Coast To Coast 2022

Days one and two

Day one 7.8 km

This adventure starts at Ravenglas. We had walked the official Wainwright route from St Bees some years ago.

To the woods men, again!

Mad Midweeks

Following on from the success of our last mini break, before the start of the zombie apocalypse lockdown, we thought we'd try another now things were easing up. David suggested a cycle to a camp, go for a walk and then cycle back. Not long, three days. A Mini adventure.

Good idea!

Mad Midweek two - Lea Vally and Epping Forest

Well, not really midweek - Sunday, Monday & Tuesday.

This time we invited Keith along.

Again we let Komoot plan our route, this time via Keith's place near Brent Cross. At the last minute Keith dropped out, but I kept the route as it promised to travel through more parks, including Hampstead Heath, than the more direct route through Finchley. However all I can remember of that day, part from an excellent pint in the Talley Ho, North Finchley, were the busy roads!

Views of London open up as we near our destination.

Finally we turned North up the Lea Valley along first cycleways before finally along the much better A-roads along side the River Lea. Roads that the local petrol heads seem to use as a test track.

'Base Camp' for the weekend was 'Lea Valley Campsite, Sewardstone'. A large site obviously catering for families.

A very friendly bunch of people. In fact, every where we went we met smiling helpful people.

After some confusing directions we pitched up where we thought we ought to be. We're still not sure we pitched in the right place!

it was getting late so we went to The Plough, just up the road. More smiling faces and good food. Eventually. Service was a bit slow.

Nettle tea for a night cap. Yes, I forgot the decaf!

A noisey night followed. Families, huh?

The following day we breakfasted at the excellent Valley Cafe. Fortified, we explored Epping Forest, taking a very pleasant meandering route to the King's Oak Hotel. It was was completely jammed. The visitor centre on the other hand was empty!

Very very old oak tree

The day was very hot and sunny. The tree cover was very welcome.

The pleasant ambulation continued North to Gunpowder Park where the tree cover diminished somewhat and yours truly started to suffer in the heat!

We sought refuge in the The Plough and had another pleasant meal.

Wondering why we didn't get lost

For once we didn't get lost! I can't understand what went wrong!

Red clover

Pussy willow?

Tuesday we strolled t' café for another excellent breakfast before packing up to leave.

The breakfast run. Very pleasant.

The route Komoot took us home was much better. No North Circular at all. Straighter, faster and via Finchley.

We stopped off in Edgeware for a swift pint and a veggie meatball sandwich and heard a spine chilling story involving a live burial in Epping forest!

To the woods, men!

 LET ME OUT!

Well, after 4 months lock-down, the gardening jobs and those around the house and on the car were petering out.

Unable to go on the planned Peninne Way this year was disappointing but as the good weather persisted, not being able to go anywhere had been frustrating.

When travel restrictions finally started easing, plans were discussed for a mini break. Not far, just local. Unwilling to mingle withe the infected hoi palloi on public transport and more in need of stress relieving exercise than stress inducing traffic, a cycling and walkimg trip seemed the ideal solution.

Along the canal side to quirky Norcott Farm to camp among the Victorian apple trees for two nights.

It would provide the necessary stress relief and allow me to try out my tarp, bivvy bag (I've only had them three years) and Komoot on my phone.

Snowdonia Odyssey - Day seven & then home

So, I'll just nip off early then....

Up early, dress and go. There must be a bus stop near the camp site...

But no. No bus stop. After half and hour I stuck out my thumb.

Another five minutes later I got a lift with a friendly Scot who had just nipped out to get breakfast for his son, who was still sleeping at our campsite.

As I explained my mission he offered to hang around until I'd retrieved my stick. What a nice chap.

Snowdonia Odyssey - Day six

Cnicht or a day off?

We decided that we needed a day off .

 Over a leisurely breakfast we decided to see what Beddgelert was like.

Our noisy neighbours

I asked our neighbours how their Snowdon trek had been. They said they had avoided the crowds by taking the Snowdon Ranger.

Nimblewill Nomad's 'Little Dandy'

We had missed out on the lakeside path back to the campsite yesterday so we thought we'd take it today to see what we'd missed, then walk to the nearest bus stop for the bus to Beddgelert.

What could go wrong...

Snowdonia odyssey - Day five

Snowdon Horseshoe

Early breakfast? Nah. We'll be up and down in 6 hours.

We didn't rise early anyhow as we'd had a bit of a cabaret last night as our neighbours, [Rob, ?, ?, & Kate?], loudly talked bolx and about their plans for tomorrow's assault on Snowdon.

Snowdonia Odyssey - Day four

Well, the plan was...

..to head over the ridge to the East of Tryfan,...

...straight down to the legendary Pen Y Gwryd Hotel for lunch, before walking to the next campsite.