After training for about six months, we finally managed to walk the whole of the ring road, 55 km door to door, at the sixth attempt. At 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, four of us -- Steve Spansk, 56, and Andy Ringwall, 40, both from Sweden; Geir Salamonsen, 46, from Norway, and myself from England (forget about age) set off from Lamai.

Straight away, Steve and Andy showed signs of being pace-setters, so I told myself we were going to have a job keeping up with them. But we decided that we were not going to be left behind. Consequently, our times at every landmark were good.

We were all carrying very little, stopping at shops for water or chocolate and the odd pharmacy for electrolyte. One of the guys bought a bunch of bananas, which we all shared very gratefully.    We were all staying fairly close together and keeping good time until we stopped at a shop just before the big hill, about 5 km north of Nathon.   Andy put a new pair of socks on, threw his old ones away and set off like a man on a mission!   Within 15 minutes he was about 200 meters ahead of us, but we all stopped for a short break at the top of the hill.

At the foot of the hill, about three km from Nathon, Steve hit "the wall"; his leg muscles were very tired.   There was a nice beachside restaurant nearby, so I suggested that he should stop for food, drink and rest and then catch a songtheaw back to Nathon.

We left him there and walked on.    Fifteen minutes later, we stopped for a few minutes in a shop. I looked outside and Steve was there, talking to Andy.  He'd had a second wind and was tired but okay.

At one point, I thought that Geir was losing the plot. We had stopped for a chat and he spent 30 or 40 seconds talking to me in Norwegian, until I stopped him and said, "Geir mate, I'm Des, I'm English and I don't speak a word of Norwegian!”

When the four of us reached the town, our two Swedish friends decided that they couldn't go on and they were going to stop there for food and drinks and then get a songthaew back to Lamai.    This was at 1 p.m, so they had done 35 km in exactly six hours -- a no mean feat!   We shook hands and Geir and I decided to walk on.

Earlier, Geir had told us that he had a bottle of champagne, waiting on ice for us in Lamai, if we completed the 55 km.   Talk about "dangling a carrot!"    When we left Nathon, I had no serious aches or pains (just fatigue!) and Geir said he felt the same.    Once or twice, I truly considered giving up but Geir kept on encouraging me and the carrot was still dangling!

I knew the final 20 km into Lamai were going to be tough and I thought our pace would slow down dramatically. But after covering a third of the distance, rains came. They brought our body temperatures down and helped quicken our pace.

Then they stopped. But just as we were beginning to dry, heavier rains came. This time, we really got drenched. And we stayed wet right through to the finish.

It was just before 5 p.m. when we reached Lamai and shook hands before going our separate ways.   Just then, Steve and his wife pulled up on their motorbike and applauded us.

We decided we were too tired to enjoy the champagne that night and arranged to leave the celebrations till the following evening. I had a shower and went (very slowly) for dinner with friends.   I was very hungry -- bananas, electrolyte, chocolate and Coke weren't quite enough for me.   After dinner I went home (very slowly), hit the sack at 7.30 and I was asleep by 7.31.   I slept for 12 hours and feel as good as new the following morning.

At dinner on Jan. 4, friends from Amy Village, where Geir is staying, told me that Geir had big blisters but he hadn't complained once on the walk. I have big respect for that man because he kept me going. Had he quit, I would have quit too.   Also, many thanks to Andy and Steve (Speedy Gonzales) for their company as well as their fast pace-setting.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has ever done this walk before.   If someone out there has heard of anyone else being crazy enough to do this, please let me know.   I've no real plans to do it again but "I never say never!"    A few friends are showing an interest but they know what they have to do before they attempt the full 55 km.