Walk 50 (C2C 1) - 15.5 miles - Total 694.0 - To Go 306.0

A walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS
Coast to Coast - St Bees Head, Sandwith, Moor Row, Cleator, Dent and Ennerdale Bridge






Wainwright

'The walk to Robin Hood's Bay starts with an ascent and traverse of St Bees Head, a massive promontory three miles in length with cliffs that tower precipitously to a height of 300 feet above the pounding waters of the sea.'

I could not have put it better myself and what a great start and an early challenge for my head for heights. The views around are stunning already with cliffs and vast seascape all around us.





. We start with Rob lifting a boulder he claimed he was going to carry from this Irish Sea side over to the North Sea. After a few paces he thinks about this, drops the boulder and collects a very small pebble for his back pack.

Along the head there are only 300 foot drops but they are vertical and scary. With a fence between me and the drop I am ok but on the sections turning corners with just a couple of feet between me and the drop I am seriously uncomfortable. I race ahead of Rob by about half a mile so he is nowhere near me to point out the sheer drops I should not look down at. I try to overcome the fears by yoga breathing and calming thoughts but my heart is racing.



Bill has joined us at the start and spent much of the day with us on our walk. Bill is from Sioux City on the Missouri in Iowa. Once Rob finds out that Bill is interested in the American Civil War, one of Rob's great loves, long debates about General Lee, Jeb Stewart and Picket's charge ensue. Sounds like a foreign language to me but they clearly know a lot about this subject and could win Mastermind with their knowledge. Also Sioux City is famous for another Coast to Coast back in 1802 when Lewis and Clarke took three years to travel from Washington to Portland in search of a water crossing that could be used for freight. They stopped there on this track and were presumably delighted with the Missouri River. They found what they wanted and as we start out on this walk we hope the money we raise will help accelerate a treatment for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.
In the distance we see a glow. Or maybe we imagine it. Sellafield Nuclear reprocessing plant is at work and casts its worrying presence on the horizon.

We pass through Sandwith and stop at Moor Row at Walkers Cafe at Sparra Castle for tea and a sandwich. We are met with the biggest welcome and a lovely smile and say hellow to Mrs Walker. She says 'no, you are the walkers and this is your cafe'. Her name was actually far more interesting......Marjorie Drinkall. Mega baguettes and a great cup of tea for £3.50 a head and a welcome break along the walk. Even though Marjorie has thoughtfully put up signs at all the tables saying MIND YOUR HEAD, Rob lets out a yelp and there is a loud crack as his head hits the shelter over the table. Sounded remarkably like wood on wood!


As with many parts of England the pubs are shutting, no village shops and business is bleak in all the places we pass. They were mining towns or intersection points but now all that work has gone.
We now start up Dent Fell which is a gentle climb for the first day at a mere 1000 feet. The views at the top are breathtaking all around. Out to sea, over to Sellafield behind us, across to Whitehaven and Workington and along the Cumbrian range and the Lake District ahead. The sun is shining, a strong but pleasant wind is blowing, seagulls soaring, swallows swooping and we look around, breathe in and just feel amazing.

We go down a sharp descent the other side of Dent Fell which is the steepest on the whole walk and is a real test of our knees. The walk along the stream by Nannycatch is just delightful. High fells both sides and a gently gurgling stream, the wind has dropped and you can imagine being a pioneer carving out a path for some future trade. We are following this path to raise hope and want to make a difference with every step and every pound we raise.
And only ten drops of rain all day when the forecast was for rain all day. What could be better than that?