oo’er…. Today was the day of the big hike. 23 miles today. Tricia checked out the terrain, and it looked mainly flat. We breakfasted early and got on the road around 8:30. We joined the C2C, and started out along the River Swale. Tricia had wanted to see Easby Priory, but it would have meant a few miles to detour, so we decided to press on.

The going was indeed pretty flat and we made reasonable time, up to Catterick. A Roman garrison in its time, and still a military garrison today. We caught up with a couple and a dog doing the C2C. We stopped at Bolton on Swale for a break, before pushing toward our lunchtime destination of Danny Wiske… this was one of those frustrating walks across fields where we felt we were close than we really were. Eventually we arrived on the village green where we had lunch. We were somewhat bemused to find others ahead of us… seems they took a shorted C2C route (you would think there was only one, but it seems there are alternatives)… We took the route that avoided the roads. We enjoyed lunch… boots off and aired our feet. We had done 14 miles approx, 9 left to do.

It was nearly 4pm by the time we set off for the last 9. But refreshed from the lunch and the intake of calories we went off at good pace. A couple of cold cokes from an honesty box supply of the route helped. Over a railroad, and then the A19, and we walked down into Ingleby Cross and the Bluebell Inn for the night. Footsore, tired but pleased with our trip, we showered and enjoyed an excellent meal.

There was no trouble going to sleep!