Kings Arms, Shap to White Lion, Patterdale
15.4 miles but Lois took the "alternate" low route.
Not sure about miles, but walked for 3.5 hours
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has courage to lose sight of the shore." Andre Gide
Watched weather forecast last night and this morning (no more election news) and it looked dismal. Not great for the long trudge before and along Haweswater preceding the steepest climb on the C2C back up to Kidsty Pike.
Questioned everyone about their walk yesterday, and what would be Lois' today. Some had taken a "low level" route from Patterdale to Shap that was longer, but avoided the high peak/ridge walk.
At breakfast still had not decided. There were No buses from Shap. No taxis. This trekker had made up her mind to do the official route as it was shorter and hope the knee would take the beating. Put on a lidocaine patch. Ibuprofen. Two knee braces. Waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, buff. Zip up tight.
Seated next to me eating eggs was a hiker from Romania. She was walking with her sister who had left earlier with another couple. This remaining sister was injured. Yesterday she had managed the long rain and windswept hike up to Kidsty Pike, maneuvered her way down the steep slope, and once down at the bottom on the semi flat path along Haweswater twisted her ankle on a rock. Her leg was Very swollen (unlike mine that never puffed up). She was in pain and very upset about her long distance walk most likely coming to an end. She would be getting rides with the baggage carrier.
Well, the boots and gloves which were soaked yesterday did not dry overnight. No heat in the room. This morning used the hairdryer with hot heat to try to dry them out. Not much difference.
Shove feet into very damp boots. Zip up hooded jacket. Walk away from dryness and warmth.
Stopped at Co-Op for sandwich. Coronation chicken. Spinach, sultans. Mango chutney, spiced mayo, on an onion seeded bread. It looked interesting, but have decided it will be the last packaged sandwich this person will buy.
Followed route out of town towards Shap Abbey. Shap is located down in a valley so Up is the only way whether headed towards Robin Hoods Bay or St Bees. Aimed the feet West towards those Lake District peaks. The sky kept getting darker and darker gray. Ominous looking weather. Windy. Very gusty winds. Came to an intersection where one road would commit the walk up Kidsty Pike or the option of the low level route which was longer, but skirted around that ridge that is all lumpy mountains.
No major time involved in decision making. Low level it would be. Didn't need to be blown off a ridge just to achieve something that I have already checked off my list.
Problem with choosing to go off route was No Maps. Last night had sort of looked at someone else's map, even took photos of locations (but today couldn't figure out where I was in comparison to the images I took)
Followed road towards Brampton Grange then to Brampton. Met a group of three who were from Mexico. Only long distance walkers seen today, but then I was Off Route, and later Astray. We exchanged the usual, where are people going, and where have they come from. They had taken the low route yesterday, and that was what I was aiming for.
Hunker down inside Marmot waterproofs, which are not totally waterproof any longer. Keep walking. Eat the remaining portion of a Bounty bar (coconut cover with chocolate).
Walk. Keep walking. Without a map couldn't tell where the feet were. Wind and rain. Walk.
Began watching for a Footpath/bridleway that would go off to the left, over a moor, and towards Howtown Pier, where I could either walk the remaining 6 miles along the lake to Patterdale, or take the Lady of the Lake steamer (preferred option).
Couldn't find footpath and began to wonder where exactly these knees were. Finally came to a bridleway, but it didn't seem to match description by the others. Climbed up toward a little settlement. Knock on 3 doors. No answer. 4th house a man appeared. He looked at what I had as a poor map (brochure advertising the steamer and their map only showed the Lake) where I wanted to be going. I was Not Where I should have been, again. Confusing. He gave directions. Lois chatted and explained knee problem.
Man said he would drive me down to Pooley Bridge, and from there could either take the steamer down the lake, or a bus. Yes, in this location there was a Sunday bus, every 2 hours. Very generous of the man. Lois was extremely appreciative.
Arrive in Pooley Bridge and learned the Steamer was not running at all due to the high winds. But, the bus was going!!!
Happy camper/happy hiker. Hung about, ate that funny chicken sandwich. Bus arrived. Half hour ride around Ullswater. Delivered to Patterdale.
Learned more about the historic flood in December 2015 when the area received an immense amount of rain in a short block of time, wiped out bridges, flooded businesses and communities all around the Ullswater lake area.
Bus back to the White Lion. Smallest room, but it is fine. If they would turn the heat on it would help. Bathroom, up two steps, out the door, down hall, down one step, turn right. But it is mine and I have a key for it.
Anytime the weather would like to put on a better face, would be perfectly fine with this walker. Ending the walk in better conditions might be nice.
Downstairs at the White Lion the two guys were sitting who are also going to St Bees. They had camped last night. Almost been blown over on Kidsty Pike today. Now both have hurt their knees. The Walking Wounded keep increasing.
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