Agile Nikolaos

The last day to kill until a 10pm flight, Villa all tidied up and last wander round before heading off

Then a 90 min drive to Agios Nikolaos where we stayed with the folks in 2019. HERE

And a chance to visit the Piano Restaurant overlooking wonderful views

The Last Day

A nice break in Agia Pelagia, at the Villa Hara, blighted only by the fact that one security door was broken oh and they are building two villas behind it, so come Monday morning, building site noise.

Today a final womble to the beach and then one of Mrs Fogg’s famous, “I found a cove and it’s just over here” conversations, 3 miles later, 2 lots of 70 degree inclines and a woman on a stick and we made it to a beautiful little cover that is closed for the season! Queue the long walk back and 2 inclines. Oh I love to go a rambling!

And tomorrow we are up at 7am (5am UK time), packed and out of the villa by10am, then pootling around for the day, drop the car by 730pm on a plane at 10pm and eventually landing, then driving back home for 2am Saturday. Gosh I love 21hour days.

The Restorative Power

Of falling down water

A fun day of doing little apart from enjoying the sea and sitting with a glass or two of medicine

Bali No Not That one

Just a short trip up the road is this wonderful little cove of Bali, Crete. What more could you want in a quiet cove, beaches whales and instagrammers/ tokkers/ facialbookers, posting their piccy to their thousands of followers.

Oh and they got food and drink, sorted then

There is another Bali HERE

One Last Break

Before the next 3 month slog where I disconnect an organisation from their current providers and move them into the 21st Century with technology, we’re taking a wee break.

Back for a week to Vill Hara in Crete, in the tiny coastal village of Agia Pelagia, HERE. We stayed here in Jul 2004 in this 5 bed mansion, split over 4 floors with pool, gym, snooker table, ping pong table and everything you could ever want.

It’s a lot cooler, but nice, however the pool takes a few mins to adjust to with an average temperature of about 9 degrees.

Booze, Boats and Scenery

A full on tour of of the tiny country of Montenegro. Our guide Ana and her driver took us through Kotor up the serpentine 25 switchback road, to the local palace and then onto a local winery(oh yes), before finishing the day on a boat trip.

There is wine tasting, or WINE Tasting. In a family owned organic winery which has been in the family since 1921, where they make everything, wine, jams, honey, raki, you name it, they do it.

When it came to the wine tasting they plonked 3 white and 3 red bottles on the table and invite you to drink it all! And the about 12 different varieties of raki.

Welcome to Montenegro

Up early and a 2hr30min flight to Croatia, then a scenic and death defying drive across the border into Montenegro with our nutter driver

Oh and our luggage came too this time, maybe the curse of the lost luggage is over (cross fingers).

We are stopping Here

Angels and Demons

As part of Mrs Fogg’s birthday treat (yes her birthday extends weeks if not months past the sell by date), I arrange overnight accommodation and an 11 course tasting menu (with accompanying wine) at the 2 Michelin Star Angel at Hetton in the Yorkshire Dales.

The food is simply amazing and after 4 hours with what seemed endless food and wine, we are stuffed. Just time now for a wafer thin mint!

When we went in
When we came out

And just in case 11 courses ain’t enough, a further 3 for breakfast! But no wine this time.

Hippo Bath Day

Yep another trip round the sun for Mrs Fogg and a day to chill.

Merry Go Round Anyone?

And finally a chance to chill after a day of chillin

For some reason I get the crappy chair while the two ladies get comfy!

Yorkshire 3 Peaks

What better day to do the gruelling Yorkshire three peaks than 21st June. The summer solstice offers the longest daylight opportunity….oh and this year the hottest day too? A perfect option then to do the 24 mile charity walk with 34 other NorthCare charity fundraisers and an army of other groups.

We gathered at 06:45 to sign in ready for the safety briefing. All good so far – won’t need to carry waterproof trousers, ditch the map, must carry 1.5 litres of water and drink it regularly

The route

On then to depart at 07:15 to hike up the first summit to Pen-y-Gent. We were a group of 5 ladies, a last minute addition from another colleague who was having a water bladder emergency (you know a water container, not what your brain started thinking). It was soon clear we all had very different fitness levels. It’s 3.5 miles up and a steep scramble to the first peak.

Sarah and I both reached the peak together at 08:36. We were def on track with the suggested times are to ascend. Beautiful weather but oh so hot and humid! we were followed shortly after by the rest of our group. We all completed Pen y Ghent

Paula, Miriat, me, Sarah, Jenny (left to right)

Off then to cover 7.5 miles to the summit of Whernside. That’s initially an easy downward path but it’s a long slog for what seems like ages until you can even see the viaduct.

Whernside straight in front with the viaduct beneath

Three hours 22 minutes later, one wee stop, one water refill station and time check in with the organisers and Sarah and I reached the top of Whernside. It’s a gradual path but lots of steps and it feels like it goes on for ages. someone had given me a tip to change into fresh socks at each peak so I changed on the way up Whernside – yep! That’s a nice feeling to peel off wet socks and have lovely clean ones on.

Looking back to Pen-y-Gent
Still Whernside in the distance above Force Gill waterfall
The top of Whernside!

By this time we had left our colleagues well behind. One was about 15 mins behind us but did not want us to wait for her. And I was learning that Sarah is a bit gazelle like – she just keeps going and going! By this time the rain had started – still really hot so the rain was refreshing, even if at times heavy bursts. We arrived at the summit at 13:48.

Our next peak all the way in the distance – Ingleborough

Ingleborough is the final peak and in comparison to the other distances is a short walk at 5 miles. However with tired legs and feet it’s still a LONG way. We grabbed a sit down and lunch at the top of Whernside, sheltered by a wall, having a chat with a 30 year old slim ginger guy who looked pretty shattered! He was planning to descend then stop because his body was exhausted. I confess given I’m 23 years older than him it gave me a teeny boost!

On then down a very steep descent of stone steps. These are very slippery when wet and we still had rain showers!

After a reasonable steady up towards Ingleborough you hit the final and very steep short section to the top!

Ascending Ingleborough was awful!! It’s a steady walk across fields initially climbing slowly up and then you hit a set of very steep steps up. By this time Sarah and I had reached the final check in at Phipps Farm at 15:15. Hikers have to reach here by 15:30 as a cut off time. Anyone arriving after this is not permitted to do the final ascent. We therefore were now largely in the front group of hikers and one of the organisers would accompany us up. So off we went….

I confess, I did consider quitting as we neared closer to these steep steps. It’s a scramble up and I was tired. My feet and legs were still ok but my breathing was heavy and heart rate high. I carried on as both our guide and Sarah kept waiting for me and I was climbing alongside a guy who has had two replacement knees – if he could do it then so bloody well can I!

Pen-y-Gent in the distance and storm clouds gathering

Finally, we reached the summit at 17:10. The longest 2 hours 6 minutes I’ve ever done! The summit is awful too – covered in sharp granite, hard to walk on, but we did it!

Ingleborough summit

In theory you can then descent in approx 1.5 hours back to Horton in Ribblesdale, but we were definitely now tired. At this stage it’s 4 miles down and back – but the path is rocky and dull. You do feel like you are walking for ages!

Finally, 2hrs 5 mins later we arrived back at the car park to check in for the final time and collect our medals. Completing the 24.5 miles hike in 12 hours and approx 30 seconds at 19:16! A HUGE achievement.

Now, what happened to our colleagues? Well, Paula who had been off work ill for a few weeks before the walk had to stop after Whernside (what a huge achievement to climb 2). Jenny who wasn’t too far behind us for most of the way made it back at 19:45, running the last half mile as a huge storm struck! She took this photo of Ingleborough top just before deciding to run down the rest of the path!

Lightening strike on Ingleborough

Sarah and I were both waiting for our colleagues in Horton to check everyone was back safe but we still did not know where Miriat was.

She was with the final 14 stragglers with the rear guide. When the storm struck he stopped them all and they had to crouch behind a wall until it was safe to continue down. 13.5 hours after she started her walk we welcomed her back into Horton!

All told a very gruelling walk, 24 miles in 12 hours is tough going but what a personal achievement!

Don’t ask me to do it again though!