Officially at the halfway point! 100 miles down, 100 more to miles to go. I wish I maybe took more of a moment to recognize how INSANELY awesome it was that me, someone who has never hiked 2 days in a row before, had just done almost 100 miles in 8 days. But I was eager to get going so a quick selfie was all I did to commemorate the moment.
For breakfast I had “eggs and soldiers” a British dish where they cut your toast up into strips and you dip it into the yolk of a soft boiled egg. Very cute.
I left before everyone else and the day was just perfect. I was alone and walking so quietly that I kept surprising bunnies every time the trail turned a corner. They would run away but I saw so many of these cuties. (It also just so happens that I’m reading Watership Down so I feel a special kinship with them, lol.)
The first part of the day was along the river Swale and it was so easy I took my mind off the trail and lifted my head to look around and dream. And then my foot fell into a rabbit hole and I almost broke my ankle. Another lesson learned about never taking my mind or eyes off the trail.
I took my mid morning apple break by the river sitting under a giant oak tree. I was so comfy I even fell asleep for a few minutes. I kept expecting someone to walk by because I was the first to leave but I would go the whole day without seeing another hiker. True solitude.
The easy beginning was just a warm up for the steep climb ahead. It wasn’t technically difficult but I went from the bottom of a valley to over a mountain in about 1.5 km so it was tiring.
Each step I went higher the wind got stronger till I was practically being picked up. The other day with Anna she made us thank the wind for pushing our backs and making us walk faster and I made sure to do it again. The Coast to Coast walk goes across the country from west to east specifically so you have the wind at your back and don’t have to fight against it.
I huffed and puffed my way over the small mountain then had miles and miles of cross country trekking to get to the next village of Reeth. I find that I enjoy the first 10-12kms and then I lose steam and kind of plod through the rest of the day. After the mountain it was plodding time. I may or may not have belted out show tunes to keep myself entertained.
Luckily Reeth had an ice cream shop which was my first stop when I arrived. Nom, nom, nom. I was staying at a historic pub called the Black Bull where I ran into the Americans again. After dinner we took a little spin around the village green and chatted and laughed (they were quite funny) for quite awhile before it got cold and windy and we headed in. You’d think I’d be eager to go inside after hours of outdoor hiking but I find that I’m preferring the fresh air and outdoors. Today is their last day of hiking so another trail goodbye.
Today’s hike was 22km which took me seven hours. If I didn’t have that mountain it would be my fastest day yet! I’ve def noticed an increase in my fitness and stamina. About time!
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