Finn and Susan’s big adventure – Day 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 – Sunday 23, Monday 24, Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May 2010 – more odds and sod

Sunday saw me and Finn driving from Haltwhistle to Bellingham, to Richmond and back to Bellingham, a distance I didn’t dare clock! Steve’s feet were still a mess and there’s no public transport on Sundays. As Finn was still limping, walking was cancelled for us and I offered my car as a taxi from Richmond to Ingleby. While en route, we met up with Tristan at the pub at Danby Wiske to wish him well for the rest of his walk.

Monday found me lazing – reading, doing the laundry, painting my nails and waiting for Andy to arrive. Finn and I were meant to be walking to Bellingham on the Pennine Way and had arranged to meet Andy in the village at 5.00 pm. However, I managed to get a message to him and he came straight to the campsite for about two o’clock, so we lazed about, with a short walk into the village for essentials – wine, chocolate and sausages! – and had a very pleasant evening with a barbecue.

Tuesday found us at Kielder Forest – we walked all morning before lunch and then we fished all afternoon – hoping to catch trout for another barbecue. Finn did not help matters as he loves to swim, so spent most of his time in the lake frightening the fish! Instead we ate at the pub in the village.

Wednesday was really miserable – grey and raining – so we drove to Hexham to Tescos for more provisions – including venison burgers! – and we had another evening barbecue as the weather cleared up a bit. The rest of the day was spent reading and snoozing.

Thursday was time to move on – so we moved camp back down to Malham in Yorkshire. We’re camping in the lovely Town Head campsite at the foot of Malham Cove where I stayed last year. After the tent was up, I told Andy that there was a huge lake not too far away – Malham Tarn – and we could walk to it. My idea of “not too far away” and Andy’s idea appear to be wildly different! Still, we had a lovely walk, although it did get very breezy at the top – a good opportunity to wear my new lime green Berghaus coat – an early birthday present from Andy.

Tea was taken at the Buck Inn – rabbit pie and steak, followed by cheeseboard and port. How very civilised!