Rosthwaite

Rosthwaite

Coast to Coast Day 3

A rainy night disturbed Richards sleep but I slept soundly...apart from trying to turn over onto the side I fell on which wasn't clever!

No breakfast incl. today so we headed off towards Rosthwaite to buy provisions...but once again there was nothing open; same in Southwaite so we headed up Southwaite Beck via Johnny's Wood at a good pace, passing 'our' Dutch Ladies & we met Josh & Kieran who'd bravely wild camped overnight, making us jealous as they ate their cereal bar breakfast...yum yum!

Out of nowhere came a steep assent up Greenup Gill to Lining Crag...oh it was steep for that early in the day. At the top we met the grandfather & grandson duo who we've not mentioned before but they both looked very spritely given the steep assent & were both ready for the next stage as we arrived. A quick stop for first lunch to catch our breathes gave us chance to admire the views as the clouds clung to the tops of the fells.

We set off across the boggy top of Greenup Edge, Brownrigg Moss & Moor Moss towards Grasmere Common now deep in the clouds finding it difficult to navigate owing to there being more streams & becks in reality than on the OS map!

An occasional clearing of the cloud allowed us to check our navigational skills & confirmed that the boggy descent was the correct route into Goody Bridge...where yet again there was no opportunity for us to buy provisions and we were both getting very hungry.

A quick decision was made to by-pass Grasmere & head to an OS map marked pub (The Travellers Rest)...and the break proved the ideal pick-me up: sandwich, soup, tea & copious amounts of lemonade for Colin!

Dry once again & food in our bellies we set off upto towards Grisedale Tarn hearing rumours from walkers heading down that the weather in the next valley was sunny! Richard very bravely or given Colin's track record for clumsiness, very stupidly followed him over a condemned bridge that crossed near Tounge Gill Force waterfall.

A gentle climb up to Grisedale Tarn as the weather did indeed clear we looked down into Grisedale Valley. Colin has described the path down the valley as his favourite so far, leaping and bounding like a Gazelle over the rocks...and yes staying upright!!!

A fancy footbridge led US along the correct C2C route as many others stayed on the wider more obvious path...but they were wrong & as if to prove this they missed seeing Wainright's Barn nestled under a small copse of trees.

A steep grassy path headed down towards the Beck and a bridge...as this is classic Colin falling territory he was concentrating so hard that when a lamb called it's mother he jumped & very loudly called out in surprise -insert your own noise hear, I'm sure it'll be close enough!

At the bridge Richard got accosted by a very excitable lady who thought he was very professional having a rucksack that had a bladder in it for water especially with the pipe for drinking whilst walking! As it had just started to rain she soon realised that her daughter was less interested in Richards professional walking gear and more interested in getting back to the car.

A 30min walk beyond Patterdale brought us to our first B&B of the trip...and given the rain the welcoming farm was a perfect end to the day...Richard even managed to watch Corri (Colin caught an old episode of Dinnerladies!)