Clay bank top to Blakey ridge

Well - today was certainly better for weather!  The sun shone; the wind dropped and it was slightly warmer.  So the walk was pleasant and easy with not too much up and down.  They started from Clay bank and continued for a short distance on the Cleveland way before stiking out over the moorland to the most remote inn on the moor - the Lion Inn. 

They decided that it would be a good idea to walk almost another 3 miles from the Inn along a small road so to make tomorrow's walk a little shorter.  That made today's walk about 11 1/2 miles - only 27 miles to go!!  They saw grouse feeding stations but no actual grouse today; they had seen some yesterday.

Carol and I left the bus where we dropped them off and walked back the way they had come from yesterday; to the Wainstones.  These are a rocky outcrop and there are supposed to be some carved stones somewhere there; but you could see for miles and miles on the top of the hill, to Middlesbrough and Teeside and all the villages between.  The walkers yesterday could probably only see 10 feet in front of them!

Wainstones yesterday.

Wainstones today, but they presented a different problem to photograph as the sun was facing the camera.

 

 Once we had finished our walk we drove back to the house and then onto the Lion Inn meeting everyone there at about 12 o'clock.  Coffee had to be drunk and then we drove along the road to meet them again after their extra miles. 

This part of the walk took us passed 'Fat Betty' a square and round stone at which you are supposed to leave some food for her.  So walkers usually take what's there and leave something fresh.

 

John with 'Fat Betty' - he had placed a banana on her mouth and a chocolate for her nose.

As it was quite a short day again we were back at the house by just after 2pm; so tea, biscuits, baths and relaxing was the order for the afternoon.  Along with the odd bounce on the trampoline that is in the garden.

Walt, Helen and Tim were on kitchen duty tonight and we had cheese and biscuits for pud with port, which was poured into a decanter and passed around again and again and everyone had to give a toast to someone.  Then Walt (who has thoroughly enjoyed cooking on the Aga) started to cook crepes (pancakes) with chocolate, bananas, brown sugar etc.  It's a wonder I'm writing this blog at all tonight!  There is to be a return match of Triv and someone mentioned playing sardines in this amazing house.  The finishing post is definately in sight.