22/03/2007 by the walkers.

Eddie provides this update; our walk today took us on part of the Issac Tea trail we had traversed last year along the Allendale valley. We experienced echoes of the tin mining industry with the kilns and chimneys reminding us of Issac Holden born at a time of its demise. He traipsed over this trail selling teas to the farming and tin mining communities of the area. A peddler of tea in those days was considered only one step from the workhouse. He contributed to many charitable causes, not least the purchase of a horse drawn hearse for which he was one of the first to benefit as he died shortly after.
Our journey took us along the Whitfield estate where pheasants are bred, before we approached the open moorland. We ascended to 1500ft above sea level. While the views were stunning despite the gentle rain, the snow drifts had not melted and we kept treading on the soft white sheets before a gradual descent onto the metallic pathway. We were unable to find a suitable place on the moors to sit down for lunch, so had our picnic propped up against one of the many bridge-like structures along the route which were used as draft shafts to heat the lime kilns in former times. Our only wild life creatures were the rabbits, which looked like Easter bunnies, they were so tiny; and the sociable species of sheep called black face as they continued to follow us over a large area, maybe hoping we would feed them. However we did come across a lone alpaca as we finished the 10 1/2 walk.

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22/03/2007 by the walkers.

Veronica writes; there is nothing more frustrating than the extreme weather conditions which have hampered our planned walking preparations. They remind us of our trawler men unable to put to sea in bad weather and counting the cost of the lost days of fishing. However all is not lost, thanks to an enterprising couple who live within sight of the Solway Firth and the Lake District. Jackie & Peter Jensen, at Ullerbank Farm, Talkin Brampton, hire out their swimming pool complete with Jacuzzi, so swimming is a great way of keeping fit for the forthcoming walk. And it was on the return from such a lovely dip in their pool that Tony McAvoy (the AOS North East Co-ordinator who is organizing the sponsorship) met us with the A.O.S. shirt tops which we shall wear on the way. Things are falling into place and the excitement is almost tangible.

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21/03/2007 by AOS.

Jimmy, one of our fully trained and equipped volunteer Ship Visitors
visited a large tanker at North Tees, where, as usual, he spent time with the Crew who are all from India, and provided news, transport to town and pre-paid phone cards, all of which make life for the crewmembers a little bit easier. The ship is a regular visitor to the port, so Jimmy is on first name terms with many of the seafarers and is treated as a personal friend. On this occasion, a new Captain (Master) had just joined the ship and he expressed his thanks for all that Jimmy was doing. He offered to reward him in some way but Jimmy, an experienced Ship visitor of some six years, politely refused. When the Captain insisted, Jimmy diplomatically suggested that he could, if he wished, make a donation to the Coast to Coast Walk Fund. This he did, and the fund has now grown by a further £20 as a result. Many thanks Captain, and of course to Jimmy and all our volunteers around the country for the invaluable work they do on behalf of AOS for seafarers.

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19/03/2007 by the walkers.

Veronica writes; Driving to Lancashire with our Trailer-Tent of 15 years in tow, we planned to spend Mothering Sunday walking part of the Pendle Witches Way walk, continuing our preparation in the North West. The meal with the family who were traveling from Manchester was set for Saturday for convenience.

The plan was to retrace part of the 42 mile walk we did in May 1993. Photos taken by Eddie of myself and his two female colleagues who accompanied us were captioned, ‘The Pendle Witches’. I wanted to enter the Witches Gallery shop in Newchurch-in-Pendle with the sign “The Management accepts no responsibility for any spells cast on entering these premises”. The shop is an Aladdin’s cave of fun and laughter.
When we arrived at the camp site on Friday afternoon, there were gale force winds making any attempts to erect the awning almost impossible. Eventually wrapping one of the canvas side parts round me, Eddie was able to zip it up after many failed attempts. The scene reminded me of the enactment during the recent Women’s World Day of Prayer with the theme United Under God’s Tent when two women at the service wrapped a flowing cloth round themselves to symbolise a tent. Well, I’m not sure if God had a hand with our tent but I think the Devil was using it as a punch bowl

Saturday got off to a great start with sunshine and the family duly arrived and enjoyed their meal. However by early evening the wind, and hailstones were whirling round the tent so fearlessly that we decided by 10.30p.m. to abandon any thoughts of walking on Sunday, and started to make preparation for a hasty retreat next morning. Our thoughts turned again to our seafarers who must experience such frightening storms, even the bed was swaying with the ferocity of the wind, I wondered if we would survive the night.

By Sunday mid morning we were on the return journey north battling hail storms and gusty winds. They say mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid day sun - not as bad as the mad Irish woman camping in the worst of winter conditions. But at least the whole experience tested our stamina for the long walk.

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15/03/2007 by the walkers.

Eddie writes; today my neighbour came across to read the blog and expressed a personal interest in sponsoring us. Aileen said, “I must sponsor you because my father was a seafarer and died at sea when I was very young in 1949 and from then, until my mother died in 1957, we were welcomed by the AOS at South Shields three times a year where provisions were given to us. It helped my poor mother no end. We even received parcels from as far away as Australia and Canada from the soldiers and seafarers welfare. By sponsoring you I am helping to repay in some small way the kindness of strangers who kept the wolf from the door. I have never forgotten it.”

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14/03/2007 by AOS.

We are conscious of a lot of activity within the region in parishes, and through other AOS supporters, in relation to the forthcoming walk. This is not only very encouraging to us within the AOS, but of course gives great heart and encouragement to Veronica and Eddie in their (intense) preparations. Many thanks.

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13/03/2007 by AOS.

Many thanks to all who have made a donation/provided sponsorship so far, to those who are actively seeking sponsors on our behalf, and to those who have pledged money. The walk really seems to have captured the imagination of AOS supporters and many others in these early weeks.

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13/03/2007 by the walkers.

Veronica writes; The March winds doth blow, so the rhyme goes. Well they blew icy cold and we walked into a hail storm which happily did not last long on Friday 9th. Parking the car at Haltwhistle (the Centre of Britain, so it is claimed) we noticed other ramblers setting off in the direction of Hadrian’s Wall, our own tramping ground. We cut out across the disused Alston railway line for four miles towards Lambley Viaduct, a much painted picturesque part of the Tynedale valley. The ground was drier under foot than previous weeks and as we headed up towards Yont-the-Cleugh caravan park , out of the silence a woodpecker was busy at work. Later the song of the skylarks overhead was heard.

We lunched in the adjoining room of the Coanwood Friends Meeting House. This barn like Quaker establishment was built in 1760 and due to those worshiping from a distance catered for the physical hunger as well as spiritual. Benches and an open fire would welcome them as they unpacked their provisions. The graveyard is covered in snowdrops with all the grave stones dedicated to the large Wigham family and their ancestors. We are grateful to the Hexham Quakers that the place is open to the public.
As the circular walk took us over moorland and streams we caught a wonderful glimpse of a rainbow as we neared the crest of the hill. We had problems tracing a defined pathway over the heather and recently burnt scrub land but eventually found our footing and viewed the old Roman Road (Military road) from a vantage point near Bellister castle. A curlew cried as we returned to the railway line and walked over Alston Arches (restored and opened by H.R.H. Duke of Gloucester in 2006) and on into Haltwhistle ahead of more stormy weather.
Our 14 mile hike took in all sorts of terrain we expect to meet on Coast to Coast.

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06/03/2007 by AOS.

A poster advertising the Walk, a letter explaining it’s aims and a sponsorship form have been sent today to 52 established Parish Contacts in parishes throughout the north east region. We are hopeful that parishioners will be encouraged to sponsor Veronica and Eddie in their quest. We are also in the process of seeking support from large companies with corporate sponsorship.

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05/03/2007 by the walkers.

Veronica writes; weatherwise, Friday 2nd March would have been the preferred day for our 13 mile walk, but I was attending the Women’s Day of Prayer. Instead we chose “swampy Thursday” as we have christened it. The weather was off-putting for most of the morning. However, having parked the car at Bardon Mill opposite the Potteries, we set out over the railway crossing and headed up to an old intact Basle house used in Border Reiver times. Making our way towards Allen Banks, we had trouble crossing a ford due to the previous 48 hours of continual rain. It took us 20 minutes to find a safe spot to cross 100 yards. This occurred on at least two other occasions during the day. Despite the weather which cleared up in the afternoon, we had a wonderful walk.

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