Yesterday was an R & R day, no more than a 3 mile cross country bike ride with the dogs on springers.  Its great fun watching Belle run off leash up ahead scouting for rabbits, and it motivates Wolfy to pull harder and run faster on the springer.

I was going to go for a run, but then I developed this awful toothache, and simply didn't feel like doing anything else (but drink red wine later!).

Today was scheduled to be R & R or strength training.  However, as I'm starting night shifts tonight, I thought that I should get some daylight and fresh air.

So instead I took the dogs to the local forestry centre, from where we ran three miles on a circular forest trail.

Running Day

3 miles.  Jogging with dogs.

Today's photo was taken of me with Wolfy last summer, during some trail running on that old Roman road.

Ok, all other exercise programs suspended! Tomorrow I start a 60 mile hike over three days, with my Number 1 dog - Wolfy.

I know that endurance exercise is out of vogue - but long distance walking is more than getting physically fit - it is a spiritual thing - a pilgrimage like the path that we call life.

This will be my first trek or hike of 2008.  It will be mainly based on trails that Ihave already walked with Wolfy.  The longest section will be along the Peddars Way National Trail, that follows the course of an old Roman military road.

Day 1.  26 miles or so.  First I will follow minor roads to East Wretham - join the Peddars Way trail, walk to Castle Acre.  We will stay at the Ostrich Inn.  We have booked.

Day 2.  After breakfast, we walk 18 miles to Ringstead in North Norfolk.  there we are booked in at the Gin Trap Inn.

Day 3.  We walk along the North Norfolk Coastal Path 16 miles to Burnham Overy Staithe - birthplace of Admiral Nelson!

There we catch a bus (coach) that will hopefully accept Wolfy (that service has done before) and take us either to Kings Lynn or Cromer railway station - then its train to home, ready for work on Saturday!