Our host served us breakfast at 8:30.  They offered us the usual fare.  Just to note, a typical "full English breakfast" began with fruit & cereal while you waited for cooking.  After that Egg, sausange, bacon (more like Canadian bacon than American), tomatoes,mushrooms and about as much toast as you can eat.  I have yet to tire of this.  However if I wasn't "on the march" every day, I'd weigh about 290 lbs. by now.  Even today we hiked a few miles into town.

 

Kay, Tess Haley & I ate at the Downe. I had a BLT on a baggette for the 2nd time here in England and I have had great luck.  We bought a few things at the grocery coop store and moved up the street to the "Village Store".  I wanted to ge a taste of what the British newpapers were like and they had a newstand in there.  I asked the woman working the store which was the most popular seller.  First she pointed to the local paper (the Yorkshire something-or-other) and then to a tabloid called "The Daily Mail".  The main headline was in font about 1.5" high about a pill, that if taken daily, would cause a 10% weight reduction in a year (four about 4 bucks a day).  Easily done with a 2000 calorie/day diet & a 5 mile walk.  All-in-all, very sensational & biased journalism.  [During the world cup, the papers seemed to focus more on the extra-curricular activities of the soccer player's mates than the players.  The acronym WAGS was used a lot: Wives and Girlfriends of Soccer players.].

 

Claybank to Blakey, 9.5 Miles

 

Had one steep climb and the rest was relatively level (or slightly downhill).  Our instuctions were to call the innkeeper for pickup at the Lion Inn.  We had a big lunch at the Lion Inn & then called our innkeeper for pickup.  They picked us up  shortly & we were taken to the Sycamore.  It appears that we are the only guests staying here. 

Our hostess, Mary, shuttled Ann & I into town for dinner.  I had fish & chips and Ann had a ribeye at the Downe Pub & Restaurant.    Still searching for the "four star" fish & chips, I had a large Haddock fillet dipped in beer-batter (served with chips of course).  [This was a solid 3 stars, if my memory serves me correctly.]

 

[We would spend the next day resting here].

 

 

 

 

 

Ingleby Cross to Claybank Top, 12.5 miles

 

Most rigorous hike in a week.  The weather was nice; overcast without sun or rain.  Nice & cool.  Just after the halfway point, we came upon a cafe built into the cliff.  We had snacks, Guiness, etc.

 

There was a lot of steep up & down for 4 or 5 summits.  When we hit pavement, we had about another mile to walk to our B&B.  This was the most remote yet.  No pub.  That was a first.  However, when I asked the hostess if there was a pub nearby, she said "no", but was quick to offer a beer

 

Pretty stiff & sore tonight, but tomorrow should be relatively flat & fast.  The day after is a "rest" day.