Best Laid Plans

We were split up last night. Necessity required that we had a 5:2 split between a pub hotel and a B&B – the Waltzing Weasel.  As a result, your author was treated to a fantastic Chinese at The Grouse pub in Birch Vale by his sister in law, Chelsy, who joined us for Days 19…

Bridges, Boats and Bugs

Canals, canals and canals – well actually just one canal – the Lancaster Canal – again. 19 odd miles. In 27 degrees. We left Lancaster around 8:30 after a very comfortable evening in the Lancaster House Hotel. A few of us made use of the pool and sauna to soothe tired and sore limbs. Dinner…

Phew What a Scorcher

Oh what a night. Circumstances dictated that we spent last night in a Days Inn, just off the M6 near Kendal. A few of us drove into Kendal (beautiful lakes town) for dinner and then back to our service station motel for a glass of wine sat on McDonald’s chairs by a reservoir. This was…

Halfway There

A brief recap of Day 14 and apologies for posting a very short blog yesterday. My family arrived on the Line and I was enjoying catching up for the first time for two weeks. We left the Cheviot Hotel after a super Northumbrian breakfast – the first “full” on breakfast I could not finish. We…

Batteries, Bogs and Bushwhackers

Day 12A, the longest day of the year, started inauspiciously. After a good breakfast at the Mansfield House Hotel, Hawick, and with the team in good spirits and looking forward to their second day on the Line as a threesome, we got in to the van to find that the battery was flat. We had…

Border Bother (Part 2)

We had a very pleasant evening in the MacDonald Cardrona Hotel outside Innerleithen. Very well-appointed rooms, awesome shower, good full Scottish breakfast. The only problem was that it rained most of the night and we awoke to a steady drizzle that continued as we parked at our allotted start point. Suitably attired in waterproofs we…

Border Bother

Did I mention yesterday that we have completed one third of our challenge? Yes, that is correct, 1/3, 33.3333*%, a slice of pie split equally between three people, and so on. This walk will be full of landmarks: quarter of the way, half way, one week completed, 100 miles done, etc and we will celebrate…

Lovely Loch Lomond

We left the Inversnaid Bunkhouse after a good breakfast feeling a little nervous about re-joining the West Highland Way after our chastening experience at the end of Day 9. And for a short while we were justified as we started out climbing up and down rocks that littered the pathway. At least this time they…