The simple truth is the vast majority of human beings on this planet want the same thing, to live their lives free from fear, persecution and want for the basic necessities of live, for their children to have a better future than they did. Perhaps one day we'll achieve it and consign terrorism and all the other cruelties of this world to the dustbin of history, where they belong.
On a lighter note the Yorkshire Three Peaks team kicked off training for the big event with a hike around Stanage Edge. It was supposed to be gentle 12.5 mile introduction to the challenge, to start building up our stamina for the main event. However due to some challenging route finding, disappearing and non-existent paths, plus the occasional and thankfully docile bull, we had to improvise, resulting in a bog-hopping, stream crossing 15.5 mile adventure. The next training exercise in a couple of weeks, circumnavigating the summit of Kinder Scout, should be easier, if not shorter. Keep edge of mountain to left and keep walking till you get back to where you started from. What can possibly go wrong?
I've got a few odd days annual leave to use up, so I'm off to Ennerdale in the Lake District tomorrow to bag a few fells and put in some extra training. The Ennderdale Horseshoe is considered one of the toughest in the Lakes. Around 18 miles length (there's no definitive route) it takes in some of the Lakes most converted peaks, over challenging terrain, involving around 7,000ft of ascent. I certainly won't be doing all of it while I'm there, but biting off a few smaller and more manageable chunks of Ennderdale. Perhaps it should be next year's challenge?
Finally there's also a new short-story on my blog. As always I hope you like it and if not it'll be replaced by another one before long.