Well… what can I say? Full of anticipation, hope and excitement about our first training walk, we set out for a 13 mile hike to Lewknor. But two loops round Garsington and a merry dance later, we stop for lunch and realise we’ve walked about 10 miles in the opposite direction.

Thwarted? No. Well yes. But after eating possibly the biggest display of lasagne and fried potato products I have ever seen, our spirts are lifted enough to stretch off and start the trek back. We even resist the offer of tea, cake and a lift home that’s extended as we pass by our friend Lucy’s house. Nerves of steel. It’s clear that we’re not just here to set the standards for outdoors fashionistas, but we’re also going to make a staunch and hardy team.

Then, after getting directions off Lucy, I’d say about 30 metres from her house we’re lost again. Tori throws the map away in some kind of manic fit of defiance. And in the ensuing confusion - for what is an all-girl team – the unthinkable happens…

Support crew member, Hugh takes the map. Being either good, or I suspect sensible, enough not to gloat too much, it becomes apparent Hugh’s the only one in the group who can read a map. The fact he’s the only boy is more annoying than I care to admit and resolve to familiarise myself with the alien concept of ordnance survey maps… It is clear there is a lot to learn.

But I can’t wait.

I’m really, really looking forward to all the ups and downs and depressingly inevitable wrong turns that the next few months has for us.

Walk #2 Parrots and Pirates  

There weren’t really any pirates. But we were pretty amazed to see parrots in London to be honest. So that was enough for us.

This was jolly training walk, a flat-but fast paced trip from Chiswick to Hampton Court with about a million people in tow. Including Hugh’s Mum and Dad, which makes for a heartwarmingly family-type day. Really nice. They impart some walking wisdom which is much needed. And make us laugh as Hugh’s dad sneaks a few cheeky cigarettes. Role reversal.

The other notable things that happen are that we name the team. We start to get to grips with the reality of walking 100k. We don’t feel remotely like we’ve walked the 13 miles that the map says we did – which is unnerving.

We think we’re probably going to run into trouble when the hills start rolling ahead of us on the South Downs. We add a few more walks to the training schedule. We’re a bit scared. 

Tori, defiant again, cheerfully walks an extra 5 miles all the way back to Richmond. We get the bus home.

More soon… love Kim

22nd March… Today I decide to plug some of the skills gaps in this team, and learn to map read. I pull in some contacts. My dear Old Mother Rowe and our pal Lorna, who teaches the Girl Guides. She knows a thing or two about getting from a to B, so we set off on a navigation lesson, along with my faithful hound The Smasher. Aside from my tendency to mix up East and West, I’m a promising student.  I never have got to grips with left and right either. So am sure this won’t hold me back.