Thanks for all this. I think I'm going to start by learning to use a compass and map well. My daughter wants me to take an on-line course on navigation with her, offered by Backpacker Magazine. First stop, REI to look for a good compass. I have the Harvey maps for the C2C. One step at a time.
I'll be happy to team up with others if that's possible when the going gets difficult.
On another note, yesterday I got in the mail Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk with photographs by Derry Brabbs. It's breathtakingly beautiful. Books like this one, along with all the blogs written by people who have done the walk, are inspirational and motivating.