U.K. Walks 2017

The afternoon is a long walk through rolling pastures, with a few lovely distractions. In addition to our usual neighbors of sheep, we also have a bunch of hounds returning from a hunt this afternoon. A few of them got stuck trying to find a way over a stone wall, so I hopped over and lifted them over. One jumped right back onto the wrong side. Dummy.

Actually, what was supposed to be all-day-rain turned into heavy-rain-in-the-morning. Not too bad. And begin the pattern of the rest of the trip, of walking past ancient farm buildings that are half-abandoned, and half-used for current farm purposes.

Next up, a rainy day of walking between Shap and Kirkby Stephen. Vince with his new kicks seems to be walking much more comfortably, although those mangled heel blisters are apparently still pretty painful. And today is the first day since Scotland that I've walked all day in the rain. Whee!

Meet Vince. I hiked with Vince yesterday, and he's taking a zero day today as well. His feet are in rough shape, with blisters that make everyone around recoil in shock ("Oh my god! How can you still walk?"). They're pretty ugly.

He's been wearing his boots for the hike, and I'm not one to try convincing someone to switch to sneakers if they're happy with their boots, but he does seem to be limping pretty bad. And there just happens to be a New Balance Factory Outlet a quarter mile down the road. Later in the afternoon, I decide to encourage him to check it out. We start down the street, but within a few steps he's limping so bad that he decides to just take his boots off and walk the rest of the way in his socks. I notice he's pulling pretty hard to pop those boots off.

I help him pick out a pair of sneakers that looks like they fit him very comfortably. His boots, size 8, go in the pack for the next day of hiking. His new sneakers, size 11(!), fit much better. Look at that happy hiker!

Walking the final miles into Shap, where I plan to take a zero day. It's been a long several days, and it feels nice to be able to rest for an extra day.

And ruins! This is Shap Abbey, or at least its remains. It's hard to convey how impressive these structures are-- 800 years old, and still standing despite being ransacked by the villagers over the centuries. There used to be a huge compound behind this, but now all of the stones are in houses nearby (it was easier than quarrying new stone for new houses). Maybe it's the fact that I got here really late in the day, so the sun was hitting it just right.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shap_Abbey

Now we're out of the Lake District, and we're really getting into the flatlands. There have been sheep everywhere so far, but there are even more now. And lots of mucky things to step in now, whether it be cow patties, sheep turds, or just plain mud.

One of my hiking partners that I acquired today has noticed my obsession with old bridges. But really, when the trail goes over these things, that are probably hundreds of years old, how can you not be impressed?

Next up, a walk along Haweswater Reservoir. It may be manmade, but I'm not complaining.

By the time I'm on the summit of Kidsty Pike, it's pretty much cleared out. I can hear shepherds herding sheep in the valley below, and I can see the Dales far ahead, where I'll be going in a few days.