Day 09 - No Mean Feet

Hawes to Keld

Today's Miles - 12.8
Today's Ascent - 2775 ft
Today's Descent - 2536 ft
Total Miles so Far - 125.2
Star Team Member - General team effort.

Today we had a lie in... yes, a lovely sweet lie in! It was all warm and snugly and was the first lie in I have had for a while (9 days). It was only to 8:30, but still! We had our breakfast and, as Hawes is quite a big place, had a look around the shops. I bought some postcards, a magazine, a pen and some chewing gum. I have been absolutely desperate for a 'piggy on the bladder' or water system. Water is stored in a bag then a tube is fed through that you can suck on to get the water. Hawes provided one! The outdoor shop was supplied with many, and I had the 1.5 litre container. Mam's little feet are not managing too well, so we bought her some superfeet, that seem to be working really well :-). We stopped off at a posh sandwich shop to get our bait, and set off.

Our room was opposite Hawes church so we had a nice view. Piggy on the bladder (to be refereed to as POTB) intact, we set off at about 11 o'clock from Hawes.

Hawes Church

We walked through the village and walked along a few country lanes to a small village called Hard Row.

Leaving Hawes

We saw a quaint memorial sheep dog wall, with the name of each deceased dog and the year it died marked on a stone. I thought it was a bit depressing, but Mam and Dad found it a lovely gesture. We crossed the road, after Pads had a splash in the river, and turned off to start to ascend Great Shunner Fell-the big one. (Pen-y-Ghent may have been branded the big one; I can't remember?) Oh well, Great Shunner is the highest point reached so far on the walk, at 2341ft.

Memorial Sheepdog Wall

We plodded along the road, past some cows (technique used successfully) and kept going until we had two miles to go until the top. Now, please understand that 2 miles to the top is 'As the crow flies' (ATCF), not 'As the Thomas Flies' (ATTF), which is considerably a longer distance, so it turned out to be about 3 miles to until we got to the top.

Yummy posh sandwiches were for lunch, and last night, Uncle John bought some provisions, one being Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. I am a bit obsessed, so these were delicious at the top (Thanks uncle John!). We also had some M and M's off Grandma, and they were nice too.

Feeding time on top of Great Shunner Fell

With 6 miles to go (ATCF) we marched down Great Shunner and the road started to flatten out. We were quickly making up the miles and I had finished my first 1.5 litres of water in my POTB, so got a litre refill.

Looking back to Great Shummer Fell

We could see the lovely view, down the valley into Swaledale and only had 4 miles to go.

Forward to Swaledale

We dropped down into Thwaite and had a mere 2 miles to go into Keld. We had another climb to ascend up and over into Keld, but honestly, it was the longest 2 miles I have ever walked; It seemed to go on forever! But finally we walked up into Keld to be greeted by the lady from the guest house and a lovely bath. Mam's feet feeling sore but intact- hurrah for superfeet!

Keld at Last

Tomorrow we go to Bowes, and County Durham-home at last! (except we have to walk past up into Northumberland).See you tomorrow,

Caitlin x