Only time for a quick update tonight .. more detailed update to follow (wifi permitting). Another 16.5 miles completed today .. Total mileage now 145 miles and just 50 miles left over next three days. We have crossed the Vale of Mowbray today and are in Ingleby Cross on the edge of the North York Moors. A 20 mile roller-coaster walk tomorrow with over 3000ft of climbing to be negotiated. Gulp!
** Update posted on Thursday 17th July **
Tue 15th - Bolton on Swale to Ingleby Cross (Day 10)
16.5mls, 7.5hrs
Today's leg has been described as 'boring' because it is almost flat. We didn't find it boring by any means .. It's certainly flat but there was enough variety in the places we passed through to keep things interesting.
The b&b we stayed in overnight had fantastic views over Richmond and we had breakfast in the conservatory looking out over the town. Jill commented on how big the spoons were until she realised she had picked up a serving spoon when she got her cereal. We did check whether she had already started on the Whisky marmalade.
The packed lunches on this trip have been a bit hit and miss. One person's idea of what constitutes lunch is very different from another's. Our landlord Ralph was one of those who provided more than enough. For instance, mine consisted of a cheese roll, crisps, pork pie, banana, peach, biscuits, fruit drink and chocolate bar. He also gave us a bag of hard boiled eggs! :-)
After getting the coach to Bolton on Swale we visited the churchyard where Henry Jenkins is buried.. he was reputed to be 169 when he died.
The walking was a mixture of fields, country lanes and farmyards. My work colleague Mark would have liked one farmyard in particular .. the stile we had to climb over had model rats clambering around one fence post while the other was topped off with a skull!
It had been cool to begin with but as the day wore on it got warmer and warmer. It was a long day (almost 17 miles) and by the afternoon I was struggling again. We had been used to quiet roads and villages but a couple of miles before the end we arrived at a service station on a very busy dual carriageway.
My feet were very sore by this time and my legs were aching .. we stopped for a break but then had to cross the road (the last fast A road we cross on this walk). The traffic had been very busy while we rested but as we got to the side of the road there was a break in the traffic. We ran across and as luck would have it, a break in the traffic appeared on the other carriageway and we were able to run across there to the safety of the grass verge.
I think it must have been pure adrenaline that got us over the road because the tired legs and sore feet soon returned. However, in a mile or so the first group had reached their b&bfor the night and we made our way to ours, a mile further on. And what a welcome we received!
We were greeted by the couple who run the b&b with glasses of Prosecco and a chance to toast ourselves for another hard day completed. And after we had all showered and rested they cooked us a roast beef dinner with REAL Yorkshire pudding (huge ones the size of large teacups).
We all hope our feet and legs recover by tomorrow morning. We have to cover 20 miles and do over 3000 feet of climbing and will be setting off at 08:15am.
Wish us luck! :-D
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