The Cumbria Way

The week leading up to any adventure is one of mixed feelings, however it is more about packing than fitness.

For the past month fitness has been a big part. When I am able to get a slot with my personal trainer, Tracey, I have taken it. Swimming twice a week and most importantly, taking Teal, my guide dog on longer than usual walks. These longer walks enable the feet to harden and strengthen the core.

Filming

I have borrowed a go pro 3+. A great camera, however, it is not seem to be the best but worth ago to find out. I wish to add some slow motion shots of the walk along the Cumbria Way.

A big problem related to the 21st century is related to

How long does a battery last.

Packing power banks and having the multiple cables is a must.

We are going in May. The average daylight time in May in the UK is 12 hours.

Day two, is going to be the longest day. The walk takes us through a remotest part of the Lake District. We will have one stop, aiming for a lunch in a pub and the only chance to add power to our devices.

As for the camera, the Go Pro camera has several different speeds, at this stage, I am not sure what to set it at. Preserving its battery will prove to be a daily challenge and as for the camera speed settings another.

Either way, if it only lasts for part of the day I hope to capture the concept of the scenery and the walking.

Another problem, the Go Pro user software is definitely designed for people with brilliant sight.

I would imagine someone that uses reading glasses would find the camera a sighted challenged!

I will be taking two mobiles, one without a sim card that I will use for filming and taking photos.

The other, to use for tracking the route and as a phone.

This is a challenge, the week is mixed with long days of walking, followed by an evening of eating and drinking. Finding time though the night to charge devices will become a ritual.

Packing

However there is not a need for a formal dinner suit, but definitely clean, none walking related clothes.

I managed to pack a good mixture, plus a bag for life, which contains a few days worth of food and snacks.

Clothes

I’ve been busy on Vinted. I have managed to top up my check shirt collection!

Navigation

Compass – this is going to continue to be a “thing” in my life. I have found a magnifying glass that will help, plus I have been gifted a braille version of a Silva compass. You do not need to read the braille alphabet. It is simple and aids you to follow magnetic north. It sits in my bag, part of the kit that would help if in an emergency.

At this stage of my navigation training I am using every available walk to use micro navigation skills.

I also packed my personal first aid kit, waterproof clothes. Although we are walking in May, the weather can become unpleasant.

The Plan

The plan is now set and we have all agreed to take part, achieving what we want too. There is no peer pressure, if you wished to complete all five days you can.

With that in mind, each day would follow the route.

Due to logistics, we are all meeting in Carlisle train station, having made sure we have eaten a meal.

This would be my fifth visit and yet I have never spent more than the time it takes you to eat a basic meal.

The aim was to walk into the sunset to meet our end point. This point is a 5 hour walk, along a stretch of lowland through the suburbs of Carlisle.

Car Leap Frog

This long distance walk is mainly through the remote parts of the Lake District . Public transport is mainly available in daylight hours. Which adds an additional pressure to this being a relaxed walk.

We overcome this by plotting our routes ending up in car parks. Driving one of the two cars to the car park and bring the driver back to the start. Walking towards the car and then leaping back to other car, that was left at the beginning.

Once we met the end of each day, we aimed back to the hostel on Lake Windermere.

Day three and four, wonder through the busiest sections, plenty of time to stop and rest, eat and for me a chance to talk to other walkers.

The final day, day five, will be the shortest with an aim to start later and end in Ulverston for a meal and glass or two of local beer.

Budget

We had planned to keep costs down, yet not going too cheap we are hungry or tiered.

We booked the YHA hostel for the five nights, sharing rooms and using the kitchen to cook meals.

The two drivers came from different locations, one from Scotland and the other from Devon. Sadly, the one from Devon did not have enough seats for all to travel up together. This led to Matt and I to navigate the UKs trains. I total we would have to catch four trains with little time to allow for connections.

The other costs would be parking fees, fuel and public transport. Plus money for food and the evenings entertainment.

Please read through the stories and learn out how things panned out.