Well, I’m still sat here, doing nowt. They don’t want me to go driving, I’m most miffed. Meanwhile, there’s been a shooting in Fallowfield and Wilmslow Road is closed off. We think that most of the walkers had got through before the cordon was thrown up (and we don’t think any of the walkers were involved, though you never know.) And tomorrow there’s an anti war march, along a stretch of the road the walk goes along. We could take pictures of that and claim it was Bogle, but I doubt anyone would believe us.

Tim has just shown me many embarrassing pictures from Beer Fest (including a couple where, for no good reason, I have my belt undone.) Prepare for a caption competition on oldhacks.co.uk.

And they’re off! 50 walkers just left the Students’ Association. Of course, this means there are almost as many marshalls and drivers as participants, which can’t be a good thing.

I have arrived at Bogle central, and it is a hive of inactivity. Nothing happens until after 7 o’clock anyway.

Well, it�s raining, which is never a good thing for Bogle. Fine weather would mean a few last minute entries, people who�ve been umming and ahhing about it for a while and don�t realise the horrendous toll 55 miles will have on untrained feet. But rain can mean that even some of the people who�ve paid their entry fees will decide not to bother. It�s also no fun for the people who have to man the checkpoints. They get all the disadvantages the walkers have- cold, wet, awake at a really stupid time of day- without the advantage of being able to move and generate a little body heat.

Which is why, as ever, I�m driving.

It could be worse. I remember one year there was a foot of snow on the ground.

Okay, there�s not a lot of Bogling going on at the moment. The plan is to go into town this afternoon and sort out when and where I�m needed. In the meantime, I have a whole load o� database to build (back in Brum again on Monday).

Thinking about what Brian said, it is a shame that The Stroll isn�t as big as it used to be. The problem is, this would require someone to work almost full time publicising the event, practically from right after the previous one ended. They could get in touch with local hiking and cycling clubs, sending out missives every month or so saying X days until the walk, how many people do you plan to enter, etc. etc. The route goes past at least two Territorial Army bases, so it could be sold to them as a big challenge- see which TA team could get round first. There�s bound to be more- magazines, local news etc. There�s no way a student group could be organised enough to sort all of this out. But it doesn�t mean I won�t get drunk tomorrow night and tell people this is what they should do.