40 hours to go....

I'm trying to remember the exact moment when I decided that walking the length of the Thames Path in the heat of the summer was a good idea. I can only imagine that I was sitting in a highly air-conditioned office and was feeling slightly chilly or that I had consumed a glass of chablis too far and my sense of temperature had been obliterated. I was trying on my 'outfit' earlier in the garden (see later) and within 30 seconds I had built up a rather unpleasant sweat, without actually moving.

To say that my motivation levels are dwindling is something of an understatement. In fact if it wasn't for the fantastically enthusiastic levels of support and cheery good will that I've been given by so many of you I might be distinctly tempted to turn off the snooze button on Friday morning and keep my eyes shut until the whole big scary idea of walking the Thames had gone away. However, as I say, people have been brilliant with offers of accompaniment and most importantly sponsorship - the total of which is starting to creep up to rather a magnificent level thanks to your good heartedness and generosity.

My most recent sponsors are:

Mike and Caroline Humphreys
Rob and Emma Knight
Claire Davy Galix
Sarah Baldwin
Mark Benson
Jacqui Stuart at The Bay Hotel
Siobhan Dawson
Dee Fitzgerald
Mary Tilbrook
Shelley Partridge
Nick Shotton at Finn Forest Moelven Timber Sales
Sylvia Loggia
Gabrielle Rowles
Steve Hillier

As ever, lots of you have kept up the motivational patter or simply given me some thought through sartorial advice....

Do you know that some guy's currently swimming the length of the Thames? He's aiming to swim 11 miles a day, increasing to 20 in the tidal stretches and complete the 203-mile swim in 15 days. If it makes you feel any better, he had to run the first 19 miles yesterday (the hottest day this year, so far) cos there was no water in the damn river! Scheduling a port of call with Tony Blair, Downing Street advised his support team "... no swimming costumes, though shorts are all right". I suspect that in your case, and given Tony's dubious fashion sense, socks with sandals will be spot on! Anyway, look before you leap in to cool off.

Thought would drop a quick note to congratulate on your initiative. If you are finding so hard with your super fitness dread to think what rest of us would find. All best of luck with the walk. You'll be super fit by the end!

What a wonderful idea! Would come with you if I wasn't already occupied!! Hi Val - what a wonderful idea! Would come with you if I wasn't already occupied!!

By the way, the pledge will be reduced by £5 for every day that you wear your sandals and socks, which means on the 5th day of wearing sandals and socks you will owe me etc! Compeed is a wonderful invention, so no blister excuses will be accepted! However, if you wear shorts, pop socks and sandals and I get photographic evidence, then I will drop the £5 a day forfeit...

Good luck and watch out for blisters!