15 February: Momentum

Things are coming together.

Walking Dave has decided to extend his stint on the walk by adding one day to either end. He will now be joining me at the half-way point along with Rob, and will also do the long stage to Blakey Ridge on my birthday. And then there were three.

We also met with Sherpa Dave, Ali and Mum last week, and over a Chinese takeaway and some interesting beer filled in the details for the start of the expedition. Carol will take me over to Mum's on the evening before where I'll stay overnight, and Dave and Ali will collect us early on Day 1. After the long drive up to St Bees we'll have a late breakfast. I'll dip my foot in the sea, collect three pebbles, one to keep and two to throw into the sea at Robin Hood's bay. That's one for me and one for my grandson. We'll then begin the journey east. It's starting to feel very real.

They all plan to begin the walk with me, then Sherpa Dave and Mum will turn back to the car and drive over to Ennerdale Bridge. Ali will walk with me for the first day. I'd like to say that my plan to convince her worked but I think she was pretty keen to do a whole stage with me anyway. Great news.

Our planning extended into Days 2 and 3. Chinese takeaway, beer and planning: A cracking combination. They'll walk with me as far as Ennerdale Water and then we'll meet again at Honister Pass, if we get our timing right. I'll then have some company for the final section into Borrowdale. I expect to be pretty tired by then so this will be especially welcome. I wonder if I'll be disqualified if I get a piggy-back?

The following morning Sherpa Dave will accompany the newly arrived Simon over to Grasmere to drop his car off along with the overnight bags for those of us walking Day 3, and in doing so achieve the first baggage transfer of my Coast to Coast. For anyone not carrying all their kit with them this is a key consideration. How to get your kit bag moved along the route with you. Fortunately there are quite a few baggage services available on Coast to Coast. They charge a modest fee per bag per stage and by all accounts are generally very efficient. My experience is that many of them only operate when there are enough walkers to make the service viable, which means they may not be available if you go outside the core Easter to October season.

I'm using Suzi at Keswick Cabs. She's tailored a service for me that allows for different numbers of bags for each stage and transfers of people back to their cars. She's also happy to provide the service earlier in the year than most and is happy to support me for the middle part of the journey only. I'll have plenty of mobile support towards the end.

We didn't talk about contingency plans in the event of bad weather. I guess Sherpa Dave, Ali and Mum will decide at the time whether to walk or ride, although there was some discussion about what waterproof gear to pack and a mood of "walk on regardless" in the room. I know what I'll be doing.

A friend of ours (who is a regular reader of this blog - hello Juliet) called Carol last week after seeing reports of winter storms in the USA, genuinely concerned about what I'd do if it snowed. I think Carol told her that I'd have to put a hat on!

Some more welcome news. Jo, a long time friend, will accompany me on the Grasmere to Patterdale stage. This is perfect timing as she'll get to see Carol, who will be returning to the midlands later that day. Jo and I worked together for some years early in her career (not quite so early in mine!). I watched her grow from a shy teenager just starting out in the world of work into a confident accomplished professional. We were kindred spirits at work and formed a friendship that has passed the test of time, even though it's more than a dozen years since we worked together and we don't often see each other these days. Back then she helped me through one of the toughest times in my life and I will always be grateful for this.

Jo will be bringing her dogs. Maybe I can get her to tell me how she really feels when she's out walking them on a cold dark wet December morning when the only people around are other dog owners, bin-men on a mission, and mad walkers?

So, a good week for planning and arranging. I am a bit disappointed with my training though. It's by no means been a disaster but I don't feel I've really built on the promising first few weeks of the year. To be clear, I haven't backed off on the training, I just haven't pushed on. I've allowed other things to get in the way of extending my long weekend walk, and I've taken the odd weekday off when I didn't really need to. It's been cold and damp and I've felt a little jaded. Poor excuses, but good enough.

Maybe I could do with a spell of warm weather training? After all if it's good for Team GB why not me, and probably just the right preparation for an early spring march across northern England.

I've been using disassociation again during some of my evening walks. It is a real technique, look it up. Again I've found myself turning to memorable mountain experiences, usually in warm dry weather!

I recall Walking Dave's wild camping debut was one of those. We base-camped for the first time, by Codale Tarn. It was midsummer and unusually hot for the Lake District. Hardly a breath of wind for the duration of our expedition and never a threat of rain.

After setting up camp at the far end of the tarn well away from the man routes, Rob and I walked up to Tarn Crag overlooking Easedale Tarn and Helm Crag, a magnificent outlook in the fading summer evening light.

Dusk is a special time in the hills. Everyone else has left, retired to B&Bs or hotels in the town and probably by now preparing to go out for dinner. Like they were visitors to your home, they are now gone and you can kick back and relax, be yourself. Somehow you feel like you belong more than them. As the night comes in you realise that you are committed. You planned to stay anyway, and the feeling of isolation is welcome rather than unsettling.

After breakfast the three of us set out for a long day higher up. Up over Blea Rigg, down to Stickle Tarn and a sharp ascent to Pavey Ark. Then a full round of the Langdales, Thunacar Knott, High Raise and Sergeant Man. We paused at this final peak surveying our whole day's effort behind and our camp far below, reflecting on a glorious mountain day. Hot, sweaty, exhausted, and exhilarated. The fastest lightest mountain day I could recall. We had barely paused for the customary summit photos, energised by each short-sharp push to the top and down and up the next.

We opted for the Richardson Retreat back to camp, so named following a rushed winter descent off Skiddaw when Ash decided it was going to get dark and we needed to get off the mountain quickly. The method is quite simple: You take a bee-line between where you are and where you want to get to, and follow it no matter what, irrespective of hazard or obstruction. This time it worked well. Aided by frequent use of the bum slide our return to base-camp was short and quick.

We spent the evening crashed out by the tarn. First priority for the stove was reviving tea. Somehow it tastes better in the hills. The pot-noodle meals featured in previous wild camps had been replaced at Dave's prompting by sachet meals containing real food. Still store bought at at this point but real food nonetheless. We started with cup-a-soup and bread, and after the main course squeezy-cheese and crackers. Any wild camper will tell you that squeezy-cheese is an essential rucksack item. Tasty and practically indestructible.

Then chocolate, coffee, and Jaegermeister. A splendid meal enjoyed at our own chilled pace on a balmy summer evening, in a truly beautiful lonely setting. We spent the evening watching the stars and moon, comparing notes from our epic mountain day, and polishing off the rest of the Jaegermeister. It doesn't get much better than this.

I've started reading Harold Fry. He's only just into his second day but already it's an engaging read. I can see how it inspired Alan so, even after a few short pages. When Walking Dave first told me of Alan's plan I think he was concerned that he would be underprepared, and hoped that I might influence him otherwise. After spending a little time talking to Alan about his plan and then reading the first couple of chapters of Harold Fry I would say that by comparison Alan is very well prepared indeed.