Day 8 Kirkby Stephen to Keld

Today was a more difficult day of 13 or 14.5 miles depending on which page of the guide you are reading.  Kirkby Stephen was the largest town we've encountered, and it was nice being able to run into the co-op and buy a sandwich for the road.

We lost our pathfinder today as Keith went home.  We'll have to find someone else to follow.

The weather forecast was great but the guidebook called for gaiters because we were going to encounter peat bogs.  Today we crossed the Pennine Hills, christened our gaiters in the bogs, and reached the halfway point of the hike.

Leaving Kirkby Stephen

Lois going through a kissing gate.  You step into the rounded area, pull the gate past yourself and step through.  This prevents livestock from sneaking through with you,

Welcome to the bogs

The route ahead

The nine standards - these are 9 large Cairns on top of a hill.  When I got my camera out 30 seconds before taking this picture, the were all visible below the clouds

 The reason this day was tougher than yesterday was that we had a gentle but steady climb for the first 5 miles of the day, followed by the bogs.  The bogs were exhausting because you have to watch every step, and constantly test the ground ahead of you with your hiking poles.  Ground that looks perfectly stable will suck you in to your knees

The trail here has 3 routes depending on the time of the year

Getting ready to use the gaiters

Earl pulling himself out of the muck.  His left leg is out here.  It had been in up to the top of his thigh.

We stopped at Ravencrag Farm for tea but it was closed.

Coming off the high spots, just about all the hiking groups ended up together.  There was a parade of 20 or more hikers entering the tiny town of Keld.  Quite a few stayed at the Keld Lodge where there was a hiker party for tea and carrot cake in the lounge

 Lois coming back into the lounge

This is a very popular hiker place.  While typing the blog tonite I was in a full lounge.  I just had a long conversation with 2 Pennine Way hikers