Today we had luxurious start, a lie in until 7am and breakfast laid on by the hostel, tea, coffee, toast (home made bread) and as much cereal as we could handle.

After finishing a box of crunchy nut cornflakes each we headed out to start our walk. The day began by crossing the railway line and the busy M6. On our way across the field we met two walkers we have spoken to over the last few days, heading back towards town. They are brothers from Burnley who's names we do not know, however they were nicknamed Brother Foot (due to the blistered and infected feet that had been giving him gip since day 2) and Brother Phone (due to the fact that every time he was seen passing us, he was on the phone to their worried mother). The pain it appeared had got the better of Brother Foot and he was heading back to Shap to be picked up. We wished them well and headed on our way over the moor toward Orten.

The walking today would have been easy, and was in comparison to previous days in the lakes, but for the increasing pain Ruth was suffering from
her injured feet. She had painful blisters and ankles from the previous miles which made the going tough.

The scenery was bland and flat, a stark difference to the path through the fells that we could still see to the west. The soft ground also seemed to drain much needed energy.

A constant supply of jelly babies helped.

After a couple of hours walking we heard cheers and clapping behind, and shocked, we were overtaken by Brother Foot, dosed up on painkillers, anti-inflammatories and hotly pursued by Brother Phone. They briefly chatted before disappearing into the distance, not to be seen again.

We stopped for crumpets and coffee at Scar Side B&B, giving us welcome relief from the wind and burden of our packs. A mile earlier we had crossed the path of our route from Lands End to John O'Groats which lifted our spirits and allowed us to reminisce and wish we had the tandem with us now!

The rest of the walk passed without much event, the wind never let up and apart from numerous lime kilns and the "Giants Graves" the scenery rarely changed from the bare moor.

As we arrived in Kirkby Stephen the distance was beginning to show on Ruths feet and fatigue was taking hold.

In the pub opposite the campsite we had lovely meal and contemplated how we can make our train on Monday afternoon. However the prospect of crossing the road back to the tent is daunting for Ruth at the moment, we will see after a nights sleep whether we will be able to continue on our journey...