RETROSPECTIVE
I amazingly finished with no blisters due to my new
Lowa boots which were remarkably comfortable and
fitted perfectly. Of course I had the usual aches,
sore muscles and sore feet, but I never had to use
my Compeed. Other equipment which proved essential
were my Komperdell Carbon Ultralight walking poles,
Marmot jacket, REI Duckback pack cover and Smartwool
socks with Wright inner layers. What a pleasure it
is to have good equipment. Through all the rain and
wind, I always kept dry. Since 2006, I have learned
to attach the pack cover so that rain never breached
the pack and there is no way it can blow loose, snag
a wire and take me down (as in 2006); this was a
very important lesson learned.
The day to day expenses were very reasonable
considering I slept in a bed and had a roof over my
head every night with a full meal in my belly. In
fact, some of the b&bs were extremely nice and some
of the pub meals were outstanding. The b&bs averaged
£30 per night, the two hostels with breakfast
averaged about £20 pounds per night (surprisingly
high). My daily pub expenses ran about £14 for food
and drink. Incidental expenses were very incidental.
One thing that has made a big impression on me is
how difficult and, actually, dangerous the C2C can
be especially under severe weather conditions. These
conditions can occur at any time and one should
always be prepared. They can tax a person physically
and mentally and disorient anyone. Rains and winds
can last for days and days, but the beautiful days
are truly beautiful. Either way, the experience is
unique and unforgettable.
The challenges I went through to finish each day,
the unique experiences I had, the wonderful fellow
walkers and B&B hosts I met made the walk
unforgettable. The days were a good mix of
stimulating company and walking alone with ample
time for reflection and meditation. I only wish I
could have traded that Striding Edge day for better
weather.....and the Greenup Edge day....and the
Haystacks day. But that is all part of the
challenges and a great part of the memories. Now its
time to find another adventure to look forward to
and strive toward.
I'll leave you with a quote from my adventurous friend in Kunming, China, Jin Fei Bao, who has just finished climbing the tallest mountains on all seven continents.