08/05/2007 by AOS.

Whilst in Kirkby Stephen, Veronica and Eddie were able to attend Mass at the local Church which is served by the Catholic parish of Our Lady of Appleby (from the nearby town of Appleby). Fr Peter Chappell made the couple very welcome and they were able to chat to parishioners after Mass about the walk and the work of the AOS for whom they are collecting sponsorship monies.

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08/05/2007 by AOS.

A rest day…

‘These feet are made for walking’… or ‘These boots were made for walking’.

We never thought when we set off on this adventure that we would be climbing mountain ranges, or have such perfect sunny clear skies (and no rain in the Lake District!). We have climbed so high and practically touched the sky; however, what goes up, must come down.

Scrambling down ravines and over waterfalls was awesome if not dangerous; of course tarns and lakes are two a penny. The babbling brooks, the thunderous waterfalls, the bluebell woods with other wild flowers were a treasure to behold. While grazing sheep and lambs were in abundance, cattle came into their own once we crossed Shap and came eventually into the Yorkshire Dales. Golden Eagles have been sighted in the Lakes and we have been warned via signs to “Beware of Adders” although we have not seen any so far.

The verdant trees by Hawswater were magnificent as was the velvet turf underfoot. At the start of the walk in St Bee’s, we had the red sandstone, the lakes showed us blue grey stone and on into the dales where we encountered limestone. Our walking companions have come from all over the British Isles and beyond and we have encountered them on different occasions as they divided their days out, and met them at B&B’s or in the Pub where we would argue at the evening meal over the best route. We discovered there are four different Coast to Coast guides and in fact Wainright has suggested we adapt our own route. However we are following his, as well as Terry Marsh’s closely. When we have gone wrong, we are reminded of the psalm “Alone with none but thee my God, I journey on my way; what need I fear when thou art near, oh King of night and day”

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08/05/2007 by AOS.

Orton to Kirkby Stephen (16 miles - total so far 93 miles)

Veronica and Eddie provide this further update;

Olive Bland B&B donated £6 in sponsorship (the price of our packed lunches). We walked through the idyllic old village of Orton with it’s many streams and bridges before setting off for Knott Lane and Sunbiggin Tarn. We met a lone American Coast to Coast walker who chatted with us for some miles before he left us to go on his chosen route.

We eventually reached Smardale Bridge after getting lost for several miles. Crossing Smardale Moor we approached the Settle - Carlisle railway viaduct which we photographed while a train was crossing. Some trainspotters had pitched camp along the line waiting for the steam train to pass.

The journey into Kirkby Stephen ended another tiring day and we were glad of the friendly welcome from Mrs Leeson (with whom we were staying) who washed our clothes. Two other couples from Sheffield who are also doing the walk arrived shortly after us.

Through arrangement in advance, we were delighted to be joined for our evening meal by AOS volunteers John and Carole Hodge from Darlington.

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08/05/2007 by AOS.

Burns Bank to Orton (14 miles - total so far 77 miles)

Veronica reports; The landlord of the Crown and Mitre drove us back to where he had collected us at Burns Bank the previous day.

We entered a woodland glade towards Naddlebridge where the mighty sound of cascading water of Thornthwaite Force rose to a crescendo. Following the signs for Shap, we came across the ruins of Shap Abbey (12th Century) and in Shap village found a welcome coffee shop. The pounding of the nearby motorway traffic reminded us of how close we were to reality as we crossed over the M6 into a dusty cement quarry.

We then headed towards Hardendale (where Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed on the night of 17/12/1745), before proceeding along the Lunn Valley to the pretty village of Orton where we sampled Kennedy’s chocolate at their factory once visited by our own Prince Charles.

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08/05/2007 by AOS.

Burns Bank to Orton (14 miles - total so far 77 miles)

Veronica reports; The landlord of the Crown and Mitre drove us back to where he had collected us at Burns Bank the previous day.

We entered a woodland glade towards Naddlebridge where the mighty sound of cascading water of Thornthwaite Force rose to a crescendo. Following the signs for Shap, we came across the ruins of Shap Abbey (12th Century) and in Shap village found a welcome coffee shop. The pounding of the nearby motorway traffic reminded us of how close we were to reality as we crossed over the M6 into a dusty cement quarry.

We then headed towards Hardendale (where Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed on the night of 17/12/1745), before proceeding along the Lunn Valley to the pretty village of Orton where we sampled Kennedy’s chocolate at their factory once visited by our own Prince Charles.

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03/05/2007 by AOS.

Today Veronica and Eddie covered a further distance of 14 miles, walking from Patterdale to Burns Bank. When they left in the morning, there was low lying mist which, at first, filled them with trepidation. However they began their walk and climb to find that further up, conditions were better and they were able to see the Ullswater Steamer on the lake. The weather then improved significantly to become bright and sunny for the remainder of the day.

They reached Angle Tarn Pike which gave a view of ‘Brothers Water’, so called because it was here that Wordsworth parted from his brother whom he never saw again. At Kids Style Pike, they were at the same level as Helvellyn which they had seen previously.

Veronica and Eddie ascended to a height of 2560ft before beginning their descent towards Knott on what was a particularly strenuous stretch but then had the advantage of relaxing for a while and cooling off at some spectacular waterfalls. This was only interupted by low flying tornado aircraft which zipped across the sky, and which were says Veronica, “close enough to shake hands with the pilot!”

Next they came near to Hawes Water and it’s dam; this in fact supplies domestic and other water to the city of Manchester.

Upon arrival in Burns bank, Veronica and Eddie unsuccessfully tried to get a taxi to the place where they are staying this evening and in the end the kindly landlord picked them up and they were greeted upon arrival with a splendid tray of tea.

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02/05/2007 by AOS.

A further 10 miles today (making a total of 49 miles so far) saw Veronica and Eddie reach Patterdale (St Patrick’s Dale) after a tough but enjoyable stretch in good weather and, says Veronica, with spectacular views. They took a stop at 1655ft above sea level for coffee and enjoyed the splendour of the waterfalls at Grisedale Tarn.

Both Veronica and Eddie are in good spirits and enjoying the wonderful natural surroundings in which they find themselves.

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01/05/2007 by AOS.

Veronica and Eddie have arrived in Grasmere after an 8 mile walk today. This still meant negotiating some steep climbs but both are in good spirits and are clearly enjoying the experience while meeting and talking with other walkers on the way. Tomorrow they head for Patterdale (passing Helvellyn), which means more arduous terrain.

I assured Veronica and Eddie that all at AOS and many other supporters are thinking of them and remembering them in their prayers.

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30/04/2007 by AOS.

Today’s stretch of the walk, tackled again in glorious weather, included spectacular views of Ennerdale Water; a near impossible climb up a steep gully carrying full packs, and a welcome cup of tea at the slate mine near Honiston Pass.

The overall distance covered was 18 miles, which was somewhat further than planned but was caused by taking a wrong turn at one point. Veronica and Eddie were not alone in this as other walkers did likewise, but all was OK in the end.

Veronica and Eddie again met many other walkers, not all doing the Coast to Coast Walk, but who were interested to hear about their reasons for doing it, and the AOS charity which will ultimately benefit. Veronica, as ever gave out information leaflets whenever anybody showed an interest.

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29/04/2007 by AOS.

They say that every journey begins with a single step, and so today Veronica and Eddie took that that all important move forward, to not only start the Coast to Coast Walk, but in so doing, realise a dream, an ambition that they have had for many years.

Veronica reports; day 1, “today we covered a distance of 13 miles from St Bee’s to Ennerdale Bridge encountering on the way other walkers who were very interested to hear of the work of the AOS and to whom I gave leaflets, not only outlining their work but also giving details of this website where they can find future updates of our progress.

We reached the summit of Dent Fell and lingered for a while looking back at, and taking a photograph of St Bee’s with the Isle of Man in the distance, and the Scottish highlands to our right. Of the other walkers we met, these included a couple all the way from Australia. The weather was excellent and we are exhilarated by finishing our first leg of the walk. Tomorrow we have a longer walk but go into it with confidence.

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