Day 1 - St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge

It was an early start for me, the B&B was also used as a base for the Sherpavan company and they arranged breakfast for me at 6:45am as the transport to the start would be leaving at 7:30am. Breakfast complete I took my bags downstairs where Richard the driver was waiting. “Anybody else going?” I asked, Richard said “No, you're it for today”. The first job was to follow Richard to where my car would be stored, which happened to be a farm about 2 miles outside Richmond. Parked up, I joined Richard in the front of the van and off we set. The weather forecast was bad for the morning but would clear from the West. I did have my fingers crossed especially as it was not long before the inmates of Battersea Dogs home and the feline equivalent fell from the sky. Richard said it was the worst weather he had ever driven in taking someone to the start of the Coast to Coast. By the time we reached St Bees the weather had started to clear, the BBC weather forecast being rather accurate for once. First job, a cup of coffee at the cafe, the waterproofs going on and a final check of the kit. Then down to the beach to start the Coast to Coast traditions of wetting your boots in the Irish Sea and picking a pebble to take with you. Also to have your photo taken at the plaque mentioning the Wainwright Coast to Coast starting point. The three chaps I picked on, to take the photo, were only too helpful as they were there to wave off their wives who were just starting the walk. They would be providing the support vehicle, meeting them at points along the way and transporting them to their accommodation at night. I was starting to wonder whether I was doing this Coast to Coast the right way round! So at 10am I started the walk for real. GPS set, I made my way towards the Cliffs of St Bees head, meeting the three ladies a little way on. We chatted for a while before I let them go ahead; they seemed to be off to a quick start where I had decided to pace myself. Out to sea the Isle of Man and further in the distance, Ireland could be seen. The lighthouse being the first landmark of note along the coastal path, then on to where eventually I would turn inland and start to head to my destination. Up until now the cliff top path had been taking me further away from Robin Hoods Bay. The mud on the earlier sections was horrendous but, the weather wasn't too bad overall with the sun appearing later in the day. Soon I could see the mountains of the Lake District in the distance and my first challenge, the hill of Dent. Through the villages of Moor Row and Cleator where I met the Girls support team stopping to ask me where there other halves were and, were they all right. 15 minutes behind I said, I had overtaken them when they had stopped for lunch. Dent was a bit of a struggle (understatement) but the view from the top allowed me to review where I had come from and to the left the complete contrast of the nuclear power station, Sellafield. Down through the forest and through the pretty ravine of Nannycatch Beck. Just a mile now to the Shepherds Arms at Ennerdale Bridge and a well deserved pint.