A Land's End to John O'Groats Charity Walk

Well, I am currently sat, feet up and sat with a cup of tea feeling very relaxed indeed. I am staying at my aunty and uncle's house in Blaenafon. My aunty picked Ed and I up from Chepstow train station yesterday.

Day 13 took us as far as a pub in Watchfield. Day 14 we walked from Watchfield to Easton-in-Gordano. This was a very long day and we were very sore by the end as we walked for about 11 hours! I have some rather large painful blisters around my ankles and under my big toes. My knee though, on a brighter note, seems fully improved. I can walk up steep hills fine again now.

Day 15: Easton-in Gordano to Chepstow. It felt amazing to see the Severn bridges and felt good to walk over the bridge. We've made it to Chepstow, we've made it to Wales. We've walked around 300 miles and we're now a quarter of the way through our journey.

My body aches all over: my shoulders, my back, I have sores on my bottom from carrying my backpack, my joints, my feet - ooh and my neck! But having a day off here I can feel the pains melting away already. I am well up for walking again tomorrow. Ed and I will be walking with my aunty and uncle for the next 3 days without packs to give our bodies a little break. We will be paying particular attention to the places where we finish each day so we can start at exactly the same place each day as we're staying at my aunty and uncle's house.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far - we really appreciate your generosity! 

Carlie.

p.s. sorry if this blog is a bit boring - rather tired! :) 

Hello blog readers,

sorry about the lack of blogging, but we've had a tough week. Lot's to catch up on.

Day 6 brought us eventually through New Quay and we camped outside of a little village called Pendoggett.

Day 7 was absolutely exhausting - goodness knows how many hills we walked up and down. Towards the end of the day the we walked down and back up a 30% gradient in order to get to a camp site. Nearly in tears by the time we got to it, I was so tired. We decided to stay at the Penhalt farm campsite for two nights and take the next day off to rest our limbs. The campsite offered a abulous view over Widemouth Bay and Bude situated in the distance.

Day 7* rest day. Did absolutely nothing. Ate the campsite shop out of stock (almost) and enjoyed not having the packs on.

Day 8  tooki us through Bude and we camped a few miles just outside of Bideford.

Day 9 we camped a few miles outside of Barnstaple where we mst say a huge thankyou to Sue Harty and the Fremington Quay Cafe for her kindness and generosity towards us (see photos). Sue very kindly let us camp in a nearby picnic area which was out of the way so we wouldn't get asked to move on and let us have the keys to the public toilets so we could help ourselves. If that wasn't enough she cooked us the most amazing bacon baguette EVER for breakfast - free! And filled us up with tea and coffee. We would also like to thank her and her husband for their donation. Thank you so much!

Day 10 took us through Baranstaple and over some rough terrain where I feel on my knee awkwardly. Was in a lot of pain and had to stay overnight at Twitchen Farm in Challacombe in Exmoor National Park to rest it. Ed and I managed to get a whole farm house to ourselves the next day for £20 each breakfast included - very lucky (see photos / videos). Had day 10* off to recover.

Day 11. Knee much better. We walked out of Devon and into Somerset and camped outside Churchtown. Day 12, yesterday, took us through Roadwater and over the quantocks where we got our first view of Wales - very good for morale. We climbed up a huge hill to get to the top of the little quantock where we camped. We met a couple from London, Thomas and Lucinda who very indly shared their food with us that evening. We very much enjoyed their company conversation and food! Thank you both! If you read this, Ed and I wanted to say that if you're ever Cardiff way and are looking for a bed for the night we have a guest room and you're very welcome to stay at ours - your children too! 07816 401046 (Carlie).

Day 13 - we're just in Bridgwater -another ridiculously hot day - it's supposed to get cooler and wetter tomorrow - hope so! Right - Cheddar - here we come!

Speak soon bloggers and thank you for all the comments! Keep them coming!

Carlie

We're currently in Wadebridge, sat in a small, quiet cyber cafe.  We're hoping to walk another 6 miles or so today.

We should hopefully get to Barnastaple by day 9.

Ed and I spent last night at a campsite - got a chance to shower and freshen up. Weather was mostly misty yesterday and quite damp, but it's making up for that today and the sun is merciless - so we can't win! :)

Wadebridge is situated at the base of the Camel estuary (google map it!) which is gorgeous! We should get some pictures up on this site by day 16-17 by the way as that's our first day off! Hopefully, they'll be well worth the wait.

Cornwall continues to be beautiful - the sea water is turquoise and clear - just like being abroad. It just makes you think why go abroad when we have so much spectacular scenery here in Britain.

Well, I'm off now - must keep marching. Speak to you guys soon when we have more news.

Carlie.

p.s. a huge apology to Nat and Parf in advance for our smell when they pick us up from Chepstow on day 15/16. Sorry! We have tried to keep as fresh as pos

Day 3. Have made it as far as St. Ives this morning and we are hoping to reach Portreath by the end of today. The weather is superb today which has been really good for morale as the past two days have been foggy and damp. Am annoyed with Cornwall County Library here at St. Ives though as they won't let me go on facebook. I feel like a limb is missing - bit dramatic I know.

Land's End really felt like the end of the world - no man's land, with little landmarks, houses, people (excluding the tourist centre) - although we didn't get to see the end of the land very clearly due to the weather :(. Cornwall is very green and very pretty and reminds me of Wales.

St. Ives is a really quaint little town and I recommend it for a long weekend holiday. So many litttle shops to mull around, a harbour, plenty of restaurants, a beach and lovely surroundings.

Think the plan is to stock up on morale food today - I'm going to buy some Boost bars and some crisps. Am feeling thinner and stronger and fitter already. If I don't lose weight at the end of this, I don't know what it's going to take!

Will be in touch again in the next few days when we come to another cyber cafe!

Carlie.

 

Hello again blog readers!

Monday 14th is just two days away - wow! Edward and I have been busying ourselves with purchasing and packing the last remaining items. We're now having to sacrifice luxuries in order to get the weight of our backpacks down.

The last few details of the route need to be plucked and we need to sort out our food and then I think we're just about done!

Training is going well and I am raring to go. I'm definitely not getting my hopes up for good weather and preparing myself for a very soggy few weeks ahead. Still, right now I don't care. Nothing compares to the feeling of being able to carry all you need to survive on your own back, and the fact that the biggest worry will be where the best place to camp is each night.

Ed and I will do our best to update this site as frequently as possible!

With only three exams left to go and only eleven days left before I finally finish my degree, the smell of freedom, excitement and change is strong in the air.

The Summer weeks to follow the completion of my exams won't be a time for rest and recooperation though. I am about to embark on the biggest physical challenge of my life so far, walking the length of Britain, and with this expedition comes a phenomenal amount of organisation.

The route, daily route cards, the kit, food, sponsors, raising money, budgeting, top-up supplies and training all spring to my mind. Edward and I have 57 days in which to get everything sorted, but we like a challenge.

Just as well really!