It was grouse mate - no it wasn't - yes it was, mum and 3 little ones - don't be bloody stupid they're just giant sparrows ! Such was the conversation leaving Ravenshead, the Loafers having been conveyed there by private charabanc constructed by Senor SEAT. As we said yesterday the boys are pretty tired and decided to make it a short day. The nearest crossroad on the coast to coast is a place called Ravenseat and the farm there does cream teas. Ravenseat is about 5kms from Keld where we are staying and seemed a distance we could manage given our general decrepitude. The cream tea lived up to our expectations (see Al's review below). The farmer's wife who dishes up the cream tea appeared on Julia Bradbury's video of the walk so we have met someone famous (she was lovely by the way). On the subject of La Bradbury it seems clear that she must have done the walk in 7 league boots - we reckon no-one could look that good on the top of Kidsty Pike having walked up it in the usual manner - the walk is really hard not the stroll in the part as it appears in the video. The ride up to Ravenshead took us over the top of the Pennines in true Wainwright fashion and we were glad we had not attempted the walk. The walk down to Keld was muddy and boggy but manageable - we had a few drops of rain but nothing that held us back. The river valley was really pretty - all Herriot country. We were early and had to wait in the pub sampling the local Black Sheep beer - a nice drop and although warned about the strength of the weltreitter (means upside down sheep apparently) managed its effect without needing much of a nanna nap. Col here :-
Good day and had a nice big hot bath today - very luxurious. Hopefully knee will feel much happier tomorrow - reasonably short day of 17.5km from Keld to Reeth. Certainly will have benefited from only 5-6kms today. Still eating too much food - lamb shank and rhubarb crumble with custard for dinner tonight. Room's at Butt house are very nice. Like spacious rooms as I am sure does Pete and the other boyz. Ground was quite boggy on the walk today so quite glad we didn't have to slog through 23kms of it.
Good news that the Wobblies got up over the Boks - haven't seen any footage yet but hopefully might catch some later on. Poms are loving it that the Aussies got smashed by the Pakis. Look forward to a good nights rest and then back on the road again tomorrow.
Peter here :-
just a quick rant today about poms and their pets. I always think that animals should live outside the house but the nation of Briton disagrees with me - not only can you buy train and bus tickets for your dog but chances are if you look down to the end of the hotel bar there is a pooch looking back at you (the buggers never shout either). Animals also stay in hotels - walked by a room in one of the hotels we were staying at and I was startled by the deepest bark and snarl you could imagine coming out from the otherside of the door - I replied with my usual 'bite me I need the money' and the dog was silenced !
Al here :-
the cream tea was very nice (firm round large scones with little black bits sticking out smothered in luscious butter, raspberry jam and thick cream, deeeelightful) and enhanced by being served by the buxom farm wench wearing a singlet (yes a singlet) in near freezing conditions - she suggested 'you Australians probably feel the cold a bit' yeah right, it was very nipply. Then it was on to the great bog marshes of North Yorkshire that even the sheep were avoiding. Safely negotiated them to wend our way down the valley to the very remote stone buildings of Keld.
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