The Delhi belly, the Madras marimba, the Bangalore bebop and other lovely euphemisms for the violent involuntary evacuation that overtakes you when infected with some gastro bug don’t really colour it that well.
I lost the last 2 days, missed the ferry to Sark and the plane to Alderney.
On the plus side, I was running a size smaller trousers – not as a result of the Punjabi polka – so, yeah to me. This meant buying new of course and that seemed to be difficult. So much so, that I’ve gone a bit overboard on the trek pants and the wonderful FjallRaven shirts in order to be stocked for the rest of my natural.
However, as I left for a couple of days to complete this walk I heard them calling out when I had the wardrobe door open, ‘Take me! Pick me! I haven’t had a go yet. Pleeeease!’
It also seems that the quality has changed in the pants department, for these new ones are not nettle proof – a very necessary characteristic.

The Channel Islands – wonderful. Hard enough on the cliffs and climbs but interspersed with long beach runs – if you’re lucky enough with the tides – and plenty of rest spots and outs if you need them. Of course, as always, go on the shoulder seasons, spring or September. That way you’ll have plenty of stages with little or no people getting in your way.
The French names mixed with the English language are always a nice thing to see. provided that you are a Francophile like moi.
Connections to the smaller islands are from Guernsey and frequent enough to make life easy.
Jersey – apart from the horrendous start I enjoyed the next 2 days. Everything waking up again. It is wonderful to feel your body responding even at my age. Loads of climbs and descents and along with Guernsey the slightly weird German WW2 defences everywhere.
Guernsey – feeling so strong that I did the whole thing in 2 days (more than 20 miles a day) and ended up with a half-day off. Got to see seals, dolphins and of course the red arrows. Though was punished for my hubris (see above).
Herm island – no traffic, no cars, beautiful beach just past Oyster point – Mouisonniere beach – a lovely couple of hours. Just right for a morning jaunt and a nice lunch in the hotel before a joyful trip back on the little ferry.
Sark – very lovely. An ideal location for a day’s walk. Country Lanes and grassy cliff top paths and no traffic.
Alderney – much more like a small Guernsey, plenty of cars around and fortified to the hilt. Nothing too strenuous but I did have to hump it from the airport to the coast and back as an unwanted add-on. Lovely little airport and planes. Apart from the necessary security – a quick walk through a machine – it feels much like things used to be before those nasty terrorist bods spoilt flying for everyone.