Today was Shap to Kirkby Stephen. Breakfast was taken at 08:00 whilst watching waves of rain sweeping across the windows, so it became another day where wet weather gear was donned from the outset. I finally got off at just after 08:30.
The rain was actually fairly light, but still incessant and wet! When it’s like that the coat’s hood goes up, and it becomes so easy to just plod on only looking about 10 ft forward – I don’t think I missed any spectacular views but I’ll never know. This was a fairly level day with gentler undulations rather than big hills, and progress was thus faster.
I went slightly wrong at about mile 8, but again I only got about 100 yds before I was put right – this time by a game-keeper who caught me unawares rushing up from behind on a quad bike. He was also very obviouly carrying a gun, so I didn’t argue. And annoyingly he was right – I was indeed going the wrong way.
At the halfway point two things happened – it finally stopped raining, and I caught up with two earlier starters from Shap. They were actually stopped and the bloke was trying to help the woman devise a road route to KS; her feet were apparently in need of a doctor.
I walked briefly with the bloke, but quickly got the feeling he’d rather be alone. So at the first suitable spot (well a wall anyhow) I made my excuses and stopped for lunch. Which incidentally was a few pounds very well spent at Brookfield.
The going was pretty boggy again today, and my feet were swimming from about mile 5 onwards. It looks like a seam is failing in both boots. (So that was nearly £100 not well spent then!). The predominant scenery was pastureland, often complete with delightful lambs, the odd medium tarn and about 3 million smaller ones (puddles!).
I’m afraid I sort of played a game with the bloke ahead, nearly catching him up again, when I’m sure he sped up, then dropping back (most of the piccies in this post were taken to facilitate that process!), then repeat, etc. He didn’t stop once in the last 8 miles, so in the end we both made good time and so reached KS by just after15:30.

My running watch says today was 19.5 miles door to door – the furthest yet, and in just over 7 hours which bodes well for the even longer days to come. No blisters, but I am more tired tonight.
Tea was once again from a Chippy, but not the one pictured because it’s closed on Wednesdays.

KS hostel – the old church – is proving to be a strange experience. I was told I’m the only person stopping tonight – and even Denise the Warden was only around for an hour or so. I do generally like the freedoms that you get with hostels, but going into the communal areas this time just feels spooky.
It’s a shorter day tomorrow – 14 miles to Keld, but likely to be the worst bog fest yet.