Countdown to Picos

[Bierzo Baggie]

I'm relieved (as I'm sure Mrs BB is) that you're not lying twisted and torn in the depths of some impossible gorge. As one who suffers a fear of heights - a tall curb can induce irratiojnal vertigo - I found some of the descriptions in your report truly harrowing.

The challenge was always the thing; the fact that you rose to it so admirably sets you apart from the rest of us.

It's all in the mind mate.

As I mentioned in the race report I didn't feel exposed or at risk at any point. Thousands of people do these routes walking every year. OK, very occasionally one or two fall off but that's normally because they got lost in the mist and went the wrong way. I didn't perceive any significant danger otherwise I would have turned back. One of the reasons I didn't make the cut off time was because I was probably over-cautious but that's the way it had to be.

On the other hand there's a lot of stuff you might take for granted and I'm terrified of... motorbikes, air travel, motorhead concerts, crossing the road...

Enjoyed the letters from America immensely by the way Cheers all!