Walk 51 (C2C 2) - 15.1 miles - Total 709.1 - To Go 290.9

A Walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.
Ennerdale Bridge, Ennerdale Water, High Gillerthwaite, Black Sail Youth Hostel, Honister Pass, Honister, Seatoller and Rosthwaite.

Wainwright
'The Lake District is the loveliest part of England and Borrowdale is the fairest of its valleys. Its appeal lies in the rich tangle of tree and rock - the hanging gardens of birch and rowan, the grey cliffs, that bound its green fields; in its odd configuration narrowing at mid valley to the width of road and river but widening at its extremities to form a steep sided basin for Derwentwater at its foot and a flat strath at its head; in its intriguing side openings and recesses watered by transluscent streams, all beautiful; in its sinuous approachto the highest and finest mountains in the country.'


What can I add to such fine writing. He captures in words some of the sights we have seen. I am confident Rob will do justice to our trek today so I hand over to him to share with you some of the pictures along the way.



Ennerdale Water was a fabulous start. Around Robin Hood's Chair I take a slightly wrong turn that takes me down a path that would give me nightmares as I clamber down backwards vertically clinging on to rocks on the way down. In a strange way I enjoyed it.


We then go through the Forest and stop for a cup of tea at the Ennerdale Youth Hostel. Quite a place. Rated four star and a very smart place notable for the wine lists on all the tables in the dining room. Rob shows great interest and asks what age you can be a 'youth' up to use the place. Actually there is no upper limit. Anyone can use them.


We cross 700 miles with Pillar in the background. Rob holding up 7 fingers for the 700 and me 3 fingers for the 300 miles to go. Locals Chris and Jo out for a pleasant walk in the sun are accosted by us to take a snap on yet one more milestone.





Further along we stop at Blacksail Youth Hostel to fill our water bottles. This is a one star but wow what a location. It must be a wonderful place to just let the world go to sleep around you.





We head up Honiston Pass taking about 1000 steps up to 1600 feet and then down to a few hundred feet over three miles the other side. The views in every direction are amazing. Rob keeps snapping away and then a few feet further says 'wow just look at that' and is taking another snap. At the top of Honiston Pass we meet Craig and Mary Turner from Perth. Absolutely loving the walk and wanting to know how many people in England know of this treasure. Craig went to Medical School with Jelinek who is doing such great work as a medic with MS trying to find ways of coping with the disease and modelling how to live a life with it.





The final five miles are tough on some new muscles we have discovered today. Going vertically up 1000 feet and then gently down for three miles after you have walked for 9 miles is a challenge and we are feeling it in our legs. By the time we get to Rosthwaite we are finished and ready to drop. No phone reception for five miles around the bell goes for dinner, we eat our four courses and now write and publish photos in autopilot until we crash out for a deep deep sleep.




A tough day where we met some wonderful people who contributed to the cause (big thanks to all) and we hope the steps we are taking and the money we are raising will accelerate the day a treatment is available for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.