Route finding resources

Consistent with knowing where you are going we are using the following resources to familiarise ourselves with the route:
A Coast to Coast Walk, AW, Revised by Chris Jesty 2010 (ISBN 9780711230637)
Coast to Coast Path, Henry Stedman, 2010 (ISBN 9781905864300)
Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk (with Derry Brabbs) 1991 (ISBN 071813107X) and
Wainwright Walks Coast to Coast with Julia Bradbury DVD BBC 1996.
All are commercially available.

Also, when my internet connections permits, Google Earth.

We also have Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure maps 33 and 34 St Bees to Keld, and Keld to RHB - both acquired via eBay.

The fitness profile

Having now booked all our accommodation there is little chance for backing out. Priorities are evolving. Although we may all consider ourselves reasonably fit the question still remains as to whether we are fit enough to complete the C2C. On that front we have decided to use the next few months to set some markers. We know we can cope with the six-miler on the flat, now it's a question of the sixteen-miler (probably still on the flat), with additions of six miles with ascents and descents building up to the sixteen, seventeen, eighteen milers with ups and downs. The walk profile above shows the extent of the issue - the 40-60km section has three ascents at the 600m mark (~2000ft) and one at 80km at 760m (~2500ft). Then there are a few other bumps on the way. Any one of these, on any one day, would be no cause for concern, but the repetition sounds caution - and blisters and the like must be diligently avoided.
On the kit front we are all purchasing new waterproofs - the walk will not stop for the weather - as well as some 'stay-dry' bags to hold kit within rucksacks.Walking boots will be used until they become slippers, and new walking socks will probably be acquired as well. Next job - route checking.

Bookings complete

When planning such a venture as this one has to initially answer the question: are we going to do it all in one go? In our case the answer was a unanimous 'yes'. Dispensed just as quickly - with the opposite reply - was the question: are we going to tortoise it? (carrying all our gear and camping). So, B&B's it was.
Initially we trawled several companies via the internet who offer a 'sherpa' service - for a price they carry your luggage to your next overnight stop allowing you to do the walk carrying just a day-sack. It was a good job we were sitting down as the prices were, well, as high as some of the Lake District peaks.
So we have decided to transport ourselves using two vehicles and a logistics plan that the Army would be proud of. Additionally we are doing it in such a way that we can have two nights at each B&B rather than just one.
Today, and much much easier than I anticipated, we have completed the booking of all of our B&B stops, seven in all starting at Ennerdale Bridge and finishing at RHB.

...dreaming turns to planning

It was a wish, then a dream, then an addition to the 'bucket list'. With time forever marching on it was a case of 'do it now, or do it never'. So, with more thought, more talk and more ?ambition? we convinced ourselves we had the determination to make it work.
We have read, read more, looked at pictures, purchased maps and had committee meetings. Now it's a green light for a go. Here will be our thoughts, ideas and mistakes to help others, but more particularly as a 'can't go back on it now, you've starting blogging it' sort of thing to ensure we put boot to path.
It's now December 2012, we plan to walk in 2013 - we have our dates but until we have booked all our B&Bs (and got in before anyone else) I'm not going to tell you yet.