To celebrate my 70th birthday, and to raise money for Meal-a-Day, I am undertaking four outdoor challenges, by canoe or bicycle:

Challenge no. 1:  May 29th - June 2nd 2016.  I'm planning to take a canoe, and my two youngest granddaughters, down the Thames from Lechlade for 70 kilometers, camping by the river.

 NOW COMPLETED !!  What a tough trip !! We had to contend with strong headwinds, difficult landings and rain, not to mention a heavily laden boat. The girls loved it, but it took Grandma several days to recover !

No.2:  June 23rd to 28th 2016:  Seventy miles by sea kayak with a group of friends, on the west coast of Scotland, with 4 or 5 nights wild camping.From the Isle of Bute to Oban.

2nd CHALLENGE NOW ALSO COMPLETED !

No.3:  September 2016:  A 'seventies' journey by open canoe, travelling on seven Scottish lochs and including part of the Great Glen Canoe Trail.

3rd CHALLENGE NOW COMPLETED   70 miles in total, but not quite as planned ! It took three trips to Scotland to complete the miles, due to very strong winds stopping play !!

4th AND FINAL CHALLENGE NOW COMPLETED.  May 19th to 24th 2017:   Seven Hebridean islands :  Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist,  Benbecula , Grimsay and North Uist. Problems with the ferry to and from Oban, and strong head winds once we turned South meant that we had to shorten the route, but we covered about 106 miles. A tough trip - but that's the Outer Hebrides for you !