Day 9 - Reeth to Richmond

A bright start to the morning soon turned to mist and drizzle for the 11 miles I had to complete to get to Richmond. But my goal had been to get to Richmond early to replenish stocks and get some washing done. The Swale would be my companion for today as I left Reeth walking on my own along it's banks. Through the fields and farms following a well marked route for the Coast to Coast path, then down to the pretty village of Marske. There I met Ironman and his Wife, Ironman was the nickname given to him by the Coast to Coast walkers as his backpack was twice the size as him. Mainly due to the fact that he carried his Wife’s rucksack as well as his own. So we joined up for the latter half of the walk into Richmond with the weather improving all the time. The climb up Applegarth Scar to the white painted cairn was a lot harder than it looked. The path from there was an easy one just below the top of the escarpment. Then, a slow climb down through the suburban outer reaches of Richmond and into the town where nine days ago, without realising it, I had eaten in the place I was now staying, the Black Lion hotel. Washing and shopping done a stroll to the town square was in order before my evening meal, there a bubble of coast to coasters I had met and walked with over the last few days all converged around an ice cream van. Twenty of us at a quick count all catching up with the gossip and adventures along the telegraph route of the walk. A few people were taking a day of rest staying a second night, as the next section of the walk was pretty hardcore. Funny that I should end up eating on my own that evening in the hotel bar but, that was a good thing as an early night was required for the next day’s efforts.