Let’s get this shit done ✅ (in Pat’s words!! We did it! 12 started, 12 finished!
🥾 DISTANCE: 15 miles
📍LOCATION: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway
🌞 WEATHER: overcast, dark clouds but the weather gods were looking out for us and it didn’t rain at all.
⛑ HOW’S EVERYONE FEELING?
We had a few tears this morning as a few were convinced that they wouldn’t make it! Even I got caught up in the emotion of it all as we headed down towards our starting location. Blisters, terrible shin splints, bruised ankles, swollen feet, heat stroke, excruciating hip pain, fractured hands.. yep, we’ve had it all this week. But… without doubt, this is the strongest group of individuals I’ve seen. They soldiered on until the very end, supporting each other every step of the way. One word sums it up…. gumption!
SUMMARY:-
Group hug, motivational cheer and we are off! We got this! Leaving Carlisle is a beautiful trail the follows the river Eden. We weave through lots of villages, open many honesty boxes and dodge fields of cows. The last section, when you finally see the sea is always a bit of a wow moment for me. I raced ahead as I wanted to video everyone crossing the finish line. There was only 45 mins between the front runners (Mark. & Cheryl) and the last two that crossed the line. Everyone waited at the finish line to clap and cheer their fellow hikers over the finish line. We had a lovely meal at The Kings Arms in Bowness on Solway before “Happy Harry” collected us at 7pm. An emotional day, but a fantastic way to end the week.
THE LONG WINDED VERSION:-
🍳 8.30am – We all had breakfast at the hotel and then collected our thoughts before congregating outside. We placed our hands into the middle of the group. “1,2,3… Yey!” We got this!
📸 We have just under 1 mile before todays official walk starts. We stay as a group as we make our way to The Sands Centre in Carlisle. Day 6 photo taken, including Holly who is continuing the walk with her partner today. Holly still felt part of the group and joined us for the group photo. then we were off!
🚶♀️ 9am – The start of todays walk is quite lovely. We are right by the River Eden and there are little monuments depicting the trail. As we walk by the engraved trail posts we all recognise places that bring back memories (some good, some not so good!). I really can’t imagine doing this walk the traditional way (West to East). You wouldn’t have a clue about these monuments on day one.
🏃♂️ 10.30 – The walk starts along the river then through a park. We chat to a Parkrun marshall. The have the junior Parkrun today.
🎤 I’m tail walking today as I want to see everyone over the finish line and I have some concerns over a couple of people who are suffering with various ailments. I have my motivational speech to hand if I need it!
🤕 10.40am – Ouch”, my shin on my right leg is giving me some pain and it feels rather tender. I recognise the signs immediately. When Pat, Dawn and I stop for our first break at 4 miles in, I put a compression sock on and take some ibuprofen. That will do it… and it worked a treat.
Oh… hello Mr Robin. Thanks for the encouragement.
🐮 10.50am – We are passing lots of fields with cows today. I’m so pleased that my fear of these huge beasts has subsided. I stop to take photos as this particular field of cows do not look good! They look like they need a good feed as their bones are sticking out. (See video/photos)
⛪️ 11.23am – As we reach the gorgeous village of Beaumont, it takes us up by the church. I had warned the group about this place at the briefing. “If you see a church on a hill, follow the acorns but be vigilant. The signage is not brilliant and if you are not looking out for it then you could easily go wrong here”. As we walk by the church there are hundreds of little birds swooping back and forth above our heads. It’s fascinating to watch. A man walks by and I ask him “are these swifts do you know?” He nods “aye, but the long tailed ones are Housemartins. There are lots of flies flying around the trees which is why they are here” he explained. He then said “if you go down this road then look out for the acorn sign on the left. So many hikers miss the sign and can walk miles out of their way”. We thanked him and continued on. I’m praying everyone saw the sign!
✔️ “Ping” WhatsApp goes and the front runners have made it to the check in point. The Greyhound Pub. Phew! That means that they didn’t miss the sign. We are a good half an hour behind the front runners and in between us are Alison, Len, Gabriele & Gwyne.
20 mins later, still no check in from the middle crew. I’m now starting to think that they must have gone wrong.
🍺 12.07 – The Greyhound is now closed 😞 which is quite sad, but sitting in a little band stand outside the pub is the middle crew. Alison has white powder over her feet and everyone else is munching on sarnies. I’m relieved that they hadn’t gone wrong, and they were apologetic for forgetting to check in. All is good and everyone seems super confident. Pat sits on the floor in her familiar dying swan position and her bestie, Dawn is right next to her even though there are perfectly good seats and benches nearby. These two have such a special bond considering they had never met each other before this trip. We have a word for this sort of relationship on a trail “Tramily” – your trail family.
🌊 “I can see the sea” I declare to no one in particular. We hit the salt marshes that leads us to Bowness on Solway. You can see for miles and I’d forgotten how vast it feels.
☕️ 2pm – As we reach Drumburgh there is a wicked honesty shed which I call The Last Saloon! Its not really a shed it’s more like a full blown help yourself cafe! They have tables and chairs and you can sit inside. There are leaflets about the area and maps on the wall. There is also a much needed loo (although the lock is not brilliant and you are best off singing rather loudly to let people know you are there). Everyone is here with exception to Mark and Cheryl who missed the turning. We have a cuppa and then I tell the group that I am going to storm ahead as I want to video everyone walking over the finish line. We have 5 miles left.
“You got this” I said. And the familiar words of Pat hit my lips “Let’s get this shit done!”
🥾 To make sure that I was ahead of Mark & Cheryl I took the road to Bowness rather than the scenic route. I knew I could get a good speed going and wait for them at the end. AirPods in, dig deep and off I went.
👏 3.10pm – I made it! There is a guy strimming the area next to the finish bridge so I couldn’t do a video, but it didn’t matter. I was the first here which was the main thing.
📸 3.38 – Mark & Cheryl. First in! The first thing Mark said was “we need a photo of Kipper at the finish line”. Kipper is the AG mascot that he has been responsible for all week. He is passing Kipper to Gabriele next week as she is off to France & Germany.
🙌 One by one, over the next hour everyone arrived to a full blown clapping and cheering. When the final two came in we formed a tunnel of people for them to walk through. That’s when the tears started. It’s an emotional day for all of us, but now it’s time for the celebrations!
🍷 We all head up slowly to The Kings Arms Pub where they have put a table together for us. Drinks all around and the chatter is loud! Happy Harry text to say he was running late and would be there by 7pm, so we had plenty of time to order food and just enjoy each other’s company for the last supper.
🤫 I have a special tradition for this walk that makes everyone smile at the end, but that is something for the hikers only and not for public knowledge. Let’s just say it’s a fantastic way to end an epic journey!
🙏 A big thank you to Steve, Sue, Cheryl, Mark, Alison, Len, Gabriele, Dawn, Pat, Gwyne & Holly for making the class of 2022 another awesome adventure. It’s been a pleasure walking with guy guys.
The planning for 2023 starts in a few days! For now, I’m going to have a few days off!