| I just seem to be one of those people that takes ages
in the morning to get ready. I was there on time enjoying a bumper breakfast at the White
Lion, but I still failed to make the grade. All the other coast to coasters had left an
hour ago and here I was still plodding around going to the toilet, packing my rucksack,
paying the bills and leaving said rucksack at the Packhorse. Yes but this time, buster
things worked out well for me! As I climbed out of Patterdale the views back were
awesome and I paused to have my photo snapped on the Straights of Riggendale by a fellow
walker. All those other early birds had spent a dull time on the top of Kidsty Pike
enjoying the thick mist and cloud - me, turning up later had clear skies the views and wow
yes I can really see the end of the Lakes and Shap highstreet itself. But it's a sad thing
looking out of the Lakes as Wainwright has testified. Even though I felt elation at
reaching the highest point on the walk - it was here I began to walk away from this best
part. A scramble down to the shores of Haweswater allowed time to peel the boots off and
dry out my socks. O.K. big guys I must have sweaty feet or something - or is it just feet
covered in thick socks and sealed in a leather waxed boot that makes them sulk? Anyway one
of the army guys said, ' hey that looks good' - i.e. no boots, perhaps I could do the
whole walk with them off! This guy was carrying one of those massive bivvy packs - must
have been two thirds his size. Well the walk along Haweswater, I had thought would be easy
went on and on and on and on and on etc and in the end I didn't have a clue where I was
going so I just followed the army guys until arriving at Shap Abbey and then finally Shap.
And how long was Shap highstreet - well my B & B was near it's end - but then I had
the best B & B on the coast to coast that night so the extra walk was worth it
|
