Well, my original description of the Grizzly as cold, wet, windy, muddy, slippery, demanding and strength sapping were absolutely correct. In all truth, Sunday's weather was quite kind, despite a strong wind; there were only a few wintery showers and the occasional hail storm which did make the ground very slippery and the bog section of the course even wetter and colder than I had hoped for.

After months of hard work fundraising and long walks in training for the Donkey Sanctuary Spanish trek, the day finally arrived for myself, Laura Beer and Pam Smiley to meet at Gatwick. We quickly dropped off our small but surprisingly heavy bags to free us up to buy a few last minute essentials and some strong coffee, it having been an early start. In no time at all we were in Malaga airport to meet up with our guides for the week, Pete and Chantal.

What a special visit we had last Friday! As I was busy munching away my morning hay and straw, I saw three ladies approaching the farm. It was the Spanish Trek Challenge Ladies - as Romero my donkey friend, who always hears the news before I do, told me later.

Laura Beer from Stoke Canon, near Exeter, has signed up for a charity trek in Spain, in aid of the Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary.

After what seems like months of perpetual rain, the sun has come out at last. Just the sort of weather to be sitting in a park listening to a brass band!