Happy Feet

I woke a little early this morning to find that none of my washed clothes had dried. The humidity was so thick it explained the mist up on the hill the day before, and it made Florida feel arid. Luckily, after a quick and desperate search, I found a nice hair dryer tucked away in a drawer at the bottom of the dresser. My boot dryers had taken care of my shoes, and now I would have dry socks to match.

Aside from getting my luggage down in time to be transported, and being ready at 9:30 a.m. for the taxi to take me back to where I finished the day before, there was no rush today. It was only about 12 miles of walking and the terrain was not nearly as challenging as it has been up to this point.

The Lake District was dramatic. The Yorkshire District is bucolic, colorful, and worthy of a million watercolor paintings.

Within 10 minutes of being dropped off I ran into Julie and Dawn again. There were several familiar faces along the way today. One of the most amazing was a group of British hikers that included a blind gentleman and his guide dog, Leo. It was very cool to watch them navigate the bogs the day before. It is the kind of inspiration that makes me feel as if I have no challenges in life.

There are many clearly marked paths in this section and since it's a weekend, there were more people out on the trails. Most everyone is cordial and conversations can last 10 seconds or 10 minutes. I walked beside a local gentleman who hikes this area every Wednesday and Sunday. We chatted for five minutes or so and he simply said that he was pressing on for some alone time. It was in no way insulting. I totally understand that solitude on the trail is a great time for reflection.

There were a few steep climbs today and the resulting steep descents. For the most part it was along riverbeds and country lanes. Wildflowers were in bloom along with wild garlic. Dawn made me taste it, and it did have a subtle garlic flavor. As we continued, hills opened up around many corners and the lush countryside was filled with birds. I spotted six hares. There is an active program to repair deforestation in the area. Young trees are protected by cylinders made of screening or plastic.

Each stone bridge we passed was more picturesque than the last. The Ivelet Bridge dated back to the 16th century, and actually was being painted by an artist as we passed. There were several small fields that required transiting several types of gates. In many, there was only a slot in the stone wall to slide through. A few of them were a little difficult to navigate because they were so narrow.

Shortly after passing the Ivelet Bridge we arrived in Gunnerside. It was great to actually enter a small village and have an opportunity to sit, unlace my boots, and have a small beverage.

Dawn and Julie took a slightly longer break than I did, so I headed out alone. Between the well-marked trail and a functioning GPS app, I was feeling more confident. Immediately after leaving the village I encountered the steepest climb of the day. It took me up to a reservoir area that afforded the opportunity to see far out to the east – and what was in store for me in the coming days. It was also an opportunity to look back over my shoulder and see where I had already been.

Some sections ahead looked a little muddy and wet, but nothing to compare with the challenges of yesterday. About two and a half miles from the final destination for the day, I returned to a paved surface. The last mile into Reeth was back along the river. Trails on either side of the water were fairly well traveled by day hikers. A few engaged me in conversation. It's a wonderful thing to simply meet strangers along the trail and have a brief cordial conversation.

It was a short walk to my hotel, sitting right on the village square. My room is comfortable but it is directly above the pub. We will see how this works out later. I always carry ear plugs, and I expect a pleasant evening in front of the TV watching the Eurovision finals.

Tomorrow is another fairly relaxed day and great weather is in the forecast. Today was day 7 out of 12, and I’m about 90 miles from Robin Hood's Bay. Over the next few days the distance will stretch out, as the terrain has flattened. As long as I can avoid any more bogs, it should be relatively simple to knock out the miles and enjoy the scenery. I'm excited about not having to wear my waterproof boots. Tomorrow I can switch back to my lightweight Altra shoes, and after slogging through miles and mud in the heavier boots, I think they will feel like slippers.