LONG ON SUCCESS – THAT WAS 2018

FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH EXPEDITION ENGLAND COAST TO COAST HIKE

Hiking 130 miles across England (and Wales and later even Spain) it was an is “unprecedented” gift to have no rain from one coast to the other coast. Excellent company full of sunny dispositions was another welcome asset. And to know you are raising money so more kids may learn about wellness and engage in diverse healthy activities at FFY in Columbus IN USA is especially what makes such an adventure well worth the effort.

We are back !

The Foundation for Youth Expedition England Coast to Coast (quite a mouthful so how about FFY EE C2C) has returned home and here’s your promised update. Sorries to be tardy – Was off line for a spell.

Twenty-two days is a significant time to be away from home. And when you are hiking most of those days west to east across the breadth of England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea it’s great to be able to keep your water-proofs in the bottom of your back pack !

This second international expedition to benefit children with scholarships at Foundation for Youth during May was “long” on success – Almost 192 miles worth of long ! Walter Glover and friends Ed and Vivian Eckerly, all of Columbus, IN, became full-fledged “hill walkers” in the English tradition. Following in the footsteps of the revered Brit Alfred Wainwright, they shouldered their packs and trekked, climbed up and down, and scrambled their way 9 days on an REI-sponsored Coast 2 Coast England hike made famous by Mr. Wainwright. REI carved a highlights route out of the 192 mile distance and compressed it into a tight schedule.

SOME AWESOME MOMENTS:

-Our Columbus, IN trio all agreed each day had its rigorous and challenging moments. Funny ones too ! Sometimes it was tedious up and downs, other times stepping through bogs (Walter actually had quite an “over the top” thigh-deep sinking experience into a deceptively deep inky black bog – “So deep my boot touched Asia,”). All the Columbus crew and new friends were blown about by powerful winds along the cliff tops above the Irish Sea – An attention-getter the first hours into the hike !

-In transparency and disclosure though – “The daily hard treks” were made easier by “soft beds.” The mantra belongs to someone else. Having having turned 70 last February I confessed my days of sleeping in tents and technical climbs in all sorts of mountaineering gear on perilous, high peaks and crazy weather are behind me.

-What England and REI threw at us, though, was not a walk in the park. It was a walk in three national parks – Each one with a stunning environmental beauty all its own.

-Three English guides accompanied the 11 trekkers, one from Russia living in the United States, with the remainder from the USA.

-The Columbus crew did the traditional toe dip in the Irish Sea to begin the walk after posing with the FFY Banner signed by 192 FFY kids – One signature for every traditional Wainwright mile. None of the Hoosiers nor anyone else removed boot and shoe for the toe dip – Wild winds were whipping waves about at sea level. Gloves came off to grab a stone to carry in our packs and throw into the North Sea with our final steps. But that is near two weeks from Day One. This first day: Brrrr – The wind had bite. Nature went physical and the windys pushed us about a bit. Guides Andrew, Gill (pronounced Jill) and Alice called it “one if not the worst wind” they’d ever seen to start a trek.

-The next morning following a lovely breaky in a B&B dining room with table cloth, we learned that Mr. Wainwright had an interesting way for the EE C2C to say “good morning.” After our legs warmed up to our first couple miles, helped by a comfortable 50 degree temp and sun, the C2C threw a 1,500 foot ascent at us. Another breath-stealing attention-getter. The steep rocky climb also robbed our group’s peace as some were unaccustomed to moving forward on steep uphill uneven rocky terrain with little but space and air right and left. All made it safely – Mindful of a lesson that would be helpful on future times of going upward.

-Remembering rain and snow and ice slickened rocks from mountain climbs, I observed that the dry conditions of the trail made for safer and easier travel than I had seen on mountains on six continents.

-On the calendar, the “summit” of the EE C2C’s first hill coincided exactly with the summit of Rainbow Mountain in Peru, South America the year previous by Walter and lifetime friend Greg Scherschel on the first FFY international expedition fundraiser. Instead of this day’s 1,500 feet going up – In SA add another zero for 15,000 + feet of elevation south of the equator for the two Columbus men.

-Quote: “I travel a lot. I hate having my life disrupted by routine.” Caskie Stinnett. One of the quotes put on FaceBook to accompany the regular update FB posts. These were then reposted by FFY on its own FFY “public” FB page, to keep FFY members, donors, and the public up to date. (Thanks Brittany at FFY.)

-One morning we boarded an old retro-fitted English steam ship for a ride on one of the Lake District’s storied beautiful bodies of water dotting this part of England. The ship had a Columbus IN connection. Walter sent word to the captain inquiring about the vessel’s powerplant. Turned out to be two Cummins Engine turbo six diesel engines. Columbus IN is world headquarters for Cummins.

-This day was eventful in another way in that the entire crew “bagged two Wainwrights.” The expression refers to Mr. Wainwright who made this walk famous. He catalogued some 200 hill tops in his volume of books on the walk. Today all of us put our feet atop two of those hills. Lead Guide Andrew acknowledged not everyone going the C2C gets to say “two Wainwrights in a single day.” With all that uphill work I said in my journal: “Lost some of my Vroom today. I was slow but steady.”

-Later, a photograph was made at the high point of the entire walk with several of the team posing with the FFY Banner at 2,400 feet high. Almost like all the crew with that 2017 FFY banner atop Peru’s Rainbow Mountain summit. Minus 14,000 feet of elevation !

-Each day had an unexpected gift: The glorious weather, sometimes sunny, sometimes some clouds, temps in 50s to low 70s, dry the entire time except for a rogue rain shower one night when we were under the roof of a B&B.

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-Our three guides were excellent at way-finding of course; Moreover they were excellent at interpreting our environment in terms of history, geology, and nature. Even in song. And all had a sense of dry English humor. Our 30-year old aspirant guide in training Alice had swum the English Channel five years earlier. Her husband was a Himalayan climber !

-One day during a windstorm at lunchtime out came two outrageously orange wind screens that seven people collectively pulled over atop themselves while sitting in a compressed huddle so we could eat without our food, or us, being blown about.

-Some of the crew, including Vivian, Ed and I toured the centuries old castle at Richmond, still proudly standing.

-All good and great things come to a close. So too with the FFY EE C2C. Was it 10 days after we first stepped into the Irish Sea, we then stepped out into a mid-Spring morning for our final hill hike. This one took us into a mesmerizing forested walk with waterfalls and tree canopies. After lunch we trekked onto the towering cliffs above the North Sea. The red roof tiles of Robin Hood’s Bay beckoned us. I got out in front as I wished to just hear the crash of the waves onto the shoreline 75 feet below, and the calls of the seabirds. No disrespect to anyone, I was in the mood to be a monastic hill hiker welcoming what creation wished to offer as our farewell neared.

-Our group regathered at the official end of the C2C and together we walked the last mile or so down, and down some more to the seashore where we gathered for congratulation all around a group pic. We then shared a bottle of bubbly to celebrate our accomplishment. After the Columbus trio did the traditional toe dip into the Irish Sea, we posed a final time with the FFY banner. Our Russian friend made the snap as she had done before.

-Making the hike back up to our hotel, a steep (quite steep) half-mile walk for some tuckered out buckeroos, I asked my good friend Ed Eckerly if he knew what day it was. This was a common question the last many days as all of us lost track of time on the trek. He started to check his cell phone. “Don’t need to do that Ed. I know what day it is.” He looked at me funny. “It’s May 18. It is exactly 365 days ago that my bike crash happened just after Greg and I got back from the Peru climb – The first FFY fundraiser.” That crash put me on medical house arrest for four months. Ed and many others were a great support to me during that challenge of suffering and rehabilitation. He well knew my circumstance. “You’ve come a long way” he said. “A lot of hard work was done.” I didn’t get emotional until I was in my hotel room – Interrupted by a sound I hadn’t heard in a few weeks. My cell tele was ringing. I awkwardly answered. “Hey Dad, it’s Dom – How goes the hill hike?” It wasn’t until we hung up that the flood of tears came. What a year it had been.

-AND:

There were awesome side trips after. Ed and Vivian hiked in Ireland. I visited wonderful friends: Imme and Mark near Wales. We’d met on the first FFY fund-raiser in Peru. They’d posed with our expedition group atop Rainbow Mtn with that FFY Banner. So we did a déjà vu pic on a trek in nearby Wales with the 2018 FFY banner on a hilltop. Then I met up with Paul and Mike, and their wives. The “Royals” as I called the fellas naming myself the “colonist” met four years before walking the near 500 miles of El Camino – The Way of St. James across Spain in 2014. I believe there’s a lesson here about: Making friends. And keeping friends. We have all stayed in touch. In fact, I have been blessed to do so with friends from each of the 11 expeditions. Then our Columbus trio reunited in London. Hours later we visited Jim and Rosie Haro, from Columbus in Granada, in way southern Spain where they are living for a year – Wow ! Thanks to all for your extraordinary hospitality.

-FINAL WORDS FFY EE C2C 2018

Thanks for following along the expedition, this one and previous ones. Many of you also sent “Likes” and support messages following along on Face Book via me and the FFY public FB page. All were appreciated.

Thank you so much to all who gave financial donations on line, by mail, and dropping off donations to Foundation For Youth in Columbus, IN, USA. The donations are 100 per cent used for scholarships for youth to participate at FFY. Without your gifts – Those kids might not have the opportunity. Your generosity makes a difference. And supporting children is a lifetime ambition – No matter if you’re age 70 or what your age. Wellness, exercise, nutrition, obesity avoidance, will always be essential for children – And it is truer every day in America. In Indiana 1 in 3 children are overweight / obese – So FFY has a big job around wellness initiatives.

We fell short of the $10,000 goal I quietly imagined. It will take more small gifts, and some stretch gifts for that goal to be reached. Whatever you may do for kids to become FFY members – Know that it is appreciated.

If you have cheerfully given – Thank you from me and FFY. If you’d like to cheerfully give again – Please do. If you haven’t given yet – Please cheerfully consider making a gift.

-QUOTE: “I think going back to Nepal to build schools for the children and medical clinics was much more important than my climbing Mount Everest.” Sir Edmund Hillary.

-AND: It was an honor to partner with Foundation for Youth on the FFY EE C2C 2018. FFY is such a respected consortium of youth programs. It was quite the adventure too. People have been asking “What’s Up Next?’ For now the answer is six words: “Hard Treks; Soft beds; Stay tuned.”

Thank you…May God bless you…Walter

-CONTRIBUTIONS

May be postal mailed to

Foundation for Youth, 405 Hope Avenue, Columbus, IN, USA, 47201, ATTN Brittany Gray

Or online at www.FoundationForYouth.com

Be sure to designate: For Walter’s Scholarships. Donations are tax-deductible.