Duncan has a stomache bug - not 'been' for over a week! Doesn't really want to carry this across England, so is off to the doc's for an enema.
Peter
Friday 24 September 2010
Friday 17 September 2010
From the Likely Lads to Last of the Summer Wine
Back in 1973 two young northern lads met at Huddersfield Polytechnic. Peter Smith from South Shields (Geordie Boy) and Duncan Beal from York, were together on a Business Studies Course.
Now nearly 40 years later, they have reformed for a pointless and foolhardy venture, not listening to their bodies and not believing the date on their birth certificates. They plan to walk Coast to Coast in October.
The Coast to Coast Walk was devised by the late A. Wainwright in the early 1970s. The route, normally walked west to east is more than 190 miles, takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in England. Three national parks comprise much of the distance, starting in St. Bee's on the Irish Sea, on through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Yorkshire Moors to end at the picturesque village of Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea.
 |
| So we look okay now... |
Now nearly 40 years later, they have reformed for a pointless and foolhardy venture, not listening to their bodies and not believing the date on their birth certificates. They plan to walk Coast to Coast in October.
The Coast to Coast Walk was devised by the late A. Wainwright in the early 1970s. The route, normally walked west to east is more than 190 miles, takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in England. Three national parks comprise much of the distance, starting in St. Bee's on the Irish Sea, on through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Yorkshire Moors to end at the picturesque village of Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea.
The Story so far
It started in late 2009. Geordie Boy decided he needed a challenge and goal. The discussion was over beer, and he suggested the Coast-to-Coast 190+ miles is not far. Dunc readily agreed, in the belief that it would be forgotten overnight and if not, sense and realism would soon prevail.
Geordie Boy, was already retired. Duncan was still trying to keep the ship of York Publishing away from the rocks.
Their knowledge and experience of walking was non-existent. Neither had ever set foot in a Rohan or Blacks shop. They thought Berghaus was a breed of dog.
Training started early in the New Year. The first walk, in the woods of North Yorkshire, a gentle affair, in sensible shoes. We were not prepared to invest in boots at this stage.
Geordie Boy was mortified to find that Dunc had a pair of proper walking trousers. Dunc was oblivious to the proper use of the trousers, having bought them at TK Max because they were cheap. Never knew the pocket on the right hand leg was to fit a map.
The next day the Rohan shop in Chester sold everything in their range, as Geordie Boy kitted himself with the best.
Training days became more demanding and frequent around North Yorkshire and North Wales. New words were introduced to our vocabulary such as wicking, camels, layers and garmin. We can now read an Ordnance Survey Map rather than an AA road map. Although the use of a compass is still a little troublesome.
A whole range of energy bars have been tested and evaluated. We had forgotten Kendal Mint Cake ever existed.
We became captivated by Julia Bradbury, bought the DVD and avidly watched her over and over in her BBC series “Coast to Coast”. We were love struck and she became our fantasy companion both for the walk and afterwards. Only to be horrified to be told by reliable sources that she did not do the full walk, but was picked up by cars and helicopters and taken to the next filming location. How could she do this to us, the bitch!
Less than a month to go, training is on schedule, rooms are booked, weight has been shed, equipment purchased and tested.
We are ready to go. All being well, we will be updating this blog at the end of each day.
I cannot understand why anyone should be interested but my web guru tells me that it will help keep YPS towards the top of the Geordie ranking.
Like most blogs it will be self-indulgent and me, me, me.
Watch this space if you can be bothered.
 |
| Thats going right down my neck |
Geordie Boy, was already retired. Duncan was still trying to keep the ship of York Publishing away from the rocks.
Their knowledge and experience of walking was non-existent. Neither had ever set foot in a Rohan or Blacks shop. They thought Berghaus was a breed of dog.
Training started early in the New Year. The first walk, in the woods of North Yorkshire, a gentle affair, in sensible shoes. We were not prepared to invest in boots at this stage.
Geordie Boy was mortified to find that Dunc had a pair of proper walking trousers. Dunc was oblivious to the proper use of the trousers, having bought them at TK Max because they were cheap. Never knew the pocket on the right hand leg was to fit a map.
The next day the Rohan shop in Chester sold everything in their range, as Geordie Boy kitted himself with the best.
Training days became more demanding and frequent around North Yorkshire and North Wales. New words were introduced to our vocabulary such as wicking, camels, layers and garmin. We can now read an Ordnance Survey Map rather than an AA road map. Although the use of a compass is still a little troublesome.
A whole range of energy bars have been tested and evaluated. We had forgotten Kendal Mint Cake ever existed.
We became captivated by Julia Bradbury, bought the DVD and avidly watched her over and over in her BBC series “Coast to Coast”. We were love struck and she became our fantasy companion both for the walk and afterwards. Only to be horrified to be told by reliable sources that she did not do the full walk, but was picked up by cars and helicopters and taken to the next filming location. How could she do this to us, the bitch!
Less than a month to go, training is on schedule, rooms are booked, weight has been shed, equipment purchased and tested.
We are ready to go. All being well, we will be updating this blog at the end of each day.
I cannot understand why anyone should be interested but my web guru tells me that it will help keep YPS towards the top of the Geordie ranking.
Like most blogs it will be self-indulgent and me, me, me.
Watch this space if you can be bothered.
The Itinerary
The accommodation is booked and nearly paid for, so we will have to go
DAY 1 : Friday October 8
ST. BEES TO ENNERDALE BRIDGE (14.5 MILES)
DAY 2: Saturday October 9
ENNERDALE BRIDGE TO ROSTHWAITE (14.5 MILES)
DAY 3: Sunday October 10
ROSTHWAITE TO GRASMERE (9.5 MILES)
DAY 4: Monday October 11
GRASMERE TO PATTERDALE (8.5 MILES)
DAY 5: Tuesday October 12
PATTERDALE TO SHAP (16 MILES)
DAY 6: Wednesday October 13
SHAP TO RAISBECK (8 MILES)
DAY 7 Thursday October 14
RAISBEK TO KIRKBY STEPHEN (12 MILES)
DAY 8 Friday October 15
KIRKBY STEPHEN TO KELD (12.5 MILES)
DAY 9 Saturday October 16
KELD TO REETH (13 MILES)
DAY 10 Sunday October 17
REETH TO RICHMOND (11 MILES)
DAY 11 Monday October 18
RICHMOND TO BROMPTON-ON-SWALE (4 MILES)
DAY 12 Tuesday October 19
BROMPTON-ON-SWALE TO INGLEBY ARNCLIFFE (19 MILES)
DAY 13 Wednesday October 20
INGLEBY ARNCLIFFE TO GREAT BOUGHTON (12.5 MILES)
DAY 14 Thursday October 21
GREAT BOUGHTON TO BLAKEY (11 MILES)
DAY 15 Friday October 22
BLAKEY TO GROSMONT (14 MILES)
DAY 16 Saturday October 23
GROSMONT TO ROBIN HOOD’S BAY (14 MILES)
DAY 1 : Friday October 8
ST. BEES TO ENNERDALE BRIDGE (14.5 MILES)
DAY 2: Saturday October 9
ENNERDALE BRIDGE TO ROSTHWAITE (14.5 MILES)
DAY 3: Sunday October 10
ROSTHWAITE TO GRASMERE (9.5 MILES)
DAY 4: Monday October 11
GRASMERE TO PATTERDALE (8.5 MILES)
DAY 5: Tuesday October 12
PATTERDALE TO SHAP (16 MILES)
DAY 6: Wednesday October 13
SHAP TO RAISBECK (8 MILES)
DAY 7 Thursday October 14
RAISBEK TO KIRKBY STEPHEN (12 MILES)
 |
| Which way boys? |
KIRKBY STEPHEN TO KELD (12.5 MILES)
DAY 9 Saturday October 16
KELD TO REETH (13 MILES)
DAY 10 Sunday October 17
REETH TO RICHMOND (11 MILES)
DAY 11 Monday October 18
RICHMOND TO BROMPTON-ON-SWALE (4 MILES)
DAY 12 Tuesday October 19
BROMPTON-ON-SWALE TO INGLEBY ARNCLIFFE (19 MILES)
DAY 13 Wednesday October 20
INGLEBY ARNCLIFFE TO GREAT BOUGHTON (12.5 MILES)
DAY 14 Thursday October 21
GREAT BOUGHTON TO BLAKEY (11 MILES)
DAY 15 Friday October 22
BLAKEY TO GROSMONT (14 MILES)
DAY 16 Saturday October 23
GROSMONT TO ROBIN HOOD’S BAY (14 MILES)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)