June 2007

HADRIANS WALL WALK

On Sunday 10th June 2007, the GWC began their 84 mile charity walk of Hadrian's wall. It was an event which raised both money and awareness for GUCH PA, a charity that supports adults who were born with a heart condition. The Walk raised an amazing £6000 for Guch PA. Thank you to everyone who sponsored us.It consisted of 7 days of varying distances and terrains and the plan was as follows:

Day 1 - Sunday 10th June 2007
Wallsend to Tyne Bridge - 5 miles

A short walk to ease everyone in gently, taking in the eastern end of the Wall, at Wallsend.Overnight stop in Heddon-on-the-Wall.

Day 2 - Monday 11th June 2007
Tyne Bridge to Heddon-on-the-Wall - 10 miles

First full day's walking. Stay overnight in Heddon-on-the-Wall.

Day 3 - Tuesday 12th June 2007
Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford - 15 miles

First really long day. Encouragingly we are told that that this will be the worst day of the walk! Stay overnight in Barrasford.

Day 4 - Wednesday 13th June 2007
Chollerford to Steel Rigg - 12 miles

"Hadrian's Wall" proper: also the worst day of the walk (yes, there are at least two of these!). Most dramatic scenery but all the ups and downs will challenge the legs. Stay overnight in Banks.

Day 5 - Thursday 14th June 2007
Steel Rigg to Walton - 16.6 miles

The longest day...distance-wise. Stay overnight in Banks.

Day 6 - Friday 15th June 2007
Walton to Carlisle - 11.1 miles

Getting easier... if our feet can take it! Stay overnight in Carlisle.

Day 7 - Saturday 16th June 2007
Carlisle to Bowness on Solway

Finishing the job! A gentle, flat, coastal meander: just beware of the tides! Last overnight's stay in Carlisle.

THE DIARY

Sunday 10th June 2007: Wallsend to Tyne Bridge - 5 miles

A.M. Report: The last day without blisters has dawned. Today will incude travelling to the starting line, a shop for provisions and a loosener in the evening - just 5 miles! It'll also be the first night sleeping in a camping barn, basically a stone tent, another first for many of us.

P.M. Report: Day 1 done. Hottest day of the year walked through. Blister count = 0, and the food is being eaten despite Paul cooking it!


Monday 11th June 2007: Tyne Bridge to Heddon-on-the-Wall - 10 miles

A.M. Report: Everyone seems to have survived the greatest challenge of yesterday - Paul's cooking ;)

The walk today is 10 miles, mostly flat. Oddly some have asked for an extension to the walk to take in Stevenson's cottage! More miles to add on ...

P.M. Report: Day 2 finishes at an impressive 12 miles. Hot is an understatement and most of the gang have drunk at least 3 litres of water to keep hydrated. Spirits are still good, helped by actually seeing part of the wall. Tonight will be the last night in the world's poshest camping barn.

Tuesday 12th June 2007: Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford - 15 miles

A.M. Report: Day 3 doesn't so much dawn over Heddon but it murks! After the heat of yesterday and the thunder storms of last night, a light drizzle and heavy fog awaits us today. 15 miles of good paths will see us into Chollerford and Hadrian's Wall country proper! Funny though that no-one has asked for extra side trips today... how very strange.

Wednesday 13th June 2007 : Chollerford to Steel Rigg - 15 miles

A.M. Report: Morning all, apologies for the lack of service last night but there was no signal - we must be in the countryside! Today is the first of the big ones - 15 miles with hills to walk! The forecast is for rain all day and the injuries and tiredness are accumulating... 3 blisters, 3 turned ankles and a couple of tight hamstrings... Nothing major but it will slow us down. However the walk takes in the best of the wall today so spirits are high.

P.M. Report: A damn fine day's walking that anyone, GUCH or not, would've been proud of. 15 miles of Hard hills and slimey downhills with rain ranging from heavy to very heavy added up to a glorious day of walking ;)

P.S. When we say it's been wet......the Tyne is actually flooding at Hexham !!

Thursday 14th June 2007 : Steel Rigg to Walton - 13 miles

A.M. Report: Morning all. The second big country day dawns a little chilly but dry. The blister packs are in full use as are a variety of ankle straps. However, all are hopeful of walking at least half of the distance today.

P.M. Report: The 8am start worked, fuelled by Paul's porridge, which according to the Scottish contingent was not bad for "an Englishman"! Today we walked 13 miles in the 2nd day of a Met office weather warning! And it's downhill to Carlise tomorrow....

Friday 15th June 2007: Walton to Carlisle - 15 miles

A.M. Report: Well, as you can probably guess - it's raining here! The penultimate day is also scheduled to be on the chilly side, so the plan is to get moving and keep moving for 15 miles and get to Carlise fairly early and, to the relief of some, to a comfortable B&B!

P.M. Report: The GUCH Walking Club prides itself on its planning, so when someone needs to finish early they can. Before anyone gets too worried though, it was foot related and not heart related! So the plan swung into action and we all got to the B&B safely, if a little damp from walking the 15 miles

Saturday 16th June 2007: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway - 15 miles

A.M. Report: And so the end is near... The group is considering a name change to the GUCH Wet Walking Club... The weather has perked up a little and it should be warmer than it has been for the last couple of days. 69 miles walked so far and another 15 left to walk. The aches and pains seem to have faded with that thought in mind!

P.M. Report: (written Sunday 17th, due to phone failure!) Well, we did it! Footsore but triumphant and we all ate well last night! The blisters are too many to count, the sprains and strains will take a week to ease out but we're still all are grinning from ear to ear! As we said, WE DID IT!