On the south western section of Alexandra Palace, lies the disused railway line that has been turned into the, you guess it, Parkland walk. A nature reserve in Haringay. It is split into two sections north and south, divided by Highgate woods. On the south side there a about 3 disused platforms that you can walk along and signage to explain where the old stations used to be. The walk takes about an hour (ish) and to pass through the north and south sections, you have to travel through a bat cave. I didn’t not because I was scared but I wanted to visit a shop and get a drink. Also the last time I did the walk, the caves were closed and I wasn’t aware you could walk through.
I made a youtube video the first time I visited a few years ago but my voice really annoys me in it. You’ll have to make do with the podcast for now.
It was something to do on a Saturday afternoon at a moments notice.
After my recent adventure, I feel like I didn’t do enough and I need to do more. I have run of out money to stay further afield, not for close by adventures though. I have one coming up for Thursday but I still haven’t decided where to go yet. Could be a walk to Hertford, again… just to cross it off for 2024 again. So I feel like I haven’t wasted a week.
The plan for big walks over the month and to see me though Easter would be;
Mam Tor – Peak Districk
I reckon I could drop Lucas off to school in the morning and be there for midday, rest for half an hour. Then tackle the peaks and be done by 8pm. I need to find a campsite and sort out how I will heat up food or cook food, I have a number of options but only two are light weight. Then come back in the early hours the next day, be home by morning. I think that will work.
Lizard Point to Penzance
Yes Cornwall again, I am addicted, I have done this walk before but I planned and executed it badly last time, that was in 2017. This time I know the pitfuls. Same deal with dropping Lucas off as ever, and driving down, that gives me enough time to get the YHA for 3:30pm and park up and kip or at least rest. Sign in at 5pm when it opens and pitch my tent, have a snack and then another proper kip. I then leave for the Penzance bus station for about 8pm and get the bus to Helston. From Helston, I can eat and get the last bus to the Lizard. Once arriving at the Lizard, I can steady myself, take a few pics and wait till the dead of night and then head north as there isn’t anywhere else to go.
When I did the walk last time, despite running out of steam around 6am, I wasn’t anywhere near as fit and experienced as I am now, it was however my favourite hike. I really enjoyed the idea of having the place to myself and the darkness, knowing everyone or most people would be tucked up in bed and I was hiking to Penzance. The walk took me through a few towns, across a beach and then what scared me was an ‘A’ road but I think there is a better option into Marazion.
Then, Once I make my way back to the YHA, I go to sleep in my tent, then hopefully wake up in time to head west for a sunset at Land’s end.
There are a number of different parts and villages I want to visit but none captures my imagination as the walk from Penzance to Land’s end, hence why I do it.
I have been busy stock taking my kit and what I have for these trips trying to work what I need to buy, and hoping all of the pointless purchases I have made over the past 6 – 7 years haven’t been in vain. I am not sponsored by Decathlon but I should be, I use their kit, well some of it because it is cheap. For anything serious, obviously I go elsewhere. I am considering one of their sleeping bags, I know, I am filthy. IT’s about £60 and is lighter than my Vango bag.
I would like to point out Mr Milo helped me out with the photos by checking every piece of kit for me.
I went to bed last night with a feeling that I’d had enough, not of Cornwall or Penzance but of being t/here now. I completed my walk, well half of the intended hike, 18 odd miles. Penzance to Land’s End via the south west coast path. It gave me a whopping 53000 steps, something I don’t remember having done before but I am sure I have. I am booked here for another day and there are some factors that have played on my mind.
It’s world book day and Lucas’ last at St Andrew’s, not that it is our thing, it his and Nic’s, I like to see the pics and I have taken him to school before. It has always been his and Nic’s thing. But, still I’m missing it, it wasn’t planned that way, I booked this in advance, so no way of knowing.
I have a limited budget, if I stay I am likely to spend more and I have done fairly well so far and I am not trying to prop up the Cornish economy at all.
My legs hurt, I like it a lot but they hurt and I have a whole day ahead of me, so what to do with painful legs, I can go for a short walk to Marazion and still feel like I’ve won the day.
Speaking of which, I am keen to get home and get on with my life, I realise, this works well with two nights away not three midweek.
I AM FEELING GUILTY!!! For leaving Lucas and going off.
I am feeling like I have stopped my routine I had worked hard on, to set up. I have a niggly feeling I won’t go back to it, not true I know and it’s silly but it is thought I have been having.
Annoyingly the Sun has come out this morning, could have done with that yesterday. Only to keep my trousers dry. Note to self buy hiking trousers, proper ones.
I also think I feel a little bit of a failure for not walking the ridiculous distance from Land’s End to St Ives today, that was the plan. I did explain in ‘hikenpod‘ episode 12 part 2, series 10, that is was a terrible idea for this time of the year and at my level of tiredness.
Lastly, there is a section of the A30 that beign closed tomorrow and it will increase my journey time, I would like to pick Luicas up from school tomorrow without hassle and be ready for work in the evening.
YHA Dining HallThe steps for 6thLast look
The makeshift podcast of …
Recorded on my tablet with my USB mics, (glad They’re good for something)
Mark Riley – underground at the YHA Penzance in the dining hall because there isn’t anywhere else to sit and my back hurts.
For the first time really, this is an ANDROID thing, really need to up my Pi game for travelling.
ANDROID is kicking it right now!
