I have a hankering to run a marathon and to walk the Pennine Way, but I know I won’t do either, because firstly, I’m not built to run a marathon and secondly, the Pennines are miles away. So it’s far easier to sit and read about it whilst the author does all the hard work. You get less injuries this way, trust me!
Our author is 42 years old and has started reading the “Today’s Birthdays” in the daily newspaper and getting very excited when he discovers famous people older than himself. However, he feels he must walk the Pennine Way as he lives near the start of it in Derbyshire. Also he is in the middle of a mid-life crisis, not his, but his dog called Boogie.
He finds an ‘activity emporium’ where he can buy his walking equipment. It seems a compass, a map, a cagoule, a change of clothes and a first-aid kit are no longer acceptable. Now you have to buy waterproofs that have membranes that breathe and have stress resistance and boots that cost over £100.
So man and reluctant dog set off one Monday morning.
This book is a wonderful account of their adventures, the people and other dogs they meet. Boogie really doesn’t want to be there as everyone comments who meet him. Mistakenly, our author feels walking the Pennine Way figured high on Boogies list of ambitions, somewhere between winning Best Mongrel at Crufts and being Lassie’s understudy.
The book describes the male-bonding between man and dog. However, I’m not sure they actually achieve this.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s easy to read and makes you laugh. Highly recommended.
Happy Reading, the Bradworthy Book Reviewer