Day 79 Stonehaugh to Bellingham to meet Sue

Today there were midges. There was low cloud and the morning was absolutely still. I lay in my tent trying to summon the energy to get up when I noticed that outside my tent, but under the fly sheet, there were a lot of midges flying about. Time for the midge net, and the midge repellent (Smidge, there being no Avon Skin so Soft) I had bought both in Alston after the trauma of the midge attack at the Tan Hill Inn. I donned my midge net over my hat, applied Smidge to as much of my body as I could reach and braved the outdoors.

It seemed to work, I wasn’t bitten and was able to eat breakfast at my picnic table. I had a shortish day today so I waited to let the tent dry out before setting off to Bellingham.

The walk was rather dull to start off with but there was a lot less bog to contend with. There was a sign about red squirrels but I didn’t see any.

There was a highlight though, after I’d missed the path (be careful here, said the guidebook or you’ll miss the footbridge and have to ford the river.)

Horneysteads Farm provides a pit stop service for walkers. There is a loo and a shower and refreshments. There are snacks as well. I sat down on a sofa and had a packet of crisps and some water. I set off, fortified. Passed some lovely farmhouses and then walked along a road. I saw a black car parked ahead of me. I wonder if that’s Chris? I thought. But no, there were two people in the car. And then Chris got out, along with Daniel who had had to stop walking due to an enormous blister. We chatted for a while (the other two were at Horneysteads) before I walked on to Bellingham.

I stopped for lunch in a field, then climbed up Shitlington Crags over the moor and down to the farm B and B where I was meeting Sue who is walking with me for another week-the week in Somerset not having put her off.

The farm was just outside Bellingham, and, apart from the baying hounds and the noisy sheep, was quiet and peaceful. Sue had brought a picnic for our supper and Duncan (her husband) took my camping gear to post home as I won’t need it for a couple of weeks.