On my second Challenge (first solo) - I dutifully made up and sent 3 parcels ahead for resupplying myself. The first I was a day late collecting due to re-routing for bad weather so I was on my emergency rations by the time I collected it. The second parcel mostly went in the bin as I could not or didn't want to eat or carry what was in it. The third parcel was collected on my way home as I re-routed again and didn't get to it.

So now I do not send parcels ahead. I never pass a shop, cafe or pub without eating or stocking up. The only thing I still do is post maps home to myself when I've finished with them.

Generally I never carry more than 4 days food apart from some emergency rations which I often arrive with in Montrose.

It's a personal choice thing.