Henrikdoc

A very restful sleep –

Another hearty breakfast

And off again – on a restful day’s walking across level , grassy paths with a few stiles … for a bit

But before we leave the Lakes I must quickly tell you a bit about Herdwick (Herdy’s)

(Wikipedia) “The root word of the breed’s name, herdvyck, “sheep pasture”, is recorded in documents dating back to the 12th century. The origin of the breed itself is unknown, but the most common theory is that the ancestors of Herdwick sheep were introduced by early Norse settlers.”

Beatrix Potter (of Peter Rabbit fame – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton tail, Benjamin bunny rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Miss Tiggy Winkle – happy memories reading the books to various children over the years) won a number of prizes over many years at Cumbrian shows for her herds in the 1930’s and gave 15 farms to the National Trust

When you see them apparently the little totally black ones are babies then their heads become whiter, then the wool browner, before becoming the classic greyish white in colour

… and a bit about Geology!!

(From lake district.gov.uk)

“In the Lake District, 500 million years of geological processes have produced a physical landscape of mountains and lakes of great scenic beauty. The layers of rock formed were shifted and sculpted – first through different stages of folding and uplifting and then by the actions of glaciers and meltwater.

Slate developed from sediments in oceans and seas, volcanoes erupted, limestone was formed by the deposition of dead crustaceans and sandstone was created in desert conditions. Various minerals were also formed in joints and faults in the bedrock.

As a result, the topography of the Lake District includes smooth U-shaped valleys and steep and sharp ridges, England’s highest mountain and deepest and longest lakes.”

…and you’ve seen enough photos to get the picture (pardon the pun)

We then continued over a new feature rarely seen in the Lakes but now becoming abundant – The Stile

Past a Fairy Conference

to

SHAP ABBEY

The last abbey to be founded in 1159 by St Norbert’s lot from France (the White Canons) and last to be dissolved by Henry VIII IN 1540 (ref Stedman and Butler . Coast to Coast path)

… through a LARGE stone type stile

To the metropolis that is SHAP

By now, having started slightly later than usual knowing there weren’t any big hills to climb, it was nearly lunchtime – nearly … but it would have been wrong to miss out a tea shop ..

So dutifully … now hear me out… having walked about 5 miles… and requiring nourishment…. the need for a balanced meal was essential …

Nutritious to the max:

Milk for protein

Chocolate (bean) for veg

Rhubarb fruit in crumble

Egg for protein in custard

Sugar for extra calorie boost

PERFECT.

… that was the main and only course 🤣🤣

Oh and a date flapjack for the next leg of the journey … that someone wanted to share …

Onwards…

Over the railway and the M6 and past the Shap Quarry

We had bunny hopped for a while with fellow walkers Peter and Barbara from Canada so walked with them for a while.

New ‘sheep’ were making an appearance

and modern shepherds were herding them around the fields on quad bikes – always a sheepdog in attendance though !

The route then took us over Moorland where new geology in the firm of limestone pavements and rocks appeared …

… signposting pretty good , but when not there the path was wide , green and soft… very soft compared to the last five days !

As you can see – wide open space and perfect walking weather but I would imagine in wind and rain it would be slightly less pleasurable.

(If visibility poor then just follow widest path and there are signs every 500-1000 m or so)

Past the infamous ‘erratic boulder’( p60 awainwright A Coast to Coast walk ed 2027 Frances Lincoln)

Heather almost in full bloom.

A lost Highland Cow?

… and a fly past

Or two

We missed Robin Hood’s grave as had to negotiate some cattle that were reticent to budge out of the way for a while 🤦‍♂️

And then quickly reached the turn off to Orton, the next Metropolis en route and where we would rest for the night

Met at least 8 other C2C walkers with whom we have bunny hopped for last few days – all staying at the George in Orton . Becoming quite a little community 😀

A catch up (first week back at school with new pupils and ongoing wedding prep for next year) phone call with Kathryn (daughter) and then Supper … well… had to taste the SPECIAL

Oh… and there just happened to be Crumble AND STP on the pudding menu – a real dilemma !!! 😱

Yes- you guessed- the 2nd crumble of the day🤭

Scores : Lunchtime crumble = Rhubarb. lovely fruit but crumble reheated, custard good – overall 7/10

Evening crumble = apple and blackberry- fruit not as good as at St Bees but ‘crumble’ delicious and elected on ice cream over custard – nice. Overall score 7/10

Q. Is anyone keeping running total for me???? Might have to sum it all up in the C2C ‘Out-Takes’ at the end

A perfect ‘recovery’ 14 mile day.