#57 BORDER JOLLY (OR, A BIT OF PHILLIP AND SARAH)

Welcome to LEJoG Day 57, and to Scotland Day 57 pre-amble I toyed with several options for this post title, marking the momentous final border crossing between England and Scotland. Eventually I went back to my first idea, rhyming with the favourite dog breed of both my auntie and one of my anonymous blogging inspirations. […]

#53 CONFESSIONS OF A NON-PURIST

Bless you all and welcome to LEJoG Day 53 Day 53 pre-amble Right, while first making it clear that I have no wish to mock Catholic sacraments… I wish to make a confession. It has been 11 walking days since my last confession. That is, since the last time I strayed from the official route […]

#52 HIGH POINT (AND LOW POINT)

LEJoG Day 52: Come with me if you want to live Day 52 pre-amble Cross Fell (pictured) is the literal high point of this stage, this high-themed week, the entire Pennine Way and the whole of England outside the Lake District. Today was the low point of the week though, a long and not especially […]

#48 HIGH DRINKS

Because after the amuse-bouche, the feast and the cheeseboard, you might fancy a few drinks. At the highest pub in Britain. Why not? Day 48 (Saturday 20 July 2019) Hawes to Tan Hill (16½ miles) Cumulative: 670½ miles Facts: Time on walk: 5 hours 55 minutes. Average speed: 2.79 mph. Weather: Grey, overcast; rain from […]

#47 CHEESEBOARD

Welcome to LEJoG Day 47 (Gromit) Day 47 pre-amble The third instalment in my little food analogy. After the feast you might expect a dessert, but some people (notably my uncle) go for a cheeseboard, right? Especially if they’re heading for the capital of Wensleydale… LEJoG Day 47 (Sunday 26 May 2019) Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Hawes […]

#46 FEAST

Welcome to LEJoG Day 46 – tuck in Day 46 pre-amble Certainly the best day walk on the Pennine Way so far, and arguably the best walk of my LEJoG to date. I’d go so far as to say if you don’t enjoy this stage, you’ve no business being a distance walker. With the caveat […]

#40 KINDER, NOT GENTLER

Life (or at least the Pennine Way) begins at LEJoG Day 40 Day 40 pre-amble Welcome to 2019, year 3 of my LEJoG. The target for this year is simple: the Pennine Way, running from Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders for… well, let’s check the sign, shall […]

#36 A BIT OF CRAIG AND CHARLIE

Celebrate a milestone with Craig and Charlie Day 36 pre-amble I’m gonna be honest: did you think a man on a long distance walk, with a fondness for pop music, was going to resist this reference? As of today, I have walked 500 miles. And by the time I’ve walked 500 more I will be in […]

#35 A BIT OF JOHN AND PETER

John and Peter say Damn, it’s LEJoG Day 35 Day 35 pre-amble Lord Snot and Lord Monty. Melchett and George. Jeeves and Wooster. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Obviously. Here they are as John and Peter, Type A executives running a health club in a series of recurring sketches from A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Best remembered […]

#34 THE ONE WITH “DARLIN’ BUMMERDOG”

Welcome to the grind of LEJoG Day 34 Day 34 pre-amble “Everything’s bottoms, isn’t it?” (Basil Fawlty to Mr Hamilton, Fawlty Towers: ‘Waldorf Salad’, series 2 episode 3, first screened 5 March 1979) At this point in the story of 50FootHead, I am yet to “go live” and have no idea whether anyone else will […]

#33 KISSING THE ARSE GOODBYE: PART TWO

LEJoG Birmingham Part 2 of 2 A warm B(r)ummie welcome to the second and final day of arse-kissing. Philosophical question: does this give you a blue nose or a brown nose? LEJoG Birmingham Part 2: Day 33 (Friday 31 August 2018) Birmingham – Gas Street Basin to Sutton Park (10 miles) Cumulative: 465 miles Facts: […]

#32 KISSING THE ARSE GOODBYE: PART ONE

A big fat hairy welcome to LEJoG Birmingham (Part 1 of 2) Day 32 pre-amble Let us recall 50FootHead’s founding metaphor and imagine that the island of Great Britain is a human body, facing away from us (the justification for this will become clear). In fact, let us be more anatomically precise – just for today, […]