England's Coast To Coast Walk: Deep Breaths

17 Day Itinerary

Our walk begins in St. Bee's on the West Coast of Great Britain at the Irish Sea. Almost 200 miles later, we will find ourselves at the North Sea in Robin Hood's Bay.

Day 1 - Moor Row, 9 miles The Jasmine House

Day 2 - Ennerdale, 8 miles Low Cock How Farm

Day 3 - Seatoller, 14 miles Seatoller Farm

Day 4 - Grasmere, 10.5 miles Town Head Farm

Day 5 - Patterdale, 7.5 miles Grisdale Lodge

Day 6 - Shap, 16 miles Brookfield House

Day 7 - Orton, 8 miles The Westons

Day 8 - Kirby Stephen, 13.5 miles The Black Bull

Day 9 - Keld, 14 miles Keld Lodge

Day 10 - Richmond, 14 miles The Old Brewery

Day 11 - Danby-Wiske, 14 miles Old School House

Day 12 - Osmotherly, 12 miles 32 South End

Day 13 - Clay Bank Top, 11 miles The Maltkiln House

Day 14 - Blakley Ridge, 8.5 miles The Sevenford House

Day 15 - Grosmont, 14 miles The Station Inn

Day 16 - Robin Hood's Bay, 16 miles The Raven House

Of course, these distances don't account for getting lost and doubling back a few times, avoiding an aggressive herd of heifers or navigating the moors.... or wandering off in search of a pint.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Deep Breaths

14 days from today, me and my bonnie lass begin the biggest adventure of our lives (so far)! The weather on our island has been getting us ready for what we're sure to encounter during our trek across Great Britain. Its been raining every day for a week or better. I love walking in the rain. Damn good thing, too. Funny though...I just checked the weather in St. Bee's (where our walk begins) and its 62 degrees and sunny! Go figure!

All our gear is assembled and waiting to be packed and broken in. Although we'll have our handy-dandy Mr. GPS, we will carry emergency gear in the event we get stranded by bad weather atop a mountain. We'll carry spare food and water, space blankets, flashlight, first aid kit and extra clothes. When the visibility is poor due to rain/fog/sleet, and I've had a few pints who knows what'll happen. We might end up in Ireland. That wouldn't be so bad...it's next on my walking list anyway.

In my efforts to get in tip-top shape for this adventure, I stopped drinking beer and soda one week ago today. Did you hear that? I haven't had a beer in seven days!! Yet I breath. Unbelievable. I was sure that my life without beer would surely end in death within 24 hours. It's not fun and I'm sure my family has noticed a slight decline in my jocularity but they're supporting this moronic idea nonetheless.

So from this point forward, rather than reading a count down to our departure, don't be surprised if it becomes a count down to the first pint. I AM drinking beer on this walk. You can bet your sweet arse on that!