As a 50th birthday present to myself I decided to walk 192 miles across the whole of England following the path of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast. In the end, I only made it 150 of the 192 miles before a leg injury prematurely ended my trip. I nonetheless wrote a journal of my preparation and my walking:
- Preparation: Coast to Coast planning, training, and general farting around
- Preparation: September 14, 2023: Hanging around Manchester
- Preparation: September 15, 2023: Another day hanging around Manchester
- Preparation: September 16, 2023: Traveling to St. Bees
- Walking Day 1: September 17, 2023: St. Bees to Ennerdale
- Walking Day 2: September 18, 2023: Ennerdale to Seatoller
- Walking Day 3: September 19, 2023: Seatoller to Grasmere
- Walking Day 4: September 20, 2023: Grasmere to Glenridding
- Walking Day 5: September 21, 2023: Glenridding to Shap
- Walking Day 6: September 22, 2023: Shap to Orton
- Walking Day 7: September 23: Orton to Kirkby Stephen
- Walking Day 8: September 24: Kirkby Stephen to Keld
- Walking Day 9: September 25: Keld to Reeth
- Walking Day 10: September 26: Reeth to Richmond
- Walking Day 11: September 27: Richmond to Danby Wiske
- Walking Day 12: September 28: Danby Wiske to Osmotherly
- Injury and The End: September 29: Back to Manchester and a visit to the NHS
- Finally: The entire Coast to Coast Diary — all 55,000 words of it — if you’re not into the whole brevity thing
Though the trip ended before I wanted it to, it was nonetheless one of the greatest experiences of my life. One which, if I ever get the chance, I would certainly do again.