The beginning of March finally gives me the opportunity to tie up the loose ends on our 2015 Autism Guernsey 365 Project, which took place every Wednesday throughout last year in the form of walking around the coast of Guernsey 13 times, a quarter every week, irrespective of weather conditions on the day, and cleaning cliff path steps. Our original target was, like all other participants, to raise £365 in 365 days, by me doing the walking around the cliff and coastal paths of Guernsey in the 52 weekly walks, and both my wife, Angela, and I also cleaning 365 cliff path steps in and around the Moulin Huet / Saints Bay area. The whole project is documented in this blog, outlining the story throughout the year through the eyes of both myself and Angela.
I cannot thank enough the many people who have contributed financially to the project; there are several examples of individual donations that are documented in the blog, but the final outcome is that we have paid into Autism Guernsey a staggering £2,555, which in fact represents 7 times the £365 that we originally set out to raise!
Finally I could not finish this last blog entry without thanking Anne and Clive, who were both so committed to and supportive of my weekly walking programme whenever they were available, and my wife, Angela, who not only completed my weekly blog, but helped me clean cliff path steps, and supported me throughout this demanding project.
Last word from Angela – I had the easy bit, believe me, but it has been an honour and a privilege to support my husband through this huge undertaking, seeing his grit and determination to get through the hard stages, and his delight at the many expressions of true charity and generosity he experienced on the way. I’m not sure his knees will fully recover, but that doesn’t stop him continuing with his activities – maybe not quite so demanding as the Icart to Pleinmont stretch of the cliff path, however! Thank you one and all who helped him achieve the truly magnificent sum he raised – every penny a valuable contribution for the work so needed, fulfilled by Autism Guernsey.
We recently enjoyed a well-earned break in Lisbon with Andy, our son, whose brainchild Autism Guernsey was, and the Autism365 project. He worked so hard to set it up and establish it – now he is working on new projects, but they will still be for the benefit of those on the autistic spectrum.
The strong wind made for some spectacular sea scenes as we made our way along the well-trodden coastal path to Bordeaux Harbour, but it was difficult with the wind blowing directly at us or pushing us sideways. Being very much aware of the predicted wet weather forecast for later in the morning the group were conscious of keeping up a good pace, and it was some relief for all of us to get into the country lanes and sheltered from the wind. Nicole, a former work colleague, joined in the walk as this point – it was great to see her again after last seeing her complete the Sally Davies cliff walk way back in April this year. I loved seeing the sheep and Guernsey goats once more, they have been such a feature on this leg throughout the year.
Cobo Bay, bathed in sunshine on this December morning and with the tide well out, looked picture postcard, although there was not a lot of people on the beach, a total contrast to the busy summer months when there are many holidaymakers and locals using the popular resort.
I am very much indebted to my regular walking colleagues, Clive, Anne and Sue, and to my son Andy – who dreamed up and established Autism Guernsey and the 365 Challenge – who have joined me at regular times during the year, and to other individuals who have come along for a one-off walk.
Although Angela did not do any of the weekly walks (dodgy knees!) we worked together on cleaning the steps in and around Moulin Huet and all of the work in editing and compiling the weekly blog is very much down to her skills and commitment, a huge task.
Weather conditions were favourable, despite the sky being somewhat dull, with the temperature around 14 degrees, very mild for this time of the year. It was great to have both Anne and Clive with me again today – both now in their 70s I may add; this would be Anne’s last walk as she will be off island for Christmas and New Year. They have both been absolute rocks of support throughout 2015, having participated in many of the weekly walks as well as making generous donations to the project.
The topic of conversation very much centred on just how mild it was here in the middle of December, a huge bonus today on this section where poor weather conditions just add to the difficult walking terrain. Despite the difficulties the views are just staggeringly spectacular and well worth the additional physical and mental efforts you need to make. Arriving at Petit Bot we were reaching to take off at least one layer of clothing, it was so mild, and navigating the steep climb up the steps to the top of the valley has always been a real lung buster. What a view from the top of here, though, not only of the sea but back up the valley of Petit Bot. I often wonder just how many locals and holidaymakers have this shot in their photographic collections.
The walk back down the steep cliff path steps is again just breathtakingly beautiful with the sea as spectacular as it was today, just adding that extra dimension. Climbing up again towards the Gouffre cafe we met a lone local walker who was also anxious to take in the sea views today. It was very quiet around the tearooms as they are closed over the Christmas period, so we quickly moved on towards the Snail House and then up through the National Trust land towards La Corbiere. 
Anne, who only normally walks this far on this particular leg, left us at the car park, and Clive and I headed towards Les Tielles, knowing full well the physical and mental challenges we faced: what appears to be an endless “up and down” of cliff path steps, that at times are different heights and depths. There is, in my opinion, only one way to approach this stretch, a strategy I have adopted on all 13 legs I have completed this year, and that is to just hit it as hard as you possibly can, both physically and mentally, and that is just what we did again today. The rewards are just staggering, not only knowing you have completed the section, but it is also an outstanding area of natural beauty that you never get fed up of seeing, irrespective of whatever walking conditions you meet on the day.
Descending from the Point at Pleinmont and onto the coast road heading towards the Kiosk and toilets at Portelet gave both us the time to reflect on our personal experiences on this tough leg; Clive is very much at home and knows this leg very well as he often walks in the area, while for me there was a huge feeling of relief at having completed all 13 legs throughout the year for the project. What staggers me more than anything is this – having taken the trouble to count the cliff path steps with a clicker machine there are 1, 924 steps between Icart and Pleinmont, and 1,575 between The Aquarium, St Peter Port, and Icart. If you add these together and multiply x 13(legs), then it works out at a staggering 45,487 steps walked, either up or down throughout 2015 on this project!
today despite the mild conditions, and both Anne and I were struggling by the time we reached the top. Angela, my wife, was there to greet us as she had brought Andy, our son, to join us. She had already dropped him off at Doyle Monument as they did not know exactly where we would be, and he was heading back towards us on the cliff path from Petit Port. Anne decided not to miss the opportunity of a lift back home with Angela at this point – normally she would drop off just before Moulin Huet and head back home into St Martin’s and leave me and Clive to continue on to Icart, but today she felt she had done enough.
On we went around to Moulin Huet, and, taking the lower steps today, we were able to get a very clear view of the battery that recently was featured in a double colour spread by reporter Rob Batiste for the local newspaper, the Guernsey Press.
We quickly got through to Perelle Bay and around to Richmond, where I was somewhat concerned that the stronger wind would be blowing sand in our eyes, but this did not happen as the sand was quite wet. There were very few dog walkers out today although the few that were out were going all the way to the waterline with their dogs. No matter what the weather is like Vistas Cafe always seems to have people in, and today was no exception, all taking the opportunity to get some refreshment and shelter from the weather. On towards Cobo, and with the pink granite rocks it looked reminiscent of a moon landing site as you viewed the area.
Despite the difficulty the big bonus was the fabulous sea views with the angry sea battering into the rocks and producing some spectacular photographic opportunities. It was great to have a chat with John along the way: he walks regularly and is very knowledgeable about walks throughout the island.
At one point along this stretch we stopped to watch a quite spectacular occurrence as the sea was smashing into the rocks so hard it produced what can only be described as a sort of ‘bubble machine’, throwing foam with hundreds of bubbles up and above the cliff face and over our heads and settling in the fields behind us.
STEPS 365 