Didn't realise I'd signed up to Wordpress! - left you a comment on there. I should look into transferring mine to a Blogger or Wordpress based site - the comment facility is cool! Thing is I don't know how to put my own coding up so I have control over how it looks, though I know it can be done...
Last time I looked at your site it was hosted elsewhere I think.
cheers Ern!

yes it was.
cheers Mick.

Use the lanolin and sock liners with socks, and you won't *get* blisters.

Mary

Thanks Mary,
My concern with lanolin is that it will have reduced effectivness with constantly wet feet - and then find it difficult to get clean dry feet to enable a change-over to Spenco and/or blister plasters with only basic facilities available when bivvying the route.
I'm going to try it out on some longer routes first. The big issue is whether I can keep me feet dry over continuous days. I've invested in 3 pairs of trail running shoes and will select the better of the 3 for the job at hand. I won't get an opportunity to change them... and I don't want to be buying boots in Richmond again!
cheers
lwm
It's important that I try out different options beforehand - thanks for reminding me of this option!

I've carried gore-tex socks on all three trips on the C2C and never had wet feet so I don't know if they would work. Perhaps someone has had some experience. My method of conditioning feet includes 10 mile walks with sandals with no socks. I've never had a blister, but that just might be good boots, and luck.

Having walked during the super-wet 2007 season, I had wet feet all day from water coming in over the *tops* of my boots. I dried my feet off in the evening and aired them overnight. Vaseline went on in the morning.

A small polypro towel and a hole at the bottom of your bivvy bag might do the trick.

Also, you might look into nappy rash cream. I ran into someone using that with great success.

Good luck!

Mary

Thanks for the input - looking into the Goretex socks, seem to be either 'Seal Skinz' or 'Trailmates'. Must admit I've been tempted before to try the Seal Skinz but the price put me off!
Not sure I'd fancy having me feet stuck out Mary! - but I can see where you're coming from. Clean dry cotton socks put on at night might help - how long they'll stay clean and dry for of course is another matter.
The nappy rash cream sounds soothing already!
cheers and thanks,
lwm

LWM,
My Goretex socks are Burghaus, they do keep the water out but the feet get extra sweaty.
For the benefit of others as you will be only too aware, the nececesity to get it right is extremely important when attempting fast moving long distance challenges. Walkers will have their own favourite remedies for trying to avoid blisters, and what may work perfectly well during normal walking doesnt mean it will work when at the extreme end of walking. I for one never have had a blister problem during normal paced walking or during the 27 marathons that I have run, but when moving fast over a long distance I have suffered terrible deep blisters. One has to move fast, so footwear is shoes rather than boots. With walking/ trail shoes there is more foot movement inside the shoe, add to that the faster pace and its easy to see that the foot gets rather hot - hence the inevitable blisters. When I say blisters, I mean blisters - see post headed 'Only for the non squeemish' photo of my foot after one of my non stoppers, 84 miles at 3mph.
Dave.
Dave.

Dave, yeah, I can imagine the feet getting too warm in Goretex, which could be problematic in itself and maybe better to save for wet cold winter use (or be prepared to change socks frequently...)
Paramount are well-fitting shoes that allow little movement (either heel lift or sideways movement) - the latter difficult in running shoes over uneven ground. I'm hoping NB's 'Rockstop' firmer sole layer will help on entry to the Lakes and their full-length 'Asorb' will help protect with extra cushioning before I get there.
The shoes I'm hoping will be right also have a built-in stone cuff that Velcro-fits around the ankle (though I'm also aware that this will restrict air-flow too...)

A big plus for Spenco 2nd skin is that Mike Cudahy endorses it so enthusiastically.
On his sub 3 day Pennine Way he reaches Hardraw (after 108 miles):
"...as I came into Hardraw my feet began to feel sore. In the past (9th attempt) this would have been very disturbing but over the previous 12 months I had experimented with the use of Spenco Second Skin. I had found that when applied to burning feet it immediately cooled and soothed them. I taped a strip of jelly-like material across the pad of flesh just behind the toes. It soon went squelchy as I ran, but, as expected, seemed to eliminate totally any heat producing friction. It is difficult to describe what a sense of confidence the discovery of this material had given me. If only I had come across it sooner!"
page 58 - 'Wild Trails to Far Horizons'

As you say it is essential to get the right combination, tried and tested, before setting out. I'm of the opinion that it easier to get a good well-fitting pair of boots than the same in lighter running shoes though.
cheers
lwm

Thinking of taking a stove on my next attempt (hopefully the Pocket Rocket will still be useable) I've been experimenting with just add boiling water stuff. As I don't care for the over-priced tasteless stuff aimed at campers I've relied on Sosmix and Pot Rice (not too fond of the Noodles) in the past. Searching my local Morrisons for both items it transpires neither are now available. Granose have taken over Direct Foods (makers of Sosmix) and have a similar sausage-making stuff so I'm going to give this a go. If I go with this option, Cuppa Soup/Smash mixture will be favoured. I've tried making Oxtail Cup-soup and adding 30gm Smash which makes a tasty fortifying modge(approx 200kcal)
the thinking is: boil pint of water - half to food/half to hot drink.
Of course I'll be supplementing where possible - pork pies, cheese, snickers etc. but will have something to fall back on this time other that muesli and cereal bars and not be too dependent on bar meals.
Any other ideas?
cheers
lwm