One day we'll do the Coast to Coast

We had all said at some point, thinking of it as a distant addition to the bucket list. However we had reckoned without the indomitable Jean Stainthorpe, aided and abetted by Jeanette Shenton.

St Bees to Kirby Stephen

So they gathered together six willing victims and organised the first half to Kirby Stephen from St Bees for the first bank holiday week in May 2016.

It was a glorious week with beautiful blue skies and amazing views. However we were very conscious of the potential to get lost, particularly around the infamous Black Sail youth hostel. Jeanette had bravely organised a training/fitness schedule which we failed miserably to complete due to the busy schedules of the retirees in the group on skiing/sailing/walking holidays across the globe.

The "C2C faffers"

This meant that we were practising our new found compass skills, and GPS apps on very regular basis. This coupled with our inability put in an early get away in the morning without numerous boot re-lacing, forgotten walking poles, coffee flasks left behind, meant the we became the self-confessed C2C Faffers. Beryl Wilson, who was not one for poring over maps, would sometimes head off after stray hikers she thought were heading in the right direction, particularly if they were nice looking men, so we sometimes had to rein her in if they were on a completely different walk.

Kirby Stephen to Robin Hoods Bay

Having made it safely to Kirby Stephen in 2016 the intrepid six decided to do the second half the same week in 2017. This time raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity supported by Jackie Stringer's employers, Jackie being the only one of the team in full-time work. Unbelievably we had another glorious week with amazing views across the very different landscape of the Yorkshire dales and moors. Unfortunately the presence of quite a few lovely opportunities for cream teas prevented much weight loss along the way and one very lovely B&B even presented us with Prosecco on our arrival.

Beryl takes a bath

Our achievement was further undermined by meeting two lovely lads who were doing the whole thing in 8 days. By the time we met them they were on their 30 mile final day and one of them was suffering badly with terrible blisters on his feet. Beryl also suffered a few blisters when she decided to stand on a stepping stone on the river poised as though she was going to fall in, then promptly did so. Somehow we managed an entire wardrobe for her from various rucksacks, including a dry pair of knickers. However this meant a day without the boots as they dried out, leading to some very poorly little toes. Our only other major injury was a week prior to setting off when Jean took a tumble on Derbyshire Peaks walk and consequently set off on the C2C with cracked ribs and looking like we had given her a black eye.

The group are very proud of their achievement following in Alfred Wainwright's footsteps across England, and that they didn't lose their way, thanks to the ever diligent checking of maps and GPS by Chris Elliott, Kate Down and Jean.

Teenage Cancer Trust

You can donate to this cause here. Nearly £1500 (including Gift Aid) has been raised so far.

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