Days 1 & 2. Rain, Wind, Hills and Rocks

Greetings!  We have walked 30 miles these past two days.  We began our journey with the requisite rituals at St Bees -- each of us choosing a sandstone pebble from its beach that we'll toss into the North Sea when we arrive at Robin Hood's Bay.  That's a photo of the Irish Sea at St Bees.

When we got underway, the rain hadn't started.  The wind, however, came up as we made our way from the beach up to the top of the bluffs.

Gale force gusts stopped me in my tracks; several times I nearly lost my balance.  The wind was exhilarating, raw, powerful.  It was today's figurative high point.  The path led us through the heather, gorse, ferns, and pastures of sheep.  It became clear early on that we would have lost our way...  We are walking through pastures and fields and often with no discernible path.

The literal high point was Dent Hill at 350 m high.  I was so relieved to make it to the top that I forgot to take a photo!

Our group is solidifying.  Jim is a retired attorney from PA.  He is over 75 and is trying out his new knee.  He is the one in front who charges on ahead.  Helen, his wife, is an outdoor enthusiast who is quiet but knowledgeable about many things.  David is a retired educator from Brighton MI.  He downloaded books on quantum physics on his iPod, along with Judy Collins, James Taylor and Gregorian chants.  His wife, Liz, just retired after 37 years as a 4th grade science teacher.  She's just a couple of years older than me.  Ben, our guide, is 35 and an outdoors man who leads treks in England, Nepal and Thailand.  Dave is our driver  who picks up our bags and transports them to our next stop.  He also dries our boots, an invaluable service.  And, he is our weather forecaster.  He is the one who lets us know if it's a rain pants day.   (He's a retired police inspector.)  Dave took this photo so isn't in this one.

Day 2.  We started off the second day in Ennerdale Bridge in Cumbria.  Rain greeted us as did the wind.  Today's walk was 14.5 miles which began in a long valley.  The paths on this day were rocky so lots of energy was focused on footing.  I've been wearing my contacts with sunglasses so I can see everything clearly so long as it's at least two feet away.  This has been good because we've been climbing up and down rocks and across streams.  Today's high point was the Haystacks.  It was a steep trek straight up, no switchbacks.

The scenery is spectacular.  In between rain showers a rainbow appeared.  My figurative high point for this day.  Our walk took us through a blue slate quarry and down a stream bed full of slate shards.  It was tough going -- no blinking or spacing out!  We ended up in the small village of Borrowdale.  Because of a snafu, we ended up walking an extra 2+ miles to our hotel.   A warm shower and fine dinner ( I ordered a local white fish called coley that was delicious -- I was told it's like a cod or haddock.) ended our second day.

I have shared that I am writing a blog and posting photos of my high points.  For the past two evenings when we're having dinner, we have gone around the table and said what has been our figurative high point.  Sometimes we  name the same experience and other times it's unique to the individual.  It's been a good way to get to know one another.

WiFi at our lodgings has been spotty and the ability to include photos is frustratingly limited with on-and-off again signals.  I will insert photos when I can.









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