Day 8 Keld to Reeth (grinton) 10.5 miles Depart 1100 Arrive 1630 The day started well with delivered to our door Bacon and egg sandwiches and a good lie in as with it only being a short day we weren't setting off till 1000. It actually turned out to be 1100 after delays of trying to dry out boots with a hair dryer which then over heated and shut down and then the absolute heaven of our freshly tumble dried clothes being delivered. Fresh smelling clean clothe...

Day seven Kirkby Stephen to keld 11 miles Depart 1030 Arrive 1630 As I had to be up for my breakfast by 7, I set my alarm for the first tine this holiday but in then end didn't need at as no curtains in the room meant I was awake at first light. Despite a general poor performance at the hostel, Breakfast was surprisingly good. Although she did leave the moment it was served and we ended up doing the washing up, wiping down the tables and putting away all th...

Day six Shap to Kirkby Stephen 19.8 miles Dep 0920 Arrive 1835 My first waking thoughts were that I had gone to sleep in the middle of a children's playground. Looking out the tent though I found it was the landladies daughter (7) doing laps round the garden under instruction - 5 more and she was then allowed to come in, her exercise for the morning done. The nights sleep wasn't too bad despite all the rain though my thermarest repair had not as successfu...

Day five Patterdale to Shap 15 miles Dep 0845 Arrive 1615 As my good friend john always tells me "food first, heroism second" and true to that the day started again with a belly buster as I looked out the window at some seriously miserable weather. The good stuff yesterday was being paid for today. Fully togged up and putting on the rucksack again and setting off didn't seem as bad as previous days. Either my body was toughening up to the rigours of walki...

Day four Grasmere to Patterdale 8 miles Dep 0930 Arrive 1600 Fantastic weather today despite all predictions. Another full English to start plus some cheeky sandwiches made up from the breakfast buffet for the day. First order of business was to post home the 3 tonnes of gingerbread I'd bought the day before and then off. It was eerily quite to start with, nobody really in town and as I got on the path no one to be seen on front or ahead. It was looking li...