Geo and Jack camp it up on the Coast to Coast

[boldie]

Never in doubt.

You gonna run it next year?

With you?

don't be silly. I'll just sponsor you...have a weird feeling you probably could finish it though

[Geo the Sarge]

I left Richmond 2 hours later than scheduled due to posting the last lot of pics. The gales were picking up and Mrs Geo was constantly calling me looking for updates on whether the gales had reached me yet. Secretly I think she was hoping that I'd say I was stopping and returning home, however she knows how stubborn I can be.

As said previously this leg was pretty boring, mostly farm to farm with the occassional tab on tarmac, very uninspiring. The gales caught up about half way through the day and I was passing through Catterick at the time. Just of the path I noticed a sign at a hotel just beside the river saying pot of tea and scone and jam for £2.20, I couldn't resist. I left the path and headed into the hotel. As I approached a couple of tiles were blown off the roof of their function hall narrowly missing a couple of guests cars in the car park.

Once I entered the hotel I let the lady know the possible danger and damage that could be caused and about 10 minutes  later the manager came over to thank me for alerting them and that they had alerted the guests to park in the overspill and had called someone out to attend the roof. He then said the tea and scone were on the house!! bonus....

[Geo the Sarge]

Whilst this leg was pretty boring, due to the gales there were added obstacles in my path

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Click to see full-size image.

I entered Danby Wiske and then headed out about a mile until I found an area that may offer from the gales

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[Geo the Sarge]

I found a nice hollow within a wood which I hoped, and indeed it did, provide decent cover from the gales. I set up a traditional tented bivvi which I made sure was pulled as tight as a drum, made myself some pasta and settled down for the night.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Whilst I remained protected from the wind itself I got no sleep at all due to the incredible noise of the gales themselves and the frequent snapping and crashing sounds as trees/branches at the beginning of the woods bore the brunt and I was pre-occupied in determining if any these crashes were close enough to consider having to move out. As it was, with no sleep I remained unharmed.

[Geo the Sarge]

As there were few stopping places along the route, it was nice to see some of the locals make an effort for the walkers by providing roadside refreshments on table with an honesty box in which to deposit payment.

It was also kind of some of them to place vanity mirrors in some places so that I could check out that I was still looking respectful.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Geo the Sarge]

Unscathed from the evening and with the gales having passed on I started the next leg to Carlton Bank. This took me over a very busy dual carriageway at Ingleby Cross which took me about 15 minutes before finding a gap in the traffic which I deemed safe enough to make the crossing.

I knew that there was a big climb ahead of me to get onto the moors so stopped just short at The Blue Bell Inn and topped up with a pot of tea and a huge slice of gorgeous fruit cake, used the toilets there to scrub up and top up the water bottles and flask and headed into Arncliffe Wood. The climb here was tough, very steep but decent underfoot which took me to the telecom station at the top of the hill and it is here I joined the Cleveland Way section of the walk.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

According to the huge information board at the telecoms station it is a microwave station, if I'd know previously I could have stocked up on some nice microwavable lasagne or macaroni or summat.

There were also more signs of the damage caused the previous night by the gales

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[Geo the Sarge]

From the telecom tower it was a short path through the woods to take me onto the beginning of the moors section proper. As I left the wood I found this little seating area placed there in someone's memory, which afforded me the first glimpse of the beauty of these much maligned moors.

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Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Geo the Sarge]

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[leethefish]

epic GEO just epic

really well done to you both,

 a great achievement ... fantastic reporting .....appart from a couple of missing...................

Geo's

nice one mate.

[boldie]

Stunning pics Geo.

[Geo the Sarge]

I reached Carlton Bank much earlier than anticipated, however very tired, mostly due to the stiff climb on Arncliffe Woods. On the moors there are few wooded areas and in order to find a decent spot for the night I had to walk off track about a mile and settled myself in for the night. The pics for the bivvi this night are on my camera and unfortunately, once again here at Scarborough library the pics won't upload to my online album. Have been reasonably pleased with the pics taken on the mobile though.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Geo the Sarge]

epic GEO just epic

really well done to you both,

 a great achievement ... fantastic reporting .....appart from a couple of missing...................

Geo's

nice one mate.

Thanks Lee,

As I have quite a few posts to put up today thought it best to leave the sign off till the last one of the day.

But for you

Geo

[Geo the Sarge]

From Carlton Bank it was the first full day on the moors for me, it was the beginning of probably the 2 most memorable days for me on this trip. The weather remained good although very windy at the highest points on the moors. This leg would take me to Blakey Ridge, probably the highest point of the moors journey. The roads were very long and hard underfoot, for the majority of it you walk the old disused railway lines that crossed the moors some years back when they would transport the ironstone by rail.

This reflected in the hardness of the roads as they were basically borne of the slag that would fall from the wagons as they made their way across.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Again because of the sheer size, most pics are on my camera which I will add after I get home and settled tomorrow

I made ny way to the Lion Inn, the fourth highest Inn in the country and a very popular place on Blakey Ridge. There are many individual day or 2 day walks in this area and the Lion Inn is a popular stop off or resting place for the weary walkers and has been going since cica 1553.

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[Geo the Sarge]

My intention was to stop off at the Lion inn and have a brew and a cake then cover another couple of miles before bedding down for the night. Once i got inside I was amazed at the size of the place. As well as providing accommodation for a few guests it has about 6 seperate bar/dining areas and I would estimate can easily hold upwards of 150 people.

I ordered a cuppa and sat there very weary after what had been a very long relentless walk, jealously eyeing up the huge portions being served up to other customers. At this point the young lad behind the bar enquired as to whether I was camping and that for £2.50 I could use the adjoining field to bivvi up and have access to all their amenities including shower. A no brainer, so £2.50 duly paid I unpacked my washing bag and a fresh set of clothing and made full use of the shower, including washing my gear I had just removed. I then hung them up on some cable out on the wall as there was a fresh breeze that I knew would soon have them dried off.

I then settled down for dinner which consisted of a huge roast beef and gravy bap, chips and salad as pictured previously on my behalf by Laxie.

As it drew dark the young lad quietly informed me that the wind had gotten up and that I would be welcome to bivvi up in the more sheltered beer garden but to leave it till about 10. That was fine by me.

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[Geo the Sarge]

I awoke to the most glorious of mornings, a bit brisk but an early sun

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Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

I had ordered a packed lunch so decided to have a spot of breakfast of Tea and bacon sandwich and also had the kind lady that morning fill my flask with hot water for me to make a flask of coffee for this days journey.

I then set off for Grosmont. Early on this section you pass a weired square stone, painted white, with what looks like a head on it, this is known as Fat Betty and tradition is that when you visit her you leave some form of sustinance and pick up something in return. Unfortunately as I was first off that morning there was nothing to pick up but I did leave the carton of orange juice that had been supplied that morning (I had opted for the packed lunch as stoves/fires of any nature are not allowed on the moors.)

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Whilst preparing the camera to take the pic of Betty I seen this silhouette image of myself which I thought looked better than some of the vanity mirror ones

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.