LEJOG 2004 - My Notes on a trip of a lifetime - part 2

If you've got this far you will have spotted a few typo's. Say La V!

Onwards......

03 April 2004 To Croyde Bay: Left in dry - took roads to shorten route and with going along old railway - boring! Got showery in afternoon and then pissed down as I got to Croyde Bay. Campsite waived fee. Pitched in pissing rain. Got to this pub (Billy Budds) with boots on - no point in changing. Good thing put wet clothes - from a few days - in dryer - dry clothes!
Poured down as I went back, but I slept well and the morning was sunny.

04 April 2004 To Coombe Martin: An easier day on to Coombe Martin. Got to Holiday Camp - said sorry - full. Then I said only small tent - charity etc., Reply £10! What? talk again - Agreed no charge.
Found the Focsal pub - seems ok. Food on way. It was good.
Showery afternoon, but nothing much. Put tent up in a shower, but ok. Site is crap. Had a shower too - life ain't too bad.

05 April 2004 To Lynbridge: Left campsite at 0800. Good thing is that tent was dry. Stayed dry all way to Lynton. Got here at 1430. Found campsite at Lynbridge - Sunny Lees. Charged me £4 to camp. But, able to wash clothes and have shower. Nice site and nice people.
Very windy coming over the sea cliffs. No point in pushing on to Porlock - good to have a bit of a break.

06 April 2004 To Minehead: Lynbridge to Porlock - had a nice pint and then on to Minehead. 1st campsite was closed. Met a walker who lived locally and he directed me to a Caravan Site - NO tents! Warden said there was a campsite .75 mile up the road. More like 2 miles!
Got there at 1830. Pitched tent and walked in to Minehead. Only to find that I had walked round one massive square! It still took 25 mins to walk in but i ended up near where I entered Minehead!
Day was very windy and bitter cold. Didn't pay and camp fee! Will they write to me? - I left my address???

07 April 2004 To Kingston St Mary: Left campsite at 0700. Walked in to town and along coast path to Blue Anchor. Not much of a path and there was one nasty ditch to get over - just. Walked from Blue Anchor along road to watchet. Rang Barbara Darling I love you! Then had coffee and toasted bun - nice place. Guy gave me short cut to Staple. Had a beef bagette in the Windmill pub in Staple - superb!
Over the Quantocks in just a few showers. Drpped off route to Kingston St. Mary. camped at corner of a building site - with permission! Lovely pub - The Swan. Now for a meal - beef casserole. Superb.
V cold night, but, slept reasonably well.

08 April 2004 To Walton (day 15): Up and off before 0800. Joined my route after a couple of miles road walking. Route got a bit difficult to follow, but, got sorted out. Crossed M5 at 1130. My planned route involved a bridge across a drainage ditch - only thing was there wasn't one!
Lots more road walking until I picked up McCloy's route (He wrote a book on LEJOG) at Kingsedgemoor Drain. Cut in to Walton - campsite with pub - Pike and Musket - nearby.
Hardly any wind in morning. Colder in afternoon. Had a shower at campsite - they charged me £5. Feet are very tired with all the road walking. Rang Barbara - miss you Darling. Later, rang Phil at around 1930. Terry and Chris on way (brother in law and sister in law). Also rang Christine on mobile.
Had fillet steak. Good. Looks like rain will hold off. Feet gradually got better. 4 pints and bed at 2100. Slept well. Slept with clothes on!

09 April 2004 To Old Down (day 16): Woke up to a white tent, but had a good sunny day. Could see Glastonbury Tor from tent.
Made my way around 0820 to Glastonbury - full of old hippies - and on to superb campsite at Old Down - near Chilcompton. Les runs the place and has end-to-enders thru. Takes their photos and gets them to send back card from JOG. What a great idea. Les waived the £5 camp fee - bless. Washed all clothes and had shower (clothes only cost £1 - powder free).
Pub - the Old Down - just opposite - and beer is straight from the barrel - Smiles and Bass. Forgot to note - yesterday and day before - saw wild deer and a stoat (or, weasel?)
And, the day's weather was fantastic. Sunny, but not too hot and very little wind - life is good and unlike last night, my feet feel ok. And Barbara tells me Basil is going to fix our door - I must get away more often!
Beer from the barrel - well 2 Smiles + ok - 3 Bass - but, it is great!
A good nights sleep.

10 April 2004 To Cold Ashton (day 17): Les took my photo and me of him. He gave me a card to post from JOG. V good guy.
No real breakfast, just tuna thing - pretty crap. Started off at 0900. Showery day. Drier in evening. Really pushed it. Route finding was not easy and Limestone Link is in need of an overhaul! Not much for lunch either. Not good idea.
Got to Batheaston at around 1730. made push for Cold Ashton and got to Cheastnuts (in Backpackers Club as camp place, but really just a house with big garden) - for camping at 2000. Exhausted!
Pitched tent in dusk and made way to pub - about 5 mins walk. 4 pints and a meal -needed!
A good nights sleep. No charge for camping.

11 April 2004 To Wooten-under-Edge (day 18 - Sunday)): Dry day - warm to start. The Cotswold Way is so well marked. Left Cold Ashton at 0830. had pub lunch in Old Sodbury - steak sandwich.
Continued to Wooten-under-Edge. No real chance of camping so stayed in the Royal Oak! Superb food and good beer. Had a bath! Basic cost £25 B and B. My left little to was very sore today - bath helped. Luxury!

12 April 2004 To Whiteshill near Stroud (day 19): Left pub at 0900 after fantastic breakfast. Last night's meal was v good. Feet felt so much better.
Little toe was ok today - strange things: feet! Got very sunny and warm in morning but turned cloudier in afternoon. The views over Cotswold ridges are fantastic: over the Severn; Tintern etc., Waved to Terry and Christine on M5 which I could see in the distance (they were driving north that day).
Walked on past Stroud to little NT campsite. No facilities but ok place. Walked down past mast and eventually came down thru someone's private garden. I apologised to owners who explained proper path back!
Woodcutters Arms - lovely couple - did me a superb chicken kiev and I'm currently drinking IPA - good. Lovely woman, knowing what I'm doing gave me £3.25 towards Hospice - or me. (it's worth explaining that I noted down if anyone gave me cash: then I spent it! - but, I paid a cheque to St Giles at the end!)
Decided best to walk back up road to campsite. Pub is in Whiteshill north of Stroud.
Rain late in afternoon - then heavier but brief shower while I was in the pub. Hopefully it will stay dry on way back. It was dry and I had a good nights sleep.

13 April 2004 To Waterside Inn - near Dowdswell (day 20): Left camp soon after 0800. Day remained dry and mostly sunny, but, not too hot - ideal for walking. had a Guiness at Crickly Hill. Before, met some golfers - one of whom called me back and gave me £5. Then had coffee and egg sandwich at Rose's near Brockworth. sandwich was goose and hen eggs. Bless. Her mother did teas etc., and so she did. She was 78 and had been there all her life. She gave me £2.
Continued to Waterside Inn - near Dowdswell. Decided on a room (only) at £20. Good place - good food. had nachos, then steak in ale pie. really look forward to seeing Barbara tomorrow.

LEJOG 2004 - My Notes on a trip of a lifetime

Introduction

This is a long overdue account of my 2004 LEJOG walk.

My original notes are not too extensive, so if you have a bit of time to pass, you are welcome to browse through them. I will basically reproduce my notes rather than try to embelish them to make a long and (more) boring story.

In these days of "how low can you go" folk will be amazed at some of the gear I had for this trip.

I will do a brief write up of the gear used as an appendix.

The other outstanding memory of this trip was the weather. The worst weather I had was at Croyde Bay and the best weather I had was in Scotland. Here it rained enough to put waterproofs on only on the last day!

The people I met on the way were fantastic. I hope to convey some of the experiences with those I met. It was not my original intention to do so, but I did aim to raise money for St Giles (a local) Hospice. People were amazing in response. I didn't rattle cans or berate people - it just came up in conversation - and people were very generous.

So here goes: ......

I'll write up and post as I go along - so it will be some time! But, it will give me the incentive to continue ..... and I fear I may accidentally wipe everything out when I'm almost finished.

This could take some time!

24 March 2004 : Good train journey down from Tamworth to Penzance. I was met by Phil and Jean - friends of my brother and sister in law. They gave me a lift to Lands End Hotel.
They stopped for a drink and left at 1820. I then had a good meal and retired to bed. The room had a sea view. I slept well.

25 March 2004 To Zennor: After a full English breakfast I left the hotel at 0845. It was a very windy and showery day.I got to Zennor at 1745. A local farmer gave me permission to camp in one of his fields. No mobile phone signal - hope the pub has a phone. Think I may have lost my gloves (I did - Buffalo mitts). Pub opens at 1900. Time now 1845.
It started raining as I was pitching tent. Continued, heavily until 1905.
Tinners Arms was great. Rang Barbara on landlord's phone - she called me back. Had long chat - good I needed that.
Beer was good. had sheppards pie. Bed by 2100. A cold stary night.

26 March 2004 To Gwithan Farm campsite: Wind had died down and there was a frost on the tent, but, I had a good night's sleep. Pleased I have a synthetic bag as it is damp with condensation. Hard going to St. Ives, but then it got better. Sunny day. Camped at Gwithan Farm campsite. Site was officially closed, but owner let me camp for free. Pub doesn't open until 1900! Good pub with good food and beer.
Had a really good sleep - much warmer - thankfully.

27 March 2004 To Perrenporth: Turned out I was the first person to camp at Gwithan Farm since the owners moved in in December. Drizzle in morning - dry in afternoon. Got to Perrenporth by 1700ish - had fish and chips and carried some cans of beer to camp spot in the dunes. Lovely levelish sheltered spot - just off the path. Clocks change tonight.

28 March 2004 To Porthcothal: Dry warm weather, but overcast and managed to stay ahead of threatening skys. Had a Burger King in Newquay. No - to request for water! And, when I went to loo - took my pack and coke! Not a nice place!
What a find! Campsite just up hill - not open, but got permission to stay and had a shower and washed gear. Pub just down road - free sandwiches (25th wedding aniversary) and good beer + Sky Sports. It was the Tredrea Inn in Treyarnon - very good reception.

29 March 2004 To Polzeath: Took road to cut off big headland. Camp site by beach said £12! I got Barbara to phone St. Giles (Hospice) to phone the campsite. Camped for free. I was the only one here. If only I had brought proof (that I was also raising money for the Hospice). Had a restful afternoon. really sunny day. Got to Oyster catcher pub and met Celia and Mike. She's doing the London Marathon and she ran past me earlier - it transpires. Had a very interesting chat. They left, but a few minutes later came back with a cheque for £30 for St Giles - bless!
Good nights sleep - still a bit chilly though.

30 March 2004 To Boscastle: Good dry sunny day, but windy. Shorts and T shirt weather. Pushed good and hard to Boscastle. Camped in NT field before Warden arrived. He let me stay - just for one night - bless. Cobwed pub for food and drink. Got Barbara on Mobile - very clear. Life's good. Hope my heel heals up ok - not too bad today. Another free camp - a good night.

31 March 2004 To Bude: On way by 0830, but, had breakfast in Boscastle - milk and shortbread. On towards Crackington Haven. Met hayden and Wendy. He was practicing for the Cape Wrath Way. V nice gut - in late 50s. had coffee with them and continued walking with him to Widemouth Bay. he did LEJOG in 2000.
Got to Bude and camped on tiny patch of grass by Scout Hut - them asked permission from Scoutmaster. (Campsite was closed and there was no compromise). V hot day, with so far a threat of rain. Hope I can get back to tent dry. I did.

01 April 2004 To Hartland Quay: Got to Hartland Quay and camped about a mile up the road in farm - had shower which was luke warm. But no charge. Primitive site. Stayed dry until evening - showers. Back down hill to Hotel - good food, including Seagull Pie!
Got back dry. It was a had day and I slept well.

02 April Friday To Westward Ho: 21.75 mile day. Windy but dry and mostly sunny. Much easier walking to Westward Ho. Camped at Broddicks Campsite - closed, but as soon as I walked in owner said - camp anywhere - no charge. Good.
Westward Ho seems a bit desolate - out of season. Found a pub for food - starving!
An easier terrain, but still a hard day's walk.

CUBEN Trailstar!!

It had to come - a Cuben Trailstar!

I've just had a look on the Backpackinglight.com forum and there is a thread where Ron Bell has a few comments in response to a few questions on this new incarnation of the Trailstar.

It's strange how this shelter, in the silnylon version, has been hovering around under the radar, so to speak. I know I hesitated ages before deciding to buy a silnylon version. I nearly bought a Duo-mid, which has also had high praise, but I am so pleased I got a Trailstar.

Now, I'm seriously thinking - Cuben!

Even at $335 (£215.81) + shipping this looks very good value for what you get! (There was an introductory offer of $295, but this has gone).

To appreciate what you get - and to appreciate the route I took - have a look at Colin Ibbotson's excellent review on Andy Howell's blog.

Then have a look at Steven Horner's equally excellent review and pitching guide.

They describe silnylon versions, but the Cuben version is the same dimensions and very strong.

A number of folk have picked up this fantastic shelter and Martin Rye regularly uses a Trailstar (See Summit and Valley). For an one-time anti-tarp man, Martin remained true to his stance - the Trailstar is a shelter!
(Even though I did call it a tarp for dramatic purposes when I wrote my bit for the TGO mag!)

I used my Trailstar on the last TGO and can vouch for it's storm-worthy-ness! The Trailstar can take a full blown Scottish storm! It does need some good stakes to keep it on terra-firma!!

So, I'll be using a Trailstar on next years TGO. The only question is silnylon or cuben?

The silnylon Trailstar is $170 (£109.60) + shipping, but for what you get - it's excellent value.

Even allowing for a groundcover - Wickes secondary glazing film - and a bivy bag (which I personally prefer as it keeps off drafts and adds a few degrees to my sleeping bag) the weight is still well less that 1000 grms.

When you compare the space inside to the space inside an Akto or a Lazer there is no competition. You sit in a palace with plenty of headroom and space to play in.

I came to the Trailstar having played with a number of tarps over many years.

To go from eg an Akto (I have one) to a Trailstar in one go requires a leap of faith.

All I can say is, I'll find it very hard to go back to my Akto.

The Trailstar is that good!

TGO Challenge 2012 - Vetted.

Like many folk who are waiting for their route to be vetted, I kept an anxious eye on my e-mail inbox.

This morning John's e-mail arrived!

I was just a little bit envious of Louise - having her route vetted without the need to change anything.

And, of course, my previous TGO route plans were well vetted!

Especially, last year when I was aiming for 19 Munros.
The weather intefered .................and I did 2!
Even my FWAs had FWAs in places!

So, I put in a more sedate aim - 17 Munros: none of which I've done before.

Can you imagine the smugnessossity that comes with a "very interesting" route that is OKed without change?

All I need to do now is do it!

The weather can't be as bad as it was last year - can it?
(oh, yes it can!)