
Back to bed for an hour before a delicious cooked breakfast on the resurrected wood fire.
Eventually packed up and ready to go at 11.00 only for Nick to point out that the front spoiler was hanging off. Arghh I don't 'do' cars! Luckily 'Young Tony' came to our rescue with his tool kit and has done a running repair for me - what a super star.I was ultra miffed about the car because I thought things were supposed to run in 3's : first the puncture in the air bed, then the broken tent pole, yesterday the toe post went on one of my new Fit Flops so I reckoned that would be it!
Thank you LOB and Chigwell Row for your great hospitality, off to explore Hampstead Heath now . .
Swimming in Highgate ponds! Well I did, Nick ultimately managed to get in and swim 6 strokes before clambering out as fast as possible! Wonderful experience to wild swim in a quiet spot in inner London. Another first for me, why have I waited 33 years to try it?!How about a LaSER Wild Swimming challenge? I'll start designing the badge right away!
I knew that this spell of fine weather was too good to last. We got rained off the Heath and so decided to call in at Pax Lodge on our way into Central London. Pax is one of 4 Guide World Centres - soon to be 5 - sited in London, Switzerland, India, Mexico and the new one in Africa. Nick quizzed me on WAGGGS - the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts as the World Bureau is next door to Pax.
Easy drive down from Belsize Park to Coram's Field in Bloomsbury where we're camping tonight, we waited til after the Congestipn Charge and parking restrictions were finished for the night. The park is a special children's park and not open to unaccompanied adults. It closes at 8 pm and reopened at 8 am when we have to be out!
It's great fun sleeping in the heart of the city but hot and sticky. So, the down sleeping bags have been unzipped and we're tucked into our silk liners, wondering where the massive black beetle that I discovered scuttling around has got to. I know it's in our zipped up inner tent somewhere but can I find it? Give me slug or a spider any day - this thing is really freaking me out!
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Day 16 London North East to London Over the Border
Well that was certainly a night to
remember, as the evening went on the cheers from the Olympic Stadium drowned out the sound of the girls' singing around the bucket campfire and left us wondering who was winning what!
Lots of fireworks later in the evening from somewhere around the Olympic Park but we couldn't see where they were coming from because we had a very large building blocking our view.
Photos: front of church on Bow Road and Bow flyover!
Many thank to St Catherine's Church, Bow and London North East for our stay.
In the spirit of getting to know the area better we set off for Bethnal Green and Columbia Road Flower market. It's intriguing, you can live in London for many years and still find new places to explore. Thankfully we still have 4 more nights to go otherwise I would have spent A LOT of money!
Back at Chigwell Row for a picnic lunch in the sun, or rather we were chasing the shade, pitched the tent, showered and sorted out. Yvonne, the warden of this Girlguiding London & South East England campsite, is just back from taking a DoE group to the Isle of Man and is straight back into running the site and setting up a bivouac camp for some of her Guides - lucky girls!
Another great evening sitting around the campfire and eating with Guides and Trefoil Guild.
Watching the Closing Ceremony on a big screen, Guides chilling out on mattresses and loving One Direction, give me Waterloo Sunset!
Well done London 2012 for the best games ever! A very special thank you to all the volunteers for the major part that you have played in making the Games such a success.
remember, as the evening went on the cheers from the Olympic Stadium drowned out the sound of the girls' singing around the bucket campfire and left us wondering who was winning what!
Lots of fireworks later in the evening from somewhere around the Olympic Park but we couldn't see where they were coming from because we had a very large building blocking our view.
Photos: front of church on Bow Road and Bow flyover!
Many thank to St Catherine's Church, Bow and London North East for our stay.
In the spirit of getting to know the area better we set off for Bethnal Green and Columbia Road Flower market. It's intriguing, you can live in London for many years and still find new places to explore. Thankfully we still have 4 more nights to go otherwise I would have spent A LOT of money!
Back at Chigwell Row for a picnic lunch in the sun, or rather we were chasing the shade, pitched the tent, showered and sorted out. Yvonne, the warden of this Girlguiding London & South East England campsite, is just back from taking a DoE group to the Isle of Man and is straight back into running the site and setting up a bivouac camp for some of her Guides - lucky girls!
Watching the Closing Ceremony on a big screen, Guides chilling out on mattresses and loving One Direction, give me Waterloo Sunset!
Well done London 2012 for the best games ever! A very special thank you to all the volunteers for the major part that you have played in making the Games such a success.