1,000 km walk-Day 21 Crozant to St. Germain Beaupré 16.93 km 410.05 km walked 589.95 km to go.
Daily updates are on my Facebook page

What an amazing walk this morning. Walking the Painters' Trail, walking very slow just to soak up the peaceful and magical atmosphere of this valley of the Sedelle. Enery now and again there is information sign with a painting and the actual scene painted by the impressionist painters is behind it. Took so many photos in such a short distance!

The rest of the walk was more routine farmland until I said hello to a sheep who walked up the road out of the valley with me for a while and 4 other people walking the same way.
3 words is all it took for me recognize they were Australian. Amazing!! Only one other native English (Irish) speaking person so far and then 4 Australians from Brisbane at once.

Walked with them for about 6km. We had lunch in a field and talked for a while It was just so, so good just to be able to talk Australian. Today of all days I chose as a shorter day. So said farewell at St. Germain Beaupré. Unfortunately is unlikely I will see them again. They are on a paid walking tour to Limoges with hotel accomodation and bags transported from town to town.

We compared experiences and there was no doubt that I am having a much richer experience of the people and the country with a lot more stories to tell. I am much more on the 'Box of chocolates' tour. Just never know what I'm going to get next.

Speaking of which, After saying farewell to the Australians I searched for my Accomodation here and could not find it anywhere. The only No 5 Grand Rue I could fond was an abandoned house.
I had also now run out of water. Could not find a tap anywhere. So located a cemetery just out of town 300 mts away and a water tap.
On the way back saw two French people outside (very rare in these small villages in the middle of the day). Enlisted there help to find No 5. Now there is 3 of us looking! Just oppisite the church is this huge house, not a chateau but big 3 floors, biggest house in town with the electric gates. Yes No 5 !! No signs or anything. Had to wait 30 min for my host to return home.

You know those back to the chateau, big old house renovation shows. Well this is one! But still in the early stages of renovation. More of a 'before' rather than 'after'. It has 2 wings 3 floors (one in the roof) and lots of rooms with a room and space for 10 guests. I suspect to help pay for the renovations.
I am the only one here, nice green plums on the tree outside my window to snack on and a dog that wants me to throw a ball constantly.

Day 2. Corfe Mullen to Poole Ferry Terminal 11.22 km. 16.32 km walked with 983.68km to go.
The walk today was from my Cousins front door along bridleways to the very straight old Roman road which we followed into Pool.
Much of the Roman road is woodland trail with sections of suburban road. The road dates from around AD 47.
Leaving the Roman road we skirted Holes Bay and into Pool and to the Ferry Terminal.
Rest day tomorrow before taking the ferry to Jersey on Sunday morning.

The first day of the 1,000 km walk for the world. Walked 5.1 km with 994.9km to go. This short 5.1 km walk joins Wimborne Minster to Corfe Mullen. I selected the church of Wimborne Minster as my starting point as it has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1,300 years. It is also near where my Cousin Shirley is hosting me until I catch the ferry in 3 days.

This walk followed an old Roman road through Happy Bottom Nature reserve and then along the Stour Valley way and over the Stour River at Eye Bridge. Don't you just love English names.

This short stroll through the Dorset countryside was with my cousin's husband Kelly who will also accompany me on the walk from here to the Poole ferry terminal.

Only two days until I head off now. Did 12.2 km Training hike with full backpack around Moore Park Beach. See the short video.
Had a Hyaluronic acid injection to the knee last Tuesday as the third and final part of my knee survival strategy. Unloader knee brace and medial wedge in right shoe being the other two.
Wouldn't you know it I on Wednesday while taking it easy after the injection I twisted my knee and pulled a medial ligament. Did not realise getting up from the dining room table could be so risky.
This hike was to see how the knee was unfortunately the tendon is still playing up so will need to give it a rest until I arrive in the UK to heal.
I did learn to speed limp on my last long walk!

Only 17 days before I head off! Where does the time go! Did a 26 km training hike yesterday with everything as if I was already hiking across France. With a full pack and food and water.
Need to make a couple of small changes otherwise pack equipment and clothes all good to go. My ultra light toothpaste is also ready now.
Still odd to think except for food and water I have everything I need for a 3 month trip on my back. Training hikes along the Moore Park Beach are very pleasant. Different every day. Watching the trawlers as they come close to the beach and the dolphins playing near the beach as the sun sets. Photo is the emergency sleep system test

Some expected problems have surfaced with arthritis in my right knee being much worse than anticipated. Have discussed my walk with an orthopaedic surgeon with xrays MRI etc and come up with a strategy. I have now been measured up for an unloader knee brace which should be here in about a week. Have also arranged for an hyaluronic acid injections, If needed, shortly before I head off.
I still need to start increasing the backpack weight but I will put this off until after I get the knee brace. I need to get up to 25 km per day with a full backpack for 3 days in a row. In my experience and also observing others, foot and other physical and equipment issues turn up at between 60 and 80 km. Other than that I suspect that I will end up doing the physical endurance training on the way.
Footwear, a critical component, has now been selected, I will be hiking in trail running shoes and sandals with a backup of waterproof socks. The hiking kit is being put together using the kitchen scales. Weight is Everything!! Right down to cutting all the labels off clothes etc to save a couple of grams.

With only 47 Days until I leave Australia my training is progressing a little slower than hoped. Have done five 10km walks, a 30 km hike on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail between Toogoolawah and Moore. A 20 km hike along the old railway line near Wamuran and D’Aguilar and one 20.4 km from my daughters place in Caboolture West to the top of Mount Elimbah and back.