Ridgeway Thoughts

As things currently stand, I’m on course to be ready (in the material sense) by the end of May, for my first long-distance multi-day walk along the Ridgeway.

Behind the pages of this blog, I’ve been purchasing other items – including a new sleeping bag and rucksack. Now, I’m only really need a set of dry sacks and probably a pair of new boots… That and finalised plans for my route, overnight stops and transport to and from the trail!

My intention to do this hike came up during Saturday’s group walk and I’ve been having frequent thoughts about it since…

All along, my aim has been to walk the full eighty-seven miles of the Ridgeway in one hit, as I would like to do with any future long-distance path or National Trail.

In reality, I have very recently started a new job. In accepting the position, I may have overlooked the fact that I was moving in to a firm with a very low number of employees. Therefore, the company is dependent on me and taking time off may not be as easy as I have found it to be while working for larger companies.

It’s possible I’m overthinking. But think, I have been doing.

Instead of taking five-days’ annual leave and command a full nine-days away from my routine responsibilities; I wonder about the option of doing this walk over two long weekends and perhaps, consuming only half as much holiday allowance?

As someone else mentioned to me, it is going to be summer when I do this walk. If it isn’t raining, it’s likely to be hot. The Ridgeway, I think, is not perhaps an ‘inspired’ route, unlike Hadrian’s Wall or even the Cotswold Way… From what I’ve seen and read; lots of hard and dry ground awaits me.

It could be tedious and tiring. Unless, perhaps, I share it across two weekends.

But then… If I was to start one weekend, I may find an unattainable desire to complete the full-distance there and then. Getting to and from the Ridgeway – whether in the east or closer to the west – may be more tiring than I currently appreciate.

I’ll write about my recent purchases soon.

Thanks for reading.