Spare Weekend

The Failed Cumbrian Way

September 29th, 2006

Research

I was the lucky one out of the group and M&M did most of the leg work finding out where we where going etc. However we made a fairly naïve decision to go on the walk considering we where forecast torrential rain and wind that could have blown over Blackpooltower

Gear
Pack weights varied from 10 to just over 15 kilos, with 35l to 65l bags. We all shared the 3 man tent and food, but I think I like my creature comforts too much cos I had the 65l…… either that or their just weak

Travel
Parked at Arnside, and train to Ulverston, which worked out well for a 7am start, only problem was getting back to Arnside when we bailed out half way through like the little school girls we are On route we managed to stave off the boredom with classic hits from ‘The Bay’ 102.3Fm (www.thebay.co.uk)

Walk
Day 1 - Started at the memorial at 7am, with the obligatory photo, and made our way upto Coniston for lunch, but managed to leave it from 6.30 til 2 between proper meals (not nice). Managed to make a dairylea and ham sandwich for lunch outside the local co-op. During our stop i purchased some pack away Aquastop over trousers for the impending downpour on day 2……… WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY! by the end of day 2 the inner lining had come away from the trousers….. small angry man syndrome was initiated. However, very friendly shop where the owner filled our water containers for us.

To end the day we stopped at a pub and had a Cumberland sausage and chips… when we set off again i found i was crippled, cos my boots had rubbed a red ring round my legs above my ankles, and the blisters had begun to grow

Day 2 (the end) - Instead of setting off at seven, a combination of my blisters and the rain meant we didn’t get started til 10, and we’d stopped by 2. My feet where in distress due to poor boots, and Marks waterproof had given in, so we turned back about 2 miles past the dungeon gill where the footbridge had been washed away.

Not a good day!

Camping
We managed to top and tail our way into a pretty decent campsite at catstye which had plenty of room, and hot showers for the morning

Recovery
Due to the early bail out, we made it back by half 8 so we went out for a curry to commiserate, however it left the usual Japanese flag effect in the morning

Entry Filed under: Walks, General