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When I Walk, I Bounce: Walking From Land's End To John O'groats
Convinced that walking from Land's End to John o'Groats will be a pleasant way to spend the summer, Mark Moxon soon discovers that there's a lot more to crossing Britain than simply putting one foot in front of the other. In this entertaining and frequently hilarious book, Mark takes us on a journey not only of 1111 miles, but of the highs and lows of long-distance walking.
'I read the entire journey cover to cover in a couple of days. Totally fascinating, very amusing.' - Howard J
'I highly recommend that people read it from start to finish. It is a great tale ' - Peter K
'Thank you for being so enthusiastic about travelling and revealing your passion in such a constructive way ' - Jenny S
'A certain cure for a jaded outlook.' - Marilyn S
'You can't put it down.' - Frank W
'A great job ' - Kevin P
'I read the entire journey cover to cover in a couple of days. Totally fascinating, very amusing.' - Howard J
'I highly recommend that people read it from start to finish. It is a great tale ' - Peter K
'Thank you for being so enthusiastic about travelling and revealing your passion in such a constructive way ' - Jenny S
'A certain cure for a jaded outlook.' - Marilyn S
'You can't put it down.' - Frank W
'A great job ' - Kevin P
- GenresNonfictionTravel
236 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
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13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2015
I tried, I really did. I wanted to finish this. But when I'd rather stab out my eyes than force them to slog through another do-nothing-at-all chapter, I decided to save myself.
It was supposed to be an informative take on tramping through the quaint English countryside. Instead, it was a cry baby tell-all of rainy days, blisters, horrible food, no service, bad hotel rooms, and much, much, much, more... Written as sort of a journal, every day is recorded in monotonous detail. Explicit descriptions of the most inane and boring experiences; and one day is pretty much similar to every other in a repetitive, tedious cycle. There's constant whining of stuff he dislikes - which is quite a long list...
I hated that he had such disparaging things to say about the countryside. He hated the moors, the hedges, and didn't care to see local sights because - "Oh No!... More Walking!!!" Shut up, you were writing a book about walking!!!
So good luck if you decide to trudge through this one. Or if you happen to have a terrible problem with insomnia, then I heartily recommend this book!
However...
Just sayin'
It was supposed to be an informative take on tramping through the quaint English countryside. Instead, it was a cry baby tell-all of rainy days, blisters, horrible food, no service, bad hotel rooms, and much, much, much, more... Written as sort of a journal, every day is recorded in monotonous detail. Explicit descriptions of the most inane and boring experiences; and one day is pretty much similar to every other in a repetitive, tedious cycle. There's constant whining of stuff he dislikes - which is quite a long list...
I hated that he had such disparaging things to say about the countryside. He hated the moors, the hedges, and didn't care to see local sights because - "Oh No!... More Walking!!!" Shut up, you were writing a book about walking!!!
So good luck if you decide to trudge through this one. Or if you happen to have a terrible problem with insomnia, then I heartily recommend this book!
However...
Just sayin'
September 23, 2011
I read this book while I was planning my LEJOG (cycling) trip. There are a few bits of useful information about particular routes, but the main thing I got out of this was that walking is boring, because you're staring at the same scenery for a long time. Cycling seems like the optimal speed, because it's fast enough to allow variety while still being slow enough that you can actually look around and appreciate your surroundings (unlike driving).
Read
May 4, 2020I used to be a reasonably keen walker. I've enjoyed some of my treks more than others, of course, and the ones which weren't accross cold, wet countryside. In the dark. Worrying that I was going into an ambush, or that the officer with the map was as dangerous as everyone says...
OK, so aside of a bit of military yomping, I have walked in Germany and Austria and a little bit of Wales, and loved all of it. I now live in very flat country and have teenagers so there's not much yomping around but just lately, inspired by a mad French film and a book about a man with a donkey doing the Camino Santiago (yes, Tim Moore - Travels With a Donkey only whetted my apetite) I've been thinking that it's time to do some more walking.
So I had high hopes of this book, if you can still call them that when you're reading them on an electronic device? Not only is it about one of The Big Walks - Land's End to John o'Groats - incorporating One of the Walks I've Often Fancied Doing Even A Small Part Of - the Penine Way - but it was written by someone who used to be a Big Cheese on h2g2.
Mark Moxon, an experienced walker, set off in May 2003, and his plan involved a combination of B&B places, small hotels and campsites. Wisely he also planned in some rest days and their importance became clear almost from the beginning. Moxon didn't detail the entire contents of his pack, but at a weight of 17kgs even from the first page I was wondering how long he'd manage with all that.
Not long as it turned out, eagle-eyed readers like me will have spotted the first problem when he mentioned his brand new tent... and indeed we didn't get very far before one of the poles snapped, irrepairably (not even with gaffer tape) and the camping strategy had to be re-thought. Luckily Mark had back-up in the form of his girlfriend, Peeta, who arranged B&B accommodation for him and, having jettisoned (and posted to Peeta) a large amount of redundant items from his pack, Mark set off again.
So the first part of the walk is through Cornwall and Devon. In Cornwall there were great views, but often he was walking between very high hedges, which are typical for Cornish roads. Devon was pretty much the same. Around about now I spotted the second warning sign. The boots were new for this trek.
New boots and not much of a view due to high hedges. The first niggles and whinges began. There was a lot of talk about blisters and painful feet, even though the reader was told that the blisters are a fact of a long-distance walker's life and wouldn't be mentioned.
Oh and dogs. Walkers meet dogs. Sometimes without owners. Mark doesn't like them.
A little later, in North Devon we found something else that Mark doesn't like. Moors. He hates them because they are creepy and boring.
So, yaayy, it was a relief to hear that he likes real ale. And walking along canals. Super.
Thus the tone of the book was set. Whinge about the hedges/moors/blisters/stray dogs. And relief when he can walk along a canal - because they usually stay at the same level - and even more relief when he's in a nice little pub, preferably without a jukebox, slurping a pint of Sheepdip. Or whatever.
Gloucestershire, the Severn and up to the midlands - from whence Moxon hails. Praise be. The whinges about dogs and blisters remain but he loves the picturesque midlands. And beer.
More about the midlands and we move into Derbyshire. The Penine Way beckons.
Now, last month I was in the Peak National park because it's near where I grew up. It is totally gorgeous and it is where the Penine Way rises on it's journey to Scotland. It's famous, lots of people have done it, attempted it, been broken by it, are planning to do it and so on. It must have something that attracts walkers. But... according to Mark Moxon it is something to be endured. The whole section on the Penine Way is one huge whingefest interspersed with a few nice snippets about friendly B&Bs, pubs and good beer. But mostly it is a whine about how horrible and boring moors are, how peat bogs are dangerous and horrible and how the weather was awful.
A quick word about the weather. From April to October Europe sweltered under a seemingly endless heatwave. In Germany it reached 42°C at the end of August.
But Mark seemed to be something like the Creepy Coupe car in the Wacky Races. Where he went it rained. He didn't like that. When it didn't rain and the sun came out he didn't like that either. The weather rained or shone, and he plodded on moaning about his boots which were starting to fall apart, stray dogs, moors, peat bogs, the rain and the sun. And later the midges.
In fact, it was starting to sound like a manifesto for the Anti Yorkshire Party (London Branch) when finally the Penine Way came to an end and - praise be - we arrived in Scotland. Which was much more fun and pretty and had much better weather and not a moor or bog in sight.
I was beginning to lose the will to open the book (switch on my Kindle) or turn the page (press the Next Page Button). But, I thought, surely he'll start to enjoy it. But no. He didn't start to enjoy it. By this time it is the end of August, he misses his girlfriend (understandable) and he is starting to loathe his day-job. Hang on - his day job is walking around Scotland at the moment, and as far as I can gather, nobody was holding a gun to his head.
So, I accompanied Mark as far as Loch Lomond and I couldn't take any more, closed it and can't bring myself to push through to the end.
And don't anybody DARE come back now and say "but that's the best bit, where he has a lot of fun, enjoys himself, gets new boots that don't hurt and discovers that he loves moors and Yorkshire, after all."
Sorry. I read a lot of this type of book. Some exasperate sometimes, some make me a little bit cross sometimes. Perhaps Mark Moxon should read some Bill Bryson, Tim Moor or - my favourite - Charlie Connoley. And then have another go.
OK, so aside of a bit of military yomping, I have walked in Germany and Austria and a little bit of Wales, and loved all of it. I now live in very flat country and have teenagers so there's not much yomping around but just lately, inspired by a mad French film and a book about a man with a donkey doing the Camino Santiago (yes, Tim Moore - Travels With a Donkey only whetted my apetite) I've been thinking that it's time to do some more walking.
So I had high hopes of this book, if you can still call them that when you're reading them on an electronic device? Not only is it about one of The Big Walks - Land's End to John o'Groats - incorporating One of the Walks I've Often Fancied Doing Even A Small Part Of - the Penine Way - but it was written by someone who used to be a Big Cheese on h2g2.
Mark Moxon, an experienced walker, set off in May 2003, and his plan involved a combination of B&B places, small hotels and campsites. Wisely he also planned in some rest days and their importance became clear almost from the beginning. Moxon didn't detail the entire contents of his pack, but at a weight of 17kgs even from the first page I was wondering how long he'd manage with all that.
Not long as it turned out, eagle-eyed readers like me will have spotted the first problem when he mentioned his brand new tent... and indeed we didn't get very far before one of the poles snapped, irrepairably (not even with gaffer tape) and the camping strategy had to be re-thought. Luckily Mark had back-up in the form of his girlfriend, Peeta, who arranged B&B accommodation for him and, having jettisoned (and posted to Peeta) a large amount of redundant items from his pack, Mark set off again.
So the first part of the walk is through Cornwall and Devon. In Cornwall there were great views, but often he was walking between very high hedges, which are typical for Cornish roads. Devon was pretty much the same. Around about now I spotted the second warning sign. The boots were new for this trek.
New boots and not much of a view due to high hedges. The first niggles and whinges began. There was a lot of talk about blisters and painful feet, even though the reader was told that the blisters are a fact of a long-distance walker's life and wouldn't be mentioned.
Oh and dogs. Walkers meet dogs. Sometimes without owners. Mark doesn't like them.
A little later, in North Devon we found something else that Mark doesn't like. Moors. He hates them because they are creepy and boring.
So, yaayy, it was a relief to hear that he likes real ale. And walking along canals. Super.
Thus the tone of the book was set. Whinge about the hedges/moors/blisters/stray dogs. And relief when he can walk along a canal - because they usually stay at the same level - and even more relief when he's in a nice little pub, preferably without a jukebox, slurping a pint of Sheepdip. Or whatever.
Gloucestershire, the Severn and up to the midlands - from whence Moxon hails. Praise be. The whinges about dogs and blisters remain but he loves the picturesque midlands. And beer.
More about the midlands and we move into Derbyshire. The Penine Way beckons.
Now, last month I was in the Peak National park because it's near where I grew up. It is totally gorgeous and it is where the Penine Way rises on it's journey to Scotland. It's famous, lots of people have done it, attempted it, been broken by it, are planning to do it and so on. It must have something that attracts walkers. But... according to Mark Moxon it is something to be endured. The whole section on the Penine Way is one huge whingefest interspersed with a few nice snippets about friendly B&Bs, pubs and good beer. But mostly it is a whine about how horrible and boring moors are, how peat bogs are dangerous and horrible and how the weather was awful.
A quick word about the weather. From April to October Europe sweltered under a seemingly endless heatwave. In Germany it reached 42°C at the end of August.
But Mark seemed to be something like the Creepy Coupe car in the Wacky Races. Where he went it rained. He didn't like that. When it didn't rain and the sun came out he didn't like that either. The weather rained or shone, and he plodded on moaning about his boots which were starting to fall apart, stray dogs, moors, peat bogs, the rain and the sun. And later the midges.
In fact, it was starting to sound like a manifesto for the Anti Yorkshire Party (London Branch) when finally the Penine Way came to an end and - praise be - we arrived in Scotland. Which was much more fun and pretty and had much better weather and not a moor or bog in sight.
I was beginning to lose the will to open the book (switch on my Kindle) or turn the page (press the Next Page Button). But, I thought, surely he'll start to enjoy it. But no. He didn't start to enjoy it. By this time it is the end of August, he misses his girlfriend (understandable) and he is starting to loathe his day-job. Hang on - his day job is walking around Scotland at the moment, and as far as I can gather, nobody was holding a gun to his head.
So, I accompanied Mark as far as Loch Lomond and I couldn't take any more, closed it and can't bring myself to push through to the end.
And don't anybody DARE come back now and say "but that's the best bit, where he has a lot of fun, enjoys himself, gets new boots that don't hurt and discovers that he loves moors and Yorkshire, after all."
Sorry. I read a lot of this type of book. Some exasperate sometimes, some make me a little bit cross sometimes. Perhaps Mark Moxon should read some Bill Bryson, Tim Moor or - my favourite - Charlie Connoley. And then have another go.
June 7, 2020
Chilled out tale, really encouraged
Lots of people can write walking tales, but this one was really enjoyable, due to his chilled out style. It brought the walk alive. I have to differ with him on his view of moors as I love them, but being able to disagree didn't the book any less enjoyable. It was great to hear off all the small and insignificant places along the way, which fibre the journey it's charm. There were lots of ideas of route options, and he made the journey fell achievable. Seventeen years later, I hope you are having many more adventures, Mark.
Lots of people can write walking tales, but this one was really enjoyable, due to his chilled out style. It brought the walk alive. I have to differ with him on his view of moors as I love them, but being able to disagree didn't the book any less enjoyable. It was great to hear off all the small and insignificant places along the way, which fibre the journey it's charm. There were lots of ideas of route options, and he made the journey fell achievable. Seventeen years later, I hope you are having many more adventures, Mark.
September 23, 2020
A long walk northwards
The writer takes us with him as he plods forever northwards. As the writer continues his journey North he writes about his feelings of loneliness his agonising pains due to countless blisters and the joys he finds along his daily ploddings.
The writer takes us with him as he plods forever northwards. As the writer continues his journey North he writes about his feelings of loneliness his agonising pains due to countless blisters and the joys he finds along his daily ploddings.
November 22, 2015
Moxon is an independent writer in the real sense.
Reading Moxon makes some changes in your perspectives to life.
You get freedom from chains.
No more cults, no more obsessions, I mean..
Reading Moxon makes some changes in your perspectives to life.
You get freedom from chains.
No more cults, no more obsessions, I mean..
March 23, 2014
I love this travel story. Inspirational and it's always a fabulous read. Get's a little repetitive over the Pennines, but otherwise wonderful.
August 12, 2012
Overall good though a little too much complaining for my liking, also quite a high ratio of un-amusing quips. Worth a read though.
September 8, 2013
Enjoyed Mark's book written with humor & honesty about some the tough times he had during the walk. Very informative.
September 16, 2018
Predictable but nonetheless I am always 'drawn' to this type of book and enjoy everyone of them!
October 29, 2018
Good reading
Really enjoyed the book and the journey so much that when the pennines were been crossed and slated I wanted to reach into my kindle and throttle him I am from the pennines
Really enjoyed the book and the journey so much that when the pennines were been crossed and slated I wanted to reach into my kindle and throttle him I am from the pennines
December 18, 2021
Inspiring
Loved this book so much that it has inspired me to look at tackling the walk in a few years when my son has grown up. Having done quite a few of the long distance walks in Scotland I would love to challenge myself to do this.
Loved this book so much that it has inspired me to look at tackling the walk in a few years when my son has grown up. Having done quite a few of the long distance walks in Scotland I would love to challenge myself to do this.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews