Day 9 : Reeth to Richmond

We left the pretty village of Reeth in lovely sunshine having had much merriment over our meal the night before. There were several Coast to Coasters in the Dining area of The Black Bull but because the bar was full , our food took forever to come. 90 minutes in fact. However those who had ,shared their potatoes,chips, water etc with the have-nots and there was so much laughter and banter. It was a real Fawlty Towers scenario.

It was only about 12 miles today and felt like an amble in comparison with other days! 40 minutes from Reeth we passed the ruins of Marrick Priory , which had 17 Benedictine nuns living there at the priory's dissolution in 1540. We then had a bit of uphill to the village of Marrick, the ascent made easier because of the stone slabs known as the Nuns' Steps passing through Steps Wood. Walking through farmland we crossed over the inevitable, innumerable stiles with little gates and began to see as many cows as sheep , obviously passing into dairy farming country. A  muddy mile through Whitecliffe Wood and then Richmond was in sight. It is a busy market town built around the castle. Had tea and a sandwich etc at  a delightful tearoom on the market square. Lots of HOT water in the Band B where the owner gave us a warm welcome .We score each overnight stop by consensus and feel there is a 9/10 coming up!

Thought I would tell you about some of our fellow travellers doing the CtoC. It seems that people are given generic-type nicknames which stick. We are the Golden Oldies, apparently! We enjoy the humour of the Newly Weds with whom we frequently cross paths. They married the day before they left on the CtoC and when they told friends they were planning to walk from Coast to Coast on honeymoon, one asked incredulously " Don't you have a CAR?"
We have mentioned the lone Aussie previously and were glad to walk part of the day with her today. Not only did she sink into a bog, but she has also got lost and walked miles on the motorway being splashed by huge trucks in the pouring rain. An indomitable spirit!
Our actor friend, Man and Dog, returns to London tonight. We came across him and his brother sitting on Wainwright's bench outside Richmond having their picnic, today
Will post some pics of them.

The next 4 days are very long ones. Indeed the last three are all 18-20 milers. We need prayers for blister-free, happy feet.
Thank you for all your interest and support; the blog is being read in Nicaragua, South Africa, Australia not forgetting Epsom and Oxshott. And elsewhere no doubt.