A walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.
Bampton Grange, Rosgill Bridge, Shap, Oddendale, Crosby Ravensworth Fell and Orton.
Wainwright
'This section of the walk is also out of the ordinary by reason of its prolific evidences of prehistoric and primitive settlements: hut villages, stone circles and tumuli are all present in the vicinity, indicating that large communities existed here before the dawn of history, scraping a poor livelihood from land that remains today unhospitable, bare and uncultivated.'
Yesterday we arrive at the Crown and Mitre in the delightful hamlet of Bampton Grange. Just before Rob tosses our GPS eTrek on to hard ground and breakes it. Then as we arrive he turns and wacks me painfully on the knee with the point of his stick. Cheerfully he tells me watch out these things come in threes. Total misery descends as he discovers his bag has not been delivered by Sherpa. Having been admonished for the size of his bag two days earlier he is convinced they have it in for him and have not dropped his bag on purpose. Boy did he do misery well. Turned up after a phone call and story was Sherpa list said there were two bags to be dropped off so they dropped off two bags. We wonder what they were going to do with the third - his big bag!
The Crown and Mitre is one of the most comfortable and hospitable places we have stayed. In a stunning spot near a bridge over the river and by the church the owners have taken great care to make guests feel comfortable and welcome. We sit in the dining room which would grace any family home and are offered a mouthwatering selection of dishes. We opt for the Lamb Shank which Rob spotted when we arrived. Early afternoon he asked if we had to book to make sure we had a shank and were told there would be no shortage. The food was superb and we got talking about cooking shanks. We begin to sketch out the possibility of the 1000miles4hope cookbook. Now you will understand why Gordon, Heston and Jamie are all looking so worried. 
We invite the chef Andy to come and talk to us about his cooking. Andy is a lovely and modest young man. We compliment him on his cooking which he calls just normal pub food. We tell him it is a cut above anything we have tasted in pubs up and down the land and tell him he is doing a great job. Ever spotting an opporunity when it comes along Rob is off to the kitchen to catch shots of Andy at work. A great memory of a great meal for us and when the cookbook comes along we can show we work with great chefs. Do go there. A great stop on the Coast to Coast.
We walk across some lovely fields by a stream on the way to Rosgill Bridge. We then head on to sad Shap. Once a thriving stopping place for people on the A6 on their way up north overnight it was bypassed when the M6 came along.
It is quite a worrying spot on the walk as you are confronted by the smoke stacks from the cement works and then come upon the M6. Rob stands on the bridge over the M6 which marks the Coast to Coast crossing and looks up and down wondering where people are going and how many have already passed this way.
We need not worry as the sight and sound of the M6 recedes we enter moorland with the Penines ahead and Kidsty Pike now in the distance behind us (the high point at the point of my finger!). This is classic moor land with memories of Worlds end on Offa's Dyke as it goes on for ever. Lovely heather covering if full purple bloom. It is gently up and gently down walking.
Along the way we meet Australians visiting Robin Hood's grave. One of them in fine voice singing the Robin Hood song. I hope I didn't spoil their day by telling them that Robin Hood belonged to Nottingham and not these unsubstantiated claims he worked around Yorkshire.
As we approach Orton we get a taste of tomorrow with delightful Dales views to come. Again we meet generous people including our first walkers going East to West who support our cause and wish us well. We now have less than 250 miles to go and as we move towards our target we are hoping research is making similar strides to find a treatment for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS.
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