Day 30

Early Door’s

Buffeted and brutalized, battered and beaten, it started badly with yesterday’s squalls causing deep internal striped hemorrhaging but a gaffer and zip tie salve stopped it being terminal. Best coastal scenery in Europe by far but Durdle Door was polluted by legions of ludicrous and vacuous Instagrammers (taut. alert). A huge shout for 13 year old Daniel for completing the course and Chris for putting up with particularly irascible tiger, however more of our Jurassic lark tomorrow, because …

What makes a day like this happen? (no order): routes planned seven months ago are re-examined, pruned and primped. The van’s larder is restocked (Soreen, juice, Lurpak, Maynards and ice being the staples – you know the drill) and the tank filled. All accommodations checked and reconfirmed, dietaries established (no aubergine, obvs.) Walkers are reconfirmed the night before, hopefully dispelling any wanton slackness, all refueling stops checked for access. Later walks are looked at and press gangs deployed if numbers are slim. Walkers are briefed, given the calling cards and briefed again. Day team leader re-checks with the route designer and also forensically dissects the weather forecast. All media outlets are sent constant image-strong reminders and acres of soundbites: one constant grunt exercise. Money handed over is collected and banked and finally a blog is written (thanks to the tw** who was complaining it was a bit late on Thursday), then photos collated and posted on the site. These class-C epithets and imagery are then cut and chopped into a proper sizzling social media narcotic, and the following day … it all happens again. Extraordinary committed contributions, extraordinary committed tiger family … as for the striped beast... he’s just got to walk a few miles.

No ‘I’ in team, not even a tiger’s eye.

750 miles completed. 250 remaining. How far did you walk today?