STRIDING SUMMARY

Route: Farnham - Winchester - Portsmouth

Distance: over 100km!

Nightstriders present: Aimee, Ben and Ian, plus honorary Nightstriders (in order of appearance) Sarah G, Rupes, Ali, Jenny, Gemma, Sarah S, Marianne, Ian, Judith, Katherine, Geoff.

Weather - Forecast: Clear and sunny all the way.

Weather - Reality: Nice for 3 hours, thunderstorm for 3 hours, drizzle for 3 hours, cloudy for 4 hours, clear overnight (lovely), overcast most of Sunday, hot and sunny for the last two hours (just when we least expected it).

Synopsis: This one hurt.

Kilometre:5 Time: 0846 Location: A field on the way to Bentley Description: Just like that scene in Gladiator, Ian walks through a field... Painometer: 0 = easy (st)rider



Kilometre: 5 Time: 0847 Location: The same field on the way to Bentley Description: Aimee just after she mowed down a strip of wheat and happily packed it into her bag. Painometer: 0 = lemon squeezy

Kilometre: 10 Time:1015 Location: Bentley Description: Unbelievable! Ben's long lost friend from uni (Durham) shows up (with cakes and flapjacks in tow) to surprise all and sundry! Fantastic to have you along Rupes! (even with the entry-level shades...) Painometer: -7 = we're in heaven!

Kilometre: 19 Time: 1200 Location: Alton Description:Team Nightstrider goes crazy! There are now 8 intrepid striders - the team having been joined by Jenny, Ali, Gemma and Sarah. Doesn't everyone look happy - a feeling sure to last, for the sun was bound to shine all day... Painometer: 1 = feeling our way in

Kilometre: 20 Time: 1230 Location: Thankfully, an underpass Description: Gemma, soaked - for a 3-hour thunderstorm was passing overhead. And honorary nightstriders alas brought little in the way of protection... Yet Gemma has a glint in her eye, a little water was not about to dampen her spirits, oh no! Discomfort-ometer: 5 - unexpected, Mr Fish

Kilometre: 20 Time: 1230 Location: That underpass Description: There were all sorts down that 'pass. Here Aimee and Ian make friends with a Southwark Council municipal worker. Painometer: 2 - wetness is all around

Kilometre: 40 Time: 1600 Location: A St Swithun's Sign Description: Hours later (no photography possible during the electrical storm), and back in the dry, Ben strikes a pose at the 40km mark. Painometer: 5 = this is about where we stop on a usual day's walk...

Kilometre: 45km Time:1722 Location:The Side Of A Golf Course Description: Aimee jumps for joy after spotting her mother and realising she'll have someone else aprt from Ian and Ben to talk to. Painometer:3=The rain had stopped and we were nearing half way!

Kilometre:48km Time:1758 Location: Itchen Description: Ben is embarassed to be seen out with two people wearing sandles and socks! Painometer:8= The fashion gods were not smiling

Kilometre: 50 Time: 2000 Location: Teetering on the brink of half way Description: As Winchester draws close, the sky closes in and the Thriller night begins! Painometer: 4 = All is forgotten as the thought of adventure takes hold

Kilometre:55km Time:2154 Location:Winchester Description: Feeling fresh and looking good our adventures set out for the second half of their adventure Painometer:2= dry socks make all the difference

Kilometre: 80 Time: 0815 Location: Outside North Boarhunt Social Club Description: Unhappy with the lack of photos taken through the night, Aimee is pleased to be snapped by Ben's mum and sister outside the famous social club of the Northern Boar Hunt. Ben, however, is clearly not. Ian is keeping tight-lipped about the whole thing. Painometer: 9 = and there's still 20km to go?!

Kilometre: 85 Time: 0930 Location: Southwick Description: "You mean, we should have turned left at Farnham?" Painometer: 10 = Ben's been trying to push the pace just a bit too hard... (sorry guys)

Kilometre: 91 Time:1100 Location: Description: Painometer:

Kilometre: 92 Time: 1200 Location: Atop the ridge overlooking Portmouth and the sea! Description: Now being able to see their ultimate destination for the first time, the 'striders plunder some well-earned ice cream booty. While Aimee chomps on a flower. And Ian goes to the loo lying down. Painometer: 9 = We've made it to the top of the biggest hill and - what's this - we're not dead! yippee!

Kilometre: 99km Time: 1330Location: Portsmouth Description: Aimee and Ian, stride for stride, side by side. Painometer: 100 = As we bravely push towards the end the pain hits a new high thanks to the concrete world that is Portsmouthbr>

Kilometre: 100 Time: 1333 Location: Dodgy entrance to the car ferry port, Portsmouth Description: After 100 painful kilometres, 30 non-stop hours of walking the walk, the 'striders finally make it to the finish line! (Nice banner, by the way. Where can I get one of those?) Painometer: 11+ = 5 miles of concrete roads right at the end would do this to anyone!

Kilometre: 100 Time: 1342 Location: Bench of pub near dodgy entrance Description: D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G-! Painometer: 15 (when peeling off blister plasters)

Kilometre: 100 Time: 1351 Location: Dodgy picnic table Description: Wearing our celebratory t-shirts with pride in our hearts and pain on our faces! (Actually, was this taken at the start? we look fine!) Painometer: 0 = "We've done it, we've actually done it! - and we've got the t-shirt!"