(no subject)

[kiwisue]

I have a cup of tea beside me and I'm sitting at the computer, still in my 17th century clobber (although I've taken off the shoes - blisters, ow!). I'm exhausted and need a few more hours of sleep, but I also need a shower desperately and I don't have the energy yet. The tea is helping.


We do one of these marches every couple of years. Different routes at different times, but the "classic" is still the 20 km (12 mile) hike from Wiseman's Ferry to St Albans. "Classic" because 12 miles was the average march for a foot regiment in the 17th century. Always a hard slog, though.

I decided to wear my pike armour, but I wasn't too sure whether I'd be able to keep it on & go the whole distance. In the end I made it, although I tossed the gorget in the back of a support vehicle after a couple of hours because it was starting to wear a hole in my sternum. The tassets came off after lunch and I was sorely tempted to ditch the bloody heavy helmet as well, but managed to keep it together long enough to cross the bridge into St Albans.

It was, I suppose, an interesting learning experience. The armour stopped the pike bruising my shoulders, but hampered movement so I was quite out of breath going up some relatively shallow slopes on the road. By the end of it, my back was aching and my feet were on fire - I must remember sheepskin liners next time! *g*.

The meal and socialising afterwards was a nice reviver. J came up from Canberra to march & we had a short, slashy conversation. She's only a dabbler, but she did love Helen Raven's "Good Opinion": I promised to send her a care parcel, as she doesn't have Internet at work or home. I saw a couple of friends from the Central Coast who I hadn't had contact with for a while - as evidenced by their very sweet two year old daughter who I met for the first time.

OK, starting to fade now. Shower, then bed.

Comments

[not-nele.livejournal.com]

Yay! I mean ow! But well done you. Have you ever posted a pic of you in your armour and stuff? You've made me curious, I think I might have some googling in my future.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Have a look at www.theroutiers.org

No, I still haven't gone for that shower. Must...make...legs...work.

[not-nele.livejournal.com]

That is all insanely cool-looking.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed!

[tboy.livejournal.com]

Well done, you *g*. Who needs a City To Surf when there's forced marching available? ;-)

Hope the muscles stop aching soon. *gentle hugs*

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Muscles not bad after a hot shower & a couple of hours kip. The feet aren't too great, especially the left - I have a honking great blister just behind my big toe and a counterbalancing one under my heel. May have to parlay that into a day off tomorrow - I doubt I could get a pair of work shoes on ATM *g*

[baralier.livejournal.com]

So how many bodies braved the march? And are there picamatures?

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Marchers: The Captayne, Pierre, Helmut, Crispy, Siiimon F, Jackie; Heath, Ellie & Ursula from Fire 'n Steel doing some cross-period stuff; AB, Gappsie, Wild Bill (think that's all.. probably missed someone, brain not working too well yet).

Helmut retired with a shoe blow-out about 4 miles from St Albans. The Rev & Mrs Rev joined us for a stroll after lunch. Gappsie was late but made a good finish.

Support Crew: Vic, Paul W, Mary L, Gappsie's girlfiend, Wild Bill's brother & wife, about 5 kids. Almost as many in the trayne as marching... rather accurate!

At lunchtime we stopped on a flat piece of ground outside a house & the owner turned out to be an Irishman who was quite chuffed to have a bunch of historical folk on his doorstep and gave us a six-pack of beer to share.

I didn't take any piccies, but several others did so there should be something posted before too long.

Pierre owes me a beer, the bastard.