Jeri’s Steps: 30,260
Miles walked: 11.5
Elevation: 1,243
Pints: 2
Churches: none
Stiles: none
Benches: 1

A certain weariness has set in. This first week of the Pennine Way has been tough, with some big climbs and long days and although biblically there should be a rest day on the seventh, ours is a walking day; we don’t get our rest until Monday. Younger walkers are passing us by and we are feeling it, but on we plod. We still see familiar faces but the ones doing the beginning sections are falling away and we are meeting new trail friends; these doing sections of the Way as well, just further north. We walked for about a mile with Charles from Maine and had a good conversation. In fact being able to talk whilst walking uphill is a positive sign of increased fitness…

Despite the weariness, today was one filled with great views of the Yorkshire Dales as we were high up most of the time. It also felt good to be heading pretty much due north most of the day. We dressed for rain as the forecast was indeterminate, but it never really happened. The uphill walking and the mist combined to keep us pretty damp, but the temperature never reached 15c (59f) so the layers were welcome. The walk itself was mostly over broad tracks and the going was easy. Part of it followed the old packhorse trail and Roman road, still in good condition. A steady climb up to Cam Fell past Ling Gill, then on to Dodd Fell with wonderful views to our left of Grove Head. A stone tablet on Ling Gill bridge read “Anno 1765 thys bridge was repaired at the charge of the whole of West Rideing’. After the gradual descent into Hawes we had a nice tea and scone at the Caffe Curva before arriving at our B&B, Wensleydale House. Tim was excited to be staying somewhere named after his favourite cheese.