Day 62 Rest day 11

Today, I did almost nothing. We had a late breakfast, Karen getting to choose the time today after my suggestion of 7.30 yesterday. We sat outside for a while, enjoying the cool morning. Karen was leaving on the bus to catch a train into Manchester where she was hoping to see the horizontal Big Ben sculpture in Piccadilly Gardens before it was dismantled. It was installed for Manchester International Festival (July1-17) and then covered in books, and I quote the Manchester Evening News, “all chosen for their role in shaping British politics”. The books were being given away as the festival had ended and the sculpture and books were intended to “inspire new conversations about what we value”. Karen was given a book, The Wake Up Call, why the pandemic has exposed the weakness of the West and how to fix it.

My day was a lot more dull. I walked to the bus stop to see Karen off. I was so pleased that she came to visit as I was dreading the first two days of the Pennine Way and having company, particularly company that resembled a mountain goat, and could urge me on, was just what I needed.

After the bus arrived, I went to look at the old mill complex and bought an apple from a bakery/cafe. Well, I tried to buy an apple but their card machine wasn’t working so they gave it to me instead.

The rest of my day was uneventful. I did a few stretches, some more washing, and caught up on the blog. I have just had an early evening meal (pub stops serving at 6pm on a Sunday). Beetroot and quinoa burger-really good, Karen had one yesterday-with proper chips, also really good.

Tomorrow will be challenging in the heat but I hope to get a lift from the pub landlord back to where we diverged from the Pennine Way yesterday. It’s the longest stretch of uphill of tomorrow’s 16 mile walk. I would catch the bus but for the fact that the bus isn’t running in that direction due to roadworks.