Description of the Journey

We are now exactly 30 days away from the start of this sojourn, and the excitement is immeasurable. I would be dishonest if I didn't say there is also a bit of anxiety. Can we do it? Will we make it? I am encouraged by the words of Moses:

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."      Deuteronomy 31:8

Unfortunately, Jo Anne and I have both had a bit of a set-back in our training. She had an injection that required her to take it easy (no working out) for a week, and I had COVID, which knocked the wind right out of my sails. But, now we are getting back to it and hopefully we'll be in fighting (hiking) form when we leave in one months time. 

A little bit about: 

Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk
(hereafter referred to as AW and C2C)

Devised in 1973 by AW, the walk has taken second place in an international poll of favorite long-distance routes, and has the reputation for being one of the best for variety and quality of landscape. You see much of the history of England on this walk.

It's certainly not the shortest way across England, but was devised to link three national parks, avoid urban development, and favor high ground (hmmm) over low. 

Ironically, this walk has no official status (which I'm sure is why it is so poorly marked). Amendment: it was announced yesterday (Friday, Aug 12), that the Coast to Coast route will become a new National Trail. As such, there will be many changes to the trail, making it more accessible to all, much more publicity, and re-routing parts of the trail to allow for shorter distances. I'm so glad this is all happening after we walk Wainwright's route. It already draws over 6,000 walkers a year. I can't imagine what it will be like when it becomes a National Trail. Regardless, it is a favorite with generations of walkers. I believe the youngest to walk the C2C is a 6 yr old girl who recently walked (and camped) with her mother, completing the entire walk in less than 13 days. I'm not sure of the oldest walker to complete the distance but I know that one man in his upper 80's has walked it 6 times. We can do this! 

According to Keats, the C2C Walk is:

"a thing of beauty...a joy forever,
make sure you experience it."

The total distance is around 200 miles and involves a total ascent (and descent) of more than 29,000 feet - equal to a Himalayan peak. It is usually traversed West to East, keeping the wind at your back for easier trekking. Sounds like a plan to me.

There is much geography and geology, wildlife and plants, history and pre-history along this walk. I tend to get carried away sometimes in wanting to document all of that so skim through the blog at your own desire and pace.

Some definitions:

fell - mountain

dale - open valley

vale - broad valley between fells

moor - uncultivated hilly area

beck - mountain stream

crag - steep rugged rock or peak

hamlet - settlement smaller than a village, which is smaller than a town

pike - more than a road (turnpike?)

stile - steps, ladder or narrow gap offering passage through a fence or wall

tarn - circular lake (cirque) formed by a glacier

loch - lake, pond or pool

tongue - main village

gill - ravine or narrow valley

knott - hill

scars - exposed cliffs of limestone, created during the last ice age

stone circles - monuments believed to be used for pagan religions

cairn - a mound or pile of stones as a memorial marker, monument, burial site, navigational aid (9 standards?)

swale - a shady or sunken marshy spot

smar - clover

kissing gate - a gate swinging in a V-shaped enclosure that allows only one person at a time

bridleway - public right-of-way by foot or horseback

queue - line

loo - toilet, from the french words : guardez l'eau - watch out for the water 😀

grouse butt - specially constructed shooting positions, usually stone and turf

drumlins - oval shaped hills, composed of glacial drift, usually as fields rather than individual ones (reminds me of moguls in skiing)

According to AW:

"One should always have a definite objective, in a walk as in life - it is so much more satisfying to reach a target by personal effort than to wander aimlessly. An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is...well aimless wandering."

Unlike Wainwright, our objective in this walk, as well as in life, is about more than just walking from Coast to Coast, or getting to the end of life. Our ambition is to keep the commandments of the Lord our God by walking in his ways and by fearing him...teaching them to our children [and grandchildren], talking of them when we are sitting in our house, and when we are walking by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise, (from Deuteronomy), and by honoring those in our lives who have helped shape who we are today. 

"My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching...when you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you." Proverbs 6:20-22

It's a long time to be away from family and friends. One of the things I love most about blogging my journeys is being able to keep in touch with everyone back home. Hearing from friends and family all along the way is such an encouragement and blessing. We'll soon be off, so keep those comments coming!