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Tom Davenport

@tomdavenport.bsky.social

Walking round Britain's coastline for Quality in Parkinson's

28 Posts74 Follower2 Folgt
Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Yesterday I reached a small hamlet early enough for most places to be shut. A shop was open so I went in to get a cup of tea. A shopper read my polo shirt and asked me about my walk. Suddenly, the whole shop was talking. Thank you Ali, Angharad, Leah and Samsa, what a fantastic way to start the day.

Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I don't know if you know the start of Great Expectations. It describes the prison hulks in the Essex marshes. That's what my walk felt like yesterday. I lost the path and ended wading through stinking marshes. Had to wash my trousers, socks and boots.

Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Don't know if you know the opening of Great Expectations. It describe the prison hulks in the Essex marshes - that's what yesterday's walk felt like. I lost the path and ended wading through cloying marshes. I got out but had to wash trouser, socks and boots.

Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · last yr.

Today started wet. It soon dried up but the wind was outrageous. I had to tie my hat onto my bag or it would have not been my hat any longer. One of the best things about coastal walks is you get to places you couldn’t get to any other way except helicopter.

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Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · last yr.

Today is a short walk because I’ll be meeting my wife and daughter in Cardiff. Walked through an area with adders. The route round Hinkley power station (disused) was v boring but the blackberries were delicious. Giant Rubric cubes after the power station.

Picture of male addersPicture of a giant Rubric's cube
Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · last yr.

I skipped Cardiff because my wife and daughter will be coming down tomorrow and we will walk through Cardiff together. Today’s walk was along the Gwent Levels from Penarth to St Donats. On the way I saw the polders (got to be a Dutch word) where they are restoring wildlife habitats. My feet hurt.

Polders on the Gwent coast. Stakes are driven into the mud. Seaweed gets stuck in the stakes and slowly land is reclaimed.
Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · last yr.

Thursday 4 September: Newport to Cardiff I lost the trail trying to get out of Newport so wondered along roads taking bearings hoping I was on the right track. A carpark had a Roman soldier then a Welsh Coast Path logo. What a relief. I met a man collecting driftwood for a raised bed in his garden.

Sculpture of a Roman Soldier west of Newport.
Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · last yr.

Wednesday 3 September: Chepstow to Newport 33km Easy walking along the North bank of the Severn marred only by the constant wind, rain and occasional thunder and lightning. When I start a walk I always walk too far in the early stages and get too tired for the later stages.

The logo for the Welsh Coast Walk.
Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · 2y ago

This post is partly inspired by Chris Hoy and partly by my own increasing age - I'm thinking of an app that analyses your family history of illness and guides you to take action of things that might effect you. Done this? If so, what were the out comes? Interested?

Tom Davenport@tomdavenport.bsky.social · 2y ago

So far I have walked from Edinburgh to Dover to Land's End to Bristol to Caldicot in Wales. Next year I'll start the 870 mile Welsh coast walk. A massive thank you to everyone who donated to Quality in Parkinson's.

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