Today started wet. It soon dried up but the wind was outrageous. I had to tie my hat onto my bag or it would have not been my hat any longer. One of the best things about coastal walks is you get to places you couldn’t get to any other way except helicopter.

I got to Oxwich in the rain and found a bus shelter – perfect place for breakfast. Further along the path I ran into a Coast Path diversion – something you never want to see. The path was a stream but coming round a headland the sight . . . wow
Sponsor me here www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

So far this walk has been rain or intermittent heavy showers so it was with some pleasure I started this morning in cool dry weather. I came to a bench and stopped for breakfast. The sun rising sun dissolved the pain of the previous week.
Please sponsor me at www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Back on the trail today after a day of rest in Cardiff. I was walking along the path in the image with the sea on my left and land on the right. I spotted a Coast Path logo and felt reassured until I thought ‘Sea there, land there! Of course it’s the Coast Path!’

www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Cardiff is a great place. We stayed near the Bay. There’s so much going on. I particularly enjoyed the Swift Tower. There are 90 swift boxes and they play swift song to attract the birds.
If you would like to donate to Parkinson’s EQUIP please click on the link www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Today is a short walk because I’ll be meeting my wife and daughter in Cardiff. Walked through an area with adders. The route round Hinkley power station (disused) was v boring but the blackberries were delicious. Giant Rubric cubes after the power station.

I skipped Cardiff because my wife and daughter will be coming down tomorrow and we will walk through Cardiff together. Today’s walk was along the Gwent Levels from Penarth to St Donats. On the way I saw the polders (got to be a Dutch word) where they are restoring wildlife habitats. My feet hurt.

Thursday 4 September: Newport to Cardiff
I lost the trail trying to get out of Newport so wondered along roads taking bearings hoping I was on the right track. A carpark had a Roman soldier then a Welsh Coast Path logo. What a relief. I met a man collecting driftwood for a raised bed in his garden.

Wednesday 3 September: Chepstow to Newport 33km
Easy walking along the North bank of the Severn marred only by the constant wind, rain and occasional thunder and lightning. When I start a walk I always walk too far in the early stages and get too tired for the later stages.

My friend, Ray Wegrzyn, got Parkinson’s 30 years ago. He started the charity, Parkinson’s EQUIP (Enhance Quality in Parkinson’s), to help people with Parkinson’s. Two weeks ago I walked a section of the Welsh Coast Path on a sponsored walk for the charity.
www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Fancy an easy challenge? www.parkinsonsequip.org/news/step-in...

This post is partly inspired by Chris Hoy and partly by my own increasing age - I'm thinking of an app that analyses your family history of illness and guides you to take action of things that might effect you.
Done this? If so, what were the out comes?
Interested?

So far I have walked from Edinburgh to Dover to Land's End to Bristol to Caldicot in Wales. Next year I'll start the 870 mile Welsh coast walk. A massive thank you to everyone who donated to Quality in Parkinson's.

There is something about the ethereal call of the oystercatcher in the early morning that stops me in my tracks.

If you have a spare tenner I'd love it if you could sponsor me.

www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Finished the South West Coast Path. It rained all day.

Walked from Barnstaple to Woolacombe today. Day 3 is the worst day for your legs and feet. If you have a spare tenner please consider donating here www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-...

Walked from Brownsham to Peppercombe with it's famous red cliffs. Too far for day 1.

About 10 years ago Ray founded a charity, Quality In Parkinson’s (qualityinparkinsons.org.uk), to help others with Parkinson's.

Our charity funds projects and initiatives to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson's - dance classes, music, art therapy, social events and so on.