DAY NINE-A LONG AND WINDING ROAD

 Day Nine - Kirby Stephen to Shap

Today was a long, 21 mile slog through field after field with no discernible paths in many places and very little guidance from trail markers.  Maps, and in the end, GPS were our friends.  Amazingly, we hiked the entire day without passing through any villages or hamlets.  The rain and drizzle rarely let up today so we were in raincoats the entire day trying to navigate the fields.  We met a few hikers doing the coast to coast in the opposite direction and swapped stories on what was still to come. It was nearing 6:00 by the time we made it to our B&B in Shap and our feet and legs were ready for a rest and our bellies ready for food and drink!  Off to a pub down the street for another hearty meal with pints, G&T’s and a little wine.  Aleve, Ibuprofen and Robaxin were our after dinner treats before crashing into bed tonight.  Tomorrow is supposed to include our steepest and toughest climb yet.

Stats today; 21 miles, 3,000 feet total ascent, 51,000 steps.


Pub in Kirby Stephen last night 



Old Viaduct along the route to Shap, visible through the drizzle 




Rain and clouds made the fields and skyline look like a sea.


The sheep own the territory we were walking today.  




Heather must be having a pee somewhere 



Glove on a pole describing the day 



Footbridge over the M6 means we are almost in Shap, our destination.

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