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[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

We arrived into the Buck Inn, Thornton Watlass (not witless as in the other Thornton) behind schedule because of heavy flooding on the route. That had meant that we were an hour late and sodden through, but it hadn’t diminished our spirits (I was already grumpy).

The welcome was wonderful from the landlady, she let us slightly moist walkers in, and she offered to bump up the fire. However, the fire was roaring and I treated myself to some real ale and three packs of mini cheddars. Liam had a tea, which seemed a little lacking, but I didn’t say anything.

The helpful landlady found us some maps and another local started to suggest some routes that would get us into Leyburn. We wanted to walk by Jervaulx Abbey, but we had done that before and it would add maybe 90 minutes onto our journey. We’d met the owners of the abbey last time and wanted to return, but we were forced onto a road route to make time up.

I don’t think that either of us wanted to leave the pub, but we had 35 minutes in there and felt reinvigorated when leaving it. There’s accommodation at the pub and if we ever come this way again, I’m sure that it’s a great place to stay.

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

Some photos of the scenery from day three, which was also when we realised just how flooded some of the route was. It was infuriating to add an hour onto the walk just to get around one flooded field before Snape.

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

I hadn’t done the stepping stones section of the walk on the last coast to coast, as it was shortly after I had stopped at Bagby. However, Liam had enjoyed visiting them and a few months later in 2016 he took Dylan and Leon to enjoy them too.

They were unfortunately rather more flooded than they had been in 2016, but it was a lovely little area and rather peaceful. Well, other than the torrent of water flooding by my feet.

Liam has put some photos on Facebook of how Dylan and Leon looked at the stepping stones, and above is the photo that Liam recreated of Leon   🙂

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

Some scenery photos from the day   🙂

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

DAY TWO – Kirkbymoorside to Thirsk

27.2 miles

The first day was tough going and the second day was even tougher going. We’ve now walked just short of 60 miles over the two days, which is very brave indeed. How our feet will cope with tomorrow’s 26 miles I’m not entirely sure…..

Today started with a breakfast at the hotel which was very nutritious and healthy, and we made sure that we got some chocolate from the Spar. Liam irritated me with his entire lack of bedside manner to my toe. He was meant just to put a dressing on it, but instead he prods the toe hard and yanks a bit of bandage clumsily around the toe. To be honest, he seemed entirely  uninterested at my predicament. I hid my mood very well.

We got walking and Liam’s expert navigation soon found us in a wooded bog. We discovered that the ford couldn’t be traversed as it resembled the River Thames. I could see Liam looking at it deciding how we were going to cross, but I just looked cross and so we decided to take a detour. This detour involved going up “a small slope”.

To define what we climbed as a “small slope” was nothing short of ridiculous. It would have been easier to climb the bloody Eiger than what Liam defined as “easy”. On this occasion I didn’t hide my anger and made quite clear that this was bloody impossible. Liam tried to calm me down by offering to carry my bag. I accepted this offer, although was still grumpy at the whole set of arrangements which had led up to this.

After 90 minutes I had calmed down and we walked alongside a lovely main road for an hour. That was delightful. We entered the town of Helmsley which was rather lovely, and I treated myself to crisps and a Dr. Pepper. That Dr. Pepper was my treat throughout the afternoon, a few small sips at a time.

We then had an afternoon walking through the forest, which was a bit never ending. We walked by some stepping stones where Dylan and Leon had been, which made me feel like they were there. i then had to climb over a gate as the ground was boggy.

We then we into Bagby, which is important to me as it’s where I stopped when we tried this walk before (the other way round, so from Morecambe to Scarborough). So from thereon in, this is all territory that I’ve walked. A friendly guy with a kid asked us about our trip, no doubt curious why two people were marching into Bagby as it was getting dark (by marching I mean more shuffling in at 1.2 mph).

The walk into Thirsk took bloody hours, and we finished quite a chunk behind when we ideally wanted to be. It’s a night in a Wetherspoons and the hotel is lovely, the room huge and it’s a delight to be back in the warm. Not sure that I’ll want to leave the room in the morning.

So tired there are no photos for today, I’ll try and upload those in the morning. I hope though that this blog inspires other people not to try such bloody stupid challenges.

 

 

 

 

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

Some photos of the varied scenery, we’ve had sea, forests, dales and moors today.

[originally posted in 2018, I’m reposting these posts in August 2024 with the broken image links fixed]

Our lunch stop was at the Fox and Rabbit pub, although we limited ourselves to health drinks and packets of crisps. Hydration and salts, very important in this walking thing. They kindly gave us a jug of iced tap water so that we could refill our water bottles.

There’s a photo of me that didn’t upload, I’ll have to try to upload that again later, but in the meantime everyone can look at pictures of Liam.

The prices were a bit expensive (although that’s probably Liam and his premium price orange and lemonade drink) but there’s not much else in the area and it was a delight to have a little sit down. We stayed for around 40 minutes in the end, a bit longer than we had anticipated…….