Day 6 - Shap to Kirkby Stephen

For today's walk the Intrepid Trio were joined by two of Joe's friends, Shay and Christine.  They are both keen walkers and had asked if they could join the group for this section of the route.  They'd left their bicycles in Kirkby Stephen yesterday and will cycle back to Shap tomorrow to collect their car :-

After they'd set off I drove into Penrith for some more supplies for packed lunches and ice for the cold box.  They've no special dietary requirements so they're easy to please, except Joe who keeps asking for sliced hard boiled egg and mayonnaise on his sandwiches!  On the way to Kirkby Stephen from Penrith I took this photo which shows how much the landscape has changed since leaving the Lake District.  It was taken looking westwards and the Lakeland Fells can no longer be seen.  The bridge on the right takes the M6 motorway over the B6261 road to Kirkby Stephen :-

 

On this stretch of the Coast to Coast route the path crosses the two main transport links between England and Scotland, the West Coast Main Rail Line and the M6 motorway.  Here's the group crossing both :- 

There's obviously a difference of opinion on which way the path goes.  They guy in the yellow shirt is Alan Pitt, a solitary walker from Swansea in South Wales, who's been tagging along with the Trio from time to time. Looks like he wants to go to Heaven! :-

 

At last there seems to be some agreement.  That way!  You sure? :-

Where's the sign pointing to?  This daft looking laddie doesn't seem to know or care! Answers on a postcard please to Highways Department, Cumbria County Council, Kendal. :-

Joe reckoned that this mare had fallen asleep whilst suckling its young colt.  Looks as though it could do with its main and tail sorting out! :-

Have you had enough of photographs of bridges?  Hard luck! Here's one more.  It's Smardale Bridge just north of the village of Ravenstonedale and crosses Scandal Beck. :-

Here's a group photo on the bridge. :-

About 50 years or so ago the government decided to axe most of Britain's railway network.  Smardale Viaduct is a remnant of those days on the rural line between Shap and Kirkby Stephen. :-

This is another good example of how wide open the landscape has become.  It shows the countryside north of Kirkby Stephen. :-

As there's not much of interest Joe's decided to photgraph trains! :-

  

At last after the most uninteresting day up to now for them (and at least as far as writing the blog is concerned!) they arrived at their destination.  :-

This is really what they wanted to do all day.  They look happy now! :-