Christian Aid at 80 Part 6 - The Walk Bowness on Solway to Carlisle Part 2

Statue of King Edward 1

Sophie and Ed were pleasant companions and we progressed steadily along beside the saltmarsh carefully negotiating the cowpats on the road and the occasional passing vehicle.
Ed shared that he was a Latin teacher and it was evident that he was more excited about seeing the first sections of the wall than he was about trudging along the early miles.
Sophie was on an organised holiday and would stay a number of nights at the same place. She was dropped off at the start by taxi driver who would be meet her and return her to the accommodation when she had completed her first day’s walking.
Halfway along the straight we came across a bus shelter which was surrounded by fencing to keep the cattle out, beside it in the small enclosure was a picnic table and Ed declared he was ready for a break, I was certainly up for a rest as, unlike the two of them it would be my first.
Someone had recently left the gate open as it was clear that the cows had enjoyed a picnic too, or maybe they had just waited for a bus!
We enjoyed a short break and then were on our way again, keen to finish the long straight and soon we reached the village of Burgh by Sands.
Our first call was at the Greyhound Inn where, despite not having time to stay and partake of their hospitality, we were welcomed with a knowing smile and able to use their toilets. I think Ed would have liked to stay awhile but even he knew that we needed to press on!
Beside the pub stands a statue of King Edward 1 who met an untimely death from dysentery on the nearby Burgh Marshes in 1307 while on his way to a proposed encounter with Robert the Bruce.
We all agreed to visit St Michael’s church’s as we passed through the village and, although there was no time to study its long history, it was an opportunity  to take refuge from the relentless heat.
The walk handbook notes that one of the stained glass windows depicts St Cuthbert with Durham Cathedral, St Aidan with the ruins of Lindisfarne priory, St Kentigern with St Asaph Cathedral and St Ninian the ruins of Whithorn Abbey.
The route now was mainly on lanes and crossing farm fields. The saltmarsh had been left behind and we would rejoin the flow as the River Eden near the next village, Beaumont.
The taxi driver had informed Sophie that it was pronounced Beemont. In the middle of the village stood a horse box snack shed and a lady came out to supply us all with Magnum ice creams. They lasted all of about 60 seconds in the heat but were welcome.
Sophie soon decided that she had walked far enough so phoned her taxi driver and we said farewell as he picked her up on our way to the next village.
As we approached Kirkandrews on Eden there were little signs advising that the Village Hall was open and walkers were welcome to use the toilets. It was there that we met Emma from France and continued on a a threesome again.
Emma kept up a steady pace as we chatted and walked, we passed through Grinsdale and eventually found ourselves near the River Eden all the way to Carlisle.
We did leave Ed trailing behind but chose to keep to a comfortable pace.
The Sands Centre, Carlisle is an obvious place to leave the riverside, I headed inside with Emma to get a passport stamp and a coffee would have been very welcome. Unfortunately the centre suffered  extensive damage in Storm Eowyn and the cafe had not yet reopened.
Emma and I parted as we left the Sands Centre, she would make her way into the city centre but I returned to the route to complete another mile. I had noticed that the next loop of the river brought me to an exit which was considerably closer to my accommodation.
As I made my way back around the building I met Ed who really looked exhausted. It was good to have the opportunity to say goodbye. It only occurred to me later that I probably looked just as bad as he did and I had to accept it had been a gruelling day. Safely back in the comfort of the room I left 10 hours earlier I wondered if I had taken on too much!
Strava recorded 15.37miles and 33,956 steps for the walk.
Garmin recorded 40.091 steps for the day.
The handbook says Bowness on Solway to Carlisle 14.5 miles and I had an extra mile in the bag!
Next time fewer miles to cover in one day but the heat is extreme………..