Day 9.  Cambridge

The start location for day 9 was much appreciated by Sir Ian and his walking team, it doesn't get any better than right outside the Hotel Du Vin front door.

Yet again we had dodged the rain and it was blue skies and bright sunshine above. As mentioned earlier in this walk diary, we always seem to be very lucky with the weather.

Once out of the city, the long stretches of main road that lay ahead gave us chance to think of some of the established crew members that were unable to make this walk, either for work or health reasons,  including Richard & Christine Lines, Mary Pope and the legendary funny man G.T (Geoff Taylor). The walks are a team effort.

Beefy's crew always includes the superb medical team, headed up by Dave Roberts (aka Rooster) and the 2nd best physio (after Rooster) Nick 'No. 2' Turner.
  
The treatment they give literally keeps the walk on the road, it includes blister draining & dressings, sports massages and the agonising shins rub. The aim of the last one is to remove all of the build-up of toxins and fluid from the front of the lower leg, allowing the walkers to flex properly and walk naturally day after day... but it does hurt!

After a 26 mile walk, as it was in Manchester, it is the medics who get Beefy and the boys ready and able to do it all again the next morning.

Back on the walk and for the second day running, the country's second most popular athlete (after Sir Ian) had joined us.

In the 27 years of the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research walks, there are quite a few celebrities and sports stars who mention that they will show their support and come and walk for a day...but don't actually turn up!  Double Olympic Champion Daley Thompson ALWAYS turns up and walks, (even if he always seems to choose the shorter, flatter routes these days).  Great effort DT.

The public walk in the afternoon is very well attended, with lots of children joining in for the final 4 miles.

Day 9 draws to a close. Just one city remains on the list and we head off to the capital.

London is calling. 

Big Gaz.    

[The views in this blog are my own and any offense caused to celebrities, physios, and sporting legends (however popular) is 100% intentional]

After 23 years the Ian Botham juggernaut rolled back into sleepy Norfolk. Yes it was in 1989 when Sir Beefy last walked through Norwich and it seems little has changed since his last visit.

Having been welcomed by the Lady Mayor, Sir Ian met up with the days local hero Fleur Guyton. Fleur, who had received the all clear from Leukaemia, was walking proof of how far the battle against the illness had come.

Also walking today was Norwich City legend Jerry Goss and Spandau Ballet drummer John Keeble.

But it was another local hero at the front as legendary ghostly Dave 'The Bet' Chisnell led the walking party past the Guildhall and on towards the Riverside Road. There was no sound of Oliver Cromwell's horses racing below the Cathedral grounds.

Even the Norwich Falcon remained in her nest on the Cathedral spire as the walkers followed in the steps of the 15th Century Martyrs along Bishopgate.

As Beefy marched, Gossy jogged and Jonny K rocked, the money collecting began. Car drivers, office workers and pedestrians began to fill the buckets on the way towards Wroxham where Olympic giant Daley Thompson joined us with members of the public who would walk the final three miles with Beefy.

Walking along the Bure Valley Railway the heavens opened but spirits were not dampened. Local supergroup Egypt entertained the crowds at the finish along with a pint of local brewery Humpty Dumptys special  brew 'Give it some Humpty'.

Sir Ian gave autographs and met the public who had walked. Then the  Beefy juggernaut began to pull out of Norwich. 

As the wheels crossed the border into Cambridgeshire the county returned to normal and Norwich went back to sleep. Maybe for another 23 years.

Dave 'The Bet' Chisnell.  

Day 4.  Manchester 
'Its a marathon, not a sprint'

The walk begins at out sponsor's hotel, the Malmaison. Beefy always seems to be able to draw the good weather, and true to form Manchester enjoyed its first rain free day of the year. Today's local hero four year old Maisie Whitworth was joined by her parents Ian and Lisa. From the city we head towards the footballers paradise of Alderley Edge and Knutsford. Collecting is again very good as it has been every day.

On the walk, in front of Beefy, there is a 'Lead car'. This is driven, and has been for over 20 years by Eileen Henderson. It's not an easy job (apart from the heated seats). Staying just in front of the walk group, sticking to the route, sticking to the speed! The boot is always open, and full of water, energy drinks and allegedly the Rocket Fuel (see blog day 2).  Also in the boot are Beefy's waterproof jackets and gloves, and the buckets that the collectors tip the collected cash into.     

The finish in Tatton Park was spectacular. We were joined by the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's former director of fundraising Kate White who walked all four miles.

Today was 26 miles. It was a marathon, but a superb day for everyone. Day 4 is over.

Big Gaz