My Walk 1000 miles in 2015 Challenge

Hello Lovelies,
back in January this year I was looking at  an issue of Country Walking magazine when I read about their challenge to walk 1000 miles in 2015. I loved the idea and decided to join in. I first wrote about it here.
I dutifully recorded all my outdoor "intentional" miles walked on a calendar. So all I have counted is walks, walking to the local shops and walking to and from my car at work ( as I choose to park further away from the building than I need to)

At first I shared my progress with you lovelies monthly February HERE and March HERE. Having that beautiful Derbyshire calendar to record all my miles on certainly inspired me.
I didn't keep telling you all my monthly statistics as I thought it would get a bit repetitive. But I can report now that the most miles I walked in a month was 105 miles and that was in September.
December has been a bit rubbish actually with only 56 miles walked ( you need to average 82 miles a month to hit the target)

So, the big question....did I manage it?

Well I had 13 miles still to walk in Christmas day. I did some walks this week when it was dark and windy and I would otherwise not have bothered. When I got up this morning I had just 2 and a half miles left to go....so close....eeek...would I manage it?

I decided we should all go on a family walk to mark the occasion. I didn't want to pass the "finishing line" as it were all by myself on a local path I've walked so many times before.

So we got up bright and early and headed for Derbyshire. To somewhere I've shared here before Dovedale

After a windy and rainy day yesterday it was so nice to see the sun............

We crossed the little wooden bridge over the swollen river Dove............

and carefully picked our way along the muddy, slippery path.........

There's an easy path on the opposite bank but it means crossing the stepping stones here to be able to carry on....today they looked a tad scary........

It's such a beautiful place and I half wanted to climb the pointed hill here ( Thorpe Cloud ) but not all members of the family were keen and it is a steep and tricky assent........

So instead we plumped for an easy stroll by the river........

There's still quite a few ups and downs on route ( which you know I love)......

The 111 steps ( yes we counted them) up to Lovers leap are filled with fossils.........

And at the top the sun was just peeping over the hillside.......

The opposite side of the valley was looking very wintry....eldest reminded me the the last time we were here we thought it looked like a rainforest it was so lush........

Yes, definitely winter.......

But still so beautiful.......

 We got to about here and decided to turn back. One day I will do a proper long walk here, but today it was just about keeping everybody happy and walking those last few miles of my challenge.........

When we got back to lovers leap we stopped for a little refreshment and a photo opportunity...as it was time...the 1000 miles had been walked........

My lovely sister in law and niece who joined us even brought bubbles to celebrate! Thank you so much H and H x

 Arriving back at the stepping stones we witnessed a rather dramatic moment as a toddle fell into the water. He  was quickly rescued by his dad, thank goodness........

Nope, still not risking those stepping stones...nobody was........

Youngest was wearing his wellies and made the most of being able to wade along the edge of the river while we gingerly clambered over rocks.......

Oh yes he loved that bit the best.......

 Thankfully we all got back with out anybody getting wet, and said a goodbye for now to the beautiful Dovedale........

I didn't plan to finish my challenge on the last day possible, but it all worked out perfectly in the end. 

I know I'm lucky to have older children who don't need me to be at home all the time...and a very tolerant hubby who likes to walk and doesn't mind me disappearing  on solo walks regularly either. He even puts up with me spending a day a week going out adventuring with my beloved walking group.

So what's in store for 2016?...well more of the same I hope. I'm going to record all my miles again....it's very easy to do. ( I use THIS site to plot where I've been and work out distances) 

Here's the link to the challenge run by Country Walking magazine. It's less than 20 miles a week you know.

 If you can't get outdoors to do all the miles it's possible to count all your walking...that way the challenge would be much easier to reach but still a good incentive to be active.

Here's to starting all over again tomorrow :0)

Happy New Year Lovelies.

Jacquie x