Gold Cup Day

Gold Cup Day in Cheltenham and a buzz in the town. An early walk for me on what is just another day trying to move on. Walked past the course, seeing preparations, walked on up the hill to have look down on it all. A cold and misty day.

20,000 people ready for an exciting fun day, I feel detached from the action. 

However 27,000 steps today and feeling good.

Today marked the beginning of my preparations as I started to organise the route for my upcoming walk scheduled for June. This involves consideration of the daily milage, level of difficulty/elevation in the terrain, and where I can feasibly stay each night. I’m not camping as I want to enjoy walking as much as possible and carting a tent around on my back for 20 miles a day doesn't exactly “spark joy.” I don’t know if I’ll ever camp again to be totally honest. Add it to the list of activities and locations that now feel intrinsically tied to Anna and what I’ve lost. Will I ever go to Spain again? Will I ever watch Coronation Street again?

I began by researching maps and found a great set of five A-Z maps that cover the entirety of the south west coast path AND dont fold out to a huge page but rather work like a book - much easier to read and navigate without resembling a mr bean esque tourist. Additionally, I'm consulting a variety of online resources to identify points of interest along the way, historical/geographical landmarks.

As I sketched out the preliminary route, I felt a growing excitement about the adventure ahead and the opportunity to share this experience with others. Each step I take in this planning process brings me closer to what I hope will be a memorable and fulfilling event, for the love of Anna.