Day 5 May 17th

A long 20 mile walk today, not a difficult walk by any means, no steep climbs, no rugged terrain and paths. The walk was from Shap to Kirkby Stephen, this was the day when you are basically going from the edge of the Lake District to close by the Yorkshire Dales, the area being walked is in the Eden Valley, a lush green landscape, easy on the eye. Mike and Andreas again made up a threesome, this would also be Andreas's last day, going back to Holland, but hoping to come back and complete the C2C later in the year, heres hoping you do manage to do so.
The first notable feature as we made our way from Shap was not a natural feature, but man made, the footbridge taking us over the M6 motorway, noisy and busy, it made me recall the same experience as last year doing the Pennine Way, then crossing over the M62 trans Pennine motorway. We soon reached a more natural feature around Great Ashby Scar, this was a area scattered with limestone, making it look like a huge footpath or rock.

Apologies, but camera lens still not cleared yet

About this distance in you have an option, carry on to Kirkby Stephen or do a more shorter walk, staying in a village called Orton. An international crisis nearly developed in our small walking party, Andreas was reading his map when he said to me, that way over there will take us to Orton, I glanced at his map, he had our route marked on it, "No, no Andreas, that isn't right, look at my OS map, its the complete opposite, anyway were not going to Orton". He was adamant that he was correct, I was certain I was correct, I then took a closer look at his book with the map page showing, I looked closer still, Mick you bloody idiot, not having my reading glasses on to see clearly, Andreas was looking at his book upside down, correctly so because he was following our route in the direction we were walking. So crisis diverted, we were both correct, only in our totally differring views, it made us both smile.
We carried on, making great progress, it really was easy going, we came upon Smardale Beck, crossed the bridge, then making our way up the opposite hillside we had fine views of the old disused railway line and its curved viaduct.

Approaching Smardale Beck and bridge crossing

Smardale with viaduct in centre

We went on our way, approaching Kirkby Stephen Andreas left us a mile south of the village, making his way to nearby Nateby, we shook hands, said our goodbyes, a real nice guy. Me and Mike then split up and made our way to our designated accommodations for the evening, he did come down a bit later, had a pint and a quick chat with me and Liz, then left us for the evening.
Later on our good friends Lew and Jo arrived to meet and join us, Lew about to walk with me over the next two days, while Jo will be travelling with Liz on her daily escapades. We had a few drinks, our evening meal then it was bedtime, tomorrow will lead us into the second National Park, the delightful Yorkshire Dales