Day 8: Reeth to Richmond (17.5 km), in which the travellers suspect the short distances are to lull them into a false sense of security
We’ve had an easy and beautiful day of walking along the valley of the Swale, to the pretty town of Richmond. Our worries about the weather turning have been proved unnecessary, as the forecast rain was moved to the evening, and we may get through the week without more daytime rain.
After the dramas of the Lakes, it’s peculiar how undramatic it has become, but no less beautiful in its own bucolic way. With lovely morning sun, it was very tempting to get the camera out at every turn, but I’m afraid that carrying the camera has been a bit of a penance and I’ve not really taken enough pictures to justify the pain of the extra weight. Still, I think there are some nice images stored away, and when the 6D eventually arrives, I think I will sell the 60D and buy something lightweight but still up to RAW images for travelling. 100 D?
It’s nice to have the breath to walk along beside each other and talk, nice to stop under a shady tree and picnic, watched by curious cows.
Interesting to see a different England, in a bigger town, with better equipped farms surrounding it and some obviously wealthy estates both new and old.
So we wandered along and found ourselves in Richmond by 1 pm — unheard of! Lovely lunch in a cafe (wraps and salad), a little retail therapy, check the bank account, and toddle off to Bridgedown House. Bath, blog and soon to dinner. Tomorrow, by popular acclaim, a rest day. 37 km of dead flat dodging Catterick Army Base isn’t necessary. A day of tourism before the last three big days is a good idea.
