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
xx

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!!