Before the walk could begin, we were transported between the car park and the start line. A journey of 3.5 miles with one turn should have taken 8 minutes. This assumes the coach driver doesn't take the wrong turn!

After just 1.5 miles we passed the site where Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found following the Novichok poisoning on 4th March 2018. Salisbury Cathedral was soon part of the route bathed in early morning sunlight as we past the 2 mile marker.

Sarah suffered the first injury of the day after just 4.5 miles when she was stung on the hand by a rogue nettle.

It is the first time I have walked 7 miles before 9.30am since my uniformed days. We regularly used to take short breaks in a variety of military camps when I was in the school CCF.

As we walked the 12th mile, the midday sun was beating down upon us - the heat an issue for much of the rest of the walk. Vulture stripped carcasses lined the route and it felt like days since we had last eaten or drunk anything.

At the halfway point were able to rest and take on refreshments, We were also told the second half of the trek was easier - this was clearly a lie designed to boost our flagging morale.

We heard shots behind us at 15 mile. We were sure the stragglers had been picked off so we tried to pick up the pace.

At 18 miles we had a wonderful view of Stonehenge from the opposite side of the A303. As we walked on, I realised we were walking slightly quicker than the westbound traffic. I had blisters the size of dinner plates on the soles of my feet by now.

23 miles, I recorded the simple message "nearly dead."

Every one of the mile markers in the last five miles had apparently been mis-measured. It was clear as we struggled with every inch of them they had been put at three mile distances rather than one.

Finished in every sense of the word. Praying for an early visit from the Grim Reaper. I notified my friend it had taken us three weeks but apparently we had only been walking for just under nine hours. There is a sense of euphoria at having finished such a challenge but our feet are reminding us of their need for attention.

Well done us and thanks for the support of all our friends and relatives whose generous donations will make such a massive difference to so many.

Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia
forever.Until the day we find a cure, we will create a society where
those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in
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