Ennerdale and Kinniside

I just wanted to finish the C2C part of the blog with some personal reflections on the trip. I had a great time and the trip certainly lived up to and even past my expectations.

I was extremely fortunate from a weather perspective. One day of rain during a 15 day trip is really quite remarkable. This spring in the UK has up until now been incredibly rainy. May and June however are the driest months which I took into consideration when planning the trip. The one day I hiked in the rain I really enjoyed it. It was the consequence of the rain and the wet boots and the blisters the next day that were the downside of the rain. It would definitely have been a much more difficult trip had it rained. My walk of the C2C would have been much different than someone's trip in April.

The majority of my trip planning worked out very well. Doing my own bookings of accomodations and hiring the luggage moving service took more work but then it also engaged me more in the adventure. Some people's hobbies are fixing cars. Mine is holiday planning. Organizing my own trip also saved me a little money. I mainly booked accommodations through the Internet because I was fearful that the cost of calling the UK was prohibitive. I eventually had to call the UK and Telus only charged me 7 cents per minute. I think B and Bs give better, nicer and cheaper accommodations than some of the taverns or inns I stayed at. That said I would still try hard to stay on the route as I met some hikers who stayed at B and Bs off route and had some transportation issues.

One thing I was reminded of on the trip was to take my time and enjoy myself. I met an elderly American couple with their 2 friends having a nap on the trail lying on yoga mats withe their shoes and socks off. It was after Orton. They told me that they did this every day after lunch. They were doing the trip over 21 days and taking their time. Why rush they told me. It was an experience not a race. I found myself repeating this mantra for the rest of the trip and on the nice days after lunch I would take my shoes and socks off and read my book and enjoy the ambiance of being outside. I the rain day I don't think I did this.

The comraderie on the trip was great. Some people I got to know better than others if our trips coincided and some people I would only meet and chat with once. Everyone was so happy and friendly to chat and share their experiences. It was great to meet Dawn, the Acock brothers, the Coloradians -Debbie and Ginnie, Lisa and Annie, Dexter the dog and owners, Nick from Brighton, the Australians from Perth and many more people who I connected with on the trip.

Some of the highlights of the trip were the church in St Bees and the story of the 14 century knight, the lake district, hiking the crags, Wordsworth's house and grave in Grasmere, the stone circles, the churches Shap abbey, the lambs playing together in the fields, the day of being sniffed by the animals, overcoming my fears, seeing the North Sea and finishing at Robin Hood Bay. It was all good.Read more