Check out the route map!

Whenever the wind permits me to charge my phone and if my cellphone picks up any signals I’ll try to blog each day so you don’t miss anything interesting.

I’m pretty out of shape at the moment and I’m daunted at the thought we’ll be carrying 7 days worth of food with us in high volume backpacks, sleeping bags and mats as well as the usual camping paraphernalia. But I learnt from the Hadrian’s Wall walk a few years back, so this year I’m going for ultra-light backpacking. The shelters offer rustic basic sleeping areas, a firepit stocked with wood, a toilet of some kind (I don’t have high expectations) and a water source. The water sources at the beginning, the end and at a difficult part near the end of the trail are contaminated so we’re bringing a water purifier and crossing our fingers. I believe there are no showering facilities along the entire trail… so that will be a first for me. I’m keen to find out how I handle that. It’s also bear country and there are a few poisonous snakes in the area like rattlesnakes, though I haven’t found any evidence of any attacks in my online searches so I’m really not worried about it. Hmm… what else can I tell you?

Oh if you want to find out more about the trail here’s the official website. And here’s a great photo gallery I found to give you a taste of what’s to come. They even came across a rattlesnake! Tomorrow, if there’s time, I’ll post a bit more about the preparation process.

Later! :@D

Today, on the last day of my trip i really felt it for the first time. Ive always suspected that my home wouldnt have an address but I guess I had to be alone this last day to really feel it. It hit me as I was standing along the River Tyne, knee deep in tall grass and nature in a foreign country. I was in a completely unfamiliar place, there wasn’t a soul around and I had no idea where the path ahead would take me next. I now know that whatever happens I can wing. I feel at home standing in a muddy dribbling shower, sweaty sleeping between polyester sheets and walking for 10 hours a day ’till I find a friendly face who’ll let me put up my swollen feet.

I finally feel at home in any situation because my home is in my belly. Sometimes it rumbles hungrily. I keep a real live gypsy cowboy in there I once ate, straw hat and all.

Missing Quiddity

It’s even more confusing when you’re going in the wrong direction!

Along the River Tyne

Nature’s animals – human dustbins

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over your country

Changed

On the last page of the map!

Ohlivia has chosen to brave on, solo.

But first, she was kind enough to bless us with:

Day Five: The Audioblog

For those of you who hate reading, Olivia has left you an audioblog. It begins here and, due to time constraints, continues here. I particularly love the chipper perk that rolls of her tongue, even while describing some pretty daunting and desperate situations.