Beautiful blue sky in West Cumbria this morning as we headed to the coast and St Bees for the start. Tradition has you dip your toe into the Irish Sea before starting and since the tide was out that added another half mile to the journey-not included in the total above. Then it was up and over the cliffs, the beautiful Irish sea to our left as we headed north and then east. The yellow gorse is in full bloom and if the bluebells are slightly past their prime, they combined with pink campions to make a lovely wall of bushes to keep us from being blown off, down 300 feet to the waters below.
Turning inland, we passed a slate quarry and into farmlands full of just born lambs, then up some steep hills-about two thousand feet. The English have not discovered switchbacks so an incline is just that-up a stair master like hill and down into the valley of Nannycatch. I sure found myself wishing for some good old Rocky mountain switchbacks-the kind you usually curse out for doubling the distance. If up was hard, try down-a good mile verically down, heel toing it all the way. Near the end we decided to add another mile and a half to the hike today-something I was less game to do-struggling with a sour stomach as my system acclimates to English cooking.
Back at the hotel, I'm feeling better and have a pile of really smelly clothes. Tomorrow we do another 14 miles-passing robin hoods chair and up 2287 feet! I'm debating a walk into town-yes a sure sign of insanity.
Just think of how fit you'll be by the time you're done.
ReplyDeleteThe one disadvantage about your choice of vacation locations is the food. Hopefully that will be completely offset by the scenery.