Christian Aid at 80 Part 7 - The Walk Reset and Carlisle to Newtown

Arriving back at my accommodation at the end of the first day on the trail was a relief but there was quite a lot to do before I could relax. After the first, essential, coffee and a warm bath, there’s food to prepare, clothes to air, water bottles and drinking bladder, pipes and nozzles to clean, feet to check and messages to send to family and friends. This would form the same pattern every evening!
I had one small blister under my right foot and with ointment and blister plasters it was the only one on the whole journey and it didn’t get any bigger or cause pain.
 My acclimatisation to the sun working in the church garden and out walking along with a generous coating of protection paid off and despite spending eight hours in blazing sun I had escaped any sunburn.
Happily the insect bite on my ankle had recovered and, despite the miles walked in such hot conditions there was no swelling at all.
My second day walking would be a much shorter distance. Although I would have preferred to add another 3 miles at the end of the day finding accommodation had proved difficult so I settled for a room in Newtown just 9 miles from Carlisle.
After a relaxed start to the day and a breakfast similar to the day before I checked out onto Aglionby Street in Carlisle and made my way back to the point on the walk I left it the previous evening, this time carrying my full pack. It was 10am and already hot!
I crossed the river Calder at the Memorial Bridge into Rickerby Park, where I met a lovely young couple carry very large packs including camping gear. They told me they had started as a threesome but their young friend had twisted her ankle so had gone ahead by bus. They would be doing the extra 3 miles to Walton after Newtown and were soon ahead of me.
While the path seemed to meander a lot it was well defined and signposted, pleasant country walking if it hadn’t been so hot.
Occasionally returning to the loops in the river it wasn’t just me that was hot and thirsty, the horseflies were too and their thirst was for blood!
Two hours in and about halfway the heat was overwhelming and when I spotted a gate ahead with two large shady trees to the right of it I decided that it was a perfect spot to stop for lunch and a rest. The two young campers had also chosen the same spot so we said a brief hello before they were on their way again.
Making my way steadily East I passed through Linstock and Crosby on Eden with views south to the hills of the Lake District and a final glimpse of the River Eden.
In Crosby the Route turns North heading past Carlisle Airport then resumes the North Easterly direction towards Newtown.
As I arrived at my accommodation for the night I discovered it also had the honesty shed that had been declared the best on the whole route by many You Tubers.
I probably arrived at about 2.30pm and with 90 minutes until I could check in I pulled a garden chair out of the sun and contemplated how on earth I was going to cope with 17 miles the following day with the added pressure of getting to Haltwhistle in time for the Christian Aid 80 years celebration.
Part of the solution came from my host who suggested I contact Hadrian’s Haul to get some of my luggage collected and transported to my next stop. This was both physically and psychologically helpful for the next 3 days of the journey.
The other part of the solution came from “digging deep and getting on with it!
After settling in, coffee, a shower and snacks from the generous supply of food in the accommodation I made my way into the centre of the village where a barn door was open to serve passing walkers with all manner of refreshment. I ordered a wrap which came freshly made and filled to bursting with lovely ingredients.
They really did know how to spoil the walkers passing through Newtown and it was much appreciated. Sitting on a bench on the village green in the evening sun was a lovely moment at the end of an exhausting day!
8.63 miles on the trail and half a mile in the evening for food.
23,412 steps