Hi to all,
Well I have finished the Coast to Coast walk across England!
It was tiring in the end coming straight after the Mt Blanc walk.
We had several days of 32 km walks and lots of 25 km days.
After the terrible weather in the first week, then the sad death in his sleep of the oldest group member we had better weather in the 2 nd week , with heatwave/Indian summer conditions some days.
The scenery isn't that spectacular in the Yorkshire Moors/Dales so tedious walking some days.
I walked into the North Sea boots and all, then discarded them as they were leaking.
Yesterday I got the bus to the lovely seaside town of Whitby ( where Captain Cook set off from) and had a quick look at the Abbey and shops.
Then a great cross-country bus trip to York.
We went thru little hamlets that the double decker bus could barely squeeze thru!
We were out in the country and there were cars parked everywhere and people sitting on the side of the road in deck chairs. I thought that surely they could find somewhere better to picnic and sunbathe when we came to a little bridge and I realized they were waiting to see steam trains come along!!
There are oodles of villages in Yorkshire with steam trains still working and there are shops everywhere selling train stuff. Amazing.
Yesterday was the hottest October day ever here, I sure felt it staggering to the hotel with my pack.
I then raced to the Minster(Cathedral) for a quick look( not as spectacular as some of the others) but a very good archaeology museum in the crypts.
I stayed for the Evensong as I'd heard the choir practicing.
At least half of it was young boys with high voices and the songs/hymns were chosen to showcase their voices. Fabulous .
After nearly a month of eating out with the 2 groups and always going late to bed it was nice to eat chicken pasta from the supermarket in my bed and catch up on accounts/paper work/diary etc. And reorganize my bag as I rashly bought some new boots and a soft shell jacket yesterday. All the walking/travel stuff we pay so much for is VERY cheap here. Wish I could carry more.
Not that I want to walk further than around the block with the dogs at the moment!!!

I am at the York train station now, my train to Edinburgh has just been cancelled , have to get the next in an hour with no guarantee of a seat for the 5 hr journey!!

2 hrs later I got a train that chugged thru the rain to Edinburgh, what a change from the day before.
I was booked into a single room in a hostel, ended up in a 6 bedded bunk dormitory to myself!!
I walked around the Royal Mile area but was to late to go into the Castle and Palace.
And to sore to walk up the Mt. Couldn't work out why my knees and ankles were so sore , then realized I hadn't taken my 2nd or 3rd lots of painkillers that day- change of routine!!
So at least I know they work.
I started a 5 day tour of Scotland the next day. 10 on it with a great local guide.
Lousy cold and at times wet weather .
We have been to 2 Castles, Glencoe, on the Harry Potter train to Maillog, couldn't get the ferry to Skye as to windy so had a 3 hr detour driving to the bridge.
To late and cold to look around Portree.
Later-
Raining next day too. Went further up the island , saw little!
Back to mainland, another castle,up the Great Glen getting late into Inverness. To cold to look at much, bought dinner and huddled back to warm room!
Yesterday after a bit of shopping we headed south back to Loch Ness for a cruise( in the rain) down to the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Then went to a whisky distillery for a tour , then to see one of the 1st Christian Priories started from
when the Irish saint came over in 6th C.(?Columbo, forgotten)
Dinner by Loch Ness as a group, was nice. The rest went out then to a pub with live music , I went back to warm room!!
Today we went to Culloden ( Bonnie Prince Charles' last attempt to get the crown back for his father), interesting and informative, then to the Clava standing stones ( I did not walk thru them !!!)
Then to a folk museum, salmon river, old fort, and back to Edinburgh.
It's actually fine now tho very cold.
Off in AM on train to Paris and 28 hr flight home tmw night!
Yippee to getting home, boohoo to the flight!

Well thanks for reading about my travels.
It hasn't been as great in practice as when planned, too long away and at times quite stressful( driving in the UK, cancelled/ missed trains,painful knee) lonely at times when on my own.
BUT I also saw fabulous buildings and scenery and historical sites.
I had mostly superb weather, met some (1 in particular!!!) lovely people who I will continue to be in contact with.

I missed 2 important occasions that I will always regret- the sad passing of my Father and his funeral, and the joyous marriage of Michael and Zareena.

Now I have to go home to life's difficulties - like getting a new car,dental appts,optician ,hairdresser,etc. Oh and doing my tax return!
I can hardly wait to see my little pooch Bella again, talking to her on skype isn't very satisfactory!!

Carol