Kickscoot The Coast: Winchelsea - Bexhill-On-Sea

Winchelsea - Bexhill-On-Sea

I am doing this scoot to raise awareness and funds for the ME Association so if you would like to you can sponsor me here.

Here are the links to the previous sections of this trek;
Whitstable - Broadstairs
Broadstairs - Walmer
Walmer - Capel-le-ferne
Capel-le-ferne - Littlestone
Littlestone - Rye

I didn't think I was going to get a scoot in this weekend, the weather forecast for Hastings yesterday was winds up to 60mph, torrential rain, then today wasn't supposed to be much better, but I checked the forecast this morning and it said 18mph winds and sunshine so I thought why not!

I started by skipping ahead just a little, I ended my last scoot in Rye which is a fair way inland and I wanted to start today by the sea! So please excuse my naughtiness, though I'm so glad I did it!

The start of my scoot was down a very windy stretch of road below a bank shielding me from the sea, after that I came face to face with my first hill. There were quite a few long winding, fairly steep hills. I didn't want to waste my battery by making the scooter work hard up these hills so I walked and it showed me just how fit I am not! My lungs were burning with the effort! It made me think "Why am I doing this again"? However it did warm me up and my multiple layers kept the warmth in for the rest of the scoot so I didn't get too cold!

Since my last scoot I have finally invested in a handlebar mount for my phone, so this is the first scoot I have done without having to stop and look at the map! It made such a difference, I wish I had started my adventure with it! Although my phone is also my camera, so it was a bit of a palava everytime I wanted to take a photo, but I percerviered and think I got some nice shots.

The joy of having to go up all these hills is that the view was spectacular and then of course you get to go back down the other side! Very carefully because I only have a front brake (must get a back brake fitted).

Once at the bottom of all the hills I found myself on Hastings seafront, which was very busy, people everywhere who were completely oblivious to cycles of any kind! I stopped here and had a chat with someone about my scooter and I took the opportunity to tell him all about the challenge I have set myself.

The next stage was wonderful, one of the nicest stretches of seafront so far. Possibly the prettiest cycle path I've ever traveled on too. A variety of interesting sculptures, lots of happy families out enjoying the sunshine.

Gorgeous sunshine bouncing off of the crashing waves, just beautiful, made me think "Yes! This is why I am doing this".

Next I found myself in Bexhill-On-Sea, I knew I was almost out of battery and that my family were somewhere nearby, so I stopped here. It felt like a good place to start next time, on a nice coastal path right by the beach.

The kids had spent the entire time in Edgerton Park which they happily took me to once we had had some lunch. This is an AMAZING park! Lots of lovely equipment and beautiful sculptures to see. I think they will enjoy coming back here when I head off for the next part of my epic adventure.

Oh yes and to top my day off I stopped right on the front to take a panoramic of the sea and a lovely lady came up to me to tell me how much she loved my hair, this made my day! I love when people go out of their way to compliment others especially if it is a genuine compliment to someone they don't even know.

Driving back tonight at 6pm has made me realise just how far I have come with my health over the last 4 years. 4½ years ago I vividly remember a family outing to KFC, I was driven from home to KFC where we ate then driven home and it floored me, I was exhausted before we had even left the house, but it was a special treat for the kids as they had been stuck inside with me being unwell for sometime. Skip to today, 2 hours running around the house making lunches, 1 hour drive, 1½ hours scooting/walking, 1½ hours in the park 1 hour drive, dinner out then ½ hour back home. I am still standing. I will probably have to write off most of the week as I will hardly be able to move for a day or so and energy levels will be very low, but still what an improvement!

Kickscoot the Coast: Littlestone - Rye

Littlestone - Rye.

Today I bombed through the first 5 miles to Dungeness as my family were waiting there to take photos.

I really like Dungeness and wish I had gone slower and stopped more through the reserve. I find it feels almost like a film set, like a land that time forgot. It is so vast and sparse with sporadic boat wrecks and interesting things to look at. One day I will go back and explore properly.

I was pretty sure looking at my map that I could go in on one road and out on another path, though once there it wasn't obvious but I did find my way. 

There is a footpath that runs around the perimeter of the power station and took me uncomfortably close to the hum, I followed before ducking through a gate and onto the main entrance road to the power station.

This was a fun road, large, well maintained and virtually traffic free!

This took me back onto the main road to Lydd. Once I had negotiated Lydd I then found myself on a lovely road side byway, which passed by many beautiful lakes and ponds, until I reached the sea wall just outside of Camber.

There was a fair wind blowing today and the sea was very rough - I told the kids not to bother as it was not a good day for building sandcastles, they were very dissapointed.

On the way out of Camber I found another lovely roadside byway, which then jumped across the main road and through a field before bringing me into Rye!

My battery had pretty much run out and I needed to stop for lunch, so this is where I finished my ride today.

We had a little wonder around the town and a play in the park before heading for home.

I think I might get one more scoot in before I have to think about the logistics of staying away as I get further down the coast.

For my next scoot I will start at Winchelsea as that is the next seaside part and that is what it is all about!

If you would like to you can sponsor me here.

Here are the links to the previous sections of this trek;
Whitstable - Broadstairs
Broadstairs - Walmer
Walmer - Capel-le-ferne
Capel-le-ferne - Littlestone

Kickscoot The Coast: Capel-le-ferne - Littlestone

Capel-le-ferne to Littlestone

Whoever thought it could be so difficult to get from Capel-le-ferne to Folkstone seafront! I started by following the cycle route 2 sign which took me down a tiny road with stunning views but at the end of that road there were no more signs! 

It took the best part of an hour to find my way down to the harbour, I must find a good handlebar mount for my phone so I don't have to keep stopping to check the map.

Eventually I did make it back to the coast and had a blissful couple of miles of coastal path before having to negotiate roads again in Hythe. Again the cycle route signs failed me, but I knew that route 2 at this point was going to go inland and bypass Dymchurch which I didn't want to do anyway, so after a brief stint by the canal I braved the footpath on the main road to Dymchurch, it was quite overgrown and I got pretty battered!

Once I found an entrance up on to the coastal walk outside of Dymchurch it was bliss! Wide flat paths, no cars, buses or branches and gorgeous sea views! By this point I could see my battery was running low so I didn't stop to take many photos. My battery gave out towards the end of this lovely path in Littlestone.

I had a stunning view while I ate my lunch and could see the lighthouses and power station tantalisingly close, but the map said that was another 5 miles away and I didn't want to push myself too much trying to get there, so next time...

If you would like to you can sponsor me here.

Here are the links to the previous sections of this trek;
Whitstable - Broadstairs
Broadstairs - Walmer
Walmer - Capel-le-ferne

Minimalism with Children

I really appreciate the idea of minimalism. Less stuff to organise, clean, tidy, look after. I have spent the last few years trying to de clutter as best I can with minimal energy and a young family under foot. And I have found that the freer from stuff I have become the more relaxed and calmer I feel. A simple life truly is a better one. In fact this is my second post on this subject find the beginning of this journey here.

But minimalism with 2 small children and a husband who doesn't "get it" is tough. Just 3 weeks ago my girls each had a birthday and this year they had a massive party, 48 guests in total. And of course one of the things they were looking forward to most was all the "stuff" they would get from the party. I've read since about present less parties, which in hindsight would have been a good idea, though then would they have been disappointed? Actually I don't even need to ask that question, I know hands down they would have been seriously disappointed...

Anyway, so that was 3 weeks ago. My kids have never been good at keeping things tidy, have never gotten the hang of putting one thing away before getting the next thing out... So I feel like I have spent the last 3 weeks constantly tidying "stuff" and not being able to get on top of it. Result= one tired stressed very fed up and short fused mum.

So the answer? Well actually I haven't worked that out yet. I did get both girls to go trough their rooms and discard into a box anything they no longer wanted to keep, which worked surprisingly well, though a week after that and both rooms are a mess again with no sign of a tidy future.

We are currently in the process of having a new bathroom fitted and yesterday afternoon as the suite was being unboxed the kids (as usual) were right there begging for the boxes. They love playing with boxes and have been known to spend hours decorating playing and turning them into things. Personally I love this type of play, it involves so much imagination and working together and they are always so excited and so happy (their faces literally light up), I can genuinely say thy enjoy this more than any toy from a shop.

However they don't seem to realise this and every time I visit a shop with them they spend the entire time asking how much certain toys are (if they happen to have a few pennies with them), or the dreaded "can I?" not just once but over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. It reaches the point when I want to abandon the shopping trip and never take them to a shop again!

Yesterday evening over dinner I was talking about their love of boxes and flippantly suggested we replaced 90% of their toys with art/craft supplies and boxes, My youngest (6) looked terrified and genuinely upset, however my eldest (8) looked interested and has requested I provide her with more boxes next weekend so that she can get rid of all of her things. I will believe it when I see it. Generally she is unsure about making big decisions, or even small ones but we will tread gently and see how it goes.

In the past I have found the energy (and the end of my fuse) and packed up most of their toys and put them in the loft and every time this has gone down well, they've been thrilled with having tidy, clear, minimal bedrooms and actually haven't missed the items missing. Perhaps I should try that approach again and see how it goes?

Kickscoot the Coast: Walmer - Capel-le-ferne

Walmer to Capel-le-ferne.

Well as you may have noticed I didn't quite make it to Folkstone!

That was the most physically, mechanically and mentally challenging route so far. Very hilly. Not well signposted.

Coming out of Kingsdown I asked a local which way the cycle route went as there were no signs, he told me which way it went, then gave me a nicer route to take along the cliffs, which was great, completely off road and some nice coastal views.

Next step was getting into Dover which I had been worried about, but actually this proved fairly straight forward too, well signposted choice of cycle routes. However getting out of Dover again proved difficult. All the signage stopped, looking at the map was telling me where the path should go, but I couldn't find it.

I ended up on a national trust coastal path up over the cliffs out of Dover. Which gave fabulous views, but was unrideable. Also at the far end of this path where I found the cycle path again (hoorah), there was a swing gate. No way could the scooter get through. I stood for quite a while on this deserted path wondering how best to proceed. I couldn't bear the thought of going back the way I had just come so I decided to find some super strength and lift the scooter over the fence and back onto the cycle path!

Next followed lots of very bumpy off road path ways, and a few more hills for good measure.

By this point I was pretty knackered from all the walking up hills and bumpy path ways and the scooters battery was reading empty so sadly I had to stop with Folkstone in sight.

There were points on today's ride that made me wonder if I am completely crazy for undertaking this trek. But also some fabulous views amongst the mist which is ever present on this part of the coast.

It will be a few weeks before I can try the next section due to birthdays and new bathrooms. I haven't been completely put off today just a little disheartened.

If you would like to you can sponsor me here.

Here are the links to the previous sections of this trek;

Whitstable - Broadstairs
Broadstairs - Walmer

ME Awareness 2017

It is that time of year again, ME Awareness week. In previous years I have been a princess, a superhero, "gone blue", and donated various handmade items to auctions and raffles. This year I am not doing any specific fundraising, apart from my on going "Kickscoot the coast".

This year I would like to talk to you about hope and improvement.

I am a great believer that when there is hope there is a way and that it is so important for those suffering with ME and their carers to always have hope and never to give up.

If you or your loved one has ME you have to be in it for the long haul. There is no quick fix. It is tough. It is brutal. Basically it sucks big time. But it is also a journey filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. Sometimes the downs feel bottomless and the highs short lived, but you must never give up.

I am lucky to find myself in a fairly good patch at the moment. Recently I have been looking back over the last day or week thinking I couldn't have done that a year ago. Which is such a tremendous boost!
I know this is a high and unlikely to be maintainable but I shall enjoy it while it lasts (and be thoroughly miserable when it ends!).

But even through the regular highs and lows I can see an ongoing improvement. The lows aren't as low or don't last as long, the highs are higher and higher. I wouldn't go as far to say an end is in sight, but improvement is there all the same.

The specialist I saw when I was first diagnosed (some 16 years ago) used to ask me to measure my health in %, 0 being bed bound and 100 being fit and able to work full time. I would say at the beginning of this relapse (4years ago) I was down as low as 20%, now in this particular high I think I'm around 70%. Which, written down like that is huge improvement!