First of all apologies for the delay in updates but lack of wi-fi / 3G and battery haven't helped.
I blogged yesterday at 3pm just after we completed the walk and it's still trying to publish now! Grrrrr.
Anyway, we woke yesterday just outside Grinsdale to the patter of raindrops on the tents, I quickly fetched my washing off the line and packed away under the shelter that was provided. Simon nicked the best spot in the garden shed.
We were under way just after 9am and yesterday was a day not to take lightly. The rain was light but steady and the temp was warm so 4 of us carried on without ponchos. This ended up firing back in our faces......well for Russ, Tim & myself anyway but i'll come to that later.
The walk was pretty and it took us back along side the River Eden which looked a lot better out of the industrial Carlisle with the rain still pouring steadily.
We reached a small village called Burgh by Sands and the idea of going to see the Edward the 1st Monument was quickly reversed when Russ noticed in the book that it was a mile and a half away. Had the weather been different we probably would have visited.
As we carried on however there was a replica monument outside the local pub, and that would have been a handy place to stop but we were an hr too early, and this is where Russ, Tim & myself were going to regret our stubbeness.
Just down the road was a stretch of the walk that seemed never ending. This involved more tarmac and not a shelter in site despite one bus stop that might as well have not been there. I think you call it sods law but the rain got heavier and we thought to ourselves we're wet now so whats the point in putting a poncho on......oh how we wish we did! The road must have been 3 miles long and you could see the end of it in the far distance.
To add to everyones woes you also had the Jenson Button wanabes back using the road like it was an F1 track and not giving any walker consideration when passing(only the minority did)
The rain got even heavier, that heavy infact it was bouncing off the road, and at this point we started to see the funny side of things and progressed on through what was stunning scenery of the solway marshlands and Scotland. Unfortunately we were not going to stop and takes photos though, through fear of soaking our phones.
The relentless road eventually came to an end at the village of Drumburgh and the first bit of shelter in 7 miles. So we had a stop for about 45 mins, changed into some dry gear, ate lunch and cracked on with the sun now showing some promise through the broken cloud.
The route carried on through some more farmland and then back to the side of the solway, and by now the sun was shining and drying us off nicely. Approaching Bowness on Solway the sky had created what can only be described as a path of sunlight, as where we had walked from was covered in black sky as was Scotland.
Joints were now starting to ache and it always seems worse when you know its the last day? Obviously a mental thing :-)
So we have made it, a long journey but one that was worth every step, climb, blister, and final day downpour. And what could be better than ending our trip in the beautiful town of Keswick with gorgeous views of the lake district in a brilliantly located campsite ( thank you Dawn xx)
I shall blog later about our stay in Keswick, but for now thank you to all those who have followed us on our epic adventure and for those who have donated for Zoe's Place. I think now I am at about £1750.00!
Andrew
I blogged yesterday at 3pm just after we completed the walk and it's still trying to publish now! Grrrrr.
Anyway, we woke yesterday just outside Grinsdale to the patter of raindrops on the tents, I quickly fetched my washing off the line and packed away under the shelter that was provided. Simon nicked the best spot in the garden shed.
We were under way just after 9am and yesterday was a day not to take lightly. The rain was light but steady and the temp was warm so 4 of us carried on without ponchos. This ended up firing back in our faces......well for Russ, Tim & myself anyway but i'll come to that later.
The walk was pretty and it took us back along side the River Eden which looked a lot better out of the industrial Carlisle with the rain still pouring steadily.
We reached a small village called Burgh by Sands and the idea of going to see the Edward the 1st Monument was quickly reversed when Russ noticed in the book that it was a mile and a half away. Had the weather been different we probably would have visited.
As we carried on however there was a replica monument outside the local pub, and that would have been a handy place to stop but we were an hr too early, and this is where Russ, Tim & myself were going to regret our stubbeness.
Just down the road was a stretch of the walk that seemed never ending. This involved more tarmac and not a shelter in site despite one bus stop that might as well have not been there. I think you call it sods law but the rain got heavier and we thought to ourselves we're wet now so whats the point in putting a poncho on......oh how we wish we did! The road must have been 3 miles long and you could see the end of it in the far distance.
To add to everyones woes you also had the Jenson Button wanabes back using the road like it was an F1 track and not giving any walker consideration when passing(only the minority did)
The rain got even heavier, that heavy infact it was bouncing off the road, and at this point we started to see the funny side of things and progressed on through what was stunning scenery of the solway marshlands and Scotland. Unfortunately we were not going to stop and takes photos though, through fear of soaking our phones.
The relentless road eventually came to an end at the village of Drumburgh and the first bit of shelter in 7 miles. So we had a stop for about 45 mins, changed into some dry gear, ate lunch and cracked on with the sun now showing some promise through the broken cloud.
The route carried on through some more farmland and then back to the side of the solway, and by now the sun was shining and drying us off nicely. Approaching Bowness on Solway the sky had created what can only be described as a path of sunlight, as where we had walked from was covered in black sky as was Scotland.
Joints were now starting to ache and it always seems worse when you know its the last day? Obviously a mental thing :-)
So we have made it, a long journey but one that was worth every step, climb, blister, and final day downpour. And what could be better than ending our trip in the beautiful town of Keswick with gorgeous views of the lake district in a brilliantly located campsite ( thank you Dawn xx)
I shall blog later about our stay in Keswick, but for now thank you to all those who have followed us on our epic adventure and for those who have donated for Zoe's Place. I think now I am at about £1750.00!
Andrew
What a fantastic result Andrew. You must be so prod. And you earned every penny of the money you raised. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWell done!! We are all proud of you.
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