Eddie's Journey

Money Raised £4,028

In November 2010 Eddie found it necessary to stop his walk due to a back injury but intended to continue in March 2011. Sadly due to the back injury it has now been decided that it will not be possible for him to continue on his journey as he will not be able to support the 30kg he has to carry.

Eddie (and Dave) is now living in Scotland and has decided to donate the money raised by his walk to the charity he is now working closely with, Soldiers Off The Street Scotland that works with ex service personnel whose lives have been affected by homelessness.

Eddie and The Warrior Programme would like to THANK EVERYONE who has donated and to those who have been so kind and generous to him along the way!

If you would like to read more about Eddies amazing journey please continue reading...

In November 2009 Eddie Craven was living rough in the woods just outside the city of Exeter. He found himself here as a result of suffering from post traumatic stress (PTSD) following active service in Bosnia. The Royal British Legion eventually offered him help in the form of a 3 day intensive course run by a charity called The Warrior Programme.

The course helped to change his life and as a result he is now committed to helping others suffering from similar traumas.

At the beginning of September 2010 he left Exeter to walk around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for The Warrior Programme. His dream is to raise funds to set up a permanent centre where ex-servicemen and women can find sanctuary and receive treatment for their condition.

Scroll down to read Eddie's Journal

MEDIA COVERAGE

With only a rucksack, a tent and a couple of mess tins Eddie embarked on his 4,000 mile trip. The BBC has broadcast a series of short films about Eddie.

On 4th November 2010 actor and adventurer Charley Boorman joined Eddie for the day walking in Hunstanton, Norfolk. ITV Anglia Tonight News covered the walk. as did the BBC East Evening News. You can also read about it in the Eastern Daily Press.

To DONATE

If you would like to help to make Eddie's dream become a reality there are two ways to DONATE to Eddie's Journey

1) Donate online at Justgiving

2) Or call our donation line on 02920 381904 and quote 'Eddies Journey'

EDDIE'S JOURNAL

To be bloody honest I cant remember what day it was that I set off. I think it was a Tuesday (It was infact Tuesday the 31st August). The morning of the 31st was taken up with buying a new rucksack, one with different external pockets for different bits and pieces and a couple of mess tins for cooking over the open fire. With only a few hours before I set off on what was to be roughly a 6000 mile journey on foot around the coast of the British Isles I needed to make sure I had all my essential bits of kit. Other vital elements included my tent, some loo roll and an axe for chopping kindling. The next thing was to say goodbye to Emma, my partner. She was pretty upset to see me go but somewhere I FELT ok saying goodbye. I knew I had to be 110% focused on what was ahead of me.

When I was 9 years old I remembered watching TV at the start of the Falklands war. On the news that night I saw the Royal Marines arriving at Goose Green. The image that stuck in my mind was of a soldier who had the Union Jack flag flying from the antenna of a 3-20 radio. When I decided to walk around the British Isles this image was strongly in my mind. I am flying the Union Jack flag on the back of my rucksack. With all my kit strapped to my back I got a lift to Polsloe station and boarded the train to Exmouth. That night my first away I camped in my little tent on the cliffs of the seaside town. The conditions were good and it was sunny as I put my tent up. Then I sat down to properly sort my kit out and compose my thoughts. Mainly, I guess I was thinking about the road ahead-how much I'd bitten off. I thought I'm really doing it now and I'm on my own. Then I got my head down.

In the morning I woke up, made breakfast and a much needed cup of coffee. I thought 'lets see how far I can go today. " I had no idea how far I'd reach, but set myself a loose target of between 8 and 10 miles a day. I'm not as fit as I used to be. Not yet anyway. I'm not sure what distance I covered that day. It was a really hard rugged coastline and my rucksack weighed upwards of 35kg.
From Exmouth I set off to Budleigh Salterton, stopped en route for a pork pie and finally reached Sidmouth. It was a killer. The route from Sidmouth to Beer was notable largely as a result of coming across a really good fish and chip shop. I stayed on a campsite in Beer overnight and met some really nice folk on holiday from Birmingham. The guys there let me stay for free and I managed to get a shower. It felt really good. Got my head down and in the morning the people I met the previous evening made me a coffee. At this point my feet weren't too bad. I was feeling it but the boots I had were really well broken in. They were like a pair of hard wearing slippers disguised as bovver boots.

The coastal path from Seaton to Lyme Regis was one of the most beautiful coastlines I have ever seen. On arrival at Lyme Regis I pitched up on a bit of wasteland, put my tent up and some more lovely people came over and made me a cuppa. I told them what I was up to and they were very interested and supportive. Getting round from Lyme Regis was really hard because there had been a landslide on the coastal path. There were no decent signs to tell you were you were going. I got hopelessly lost and in the end absolutely dripping with sweat having gone miles out of my way, I jumped on a bus to Charmouth. From there it was Bridport, then West Bay. Here I decided to stay on a recognised campsite, put my tent up and was told by the owner it would cost me �10. But once I told him about my trek he said "fair play to you mate, it's free tonight."

The next day it was raining stair rods. I had been thinking through the night that this next leg would be a big one. From West Bay, I marched all the way to Weymouth. I belted it through. The good news was that a biker friend of mine had a friend that lived in Weymouth. He gave me his number and I phoned this guy who to my delight said "yes, we're expecting you. I'll come and meet you shortly". At this point I was in absolute tatters but true to his word this guy was indeed waiting for me. We drove in to Weymouth and stayed with him for 2 nights. At this point, I bought some new boots. There was nowt left of the old ones. The Jurassic Coast had killed them. I spent � 25 on a new pair. It was all I had. They were building site steel toe cap boots. No good for walking. but it was all I could afford and I needed to keep my feet dry. The next day was Weymouth to Wareham. My feet were starting to blister and I was really uncomfortable. Eva from The Warrior Programme who organised the course I went on to help me deal with my Post Traumatic Stress sent me special patches for blisters. To be honest, they didn't really do the trick. In the end I opted for the old fashioned army method. Cut them open and let them breathe.

From Wareham I began the next stage of the journey. It wasn't very good down there. They were really unfriendly. I was starving and asked for some chips from a pub I was in. Someone bought me out something that was rock hard. I thought whatever it was should probably have been used as projectiles......

I have to say Studland bay was perhaps one of the low spots so far, but from there I walked down to the peninsula and caught the ferry across to Poole. It is around 150 meters and the ferry is one of those that pulls itself across on a chain. From there, I walked to Bournemouth, then Christchurch where I stayed overnight.

My journey through the New Forest to Lyndhurst was hard. I can feel my fitness coming back but my feet were in agony. I met some nice people en route but at times felt incredibly lonely.

In a way the most difficult thing is that I feel troubled about my relationship. It's hard when Emma calls me. The fact is this IS an epic journey and my thoughts have to be 110% on what I am doing. I got myself through it by singing to myself, simple songs, songs that keep in time with my footsteps. The only song i can remember now you're asking me is the Muppet show. I can time my footsteps to the beat of the song and I just repeat it over and over again. You ask me if I sing outloud. The answer is no. I just sing it in my head.

When I reached Southampton I could hardly walk. My feet had swollen to the size of balloons. My left foot in particular was agony. I decided to give myself a bit of a break and book in to a cheap hotel for the night dreaming of a bed and a shower. I stayed in the Winston Hotel in Southampton and was really lucky to get a room because there was a huge boating event happening just as I arrived. Pretty much every room in the whole city seemed to be taken. Amazingly as I was standing at the reception, a woman came downstairs and said she wanted to check out. I said "I'll have her room". Result.

That night the most amazing thing happened. I was sat at the bar chatting to an old boy telling him what I was up to. I explained about the Union Jack on my rucksack and why that image was so memorable to me. The old boy said "you better speak to my mate when he gets back from the toilet." So I did. With tears in his eyes that man said to me 'Are you serious? Can you really remember that? Do you know who you are talking to?' It turned out that it was him in that famous image. It was absolutely incredible. He even showed me his old army ID. I to felt very emotional. I thought Jesus Christ almighty! This really spurred me on. I thought you can't stop now. You've met the guy you saw on the telly when you were a kid.

TUESDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER

Today I am taking a short break from my walk. The Warrior Programme has asked me to come up to London and speak to other ex-servicemen and women with PTSD about my fundraising venture. I am currently on the train from Portsmouth to Waterloo and expect to arrive in Fulham at the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation (Warrior Programme HQ) in about half an hour......

I arrived at Waterloo. The train journey was pretty uneventful apart from a short conversation with a woman passenger who I asked how long the journey might take. She seemed as confused as I was. I just looked ate her and said "Oh well, suck it and see." I'm not sure she was familiar with that expression as she looked a little startled. I think she thought I was propositioning her. Anyway, I arrived at Fulham Broadway and thought 'How the bloody hell do I get out of here.' If it wasn't for some old bloke who was very posh (I began to wonder if he was an MP or something) I'd probably still be there. He said 'Follow me! Don't worry old boy. You get used to this sort of thing when you've been doing it for a few years.' As I was following him, I heard the wooden pole my Union Jack was attached to, snap. I stopped and thought even though it's broken, if I push the pole right through in to my rucksack, hopefully it will stay up. Obviously I am going to get a more permanent pole that wont break.I walked out of the station and literally 50 steps away is the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation where I was going to give my talk. What was going through my mind? Well I s'pose just idol curiosity and slight nervousness about what was going to happen now. After a plate of sarnies I had my hopes up about what might be acheived today. I want to raise awareness about what I am doing. Sometimes it feels like people look at me and just think I'm some kind of lunatic walking around the country. I was thinking of getting GPS on my rucksack! Particularly after the Lyme Regis landslide fiasco following signs that lead to nowhere with angry golfers shouting 'gerOFF THE ROUGH!' The talk went really well. There must have been about 50 people there. Eva from the Warrior Programme introduced me and said some very nice things about what I was doing. Then I spoke I suppose for about 10 minutes and got a really good reception. I have been on the road for a couple of weeks now and always thought it would take around that time to find my stride. I honestly think there should be an organisation set up where ex-servicemen and women could just go and talk and get help. If there was somewhere for sure there wouldn't be so many in this country who are absolutely done in. We need to get to the root of it. Tomorrow morning my plan is get something to eat (I stayed overnight at the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation) and then sort out that bloody rucksack. It's erupted. There are chocolate raisins everywhere. You ask me if I'm having my 5-a-day. Well I tell you what I'm eating alot of. That's sausage rolls. I get a pack of eight. They cost around a quid. The other day I went into the Co-Op. They only had one pack left, and they were in the wrong aisle. Anyway, I got the last pack but one of the staff told me they were stopping doing them. Apparently they are classed as a summer food. Pure insanity if you ask me! So tomorrow it's back to Southampton to start where I left off and yes I am tempted to skip through to Margate! Not really. Do you know when I was going through the New Forest someone said to me 'This isn't on the coast. Well heck. It's only 1mm off the coast on the map, if you're en route to Southampton. I've been looking at maps of the NW of Scotland and thought how the heck am I going to do that stretch. I'm dreading it. I think I'll just have to get a canoe!

Wednesday 15th September...still in London. Had breakfast and then went to the ex-services Union Jack club where I had a pint before heading back to Southampton. Made it out to a place called Bursledon and camped up in a field for the night. Got up the following morning and headed in to a tiny village, the name of which escapes me. As I was picking up some supplies. This guy came out the police station. I assume he was a Police man. Saw the Union Jack on the back of my rucksack and gave me a smile. I am heading along the A27 at the moment. You ask me if I can see the sea. The answer is no I can't . I am going through a tree tunnel tho. You know where there are trees both sides of the road and they touch in the middle. The weather is alright. Rained a bit this morning. I feel like i really need to crack on now though. Properly start upping the pace.

Thursday 16th September I arrived in Havant "Havant got a tent anymore!" I pitched my tent in a field and went off for a wander. Came back and a herd of bullocks had destroyed it. I chased one what seemed have way back to Portsmouth. It saw me and had that look on its face of 'Oh God I'm in trouble now'. I was so angry, all I could think of was chasing after it biting its leg and sticking my thumb in its eye. I think the herd did the Highland fling on top of my poor tent. I had all the guy ropes out and I imagine the bullocks were sniffing round the tent when a gust of wind caught the material and freaked them out! Looked like they had just stampeded over the top of it. They pooed over the top of it too... The way I look at it, the one I chased had 4 legs and I only have 2, so it got away. The following morning I woke up in what used to be my tent.

It was a beautiful morning and I awoke to the sound of a brass band playing. I thought to myself 'What the blazes is going on here them.' I could hear huge engines revving. Clearly not your average Ford Fiesta. I walked to the other side of the field only to realise that I was a stones throw from Goodwood. They were obviously having some kind of do. I didn't leave till lunchtime. Thought I couldn't move off. This is a once in a lifetime experience watching WW2 planes having dog fights above my head and Lancaster Bombers roaring through the air. That night I was kept up by foxes barking. I kept shouting at them to shut up. There must have been about 4 of them just 50yards from my tent. I had no idea what was going on. I don't know you come to the country side for a bit of peace and quiet only to be woken up by wildlife! The days I have had off have done me no favours. I have however bought a new tent. Its the same model as my old one and was the only one they had in the shop. Luckily though I know how to put it up. I am now heading towards Brighton. En route through Arundel I bumped in to a street cleaner who I thought was Frank Spencer. He sounded just like him. I asked him if he could direct me to a good local cafe. I walked off laughing. Thought he was going to say Ooh Bette at some point. Over the next few days I got a bit low. I am worried about publicity for what I am doing.

The next day Eva phoned up and said she had a plan. After that I felt much more positive. I also thought I can't really stop now. I have started something really important and I have to finish it.

Tuesday 21st September I arrived in Brighton. A taxi took me to Sheepcote where I pitched my tent and waited for a reporter from regional TV (BBC Spotlight) to arrive. They wanted to do a little piece on me catching up with my progress. They were due to turn up on Friday so I said I'd hang out for them in Brighton. It's been OK stopping here for a few days- its given me a bit of time to think about everything. How far I have come, what's happened along the way and how far I have got to go. The other day I bought a book. Don't think I have ever bought a book before. It cost �1 from a local pub. It's called The Killing Fields by Christopher Hudson. I have only had the chance to pick it up once so far and just got through the first few pages. I have read books before but probably only 3 or 4 in my entire life. It's not a huge book. I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

I met some cool people in Brighton. Got the address of a guy in Ilfracombe who said 'please make sure you call in when you come round our way'. A great offer-in a years time!!! I have already had a few people on route offer me this that and the other. A night indoors/sleeping on the couch/a hot meal. It's good to know.The filming went really well. Ate some great food and I've got my little camera now too to do a video diary. I'm going to have a bit of a play with it to get the feel of it. I don't know how often I will use it. We'll see. Anyway I've got my new camera and a new waterproof coat and I'm on the go now. Watch this space!

Saturday 25th September. On the road again. Got as far as Bexhill just outside of Hastings. Saw a tame fox. I was about 15feet way from it. Heard a rabbit squeak, looked round and there it was. It came towards me and then shot under a derelict building. I was absolutely mesmerised. Spoke to this local bloke about it. He said people feed them. The next night I camped up in a graveyard. I videoed it as well. I was walking along and saw a church and thought the dead wont mind. I spoke to some guy who seemed a bit surprised that I was camped up where I was. But do you know what I thought if I walk past the graveyard where my Dad was buried and someone was camping. Even if they were on top of his grave I'd just say 'Any chance you could move off so I can put my flowers down?' I kind of lose track of time but I am now at Hastings. I think it's Monday. Tomorrow I want to get to Lyd. It's 35 miles from Hastings to Lyd. If I manage it it's going to be a slog-it will be the longest distance in one day so far. In the morning I'll go to a little place called Ore first because there's a shop there. I am going to pack down with supplies and just go for it. I will be up and gone by dawn. I'll get some porridge down my neck and then I will be off.

18th October Due to an injury Eddie could not walk for a week but he is now back on the road again. He started from Herne Bay on Friday 15th October and is now walking up the East Coast. He will be updating his journal shortly.

27th October After I did my leg in, I had to take a bit of time out until it healed which is why you haven't heard from me in a while. I went back to Newbury and was brilliantly looked after by my mates though while I was there realised how lonely I am on the road and decided it was time to get a dog.

Dave is mostly Staffy and very similar to a lovely dog I looked after while I was in Exeter. I got Dave from a rescue kennel. Not sure why I called him Dave. Just seemed like a good name! He is around 9 months old and hasn't even learnt how to cock his leg yet but he is getting on really good. I am having to train him on the road but it's all going well and he has stopped pulling to a degree. I can now say 'back' and he instantly comes back a bit. He's lovely although he did pee on my sleeping bag one night which I wasn't very happy about.

I stopped my video diary when I had hurt my leg but I have started it again now. I feel much more sorted out. The reaction from members of the public to me and Dave is mixed. Had someone try and run me over today and the other day someone spat at me. It was a white guy in a van who spat at me. After he had done it he just kept on driving. I told a local newspaper about it. The reporter I spoke to said she'll put it in the local paper. She said the people of Essex should hang their heads in shame. It was not a pleasant experience but everyone else I have met has been incredibly supportive.

I am in Maldon now in what I imagine used to be a park. There are a couple of lakes or maybe overgrown ponds they've let go back to the wild. It's beautiful. The weather has been awful. Last night it was torrential. I was warm enough though. I have a new sleeping bag, an Arctic one. I am on the A414 at the moment. I want to skirt round it to go to Colchester.

Last night I stayed in Rayleigh. Found a waterlogged field. As I said it hammered down last night but luckily I have got a a pair of gators now so I was alright. God knows what I must have looked like though. There was some bloke waiting for me by the gate. He said he'd seen me coming up the road and had to know what I was up to.

I am trying to organise a place to put my video camera for the video diaries. I've got all my emergency stuff at the top of my army rucksack and I have decided to buy some webbing to fit my camera in because stopping and starting to keep getting it out of my rucksack isn't working. If I've seen it, I've missed it, sort of thing. This way if it's in a pouch on my belt, I can just grab it if I need to.I have got a leaking water bottle at the moment. The waters all leaking down my leg. I'll get a new bottle when I buy the webbing.

I was sat giving Dave a cuddle today and laughing to myself. I said to him, 'Be careful what you wish for. It might come true.' I was just thinking about him in the kennels wishing someone would come and take him for a walk. I bet he never expected a walk like this. Every day on the go. He's knackered and is now crashed out on my sleeping bag.

Going back in time for a minute when I took a break. As I said I stayed with friends in Newbury. I had a really good time. They didn't want me to go back out. They kept saying, 'You're mad. It's the middle of Winter.' I just said 'No. I'm not stopping.' I feel like I have to do it. People are donating all the time.

Now I have got the dog, I have someone to talk to. He doesn't say much though! I went for him because he sort of jumped out at me. I hated being in that kennel. I said to the woman who showed me round, ' I couldn't do your job.' The other dogs looked petrified wondering what they had done to deserve this. I put my hand up to one cage and the dog licked it really gently. I just wanted to get out of there. I really love animals. Anyway, they bought Dave out. They didn't seem to know anything about him. He had been in there for 2 and a half months. No one had taken him because he was too hyper. He's got to be hyper for what I am doing. He was like Zebedee. Got him down the road and though Christ Almighty what have I taken on. There's no jumping around now though. He's fast asleep.

What does he look like? Well he is a brindly brown with a strip of white down the front of his chest. Temperament wise, he was a nightmare with other dogs when I first got him. He's brilliant now though and very affectionate with humans.

My leg seems OK now after the accident but the other one started playing up the other day. I think it's shin splints. I thought 'Oh no' as I lay there listening to the radio in agony but all is not lost. I got out the Ibuleve gel and lathered it in that. Did my boots up really tight and just kept walking all day. It's all right now.

Eddie is so grateful to everyone who has donated money (he even received a cheque for £500 from a couple in Canada!) and to those who have helped him along the way.