Miles walked today: 7

Total trip miles: 193

Elevation gain today: 1,175 ft.

Accommodation: Intake Farm

This was just the kind of day I needed! I was tired yesterday from not having slept well and then having the bad weather hustle us up and over the moor. Thankfully, I had a good night’s rest and was ready to go, knowing today would be easier. We left Egton Bridge by way of the stepping stones across the river, visited a church, and then just meandered our way out of town.

It was a short walk to Grosmont and we arrived at the perfect time. The steam engine had just arrived and we stood and took photos as they fired it back up and chugged out of the station. We thought they were gone, but they were back in just a couple of minutes as they were only changing tracks. We watched as they were shoveling coal in and hooking up the passenger cars waiting on that track. I had just positioned myself for a perfect photo without any other photographers in the way for the starting up when I noticed Nancy frantically waving at me to come. She had been talking to the conductor and we hopped on with him at the very last minute for a twenty minute ride to the next station. He sold us our ticket on the train and told us where and how to get off—we had to hustle up through the other cars towards the front. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I regretted not getting a picture of the clouds of steam out the window when we went through a pitch black tunnel and I could see them billowing. We were in the car right behind the engine. It was so dark in the tunnel and since the lights were off in the car, I couldn’t find my phone on the table in front of me. When we got to Goathland, we got off and waited an hour for the return to Grosmont. Sadly, that one had a diesel engine and I couldn’t get steam pictures in the tunnel. It was an excellent side trip, though, so thanks to Nancy for jumping on the opportunity! (Note to grandkids: Goathland is the train station they used for Hogsmede Station when they were filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Note to David: they also used it for Heartbeat.)

After we got back to Grosmont, we had a very steep climb out of the village for a mile. It started to rain a little (and the forecast was for rain about that time) so we stopped to put on our rain gear…and that was the last of any rain we saw while walking today. Before we made it to the top of the hill, I was steaming in my rain pants so I took them off. (At least it was a good excuse to stop on our way up that hill. I believe that is our last steep climb now.) We enjoyed the views and were excited to see the North Sea in the distance. Our goal was in sight! We were also excited to see a herd of deer on a hill. There was a deer fence around them and I was thinking how cool it would be to have your own herd of deer. Then as we were sitting on a bench near the top of the hill, a farmer stopped right by us to check on his sheep. Nancy asked about the deer and I was rather deflated to realize they are just raising them for the meat. (I should have guessed; venison is on all the menus around here.)

After we reached the top of that hill, we were back on a moor. We crossed over it, went down to a busy road, and before we reached Littlebeck, left the C2C route and followed a track into farmland again. (It is so strange to walk through someone’s farm and right in front of their house on what you would think would be their front yard.) The last part of our walk was through a field of sheep running for the hills, a pasture with cows and calves (you should have seen us walk through there like farmers), and through a barnyard. We ended up at Intake Farm. It is obviously a working farm besides being a B&B. They also have walkers camp here and feed them dinner as well. Our host gave us tea and cake in her kitchen as she and her niece were preparing a delicious home cooked dinner. After tea Nancy and I went upstairs to settle in; I had the best shower of this whole trip!

We arrived at Intake Farm just in time. As we went up to our rooms, we noticed it was hailing outside. The hail then turned to rain. Right now I’m sitting in the guests’ sitting room in front of a fire, thoroughly pleased with our day. Tomorrow is our last day of walking. I’m sad to see it end, but I must admit I am ready. Our goal is in sight!