Post C 2 C Training...

Ran 10 K today - 47.53

Day 14-Glaisedale-Robin Hood's Bay

A really tough final day. Psychologically I wasn't up for a big push as I was so near the end, I just wanted it to finish! Terrain varied and at times difficult to navigate-had to rely on a compass bearing rather than a path through one of the moors (and even the still had to ask where the right gate to leave was!).

Arrival into Robin Hood's Bay was accompanied by lightning, hail, thunder and heavy rain. Plus the coast path just kept on and on (though the North Sea was pretty). However, I got there and marched through the weather to the sea and threw my pebble at the waves whilst dipping my muddy boot into the sea!

Then it was over...

207 miles done.


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Day 13-Clay Bank Top- Glaisedale

Something of my own 'Super Saturday' today-a day of pbs in my own Olympic endeavour (tho thanfully I only need to walk - no swimming, fencing or high jump needed today :) ).

It was a 19 mile day, and after saying goodbye to my companions from yesterday, I wanted to make the most of flatter terrain. Here's my timetable:
-9.06am start walking
-11.20am arrive at the Lion Inn (8 miles)
-11.46am leave Lion
-2.36pm arrive in Glaisedale (19 miles)

About 5 hours for my 19 miles. I overtook a few people on the way, two of whom (Joe and Sam) are staying in my b and b. I ate with them - nice to make more friends.

Lovely weather today-and clouds making funny shapes...sure I saw the following:
-balloon animals
-a big tank firing a round
-an anvil
-a man in a bedsheet pretending to be a ghost
-an inflatable duck

Otherwise enjoyed watching the real Olympics-amazing! Loved seeing Mo Farrah win the 10,000.

Woo Hoo moments
-good speeds
-meeting Joe and Sam
-Olympics!
-amazing weather-sunnys on all day


Boo Hoo moments
-last few miles painful

'I'm-a-crazy-musician-better-get-me-out-of-here' moments
-singing my way through a live worship cd (twice)
-conducting my way through Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements and Orff's Carmina Burana...glad no-one saw me but it got me through the tough bits!

Bizzare-c2c-names moments...
-Great Fryup Dale
-Fat Betty

A good day!

187 miles done...
19 to go!
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Day 12-Osmotherley-Clay Bank Top/Great Broughton

Today has been tough-emotionally, mentally, physically.

Teamed up with a group of 4 from Glossop (5 including Stanley the dog-really loveable). All fine, though we all got lost big-time, coming down the Cleveland Way. Between us we lost the signage, misread the map and wrongly identified surrounding landmarks. Resulted in a wasted 2k at least climbing up onto a ridge, then bashing our way through bracken and bogs to try and find a path, only to descend sharply down a really steep hill to a barbed wire fence below. Partly depending on size, and partly on age we all either shimmied under or clambered carefully over said fence (I got under it), and quickly hustled out of the field before we were spotted...only to end up where we first lost the path and try again...

Eventually we worked it out, and got on track again. Following this was lots of tiring climbs up and down the moors, knees and legs stiffening up more painfully with each successive valley.

A stage whose relatively short mileage belies its difficulty.

Also absent-mindedly lost one of my first-aid kits today, as well and my trusty stick-the latter picked up in the Lakes. Oh well-someone else will get to use it.

B and b tonight-really nice and v welcome. More Olympics and Hunger Games...then sleep.

'Oh-look-we're-50 miles-further-east-than-we-thought; how-did-we-do-that? moments...
-being welcomed by my other walkers, especially by Stanley the dog
-food, rest, solitude, warmth, Olympics tonight
-seeing the North Sea for the first time! It looked really close and I could see a ship :)

'Oh-look-we're-back-at-St-Bees; how-did-we-do-that? moments
-getting lost
-relentless ups and downs
-legs and knees murmuring 'no!'; the murmuring gets louder...
-first-aid kit and stick being left behind by their doddery owner

165.5 miles eaten
38.5 still to devour...

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Day 11- Danby Wiske - Osmotherley

Another good day today-ish! The walk was a shorter one (13.5 miles) but towards the end my legs were flagging. I've gotten into an emotional groove of perseverance now each day-except it's gained such proportion that I feel loath to stop for more than a few minutes at a time-and dogged in desiring keeping going, even if at times it'd do me better to stop and rest.

So the last few miles-uphill through a windy forest-were fought with massive thirst and increasingly rigid legs! But the thought of the usual coffee-and in this case lunch- on arrival kept me going.

Also a lonely day-saw no one I knew for the second day running-though I was happy enough listening to music until my Blackberry started playing up bear the end of the walk...taking the battery out and putting it back in has fixed the problem though.

More than ever tonight, as I see the end in sight, I want to get to the end of this! Both because I'm tired, but also because the closer I get, the more in-reach the end becomes.

Going solo has increased feelings of isolation at times, but on the flip side aids a more focussed determination to keep going, even when part of you wants to stop!

But I was reflecting tonight that the C2C isn't perhaps as great an achievement as my ego would have me think...there are tougher, longer walks out there; my pack could be heavier, the comforts I've enjoyed much less. It puts it into perspective. I just plod on and do my daily mile allotment...

The Youth Hostel tonight is fine-and almost completely empty! I currently have an 8 bed room all to myself.

Winning-the-lottery moments...
-it was hot today!
-good soundtrack again today
-fixing the Blackberry
-Osmotherly pretty!
-finishing 'Catching Fire'-Hunger Games book 2-on to book 3 now!

Weakest-link moments...
-crossing two busy main roads and a railway today!
-painful aches
-broken blackberry
-boggy Yorkshire and muddy boots!

153.5 miles down...46.5 to go! Over 3/4s down-though the next three days I think will be harder...
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Rainbow over Danby!

Saw this amazing rainbow over Danby just now-in this picture standing over the Weslyan Chapel.

It encourages me as a reminder of God's kindness and mercy-

Genesis 9 vvs 14-15: 'Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears...I will remember my covenant between me and...all the living creatures...never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.'

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Day 10-Richmond - Danby Wiske

A nice, easy day today. Rain threatened but didn't materialize. Legs and feet all felt fine and, though painful when I started out, my back was ok too.

Danby is 14 miles from Richmond-according to my guide. Staying in a nice b and b - booked late after my tent broke (should have been camping tonight). I have the whole place to myself!

Enjoyed my mobile entertainment today in absence of walking partners-soundtrack of 'Dead Ringers', Haydn's Creation, Respighi, and Snow Patrol...also racing through 'Catching Fire'-the second Hunger Games book.

'Cracking Toast, Gromit!' moments
-good weather
-soundtrack to the day (sung my way through a live Worship album-glad no-one could here me...)
-arriving in Danby Wiske at half 2 again-my average speed has gone up to about 3mph-as my pack weight has gone down...
-coffee, coke, flapjack at the pub on arrival

'It's the wrong trousers, Gromit!' moments...
-about 4 miles on roads-tiring...
-started with sore back
-got a bit lost coming out of Brompton-on-Swale ('it's the wrong road, Gromit!')
-didn't see any other walkers today

Encouraged by Psalm 5 this morning-'Lead me Lord in your righteousness, make my paths straight.'

141 miles done-59 to go!
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Day 9-Reeth to Richmond

Had a fun day today (day 9) walking with Liz and Nadia-two friends from Sheffield. Weather was kind-no rain-and after a good start we made the 11.5 miles to Richmond in about 5 hours.

Richmond is lovely. Enjoyed stocking up (toothpaste, travel wash) and finding the other two Hunger Games books to try and read before I finish! Loved the first-gripping and thought-provoking.

Had a Thai meal tonight at a restaurant that came recommended-really nice-and staying at the Buck-a pub.

'Best-foot-forward, blister-free' moments...
-good company with Nadia and Liz
-also bumping into at least three other groups of walkers who I've met along the way
-no rain
-getting into Richmond in good time
-supplies, Olympics, Thai food, Hunger Games, rest...

'Best-foot-forward, land-knee-deep-in-bog' moments...
-back quite painful today

Another good day! Amazed I've done 127 miles-only 73 to go.
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Day 8 - Keld-Reeth

Today I was back to just walking solo-missed the company of my Canadian friends, though I caught uo with them at Grinton Lodge.

The day's walk was fairly uneventful-a 2mile walk to Keld (v small village, though with a nice tea shop-coffee and flapjack helped with the energy levels), followed by a nice walk to Reeth.

Today I crossed the Pennine Way - wondered as I did how long it would take if I turned South and walked home to Sheffield via Edale rather than continue East!

After another coffee and flapjack along the way, I blundered my way through uphill paths to Reeth-a lovely big market place with shops...had an ice cream, picked up a packet of maps that I'd sent ahead, and found my Youth Hostel.

A nice surprise in that two friends from Sheffield joined me at the Youth Hostel, and walked with me today.

'199 miles done, 1 to go' moments...
-an easier, shorter walk
-sunshine
-soundtrack-Moby, two wonderful sermons, 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue'...
-fun with friends

'1 mile done, 199 to go' moments...
-no phone reception for second day
-rain
-blister pain

A good day!
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Day 6 - Shap to Kirkby Stephen

Another hard slog today, and the longest at 21 miles. Got lost once-having the OS maps has been a help-but made it to the Old Croft House b and b. It was an amazing b and b-picture included of the bed-with-curtains!

Saw lots of sheep today (as on most days) and countryside noticeably flatter, though still beautiful.

Also crossed the M6-a milestone I guess!

Running-the-last-3-miles moments...
-weather: hot and sunny!
-contact with friends an encouragement today
-Old Croft House-luxurious b and b
-soundtrack today (loved Damien Rice's O, Sovereign Grace live Worship, and sermon on Ephesians 1)
-sending all my camping gear back home

Blister-on-foot moments...
-getting lost (needed OS map twice)
-long mileage
-sore feet!


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Day 7-Kirkby - Keld

Today perhaps the best day so far. Reached half way, and walked with some new friends I made- a Canadian family (Steve. Emily, H'yon). Lots of silly games and nice chat in mostly good weather. Enjoyed a cream coffee at Ravenscroft Farm and staying at a Farm tonight.

Downside- the first real blister tonight. I've been lucky to get away with only one so far, but the small one on my right foot is remarkably painful for something so small!

Today marks half way-into the second 100 miles and second week. The first of both have gone quickly. Roll on Robin Hood's Bay...

'George-this-is-your-life' moments...
-company of my Canadian friends
-Cream coffee
-mostly good weather
-arriving at b and b at 4.30pm-nice and early

'George-you-are-the-weakest-link moments...
-blisteringly painful blister!
-wet gear that won't dry

One more week to go!
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Day 5 - Patterdale-Shap

Today has been hard work. It started badly with one of tent poles broke. Not only had I foolishly 'parked' the tent on a slope, but the tried to dry stuff by draping it under the outer sheet. It only needed me to fall on it on getting out in a sleepy haze for it to go snap...

My leg was giving me some pain (see yday's post) and what with the pack still wobbling and a 16 miler with 1300 metres (not feet) of ascent, morale was low. Thanks to friends and family who responded to my prayer text as soon as my mobile came into range!

Some stunning countryside today along with rugged climbs-Angletarn Pike, Kidsty Pike, and Haweswater (which is huge). Then left the Lakes and almost immediately both the c2c signage and the sunshine appeared! Followed some lovely rural walking alongside streams to Shap.

I'm b'nb'ing tonight-and loving the Olympic Ceremony!

Gold-medal moments...
-amazing views
-satisfying day-made it even if hard!
-arriving in Shap
-joy at having already decided not to camp tonight before the tent broke
-getting up Kidsty Pike-and redeeming the last time I tried getting up it but got lost :)

Disqualification-certain moments...
-tent breakage (tho a blessing in disguise!)
-nearly out of water again
-various aches...

Surreal-you-know-you-need-company-when moments...
-a sheep bleat that sounded like 'watch your head' (I'm sure...!)
-my water bottle made a D major triad as it banged against something in my pocket...
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Day 4-Grasmere to Patterdale

Today an easier mileage-only 7.5. But still a killer with 400 meters ascent up to the top of Great Tongue, followed by another 400 meters descending to Patterdale. But the scenery has been the best of all the days-especially coming down Grisedale Valley into Patterdale-where I'm camping tonight.

Tired legs today but the pack has been lighter-i took the opportunity to send back three big packets of books, maps, clothes and electrical gear that I either don't need now, or I haven't used and don't think I will. I've still a lot to learn about living simply and packing light! I also brought two new pairs of socks (all of mine are damp, even after repeated spells in drying rooms) and a camelbak in Grasmere-the latter a real help today.

Tired legs and a still moody pack felled me on one occasion-i fell descending some wet stones on the way down Grisedale valley; but-not only were there a group of walkers (who'd just passed me going the other way) to help-Yahweh's providence!-but I wasn't hurt bad. I whacked my shin but just bruised it a bit. It's been a little achy since...

47.5 miles to go. A big day tomorrow-a walk that will take me well out of the Lakes.

'Yes' moments...
- beauty of the Lakes
- shorter mileage
- new socks and camelbak
- help from people along the way
- reading enjoyed today-Psalm 1 commentary by dale ralph davies, and The Hunger Games

'Nooo' moments...
-falling over
-tired legs that wouldn't respond properly all day
-camping tonite on a slope-i'm rolling down to the left...
-rain, and wet socks (waddling quickly in flip-flops from the pub tonite to rescue gear strung up to dry as it started to rain).
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