Do You Want Inspiration With That...?

I'd been looking forward to today for about 10 days now, for two reasons...I have a couple of my kids down from their Mum's, so a good chance to go walk the legs off them somewhere new, but also I was looking forward to meeting up with a Kilimanjaro veteran for some advice....

And there was plenty of advice on the menu at the Towcester Tearooms, and plenty of inspiration all over the walls!!  Owners Tony and Sharon have made a habit of taking on a number of amazing challenges.   On every wall there is another story, another memory.   Cycle rides the length of Britain, Marathons in Paris & London, Canoeing up the Thames, and of course Tony's climb up Kilimanjaro.  

First off, in the morning we headed off to the small village of Gayton, in Northamptonshire for a circular walk through, what turned out to be the muckiest trails around Tiffield and Eastcote.  Poor Samuel could hardly lift his feet through one field as he gathered up some additional ballast.  It was like walking in diving boots!!    Still, it was a refreshing jolly round about 5 miles of Northamptonshire that we'd not visited before, and we did find a little "entertainment" on the way!!   

After an essential trip home to tidy ourselves up, we whizzed off to Towcester for our lunch.   It seems Tony and I have more than a few things in common....apart from the trip up Kilimanjaro, we both share the same taste in glasses!!   Someone suggested we were brothers??

So we had an afternoon, enjoying a great lunch, while Tony regaled us with tips, and advice for taking on Kilimanjaro, as well as some of his memories of that and other challenges. 

"Food Bags for your clothes" excellent for keeping them dry in your pack, but also, easy to locate a change each day if you've pre-packed.

"Try keeping some batteries for you camera under your coat as you get near the top...you don't want to go all that way, and find they are too cold, and your camera doesn't work"

"Pole Pole"...slow slow...is clearly the way to climb Kilimanjaro, a scree top, and altitude makes the last day completely exhausting, but the sunrise at Gilman's Point is the most magnificent anywhere.

Apparently, from the top of Kilimanjaro, you can see more of the earth's surface than from any other point on earth!! 

 Now, that's inspirational.  

It doesn't stop there for Tony and Sharon though...this year Sharon is donating a kidney to a friend in need, and Tony is setting off for a different mountain.  He's raising money this time for the Northamptonshire Alzheimer's Society, one very close to his heart by climbing Mont Blanc.

I'm sure he could do with your support too.  www.justgiving.com/Mont-Blanc-2011

I'm looking forward to a few more coffees in Towcester, and perhaps the odd hike with a very inspirational new friend.