Six-months of the year; gone and never to be reclaimed or repeated. Six-months to go. A half-year of opportunity.

I had always forecast that this month was going to be a good one, as far as the total mileage is concerned. Not only would I be taking part in the Mendip Challenge for the fifth consecutive year but I was also set to be walking The Ridgeway; at least eighty-seven miles of trekking in only five days.

My long-distance walk is on hold, as you may’ve already previously seen. Although it will be resumed later in July and completed in August, if not by the end of this month. I’m looking to become a bit more involved with the group walks (and leading) over the coming weeks as well.

01/06 – 5 miles – Wrington, North Somerset
02/06 – 8 miles – Brockley Combe, North Somerset
03/06 – 30 miles – Mendip Challenge 2018
06/06 – 3.25 miles – Wrington
09/06 – 25 miles – Avebury to White Horse Hill (The Ridgeway)
11/06 – 7.5 miles – Cam Peak and Cam Long Down
13/06 – 1.0 mile (guesstimate) – Montacute House (National Trust)
13/06 – 4 miles – Montacute, Somerset
14/06 – 10 miles – Long Sutton and the River Yeo (River Ivel)
15/06 – 3 miles – Lytes Cary Manor (National Trust)
17/06 – 10.5 miles – Priddy (Brunel 20s & 30s)
21/06 – 2.25 miles – Sand Point Summer Solstice
22/06 – 4.5 miles – Wrington
23/06 – 2.5 miles – Kings Wood, Cleeve, North Somerset
23/06 – 11.5 miles – Quantock Hills (walk leading)
27/06 – 7 miles – Congresbury Yeo
28/06 – 4 miles – Wrington

Total for June 2018 = 139 miles

While I can enjoy walking by myself, the group is my social life and, when I can’t access that, I miss it. This is even more true right now, as I’ve entered the world of unemployment for the first time since 2010. How long will this spell last? Who knows.

I was very pleased to have been able to meet up with an unforgotten friend I’d not seen for a year and cover a few miles of the Cotswold Way near Dursley.

Along with my fifth year on the Mendip Challenge, I was pleased to finally tick off a couple of National Trust properties in Somerset, spend a few days camping near by and, the following week, I was out one evening to experience the sunset on the solstice.

Current total for 2018 = 461.75

I find it interested to look back to June 2017 and realise that I’m less than a hundred miles behind, considering I’m not trying to walk the thousand this year. I’ve also managed to exceed my monthly tally, even without those extra four days on The Ridgeway!

Thanks for reading.