Moving on

Well I'm getting a bit fed  up of the Coast to Coast now  and not a lot happened from here on in. So....... to summarise:-

Kirby to Keld a non eventful day, but a great night at Butt House in the company of the wonderful  Taylor family who were doing the Pennine Way. Turns out they were both from Bakewell/Sheffield - small world.

Keld to Reeth, it rained all day necessitating the purchase of some new waterproofs, and spurning the leaky tent in favour of The Buck Inn. They felt really bad when dad went down to pay for the camp site (which the man refused), to find that he had reserved us a caravan - you meet some really nice people doing this walking thing.

Reeth to Richmond, again a quiet day, but beautiful weather, and a surprise when we turned up at the farm to camp and we knew the owner from way back when - small world. Also the lady from day1 who was terrified of dogs turned up - still was!

Richmond to Danby Wiske, quiet day, good night camping in the beer garden of the pub. They were VERY happy.

Danby Wiske to Osmotherley, another quiet day, another good night at The Three Tuns, where we had our own self-contained flat for the night ....... with a washing machine and a very happy mummy!!

Osmotherley to Chop Gate, up and down, up and down, German cuisine, um!? Dad allergic to mushrooms had a carbonara full of them. Mum swapped.

Chop Gate to Grosmont, home of the North Yorkshire Steam Railway, terrifying experience with great big machines making horrible noises and breathing fire - dad was happy though

Grosmont to Robin Hoods Bay, and at long last, mum was able to part company with the boulder she'd been carrying since she picked it up on the beach at St Bees.

A great experience and a good learning exercise - it's the first time they've camped on a walking trip so many lessons learnt.

From now it's time to concentrate on the real matter in hand LEJOG

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

C to C next stop the wild parrots of Kirby Stephen

So back to where we started, today, and dad was full of excitement at the thought of being (if only briefly) reunited with his beloved vehicle - so was I 'cos that means I'm going to be able to sleep in my cage tonight. And mum' s ecstatic at the prospect of a washing machine. We know how to live.

It's a lovely walk from Orton to Kirby Stephen, half of it across open fields, the remainder across moorland. One of our favourite stops is Smardale Bridge about halfway round. It is a beautiful spot and on a previous C to C, mum and dad had had an early start stopping here for breakfast. In the quiet of early morning mist, on a beautiful June morning, they were joined by a female red deer, a Mallard duck with her brood of ducklings, and had a brief glimpse of a fox. What a privilege. This year they were graced by a wonderful Dutch family, whose 6 and 8 year olds were literally skipping along the route, and who had apparently done so since the beginning of the walk at St Bees! It was so nice to see young people enjoying simple outdoor pursuits in such a way. The whole family were just a very happy unit as became apparent when we shared the site with them later.

There was more wildlife spotting to come, in Kirby Stephen, where we were fortunate enough to spot the wild parrots (or I should say macaws) which frequent the area - so colourful and a rare treat.

We decided to have fish and chips and were deliberating over which of the 3 to chose when one of them had the bright idea of asking some local people outside the chapel for their recommendations - pillars of the community, mum said. Well they saw her coming. Dire!

Keld tomorrow.

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

News from the battle front!

One of the many chores to be done is to get cars serviced/MOT'd if they fall due over the next 3 months, so today mum has taken Snowy (the Fiat 500 - guess what colour it is?) in to Chesterfield. Sadly he has a poorly paw and has had to have a new boot because he had a nail in the old one - more expense.

Whilst she was waiting she trotted into town to change some jumpers that she had got for dad's birthday, that are a size too small. As she said to him, by the time he's walked 1100 miles he'll be a size (if not two) smaller.

Nonetheless, she braved the fire and brimstone which Marks and Spencer's assistants specialise in, especially when you return goods without a label, and even when you pay more money. She was even treated to a lesson on how to remove price tickets. When she pointed out that the price ticket was stuck on, she was told that it shouldn't be. (That was brave..... or stupid!).

Now she's only got to persuade dad that as they hadn't got blue or black in his size, pink would look quite nice! (Even braver....or more stupid!).

Hey ho

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx

C to C - under canvas once more

After yesterday's euphoria, today has been more settled and, with another camp site teed up for tonight, there is a frisson of anticipation amongst my intrepid parents.

After a hearty breakfast, and collecting mum' precious clean washing we set out refreshed and revived to walk to Orton. First of all to Shap with Ziggy ( thanks mum) the Labrador and his mum and dad. Through Shap and the quarry, lunch on the limestone pavement up on the moor and down into Orton where we booked in to camp in the pub's beer garden.

Sadly, the landlady did not like dogs in her bar, and bizarrely she asked them not to pitch the tent until dusk as she didn't want people putting off. (Not sure what she meant by that!).

Apart from that she was most amenable and let them use a bathroom in the pub. Mum-was-in-seventh-heaven. A bath. First one since home. When she eventually returned to our table, dad had been to get her the Saturday Telegraph - a crossword, oh yes. Could it get any better? Well, actually, yes. He had bought her a bottle of wine, and it was such a shame because he didn't like it so mum just had to do her best. So that was her sorted whist dad went to have his bath.

When he came back, he kept looking at us, I can only say, oddly. After about half an hour of this, he said "have you noticed anything". Mum looked long and hard and shook her head.

Apparently, he had been shaving when somebody tried the door handle of the bathroom. Dad jumped so much that he took off half his moustache, and then had to remove the rest.

A fine meal was had by all, tent pitched and we settled down for the night which was fortunately bright and dry, so that the leaking tent was not a problem.

Mum's midge count is now 54, dad and I, 0!

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx

The packing station

Mum has now got the packing station in full swing - she says that organising your life for 3 months hence takes a lot more organising than she anticipated, but the box system (1 to be delivered to each  'rest' location) seems to be working quite well. I noticed one of those horrible worming tablets sneaking in to the Rowardennan box this morning. And I've been bought a new collar (just in case) - got to worry it a bit first - it's a bit too stiff yet.

In the meantime, it was dad 's birthday yesterday. Mum bought him one of those industrial pencil sharpeners that you clamp to the desk. He's sharpened so many pencils so many times that there are sufficient shavings to cover a new flower bed in the garden! And Viking are delivering a new box full of pencils tomorrow.

Today, I've been to the vets for a check up and been given a clean bill of health for the walk. Mum went last week, and dad's still getting the sand out of his ears!

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx

CtoC - what a difference a day makes

Our spirits were lifted by the advent of brilliant sunshine and the warmth it brought.

We walked with renewed vigour up to the top of the moors. We stopped at lunch time and whilst I nibbled on my Burns, they got all the wet gear out and dried it in the sunshine and mild breeze.

Onward to Bampton and even when we met up with fresh Tarmac and dad had to carry me on his shoulder for half a mile, so that my paws didn't burn - we still smiled.

When we got to the pub where we were B&Bing, we met 2 ladies who had stopped to enquire about our activities on the moor earlier in the day and had a couple of drinks before checking in.

On enquiry we found that the pub would put all our washing through their washer and dryer and even the tag of £10 failed to dent mum's euphoria.

A good dinner, an early night, all clothes washed and cleaned, gear all dry and stowed for tomorrow, an early night, and all was well with the world.

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

PS A really nice piece on the Helens Trust facebook page all about me!

Help for Heroes

It can only get better

Right - we're warm, dry, fed, watered and de-watered, and we've done everything we can to protect our belongings, and to dry bits and pieces over the line which runs down the inside of the ridge of the inner tent. It's 7.00pm and we're done for, so we snuggle up in our sleeping bags. Or at least they do, and I share. And despite the noise and movement created by the wind, rain and flowing water we go to sleep straight away.

At  10 minutes past, a cacophony of sound woke us all up as a group of staff and kids arrived to take up occupancy of the Outward Bound hut. After about half an hour of noise and mayhem, we settled down again to be woken on the hour every hour by the staff coming out for a 'fag' break. At least we think it was the staff. An offer of a cup of tea and a warm in the hut would have been gratefully received but was not forthcoming.

The rain kept coming down and at some point in the proceedings they realised that; the very expensive, very technical, and very new tent.....was leaking!!!

The hours dripped by and we all lay there pretending to be asleep, until at 4.30, he could stand it no longer, and dad said "come on, let's pack up and get down to Glenridding".

It was still coming down in stair rods, so we packed everything in the rucksacks, which mum stacked in a leeward doorway of the hut, attached to me, whilst dad dismantled the outer tent, and mum went in search of my coat which they had hung on the doorknob in the hope that it would drip dry. Of course they hadn't reckoned with our friendly OB inhabitants who had very kindly cast it aside in a puddle. Nice to see such organisations leading by example!

Despite severe provocation, I want you to know that we made no noise whatsoever.

We paddled through sheet water all the way down the hill until we reached the village where they took it in turns to use the public facilities to have a wash and brush up prior to going in search of some breakfast. It was now 9.30am.

Not one catering establishment opened before 11.00am. They found a newsagent which did machine coffee (at least that's what they said it was) and close-to-sell-by-date pork pies, and sat on a wall to eat a very make-do breakfast. I had my favourite - Burns and Gravy Bones.

And then almost instantaneously, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and so did my mum's smile

Keep spreading he word.

M
xx

Valentines - not

Oh dear

Now he's done it!

We went to Bodmin today to have a look at the moor - it was wet.

On the way back we called at a petrol station to fill up, and dad came back with a beam from ear to ear, carrying a large bunch of red roses.

Maybe he should have removed the 50% off tag!

Keep spreading the word.

M
xx

Rain, rain go away.......

Quick recap - washed clothes wet through, spare clothes slightly damp, big day ahead. Good news- my coat's dry - haven't worn it yet!

Up at 6.30, quick breakfast, break camp, pack up - wet camping gear as well - heavy packs, but a nice sunny morning.

We trotted up the hill ( well I trotted, they staggered) for a few miles and then slid down the other side into Grasmere where we had an early lunch prior to starting our second major hill of the day.

Just as we set off it started to rain again. As we got higher the rain got heavier, the wind blew harder, and  visibility deteriorated. As we walked past Grisedale Tarn, we could see a number of walkers taking cover in their tents, but we kept going over the top and part way down the other side. Eventually, after 18 miles, we pulled up at an Outward Bound hut, where dad got the tent up in about 10 seconds and we all piled in.

So we are now in a tent, approx. 8' long at it's longest, 4' wide at it's widest point, and 4' high at it's highest - with 2 large people, a dog who is desperate to help, and 2 large and cumbersome rucksacks.

Now we are going to put the groundsheet down. Everybody (and the rucksacks) squeeze into one end (important to realise that both ends end in a point at ground zero!). Right, now we're going to put the ground sheet down where we are not, and don't drip on it! Mission accomplished. Tempers frayed.

Now we're going to erect the inner tent up. Stack the rucksacks at the end and put all the waterproofs on top. Why is the groundsheet moving up and down? Because the water is coming down the mountain so fast it's finding it's way underneath the groundsheet and coming out at the other side!

Mission accomplished. We're in the inner tent. We're reasonably dry. We have food and a hot drink. And although the wind and the rain is loud, and moving us around a lot, we are so tired that we will probably sleep well.

At which point do I tell them that I daeperately need to go outside?

Lands End

We went to Lands End today - it was shut.

But at least we could make sure we knew which direction to start off in!

Now then - this comment box. At the bottom of this post is a long grey box - in it it says

"Posted by Madge Marsden at (time)" then it says "no comment" and there is a graphic of a pencil.

Click on the words "no comment" and the comments box will come up

If somebody has already made a comment, it will say how many comments have been made.

We did it on somebody else's computer last night so we know it works other than on ours!

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

Just a quickie!

We came down to Cornwall yesterday to tidy up some loose ends and it is with great relief that I have to tell you that dad has found a dry route through Somerset and northwards. It's called the M5!!!!!

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

Onward to Stonethwaite

It was a beautiful day as we walked alongside Ennerdale Lake, and through Ennerdale Forest. We stopped for lunch outside Black Sail YHA where I was tormented by a Labrador and a spaniel whose mum had brought their ball, huh, it's more than mine did! And then they expected me to sit still, I mean.....

A steep climb up on to the moor and then down to the slate quarry for a drink and an ice cream - for them anyway. I'm just expected to lie down, and ignore all those nice people who want to talk to me.

A nice downhill stroll to the campsite at Stonethwaite... and let the fun begin.

When mum's deprived of her washing machine, she has this thing about washing clothes by hand, and she's come to the conclusion that the easiest way to do it, is to get into the shower and get washed fully clothed. Mad as it sounds, it does actually work. However, on this occasion she hadn't allowed for the length of time (or lack of) that 50p would buy. She had also failed to allow for the fact that the shower cubicle was directly opposite a permanently open door which was directly en route to the gents. Nor had she taken on board, that the coin machine, and the towel, and the spare clothes were all outside the cubicle. The rest is left to your imagination - assume the worst!

She returned to the tent and spread all the washing around the guy ropes and over the top, together with dad's, and off we went a mile down the road to the pub for a meal.... Where the nice man said they didn't take dogs but we could take the table just inside the entrance but we had to be out by 7.00.  Well beggars can't be choosers so we had a (very) quick meal.

In the meantime the people who had booked the table, arrived and waited patiently IN THE RAIN for us to finish our meal and depart. So all the washing which was drying so nicely was sodden. And they didn't have their coats!

Tomorrow is our longest day with 2 big climbs and a wild camp at the end - oh joy unconfined!

Keep spreading the word - over 70 hits today and more than 1000 since we started. Thank you

M
xx

Back to coasting

Now where were we? Ah yes, we'd just got to Ennerdale Bridge for our first night.

We had arranged to stay at the village pub, or rather, in a field behind it, utilising the pub facilities. Sounded great.

When we got there the pub wasn't open. The campsite wasn't obvious so we sat around for a while to wait for the staff to come on duty. When the first one arrived she didn't know there was a campsite let alone where it was.

The next one to come on duty, gave us directions - down the road, through the lych gate, across the field and turn right to cross the bridge over the stream -nice and close for the facilities then. Oh yes, they're only open when the pub's open!

Off we trot until we get to the stream - no bridge! Never mind we'll pick our way across - never mind - my paws, and their socks will soon dry! Good job.

The campsite turns out to be a small field which has not been cut this year (it's now August) and the vegetation is 4' high. When we eventually got the tent pitched, it was actually quite comfortable, as in, well cushioned!

We went to the pub, had a meal and came 'home' (wet feet on each journey and running out of socks) by which time 4 other tents had been erected. Originally the intention had been for me to sleep in the small vestibule - but another of those unspoken discussions took place resulting in me sleeping in between them. Very comfortable. Just don't understand why they were halfway up the tent wall on either side of me in the morning.

Mum was a proper nuisance. Just because she was bitten a few times (23 actually) by all the mosquitos and midges occupying the stream and the bog at the other end of the field. And then they both became very agitated when our fellow campers returned at closing time, not too quietly. In fact there were some very strange sounds going off all night.

A new day dawned, back to the pub (in damp, and then wet, socks) to ablute (at last!!) and a first rate breakfast before setting off to walk to Stonethwaite for a second nights camping - Oh goody!!

Watch this space.

Spread the word

M
xx

Stringing along!

This week, he's been checking all his mileages to make sure that we are not being overwalked.

From the beginning he's had this piece of string which he cut to measure 14 miles on his maps.

Can you imagine the furore then, when he realised half way up the country, that his string was half a mile shorter than it should have been?

Monsieur Poirot would have been proud - had it been cut? had it been chewed? (Not me gov)Was it deliberate? Was the perpetrator of this heinous crime in the building, or was it someone from the outside?

Mum says it was Colonel Mustard in the library with the gardening shears! He says the suspect was definitely seeking to shorten the walking day - who could it have been?

Has it shrunk, has it worn out with over use, or did he measure it correctly in the first place? After all he is a man!

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

Comfort break

I am SO excited.

I've had a present from my best friend, Jaz.

Her mum and dad bought her one of these for when she's cold and wet. It's a special coat that will draw the moisture from my coat and keep me lovely and warm and Jaz has got little old me one.

When I tried it on this morning with dad, we got in a right old kerfuffle ( not too sure how you spell that) and because the belt was too long, I trod on it, got it wrapped round my legs and finished up with it round my ribs and had to be helped out. Then dad tried it on - he just looked silly. And then mum took over, realised what was happening with the belt, and discovered that, with a minor alteration, it's a perfect fit. So just as I was getting nice and warm they took it off me - how mean is that? Turns out they were taking it to the cobblers to be properly sewn. Ah well.

Thanks Uncle Jim and Auntie Jo - I know it was you really.

They've told me I'm having another nice new waterproof coat for walking in - still not going in puddles though! Or the River Severn!!

Message from mum - apparently there is a new facility near the top of the blog where, if you put in your e mail address the blogs will come into your in box automatically. She's still battling with the comment box, but not very successfully. You'll just have to do it on my Facebook page - madge.marsden

Keep spreading the word

M
xx

M
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Coasting Day1

So after a mile or two, communication was restored and we started the journey from St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge.

The weather was much like yesterday but not quite as cold. And not as cold as the atmosphere!

A relatively uneventful progress through Cleator Moor and then the first climb - up over Dent. Just as we approached the top we came across a cairn on top of which someone had placed a Union Jack. We were about to pass on, when a young man popped up from the back (he of the flag). He wasn't too tall, wearing shorts and a t shirt and carrying what looked like a very heavy pack. Bearing in mind the weather, it was hardly appropriate wear, but he appeared oblivious. He wasn't too sure of his way, so he walked with us until we'd stopped for lunch and then he went on his merry way, never to be seen again.

It may have been the location which sent him on his merry way. Mum sat on an old tree stump, which turned out to be full of ants. Dad sat on top of an eight foot high stile straddling a deer fence. Me - I found a nice piece of comfy grass to lie down and munch on my biscuits.

After lunch, dad got down on the other side of the stile. Mum made a song and dance about getting over it and got herself in a right old tangle with her walking poles. Me - I just walked through the 6' hole in the fence!

The rest of the walking day was fairly uneventful, until we reached our destination for the night, and I know you will all be on tenterhooks to learn about that, but you're going to have to wait!

By the way, I was excused my rucksack on this trip, concentration was on a more general level, concentrating on their capability. Mine seemed to be taken for granted.

I think light is just beginning to dawn with these two! For a start, they've suddenly realised its winter - soup for dinner last night and soup for lunch today! On top of that, they've been watching the news. For weeks now they've been oozing sympathy for all those poor people and animals in Somerset, but only today have the jokes about my water wings gone away, and the maps come out, to devise a sensible and workable alternative route round and/or through the Somerset levels.

Follow me on Facebook - Madges.March

Keep spreading the word - 50 hits on Thursday - you're doing a great job

M
xx

PS thanks Auntie Sal - the comments box was blocked, but should be OK now - oh 'Eck!!