We made it!!!!

We entered the Coast to Coast trail about 8:15 this morning and almost immediately started climbing up the cliffs above St. Bee's.  The first few miles were on a slant and I have developed a deep empathy for cows and sheep.  It was really fun to be so close to the sheep and the cows, too, who were nonplussed by our walking through their fields.  The wind picked up to gale speed along the higher cliffs and I could appreciate how a person really could be blown off the edge.  If it had been blowing in the opposite direction today, Tara and I may have been whisked into the Irish Sea.  There were times I couldn't even keep walking until the gusts died down.  We have met some lovely and interesting people sharing the path with us.  Australians, Canadians, Americans and Brits mostly so far.  Everyone is very friendly and good spirited.  Many are doing the walk for the second or third time. One man has walked 120+ countries!  He had tried the C 2 C in April when there was 4 feet of snow, icy gale winds and horizontal rain.  He ended up breaking his ankle on one of the stiles and had to quit, so he's back doing it again now.  Oh yes, did I mention we had to climb over numerous stiles and shimmy through multiple gates and fording streams?

We had a nice hot lunch of baked potato, cheese and baked beans, swimming in butter.  Very satisfying after a grueling morning. It was in a tiny outdoor yard, run by one older woman who decided to be of service to the "walkers" who had no place to eat in town (at the half-way point).

Then came the mountain!  I'm not sure which was worse, the up or the very steep down.  Thank God for walking poles.  I can't imagine doing this trip without them, although there are people who do!  Tara and I both had moments when we weren't sure we could do it.  BUT WE DID!!!  We tromped into Ennerdale about 5:15 and collapsed in the Fox and the Hounds for dinner.  The place was soon filled with fellow walkers and we had fun sharing our adventure and hearing each other's stories.

We've just been picked up and delivered to the Ghyll House B & B.  Beautiful, new and way out in the quiet countryside. New inside, but from 1600's on outside.  We're licking our wounds, massaging our feet, stretching our legs and about to collapse into bed.  We were blessed with nice weather today and are praying for the same tomorrow when we have a 15 mile day and another mountain to climb.  We are in the gorgeous Lake District of England now.