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Welcome to the 2007 Coast to
Coast journal of the Savages; that’s me Ian (46) and two of my
children Charlie (14) and Patrick (11).
Never go back. It’s a golden rule that’s served me pretty well down
the years. But here I am doing the C2C again; just a year after it
had been ticked off the must do list. What’s going on?
It’s been that sort of year. Groundhog Year? Just doing more of the
things I’ve done before. Déjà vu? Look at the evidence.
Broke my elbow and smashed a few ribs AGAIN mountain biking in the
Atlas Mountains in Morocco, once AGAIN did the familiar walks and
fells ie various in the Lakes, Yorkshire Dales & Moors and
Snowdonia; watched Leeds United get relegated AGAIN; started going
to music festivals AGAIN; builders and architects once AGAIN
continue to see something in me that compels them to try and take
liberties; i even went to see the Buzzcocks and Echo & the Bunnymen
live AGAIN. Flippin eck i’m even doing a C2C walking journal AGAIN.
My life’s in rewind. But be generous; let’s call it a retro year…or
better still a classic year.
If you were with me last year you’ll know we live in North Yorkshire; I’m married to Ruth and we have five boys aged 4 through to 15.
Last years walk was with William, our eldest. You can read that
journal at
www.thesavages.walkingplaces.co.uk.
You can read more about the happenings in our family through some of
Ruth’s journalism
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/mumatlarge.
To be honest although I enjoyed greatly last years walk and I did
want to do something with Charlie and Patrick this year I didn’t
especially want that something to be the C2C. Other adventures were
suggested. They were having none of it. It had to be the C2C.
Something about ‘anything William can do we can also do’ I guess.
William’s always been obviously the older brother: taller, stronger, faster but he’s earned even more Rspkt! since completing
his C2C. I think they want to restore the balance.
Let me tell you something about the boys.
Charlie
Charlie: Cheeky Charlie, Selfish Charlie, Idle Charlie, Scruffbag Charlie, Stubborn Charlie, Contrary Charlie. In any
typical week all of these labels apply at some point.. But in that
same typical week you’ll also find Charming Charlie, Kind and
Generous Charlie, Thoughtful Charlie, Helpful Charlie. There are
few half measures with Charlie; it’s full on or full off. Charlie
attends Ripon Grammar and as one of his teachers said to me ‘he
looks like he could be a handful but he’s actually one of the good
guys‘. Charlie at the age of three announced to us – his meat
eating family - that he was becoming a vegetarian; he’s stuck to it
ever since. That probably tells you a fair bit about Charlie.
Patrick
Patrick: there have always been a number of Patricks. There’s the
Patrick who’s well behaved, liked and respected, an articulate, confident and a talented boy, up for trying new things, seldom
gives up; supportive to his friends; a bit of a role model.
Patrick Perfect. But then there’s the Patrick who can terrorise his
younger brothers if the mood takes and who’s not beyond a bit of
skulduggery to get his own way – but only when he thinks no one is
looking. Patrick Sneak ( strap line ‘ the boy that likes to sneak up
on people and do sneaky things to them’ ). Then we have the Patrick
who’s wiser than his parents and shows grown up concerns ( have we
locked the door? what’s that knocking sound coming from the car?
what time do you call this?). Patrick Prudent. You’ve always known
where you are with Patrick. But things are changing. He’s getting
attitudes; he knows his own mind on most things it would seem and is
prepared to argue his case long, hard and skillfully – he’s
becoming a challenge. Nothing wrong with that but I can hear his
teacher at Ripon Grammar when he starts next year ‘he looks like he
could be one of the good guys but he’s actually a bit of a handful’
It has to be said Charlie and Patrick don’t always get along. When
Charlie is in one of his full off periods we all have trouble but
these two brush up against each other pretty regularly. Similar in
height, physique and mental capacities the outcome is never
certain.
They’ve both done a fair bit of trekking with me; they’ve both done
Scafell, Snowdon and Ben Nevis. Up in Skye earlier this year they
were always first up ahead of me and first down. It’s always a bit
of a race for them. But of course they haven’t done the long day
after day walking. I’m pretty confident though that they can both do
this.
Of course now that it’s been decided that we are going I’m also
looking forward to it. As last year it’s a 12 walking day schedule
although with slightly different staging to break some of the days
that William found particularly tiring. We start walking from St
Bees on 6th August and finish in Robin Hoods Bay on 17th August.
You’ll see the schedule
elsewhere on this site.
The Three Coast to Coast'ers
Unlike last year this is not going to be a live blog with reports
filed at the end of each day; I’ll complete the whole thing on our
return.
If you see us out on the trails be sure to say hello; why not even
join us on a stage. You can contact us at
iansavz@yahoo.co.uk
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