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| Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk |
192 miles is a very long way. Our shortest day will be 7 miles; our longest 22 miles, followed by a 20 miler to the sea at Robin Hood's Bay. We will be walking for 15 days (with a day's rest in Richmond). It works out at an average of approximately 13 miles per day. The last three days look like a killer, though there won't be the same levels of ascent as on some of the earlier days as we are traveling West to East.
A little about our group: we are a group of 6 people whose ages range from 16 years to 67 years. My husband and I have, surprisingly and without any effort, persuaded our two teenage offspring to join us. My in-laws have been thinking about doing it for years, so they are walking the Coast to Coast with us as well. Therefore we represent three generations, and although all are experienced walkers, none of us have attempted this walk before.
Some Coast to Coast critics might say we're doing it the 'soft' way, i.e. staying in B&Bs along the way, and having our luggage moved for us each day. To them I say... actually I won't say anything. Each to their own. In my opinion it is going to be enough of a challenge completing it over 16 days. You people can worry about yourselves, and if that is you dear reader, please either continue to read and be kind in your comments, or move along and read a 'real' walker's blog. Thank you very much!
We have spent a small fortune both on the holiday itself and on getting properly 'kitted out'. As we are also in the process of moving continents (and that's another story for a different blog), much of our 'heavier duty' walking gear is in storage somewhere near Paris. By that I mean bigger rucksacks to use as daypacks, probably gloves, 'Camelbak' hydration packs, etc. We have most of the basic equipment we'll need with us, and most of us have decent, worn in hiking boots, but it is surprising what else we need for the trek.
Our teenagers have grown even since our last walking holiday at Christmas, and one of them had outgrown EVERYTHING - we left the walking shop looking like he'd never set foot on a fell before, with new waterproof jacket and trousers, boots and socks. In another shop we bought new rucksacks, online I've purchased hydration packs. I have recently given away some Helly Hanson walking tops as they were no longer doing a good job, so I am now down to cotton t-shirts (which are absolutely useless on a fell whatever the weather) and one decent walking top. I predict another trip to the walking shop before we leave on Wednesday.
I feel like I am missing something important: oh yes, gloves and wooly hats. "I thought you said you were starting the walk next week", I hear you say.
Indeed. We are starting our walk on 1st of July. July, people. Ah, yes, but it's July in Northern England. Right now it feels like October to me, but then again, I have just spent three years in Africa. It's all relative. Put it this way, I've yet to put on a pair of shorts since I got to Cumbria on Tuesday.
I'm off to purchase crampons and ice picks, because... well, you never know. You just never know.
