- Capturing the trail

Capturing the trail

As explained in "What is The Southern Coast to Coast?", the SC2C route is not pre-defined but it does have two terminals - Weston-super-Mare and Dover. In this blog I am walking the route backwards because, well, why not?

After writing a blog for LeJog I could definitely see the benefit for capturing the trail in written form but, as time has gone by, my memories of the trail are starting to dwindle. This has led me to want to video the trails that I walk because I think they will be a nice legacy if nothing else. Something my childs children might like to see (if YouTube is even around then!)

The only issue I had was I have never filmed anything like this before so I needed to learn how to use the equipment and software. I also needed to know I was carrying everything I would need to record a vlog so the most sensible solution I found was to start the route nearest my home village so that is the reason I am walking it backwards.

Full disclosure. I had to walk the first section (Day 1) twice because the wind was so noisy on my camera that you couldn't make anything out. I bought an external microphone with a mini dead cat muff which has been great (although I have lost sound on a few recordings due to the camera not liking being plugged in/unplugged from a power source).

You can just make out the mic below my chin.


The other thing I wanted to do was make this route accessible to as many people as possible so I start and finish each day at a place of public transport. This means anyone could drive to the beginning of any of the days routes and be able to get back to their car at the end of the walk. I have taken this inspiration from "SlowWays" who are essentially linking settlements via predefined walking routes and asking walkers to rate/comment on them.

The only drawback is due to being tied to train stations the daily distance can vary quite dramatically. For example, Day 5 - Yalding to Sevenoaks = 13 miles but day 6 - Sevenoaks to Nutfield = 22 miles (although Day 6 can be split into two shorter days). I am willing to take that drawback in favour of walking in the greenest way possible and frankly it adds to the adventure.

When I get too far from my home village (which is on a mainline railway line), then I shall look to either rough camp or utilise B&B's. 

However I do it I shall be documenting it all in the daily blog posts.

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