Monday 3rd April – 34km (140km)

Shap to Kirby Stephen, leaving Cumbria, crossing the M6 and entering the Yorkshire Dales. Rolling moorland with massive limestone quarries and pavements and later walled fields (read too many stiles and gates). A nice time of year with lots of newborn lambs and today I rescued two (!) sheep. I came across them lying on the ground with their legs in the air (yes it’s true) and using supper human strength I got them upright. They didn’t say thank you, but I think they were happy.
For myself the route passed through Orton which had a fancy chocolate factory and coffee shop (the first of the C2C) and so I was compelled to have a latte on a bench in the sun and also bought some chocolates for the poorly pigeon, Pauline,who by this time was in Kirby Stephen courtesy of a taxi…
I arrived in Kirkby Stephen in a little over 8 hours courtesy of the forced march, hence the lack of photographs (sorry). A quick cup of tea, shower and then out for a hot curry at The Mango Tree followed by a stop at the Pennine for a beer to extinguish the fire. Now back in our room in The Old Croft House, a lovely Georgian town house, and soon to sleep no doubt.

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