Coast to Coast, over 200 miles - DONE!!

We woke to the persistent pattering of rain on the tent with a sense of relief that, despite sore and achy feet, we had completed the walk a day early.
Amazingly, from waking at just after 7am, we arrived home in Shipley in 4hrs later, thanks to great bus and train connections.
So what happened to the pebbles we picked up at St Bees and carefully carried with us all across the country? Well I couldn't bear to part with them and so have created a Coast to Coast pebble cairn as a reminder of our achievement!
Thank you to all who have been following the blog, thinking about us, praying for us and have sponsored us - we really do appreciate you all - Nick n Sue
(if you haven't sponsored us and would like to you can by going to our justgiving page - thank you x)

A big thank you to all the people, from near and far (Oldham - Australia and in between) we met along the way it has been great to meet you all and spend part of our Coast to Coast journey with you. What a truly memorable achievement!

Day 13 - Grosmont to Robin Hoods Bay - done!!!

Another (unexpected/unpredicted) beautiful morning. A series of very steep climbs on the roads out of Grosmont-we feel a lot fitter now, thankfully! Over the moor and Whitby Abbey came into view, then thro pretty woods with a welcome t stop at Falling Foss. More moor walking to Low and High Hawsker where we had a lunch and refreshment stop knowing there were only 3 miles to go! Finally we reached our destination of RHB after what seemed like miles of cliff top walking.

We wet our boots in the North Sea as Wainwright tradition exhorts and celebrated with other Coast to Coasters in the Bay Hotel, somewhat pleased with all we had achieved and a day earlier than planned! But that meant no luxury B&B but a steep trudge up and out of the village to our campsite for the night.

Day 12 - Blakey Ridge to Grosmont, done!

We woke to sunshine n wind-well we were on top of the moors! (once again, not what was forecast). Packed up and enjoyed a massive breakfast at The Lion Inn which kept us going all day!
A mixed day of road, moor and track walking with rain late morning/early afternoon but the sunshine broke through and dried us out. Camp set up at a nearby farm and a sunny evening spent in Grosmont recounting tales of the walk so far with fellow Coast to Coasters.

Day 11 - Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge, 21 miles Done!!

Big day today, some 21 miles to cover, so an early start. We were up before 6 and set off walking just before 7.30. It was a day of many highs and lows, literally, as we crossed the North Yorks Moors!! 5 Steep ascents and descents in the first 12 miles was a challenge but a pleasant change from the level trudge of yesterday. Being high up, we were rewarded with exhilarating views of the ground we had covered on previous days and the beautiful patchwork of fields and villages that are 'forever England' - we also got our first glimpse of the North Sea towards Teeside, and a sense of our ultimate destination of RHB. Here are some of the high points... Early lunch stop ... A well deserved bacon butty   The long trudge on the dismantled railway (at least 7 miles!!! was a low point - photo to follow) Our resting Place for the night...The Lion Inn

Day 10 - St Giles Farm to Ingleby Cross, 19 miles, DONE!!

Beautiful day! Sunshine all day, no wind, high wispy clouds with scattered small cotton wool clouds (Clarke's technical weather terminology), no threat of rain all day.

As we knew the weather was good we killed some long, feet pounding, flat miles today mainly on road or track. Nick resorted to music to motivate, I chose medication to numb the pain of sore heels and a knotty, painful calf - thank heavens for ibuprofen and walking poles!!

Photo 1-breakfast in the sun with a wonderful cup of tea from the farmer.
Photo 2-lunch in Danby Wiske-breaking the rules with a lunchtime drink!

If we keep this up we'll finish a day earlier than we intended!

The day ended with a mad dash across the busy A19 - a full 6 lanes!! Thankfully we managed unscathed to walk another day.

Day 9 Reeth to St Giles Farm, 18 miles, Done!

Weather has been good to us today, despite the early threat of a downpour, thankfully it was only a shower and no more waterproofs needed for the rest if the day. Sun shining but still windy-good walking conditions-would be nice to think it might last, but were not confident!

Camping tonight in farmers garden. We received a wonderful greeting, cup of tea and shower with towels provided, marvellous!!)

A quick rest in Marske

Day 8 - Keld to Reeth Done!

Thankfully we woke to beautiful clear skies and sunshine and a more relaxed start to the morning with coffee and bacon baguettes prepared for us. Mmmm nice, thank you Heather!
Swaledale is very pretty and much enjoyable walking. (photo 1) A different tale as we got to the tops with a barren, desolate moonscape type terrain, cold and battered by an easterly wind. The afternoon saw the return of the rain with vengeance and we dripped into Reeth a sorry sight!
A cheerful campsite owner greeted the 2 drips on his doorstep with the good news that we had been upgraded to the lluxury of a static caravan. (see 2nd photo) We were even chauffeur driven to it! What a welcome treat as the rain persistently persisted well into the night! Nevertheless day 8 done RHB is getting ever closer!

Day 7 - Kirkby Stephen to Keld, 14.5 miles, Done!

The day started well with a good amount of blue sky and only a few clouds which made for a sweaty, very steep pull up to Nine Standards Rigg (see photo). As you'll see the weather had changed a bit-it was very cold and windy on the top.

The next stage was tramping over boot sucking, energy sapping peat bog which, because of the fear of sinking into oblivion (well knee high bog at least), felt as tho we'd walked extra miles to avoid the boggiest bits!

We had a very welcome cream tea from Andrea (of The Dales tv fame) and shelter in their barn at Ravenseat Farm.

Waterproofs were donned for the descent into Keld and respite sought at Park house campsite. The lure of a home cooked meal, hot shower and a barn to sit in was too attractive a prospect when the heavens indicated an impending downpour. Just in time too ... We had to wait a couple of hours (of torrential rain and hail) for a dry window to put up the tent!

Psyched up for a wet, windy, freezing cold night we got togged up and slept soundly, waking to sunshine ... I wonder what's in store for Day 8?

Day 6 - Shap to Kirkby Stephen

Woke early this morning (well before 6am) surprised at how noisy it was compared to The Lakes - the birds were loud, the traffic and trains loud, then the rain - how peaceful and tranquil were The Lakes, beautiful ...
Packed up and ready for off by 8-we have 21 miles ahead of us, reputedly a 'recovery day' following on from the toughest leg yesterday - 21 miles a recovery walk seems a contradiction in terms!!!

Still 'On wards ever backwards never!' - way off in front we were able to see clearly our route along the Pennine Way 2yrs ago-High Cup Nick, Great Shunner Fell, Cross Fell - eventually to be obliterated by rain clouds!

We made really good progress today finishing in 8 1/4 hrs including breaks - we were well impressed with this time as we have been taking so long to complete the previous, shorter legs in The Lakes - just shows the impact of the heart poundingly, thigh burningly steep ascents and knee trembly descents with heavy packs, of The Lakes!

Ironically recovery leg it was, with a campsite with hot showers instead of the pub garden last night (that wasn't open in the morning-thank goodness for good public toilets!)

Crossing the M6 @ 8.30 am

Day 5 - Patterdale to Shap - done!!

Throughout the night we were aware of rain with intermittent heavy showers (spot the similarity?). So leaving for what is said to be the toughest leg was a question of timing! (Tent packed away sopping wet!). More steep ascents out of the valley and eventually to Kidsty Pike (see photo 1) very blustery and cold, but the rain had stopped.

Today heralds the end of the Lakes and looking forward to the Pennines and beyond. (photo 2)

Onwards ever backwards never!

Day 4 - Grasmere to Patterdale - Done!!

Aware of the sound persistent rain with intermittent heavy showers we decided to have a more relaxed start to the day (thank you once again Rob & Zoe). As we had fewer miles to cover we were able to see if the rain might abate and the skies clear by lunchtime-however we did have to set off rain or not! And it rained, gently then heavily but did clear so we could see down to Grasmere (photo 1). But looking forward looked at bit bleak! (photo 2) However it did clear and we were able to dry out and enjoy our decent into Patterdale and it kept dry for us to be able to put our tent up at a beautiful campsite at the side of Ullswater (final photo).
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Day 2 - Ennerdale Bridge to Stonethwaite, 17.5 miles

> Photo 1 - not quite en suite but all we had so we made the most of it!
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> The morning started with black, brooding clouds hovering over the hilltops leaving us questioning wether we'd need the waterproofs but we needn't have worried.
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> Photo 2 - clearing skies made for some fabulous views on the tops
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> Photo 3 & 4 - a steep decent to Honister earned us the boots off, tea n mars bar cake-beautiful!
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> A couple of hours later we arrived at our campsite only to find the local pub (necessary for food) was shut on Mondays - oh well we can manage another couple of miles minus heavy packs!!! For the sake of a pie n a pint!
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> Forecast not so good for next couple of days!
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> Looking forward to a shower but not a rainy one!
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Day 3 - Stonethwaite to Grasmere, 9.5 miles DONE!!

7am n all calm n tranquil at the campsite. Forecast not good but not looking too threatening so set off with waterproofs handy rather than all clarted up. Oh how quickly things change in the Lakes. Waterproofs donned. A steady mizzle started, a bit more than sends dinner ladies into a frenzy, interspersed with torrential down pours all whilst trogging up hill (soon to be very steep!!). Sadly we were surrounded by cloud on the tops so we missed what would, I'm sure, be spectacular views! More down pours and even hail on our decent with just enough sun and wind to semi dry us off before raining once again! Beautiful evening.

Sadly a similar forecast for tomorrow so we've decided to leave Helvellyn & Striding Edge for better weather and a day pack, rather than heavy back pack!

Massive thank you to Rob & Zoe for letting us stay with them tonight - the luxury of a bath and proper bed -very nice!

Short day tomorrow, so maybe a later start-effectively a rest day in preparation for the most demanding day of the whole walk, apparently.

Feet remain intact, though do ache along with leg muscles, not noticed carrying pack today-we must be getting into our stride!

Second photo of the day - Nick wet n bedraggled but still enjoying a well deserved pint!

Day 1 st Bees to Ennerdale Bridge 15 miles, 7 hrs (Inc breaks) DONE!

Our C2C mantra "Onwards ever backwards never!" (inspired by Mark & Nix Bateman) it feels good to have completed the first (challenging) leg! Called in Cleator stores to purchase essentials n treat (just for u Kathryn!) ourselves to some Midget Gems. Gentle rain this aft (we are in the Lakes) not enough to necessitate waterproofs but enough to dampen the Midget Gem bag. Long steep pull up Dent Hill, rewarded at the top with sweeties but the bag burst scattering Midget Gems all around. Never deterred we applied the '10 second rule' and speedily gathered the gems being careful to discern the black ones from sheep poo!! The ascent was followed by an incredibly steep knee trembly decent that left our knees and thigh muscles in a state - praise God for Ibuprofen, we've taken a prophylactic dose, well we do have to do it all again tomorrow!

Camping in a field owned by the local pub - alas no showers but a beautifully clear stream! Here's our home for the next 13 days, except for one night with the Ashworth's, looking forward to that already!

Coast to Coast initiation

> Following Wainwright's instructions we have wet our boots in the Irish sea ... And got our pebble to relocate to RHB
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We're ready for off!

We're off to St Bees

His n her's rucksacks!
Nick's weighs 38lbs Sue's 22lb - seems fair to me! (maybe we'll do some redistribution?)

2 days to go ...

The gathering of the necessary equipment has started in our dining room...only the essentials will get rucksack room!