Day 61 of the End to End saw a significant improvement in the weather. I started walking at Little Strickland towards Great Strickland: the latter is a bit bigger than the former. Along the verge on the way into the village one resident had nurtured a lovely patch of wild flowers.
Beyond the village Bob and I set off on the first bridleway. Too confident for my own good, I sent him back as the track looked clear and easy to negotiate. A large puddle and a gate were just the first step to confusion. The track ended at the edge of a hay field. Poorly signed paths are not helpful to walker or land owner. The walker is left uncertain about the route and the landowner risks people walking where they otherwise would not.
I used my common sense, chose the edge of the field and eventually did reach a gate which had another sign on it. I went through it into the woodland but once again had to use common sense as the path was littered with broken tree trunks and branches and often difficult to negotiate. I kept the river on my left and tried to keep to the route that looked to have been used most.
I emerged into another meadow, crossed a footbridge and arrived in the small hamlet of Melkinthorpe. I decided to have a rest and happily found ice cream for sale at the beautiful Larch Cottage Nursery. The garden is colourful and has many attractive sheltered areas.
I met Bob on the next section of road and we had a picnic before taking the second off road section from Clifton Dykes to Brougham. Some of the path was alongside fields and some through woodland strips.
At Brougham we made a short visit to Brougham Hall, currently under restoration, where ice cream was also available.
From there we were on the approach to Eamont Bridge with plenty of time in hand. So we included some visits to the two nearby henges: Mayburgh henge and King Arthur’s Table, both Neolithic monuments.
From Eamont Bridge we decided to visit a few other places whilst the weather was good. At the Alpaca Centre the Alpacas and a donkey were very photogenic.
We drove to Haweswater Reservoir where many bluebells were still flowering by the waterside. It’s a lovely place and one we’d hope to revisit another time.
We completed the day with a celebration of 600 miles walked with fish and chips at the award winning Shap Chippy. Delicious!
And God planted a garden in Eden.
There was flowing water,
Trees and flowering plants;
And there were human beings in the garden.
It is wonderful to walk in Eden,
To enjoy the water, trees and flowering plants.
To wonder at the handiwork of the Maker,
As responsible stewards of the environment.
Tonight, on the 75th Anniversary of D-day,
I pray for a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 06.06.2019
On Day 61 of the End to End, from Little Strickland to Eamont Bridge.