Day 2 - Ennerdale - Seatoller (Borrowdale) GPS 30 miles so far

Well! where do I start, we stopped  at the Shepards arms in Ennerdale last night and they were great hosts..

Today has been the perfect Birthday I was treated to a surprise at breakfast,we walked into the breakfast room at the Shepard Arms and a table with birthday banners and cards were waiting for me. After breakfast I had a special plate brought in by the shef, this was bacon, mushroom, tomato, black pudding and sausage in the shape of a face with a candle in the nose. this was due to Andy and Maggie sending a card and birthday message to the Pub.

   We had a donation from guests of the pub, from USA (thanks Kate) to the charity. 

So off we march and it is just over a mile of road walkinging from Ennerdale Bridge to Ennerdale Water- The views towards the fells from here are quite dramatic.

The Coast to coast route hugs the right hand side of the lake and it is not what you expect, just a walk around the lake? no this is a very rocky uneven path that undulates for 3.5 miles.

Thers is one awkward section of rock climing at a place called Robin Hoods Chair

        Not what you expect!!

Close to here another couple put a tenner in our charity box.

Reaching the end of the lake with the crossing of the river Lisa

                      River Lisa

 The walk enters a new stage. We begin the 4 mile trudge, in hot sun, along the forest road to the back sail Hostel an old bothy hut in the middle of a dramatic Lakeland Scenery.

Our firstsighting of Black Sail is a welcome sight.

    You can just see Black Sail on the Left          by the tree.

Black sail is the most remote YHA in England. It must be the most idylic hostel of its kind but when we arrived no one was about.. It is an ideal position for exploring Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and the ridge running from Red Pike to Haystacks all in close proximity. Here we had lunch and then the hard work was to begin. We now had a very hard and lond steep climb ahead of us It started OK with a gentle fellside traverse. Then after crossing Loft Beck, which after a dry  spell was quite easy, we climbed up a path on the right hand side of the beck. It was steep so steep we were gasping and while my body was trying to take every gasp of air in my mind I was cursing AW thinking he was a masochist in disguse.

     Looking up loft  Beck the picture does not show how steep it is

Jane half way up, for perspective can you see the walkers at the bottom?

The view at the top of Loft Beck are superb  with Haystacks and Butternere prominent.

There then began the long descent to the  Honister Slate Mine passing Drum House and following the old tramway.

At the honister mine another couple of walkers , Dave and Sandra, who we met by the start sign on the first day, caught up with us and passed us a cheque for 50 pounds for the charity, we can not believe strangers can be so generous. 

We shall not be update the justgiving site until we are home but with ten more pounde from another couple of walkers we now have £4,700.

From the slate mines it was a short walk down hill to seastoller where our B&B was and another surprise, a bottle of champagne from my sister and her partner waiting for us, then at tea a surprise visit from Andy and Maggie.

Lots of cards to open with loads of pressies from my lovely daughter Kirsty and two bottles of wine left for us by Faith and Mason. This has been a super day. Fantastic scenery and weather lots of money donated and just fantastic people around.