tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63050154945024811502024-03-13T22:27:26.377+08:00Beyond the PaleSteve Hackman
Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-21373159189799676862012-10-27T06:27:00.002+08:002012-10-27T08:39:41.933+08:00Signing off...and new address!This will most likely be my last post on this "blogspot" blog. There is a great scene in the movie <i>Apollo 13</i> where the astronauts move out of the Lunar Module which had been their life raft back to earth. As they jettison it, they thank it for what it had done for them.<br />
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So even as I "jettison" <i>Beyond the Pale </i>here, it's new incarnation is up and running at www.stevehackman.net I hope you come around for a visit.<br />
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So, signing off from the blogspot here...Cheers!<br />
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<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-68806466414824222782012-10-10T05:57:00.000+08:002012-10-10T06:04:36.989+08:00Changes coming to Beyond the Pale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some changes are coming to <i>Beyond the Pale</i> soon. When I started <i>Beyond the Pale</i> back in 2008 it was simply a fun little project to keep me occupied while I lived in a very remote area in China. It offered me a chance to give my input on topics I loved namely: God, politics, foreign affairs, movies, books, and baseball. It was always nice to hear someone read and enjoyed a post but if no one did read, at least my grand kids (someday) may have something to know what grandpa was like.<br />
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Since moving to Hong Kong however, and particularly since the start of this year, I find my Christian faith stirred and my blog posts have been increasingly reflecting that. Where before I might have been writing on Christian topics 20% of the time, now it has been more like 90%. I am also posting a bit more frequently and will continue to do so.<br />
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For that reason<i> Beyond the Pale</i> is going to make some changes over the next few weeks. Yesterday, I purchased my first piece of digital real estate; www.stevehackman.net. (Unfortunately the .com address is taken by a more talented and better looking "Steve Hackman" who seems to be a music conductor) I am working with a friend to design a new webpage for "<i>Beyond the Pale</i>" and soon we'll be redirecting everyone to the new site which will focus primarily on my passions surrounding God's Kingdom, Church, Culture, and Grace.<br />
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I realized that it was hard to develop a bigger viewing body when the topics I covered were so eclectic. A radio station that plays the London Philharmonic, followed by a Gospel Quartet and then topped off with Led Zeppelin will struggle to find its audience. In the past I didn't care so much...but increasingly I want some of the things I may have to say to be read by more people. <br />
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I have been thinking of how I can still insert some other items without upsetting the applecart and will most likely do a "Weekend Update" a la <i>Saturday Night Live</i>. A single blog post once a week where I can offer my two cents on the news, film, politics, and current events. Like the fact:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPuuT3Ci7ybyGYoHvrR0PBoxTbnXL1D6XVwU3MzXKlxuPHKm0nffD4yVYqxiJFnxO_8N7IO12eV07GwjJcju6e02it_GbaPAQs2DTCWeXixPiwojzuBpwcGagFrdk4KOBYnMcFQ-vMEYm/s1600/Baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPuuT3Ci7ybyGYoHvrR0PBoxTbnXL1D6XVwU3MzXKlxuPHKm0nffD4yVYqxiJFnxO_8N7IO12eV07GwjJcju6e02it_GbaPAQs2DTCWeXixPiwojzuBpwcGagFrdk4KOBYnMcFQ-vMEYm/s200/Baseball.jpg" width="153" /></a><br />
* that Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera won baseball's Triple Crown last week (highest batting average, most home runs, most runs batted in). It has not been accomplished since Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1967<br />
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* that Republican Mitt Romney totally won the first presidential debate...don't know what game Obama was bringing...but it certainly wasn't his A-game<br />
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* that I love living in Hong Kong and might just write about some aspect of living here<br />
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Anyhow, if anyone has advice on who to use for<br />
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* website design<br />
* hosting<br />
* any other tidbits you've learned<br />
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Look forward to seeing you online and will let you know when <i>Beyond the Pale</i> makes the final move <br />
<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-51434289347541976392012-10-04T06:25:00.001+08:002012-10-04T09:03:35.153+08:00Prophecy & Nationalism? Proceed With Caution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"In my opinion, the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the rapture of the church. I think that could happen at any moment and as we see all of these other things happening that only reminds us that the rapture is even closer."</i></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span><br />
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, that wasn't my quote, that's from Greg Laurie, Pastor of Harvest Christian Church in Southern California. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quote is from Laurie's <a href="http://www.harvest.org/media/" target="_blank">recent sermon, "Israel, Iran, and America in Bible Prophecy"</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now Greg Laurie is a respected Bible teacher and pastor and I honor that (especially since he came out of the Jesus Movement which I have a soft spot for) but I find it interesting that it is American ministers in general that seem to focus the most on end time prophesy, timelines, and trying , awkwardly I feel , to insert America into that equation. I mean why not, "Israel, Iran, and <i>Canada?" Russia?...Mexico?</i> See what I mean? I think we err when we, often unintentionally, begin viewing the Bible, and particularly prophecy, through the lens of culture and nationalism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know what you're saying, "but Steve, America is <i>the</i> superpower in the world not to mention the main ally of Israel. Surely it has a role to play in the "end times"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...but I also know that since that day when Christ promised to return there has been a number of superpowers that have come...and gone. The Imperial torch passes again and again...and in the end it will be the Lamb (Jesus Christ) who is shown to triumph over them all. Until Christ does come again there will always be a new power on the block that feels it has the right to rule nations and shape history. If the Lord tarries 50 years, Laurie's teaching may be titled "Israel, Iran, and <i>China</i>" Should the Lord not return for 150 years the sermon may become, "Israel, Iran, and <i>Australia"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>Yes, Australia...it <i>could </i>happen! ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's funny how my view of the "rapture" has changed as well. When I first became a Christian as a young boy I totally understood the "prophetic calendar" Laurie is referring to. A long map with the cross on one end, Christ's return on the other and a whole lot of action in between. I even had a T-shirt that had two empty tennis shoes with a "whoosh" graphic like someone had been snatched from them and the words "In Case of Rapture this T-Shirt Will be Empty" emblazoned on the front.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A snatching away of Christians... Mmmmm makes me wonder who would actually "make the cut" if Jesus did return for His Bride. I think we'd all be shocked but I'll save that for a whole other blog post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until that all reveals itself though I tend to resonate in my heart with something Pastor Brian Zahnd says. "The Blessed Hope is not that 'we're going' but that 'He's coming.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the thought that Jesus is coming is a joy all Christians can agree with.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qlrOS9s9kCo" width="420"></iframe> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-51457698836696658462012-10-02T07:35:00.002+08:002012-10-03T08:54:41.729+08:00Blue Like Jazz: Movie & The Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Donald Miller's <i>Blue Like Jazz</i> came out in 2003 and was the "must read" book throughout most of the decade in the Christian community I thought "this will be the book for me."<br />
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It wasn't.<br />
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I mean, it should have been. Lifetime Christian questioning the structures of his religious upbringing while attending "America's most liberal campus"; Reed College...sounds like something that would immediately warm my heart.<br />
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It didn't.<br />
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Maybe it was a narrative that seemed to go all over the place (I know, its supposed to...like <i>Jazz)</i><br />
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Maybe it was that fact that I was already living in the very liberal college town of Boulder Colorado and didn't need anymore "fuzzy around the edges" in my life.<br />
<i> </i><br />
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Maybe it was the famous scene in the book where they set up the "confession booth" and ask forgiveness of non-Christians for all the bad stuff Christians had done like...you know like, <i>the Crusades! </i>(I thought, "Really, this guy is taking responsibility for a political conflict that occurred 1000 years ago. Couldn't Christians apologize for something a little more recent and relevant...you know, like maybe Jerry Falwell?) <br />
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Whatever the reason, <i>Blue Like Jazz </i>remained on my bookshelf with a bookmark about 3/4 of the way through...unfinished.<br />
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Recently though Donald Miller was being interviewed on a podcast I listen to and he was talking about how the movie had come out and they screened it at Reed College.<br />
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That got my interest!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD73zAR-HA4-dS6_h7sVHwKVvbmUTCryHoMuk6BF8PHgV1owmFDSaLYd4nzopuf91U2Qy01zx5L88YV04iuNK8NN0_Kbu7mjSiAKteqq1Q1g4REqPuoi09ezKz6DdPRhkIBj4anFV6WJI/s1600/bluelike+jazz+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N1x3je4A99g?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
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Miller, in the interview was pretty humble and engaging. He talked about how some conservative groups he thought would hate the movie, loved it and some more "progressive" groups didn't. Go figure... Miller went on to talk about the screening at Reed and how 2000 people who came out at first to mock the movie, instead were by the films end, silent and reflective.<br />
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I was intrigued! I got home that evening and watched the movie in my living room. (How did I watch the movie in Hong Kong you ask? Well, lets just say, this is Asia and when I meet Donald Miller one day, I owe him 10 bucks) <br />
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The movie itself takes the narratives from the book and loosely translates them into the fictional account of Don, a southern Baptist teen heading off to his first year at a Christian university. He discovers though that his hyper religious mother is having an affair with the youth pastor and in an act of rebellion to spite his mother, church, and faith, heads off to the very secular Reed College. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD73zAR-HA4-dS6_h7sVHwKVvbmUTCryHoMuk6BF8PHgV1owmFDSaLYd4nzopuf91U2Qy01zx5L88YV04iuNK8NN0_Kbu7mjSiAKteqq1Q1g4REqPuoi09ezKz6DdPRhkIBj4anFV6WJI/s1600/bluelike+jazz+1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD73zAR-HA4-dS6_h7sVHwKVvbmUTCryHoMuk6BF8PHgV1owmFDSaLYd4nzopuf91U2Qy01zx5L88YV04iuNK8NN0_Kbu7mjSiAKteqq1Q1g4REqPuoi09ezKz6DdPRhkIBj4anFV6WJI/s200/bluelike+jazz+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Under the direction of Steve Taylor, the iconic 1980s Christian rocker who was popping religious church balloons far before it became fashionable, <i>Blue Like Jazz</i> creatively navigates a difficult tension between showing the real challenge a Christian has in engaging a "real world"...and not showing so much of that "real world" that no one under 18 is allowed to watch it. <br />
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At the film's beginning Don lives in a Christian bubble. Anyone who has lived in that bubble and has come out will cringe at some of the scenes depicted here including when Don, before heading off to Christian college, is made to stand in front of the church in full Sunday School issued "armor of God" costume.<br />
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Like anybody living in that bubble though and then stepping out, the initial steps can be disastrous. Don quickly succumbs to the temptations of Reed College and from there the film spends the remainder of the story reestablishing his faith on more solid ground than how he had begun. The film concludes with the infamous "confession booth" from the book but which was much more emotionally relevant...especially as it didn't focus on apologizing for the Crusades.<br />
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<i>Blue Like Jazz</i> is not for everyone and certainly pushes the boundary of what can be considered a "Christian" movie. My guess though is the film's creator's didn't set out to make a "Christian" movie. They set out to make a film about how one discovers a legitimate faith in Christ that can replace the cultural doppelganger Christianity that is so pervasive in America and the West. A faith in Christ that can stand in the storm of modern voices that ridicule it.<br />
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<i>Blue Like Jazz</i> accomplishes this. Its not a "great" movie...but its pretty darn good! <br />
<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-7241865465747390582012-10-01T07:46:00.002+08:002012-10-01T07:47:12.426+08:00Book Review: The Gospel in Ten Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been doing a number of book reviews here at <i>Beyond the Pale</i> but this is the first review I have done where I have known the author on such a personal level. Paul Ellis, author of the Escape to Reality blog <a href="http://escapetoreality.org/" target="_blank">http://escapetoreality.org/ </a>, has published his first "Christian" book. I have to designate the "Christian" part because Paul, as a university professor of 15 years in Hong Kong, is one of the most prolific authors in the field of International business. Fortunately for us, Paul has shifted his energies from the academic arena to the area he is most passionate about; the Grace of God.<br />
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<i>The Gospel in Ten Words</i> unpacks the grace of God through the use of ten, often misunderstood, words. I have been on a Christian book marathon since about February and I have read a number that have blessed me greatly. However, I can name two that will have long term impact on me and I will be buying and passing out copies for years to come. <br />
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The first was Brian Zahnd's <a href="http://stevehackman.blogspot.hk/2012/03/book-that-is-bringing-my-spiritual-mojo.html" target="_blank"><i>Beauty Will Save the World</i></a> which caused a paradigm shift in my thinking about what church is meant to be.<br />
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The second is Paul Ellis' <i>Gospel in Ten Words </i>which will become a major resource tool for me as it is, in all honesty, the best book on explaining the grace of God I have ever read.<br />
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Loved<br />
Forgiven <br />
Saved<br />
Union<br />
Accepted<br />
Holy<br />
Rightous<br />
Died<br />
New<br />
Royal<br />
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Using these 10 words Paul defangs law, cripples self-righteous effort, and reminds the children of God that they are His children and that none can pluck them from His hand! <i>Ten Words</i> reminds us that the "good news" is indeed, good!<br />
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Because of Paul's many years as a Christian and ten years as a pastor, he may not have seen it all, but he's seen ALOT. For this reason, he is extremely adept at turning long entrenched religious structures inside out and exposing them for what they are; dead works that often keep the Children of God in chains and ignorant of their position as sons and daughters of the Most High.<br />
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For example, much of my Christian life has revolved around getting people to "accept Christ." However, <i>Ten Words </i>suggests:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The gospel is not an invitation to accept Jesus; it is the stunning announcement that He accepts you. Although the law reveals it is impossible for you to make yourself acceptable and pleasing to God, the gospel of acceptance declares that in Christ you have been made acceptable for eternity. Nothing you do can make you more or less pleasing to God than you already are. All this is to the praise and glory of His grace."</i></blockquote>
Now<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Secure in your Father's favor you will become fearless and bold. You will dine in the presence of your enemies and laugh in the face of adversity. You will dance upon the waves of circumstance and when you are tried by fires of life you shall not be burned."</i></blockquote>
I've enjoyed the irony of seeing a very academic professor, whose previous professional articles on statistics, research, and business models I could barely understand, produce a book on the gospel that is so profound and yet, so simple. Probably the reason for that is he ultimately brings everything back to Jesus!<br />
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The individual chapters are bite sized nuggets that can be easily digested in a short read. Hence in the coming weeks and months I will be returning to the book to spend 20 minutes reading about "Holy" or "Loved"; allowing these foundations to be reenforced so that my "good news" remains good.<br />
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I really recommend you allow this book to be a blessing to you as much as it has been to me. Check it out on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Gospel-Words-Paul-Ellis/dp/1927230004/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349048487&sr=8-1&keywords=paul+ellis" target="_blank">Amazon here</a> <br />
<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-83291657504286691812012-09-28T05:58:00.001+08:002012-09-28T13:54:23.187+08:00My love for "Relevant Magazine"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUuUP7EfPMA7eIGP88DsPYbG3MqfZeSrlPSCJ7tMCo0_l_bFT66FqTqzq24f_A-8-DrrQefjqS9-A-1wygDG9Xj4xMr6NMqZCu0yGhPYsVO3q2OymL6UwNpF4SNVhbEOfg6B-cRWLBGfi/s1600/relevant.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUuUP7EfPMA7eIGP88DsPYbG3MqfZeSrlPSCJ7tMCo0_l_bFT66FqTqzq24f_A-8-DrrQefjqS9-A-1wygDG9Xj4xMr6NMqZCu0yGhPYsVO3q2OymL6UwNpF4SNVhbEOfg6B-cRWLBGfi/s200/relevant.png" width="151" /></a></div>
My wife and I have a little inside joke between us; Whenever we are a little critical of someone or something, that person or thing will, without fail, turn around and demonstrate some act of charity or kindness which leaves us with egg on our faces. I think it started with Tammy commenting before our marriage that a particular female worship leader's attire was not appropriate one Sunday morning and then having that same person gush to Tammy how much she would like to volunteer to make our wedding reception something special...<br />
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...that kinda situation has been happening ever since.<br />
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In March of 2009 I wrote a <a href="http://stevehackman.blogspot.hk/2009/03/new-sacraments-relevancy.html" target="_blank">blog piece</a> on my view that there should be a moratorium on use of the word "relevant" in church circles as people were coming dangerously close to making it a sacrament alongside marriage and baptism. In fact, my precise words were:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>There are a few words I believe the church needs to have a moratorium
on. These include use of the word "Extreme" in any youth group related
activities, use of the word "Victory" in any church names, and use of
the word "Relevant" in any form whatsoever. </i></blockquote>
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So it goes without saying that in a small way that post has come back to bite me. Last week I subscribed to <i>Relevant </i>a periodical that monikers itself as a "Magazine on Faith, Culture, and Intentional Living." And to add insult to injury, I'm addicted to the weekly Relevant podcasts which I often listen to on the train heading to and from work.<br />
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Founded by Cameron Strang, son of Christian media pioneer Stephen Strang, the magazine, while maintaining an anchor in evangelical Christianity, penetrates outside the traditional Christian bubble and examines issues such as social justice and culture.<br />
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Put it this way, you're more likely to find Mark Ruffalo on the cover than Mark Driscoll. <br />
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As they say at their <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/" target="_blank">website</a>:<br />
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<i>We try to publish ideas that break stereotypes, challenge the status quo
and spur a generation to know God more—and change the world while
they're at it. We want to engage our generation in a deeper conversation
about faith, challenging worldviews and causing people to see God
outside the box they’ve put Him in. Encountering God changes things.</i></blockquote>
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I really love it but wished it had another name... Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-48809825759159040512012-09-26T06:15:00.001+08:002012-09-26T12:52:10.081+08:00Why Young Evangelicals are going Liturgical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ibfa0X7PLjL1pSigw3pJWotgBLyq-H528f-0m-xU_8WH6EUN0rlBOp0o2mMk21RqIfX1ReFjPUcB4yeCdViiiZ56hfNtxGZrTE_Q9zq5u7vZchtaJEwhSxvbQqAKfrjZ5mZQh5O2dR0D/s1600/praise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ibfa0X7PLjL1pSigw3pJWotgBLyq-H528f-0m-xU_8WH6EUN0rlBOp0o2mMk21RqIfX1ReFjPUcB4yeCdViiiZ56hfNtxGZrTE_Q9zq5u7vZchtaJEwhSxvbQqAKfrjZ5mZQh5O2dR0D/s200/praise.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I have a confession to make; I have been, and probably still am, a "sneaker."</div>
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Now, don't look so surprised. There are a LOT of us and if you are a <i>Beyond the Pale</i> reader there is a chance you either are one...or may give it a try :)</div>
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So what is a "sneaker" you ask?</div>
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Well, I read an interesting <a href="http://www.adorate.org/2012/05/sneaking-into-worship.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> over at Adorate Worship about how many, mainly young people, are "sneaking" out of their evangelical / charismatic churches on the off Sunday to go hang out with the Catholics, Anglicans, and other more mainline denominations to participate in a little liturgical worship.</div>
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Now some of you reading this are wondering "Why on earth would anyone want to do <i>that?"</i> Others of you reading this are nodding your head and whispering an "amen" because you know exactly why they're doing it!</div>
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I've been a Christian for 37 years now and remember the 1970s when the "sneaking" went the other way. Catholics, Lutherans, & Methodists, bored by the monotony of traditional hymns and church organs, were "sneaking" into charismatic worship times for a little hand clapping, foot stomping "Hallelujah" action. I remember being 10 years old and telling my Catholic friend Bobby, "Dude, we have electric guitars and drums...in church."</div>
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Oh, how the times have changed...</div>
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So why, after 30-40 add years where evangelical "praise and worship" has become the new "traditional", do young evangelicals "sneak" off to more liturgical and corporate times of worship? The blog piece at Adorate Worship suggests:</div>
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<i>The reasons for this new wave of sneakers are obvious. They’ve grown up dancing, so they long to kneel. They’ve grown up with masterfully orchestrated services, so they long for worship that may be planned, but never rehearsed. They’ve grown up with the latest, so they long for the oldest. They’ve grown up with, “God is here, let’s celebrate!” They long for “God is here, let’s kneel and be silent.”</i> </blockquote>
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<i> </i><i><br /></i><i>They’ve grown up being urged, “Now, everyone can just worship God however you might want. Just let the Holy Spirit move you. We are all different.” So now some are seeking worship where the implied advice is, “Now, everyone leave your hyper-individuality at the door. Let’s say words together. Let’s make gestures together. Stand together. Kneel together. Let’s listen to the wisdom the Holy Spirit has given over the centuries."</i></blockquote>
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My own experience in "sneaking" started in 2004. I attended the Pastor's meetings in Boulder, Colorado and one of the attending minister's was the priest from the local Catholic church. The very fact that a Catholic priest wanted to join with his protestant brothers instantly warmed my heart to him. His church was nearly walking distance from my house so one Sat. evening (yes, its easier to do this on a Sat. evening especially when you are "sneaking" away from your own church :) I went over with the family to check it out.</div>
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I LOVED it! There was just a different atmosphere and feeling of reverence that I longed for. It wasn't "better" per se. It simply allowed my spirit to experience a form of worship to the Living God that for many in that service was "normal" but for me, at that moment, was new and refreshing. It's like having eaten hamburgers every Sunday for 30 years and then biting into a nice hot dog. A different flavor...a different texture.</div>
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A visit to the Catholic church became a semi-regular occurrence for me. I even "snuck" out to visit a liturgical Presbyterian church and was amazed that during the Lord's Supper there was ten minutes of silence for reflection. TEN MINUTES! When was the last time you had corporate silence for 10 minutes in a charismatic church service?</div>
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Not better...just different... </div>
Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-32217202175481384472012-09-25T06:10:00.001+08:002012-09-25T06:18:40.082+08:00Keeping Heaven, and Toy Story Land, in our Hearts!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ5Q7z6E0AtNXLrSUfuAKhNzK0Wv6dW6bTdwZ1VywF7jXUAOvj2Jbo8bUgzAsP41YsafD4V5BZx2_i-1wBHAxHe2blv1P8vCYlcd3ZtF1Wn_Id6P5oDEREzHvM_r7KwWx7zgLatohIlik/s1600/tsl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ5Q7z6E0AtNXLrSUfuAKhNzK0Wv6dW6bTdwZ1VywF7jXUAOvj2Jbo8bUgzAsP41YsafD4V5BZx2_i-1wBHAxHe2blv1P8vCYlcd3ZtF1Wn_Id6P5oDEREzHvM_r7KwWx7zgLatohIlik/s200/tsl1.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan just stood...and stared!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the best things about living in Hong Kong is that I have a Disneyland about 30 minutes from where we live. Yes, God, in his infinite wisdom and knowing I would be returning to live in the city, had Hong Kong Disneyland built just for me...<br />
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...Ok, so it wasn't built just for me, but you have to admit, it's pretty cool to live 30 minutes from a Disneyland.<br />
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Anyhow, we visited the park late one afternoon last week and I got a little insight from my not quite 2 year old son, Ethan George, on what having a "focus on heaven" can do for one's ...mmmm... enthusiasm.<br />
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We were in <i>Grizzly Gulch, </i>one of the 3 new "mini-lands" being constructed at the park alongside <i>Toy Story Land </i>and the soon to be completed <i>Mystic Point. </i>It was September hot in Hong Kong and the cool water geysers in <i>Grizzly Gulch</i> were helping to keep us all chilled. (<i>Grizzly Gulch </i>is a recreation of 1880's America West)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8depWTFDM_dJDxtOAQSbPWqiw40xt2vTgFsB4xq3cYz2kdPgbR2cEiw3QW5raDr5D2-Jkc0Nl7gXdJzFqpOeGX4hahQrN0xrLvymayHVrJeRPRZ4Shaa3jsyM_PM-mzGskuT3vjj-1n3/s1600/tsl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8depWTFDM_dJDxtOAQSbPWqiw40xt2vTgFsB4xq3cYz2kdPgbR2cEiw3QW5raDr5D2-Jkc0Nl7gXdJzFqpOeGX4hahQrN0xrLvymayHVrJeRPRZ4Shaa3jsyM_PM-mzGskuT3vjj-1n3/s200/tsl2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the path</td></tr>
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After riding the new roller coaster and running through the water area we decided it was time to take little Ethan to his favorite place in the park, <i>Toy Story Land. Toy Story Land </i>lay just beyond the "soon to open" <i>Mystic Point </i>but the park had wisely put up a temporary wall creating a path through the construction area thus avoiding a long walk backtracking around the <i>Jungle Cruise</i> ride.<br />
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Tammy went to use the bathroom and said she'd meet us in <i>Toy Story Land </i>which left Ethan George and I to make the walk together. The walls along the path were quite tall as to mostly shield the building work as well as to not break the "fantasy" of Disneyland by watching construction workers build the latest attraction. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP8nm1OttqGELrZOhsV9hx1vCYa0SJniSbPn6-bCBp94km89pcQ8Eb95omfOaok5EcpP3eeWyjVI2quOaaa6Rd0JvMiNOpkpWchAf8EAJypOIyltp7P27I2RjSciqq0pm4eZcnjGn7NcA/s1600/tsl3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP8nm1OttqGELrZOhsV9hx1vCYa0SJniSbPn6-bCBp94km89pcQ8Eb95omfOaok5EcpP3eeWyjVI2quOaaa6Rd0JvMiNOpkpWchAf8EAJypOIyltp7P27I2RjSciqq0pm4eZcnjGn7NcA/s200/tsl3.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this heaven?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But from Ethan's vantage point it just looked like a cool tunnel and like a bullet raced onto the "path". But as he ran for a bit he realized nothing changed; just the same old boring high walled road. As he turned a bend only to discover more road his pace got slower and slower, till finally he turned around and started walking back toward <i>Grizzly Gulch. </i>I grabbed the little buck-a-roo and spun him back in the right direction and then holding his hand we walked together.<br />
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But it was late afternoon, the sun was setting in our eyes, and it was hot. On top of that, because of his height, Ethan couldn't see the tall buildings and Amazonian theme of <i>Mystic Point </i>that was rising just beyond the walls. Nope, all the little guy could see was lots of never ending walls and hot sun in his eyes. After a few paces, he turned around and was literally trying to drag me back to Grizzly Gulch. If he could speak it would go something like this, " <i>Papa, forget the Promised Land, I wanna go back to Egypt."</i><br />
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I again spun him around, much to his displeasure, and headed us off in the right direction. I knew once he "saw" <i>Toy Story Land </i>his heart would change. We trudged on...Ethan hated it...but we trudged on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIztuHJA_EGaEENyrPkNgrFDwYPvvt8hXXnDxu-zaXp_jhVrRIL3xWvp1d9e8ztfYh3zR9xin5ssn9cqWNWM2YFg5jovCFCEMic6giNVaWumxgQWC2oS0mzNOX5DK-kYuW7F52qgKVRa3s/s1600/tsl5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIztuHJA_EGaEENyrPkNgrFDwYPvvt8hXXnDxu-zaXp_jhVrRIL3xWvp1d9e8ztfYh3zR9xin5ssn9cqWNWM2YFg5jovCFCEMic6giNVaWumxgQWC2oS0mzNOX5DK-kYuW7F52qgKVRa3s/s200/tsl5.jpg" width="200" /></a>Then, after turning a bend, Ethan got his first glimpse of his destination. I watched him try to make it out as the sun was in his eyes. "Was that Rex the dinosaur? Is that the Toy Story music I hear? Is it, no it can't be...Buzz & Woody?" The contorted look of pain suddenly turned to joy. A big wide smile from ear to ear broke out across his face. Suddenly he was running...and in the right direction! <br />
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The long path still to be walked was ignored. The heat, the sun, the humidity...the boredom was but a distant thought in light of the glory that was <i>Toy Story Land! </i>The only thing that mattered was arriving at his goal!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfnzfVhq4A5yDyOvBrbeXMACUEbynv4UrVfjf7IZXdHzGthteGg3mFNBeZSDTHK__L1lYvQ-Sup2oNnyAcvEW4AKYebwv0rAPIpuaLP-PU0GDRkqPVmK-yhDFS0wrlxH01lxOGUQzit-x/s1600/tsl4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfnzfVhq4A5yDyOvBrbeXMACUEbynv4UrVfjf7IZXdHzGthteGg3mFNBeZSDTHK__L1lYvQ-Sup2oNnyAcvEW4AKYebwv0rAPIpuaLP-PU0GDRkqPVmK-yhDFS0wrlxH01lxOGUQzit-x/s200/tsl4.jpg" width="150" /></a><i><br /></i><br />
In my last post I reviewed a book <i>Things Unseen </i>about the importance of keeping a heavenly mindedness in heart as we encounter the world around us. When we fail to keep our eyes on Heaven we will be continually discouraged by the momentary things that surround us. We may even be tempted to turn around and head back to <i>Grizzly Gulch.</i><br />
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Last week I had a lesson from my 2 year old on the advantages of keeping <i>Toy Story Land</i> in our heart<br />
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<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-79123314652311848152012-09-22T07:53:00.003+08:002012-09-22T08:13:04.085+08:00Book Review: Things Unseen by Mark Buchanan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If there is is a passion for me right now, it would have to be the Kingdom of Heaven. For someone who spent years (decades) as a political junkie, I think many who have known me are surprised how much my "politics" have transformed themselves from "things below" to "things above". But "things" have a way of changing when you move from a theology of "getting from here to Heaven" to "getting Heaven to come here". I realized that many of my "good intentions" not only failed to help bring God's Kingdom to Earth but actually inhibited it's coming at all.<br />
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It's in this new environment for me that a pastor friend from Colorado recommended, <i>Things Unseen: Living in Light of Forever</i> by Mark Buchanan. It has been said that "some people are too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good." Buchanan's premise is that without a proper fixation on heaven, you "earthly good" will be all but crippled.<br />
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Rather than paint Heaven as the great "Here After", <i>Things Unseen </i>reveals a heaven that we can have written in our hearts. A heaven that guides our actions and decisions here and now; and when the time comes that we do move on into eternity, we simply transition into the fulness of what we had already been living in. <br />
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This "Heavenly-mindedness" says Buchanan, "<i>is sanity. It is the best regimen for keeping our hearts whole, our minds clear. It allows us to enjoy earth's pleasures without debauchery. It allows us to endure life's agonies without despair. It allows us to see things from the widest possible perspective and in the truest possible proportions. If anything can give us a true scale of values- one that enables us to sort out the disposable from the precious, the trinkets from the treasures, the surface from the substance- heavenly mindedness can.</i>"</blockquote>
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Much of the book's strength rests on Buchanan's gift at spinning a phrase that makes our understanding of an issue more passionate and inspiring. Take for example "holiness". Any preacher announcing he will do a series on "holiness" will usually generate a collective groan from the congregation. "Holiness" in Buchanan's hand however comes out like this:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<i>God intends the holy life to be an odyssey of wonder. The religious impulse tends to make it into a journey both dreary and heavy, perilous and plodding. But God designed holiness to be invigorating, the discovery of life so abundant that if He didn't unveil it for us, we would forever lack the imagination even to ask for it.</i>"</blockquote>
See what I mean?<br />
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So if you are looking on getting a clearer view of Heaven before death rather than after, <i>Things Unseen</i>, should go on your "to read" list! Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-31135724662771538672012-09-16T07:07:00.003+08:002012-09-17T05:38:17.124+08:00Does the Chinese Government understand Christianity better than America?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was in a meeting a couple weeks ago with some Americans and the topic of the U.S. election came up. O.K., full disclosure, I was watching the Republican National Convention with a group from <i>Republicans Abroad</i> here in Hong Kong.<br />
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(Hey, it included breakfast at The American Club whose club membership I could never afford in a million years so...yes...I shamelessly took the opportunity to have coffee and bagels in such a swank setting even if it did mean having to endure watching Fox News on the big screen)<br />
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Of course being Republicans somehow the conversation meandered on to the topic of God and as I am a pastor and have had a little history with Republican politics my opinion was sought.<br />
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"Well," I said, "sometimes I wonder if the Chinese government might understand Christianity more than the American government."<br />
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Yes, jaws dropped... and then they wanted to know what I meant.<br />
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"Well," I explained, " the Chinese government understands that Christianity is an alternative way to order society. That it places Jesus as Lord of everything in Heaven and Earth. For Christians to truly follow Christ is to ultimately have an authority higher than the State. China rather frowns that; seeing any authority higher than itself as not such a good thing. Hence, they actively persecute it"<br />
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"In America we have a Christianity that tends to put American patriotism and "We the People" as the highest authority. Yes Jesus is our "Personal Lord & Savior" but it better stay just that...personal. Any public proclamation of Christianity is expected to be accompanied by tacit approval (and blessing) of general domestic and foreign policy."<br />
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I went on to explain in Rome the disciples of Christ were executed, as was Jesus himself, for proclaiming a king other than Caesar. Rome was fairly tolerant of other religions and if the the disciples had basically stuck to an American styled Christianity and just told people if they accepted Jesus Christ they could go to heaven one day, followed up by a "God Bless the Roman Empire", hey, they probably would have lived to a ripe old age.<br />
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The early church, however, tended to take the words of Christ seriously. That the Kingdom of Heaven which had come to Earth through Jesus Christ was fundamentally at odds, not just with Rome, but with the power structures of the age. As Christians we certainly can honor governmental authorities and engage in the civic process, but when the church simply performs the role of a chaplain called in to bless the latest government policy we lose our prophetic voice which is calling all people everywhere to be citizens of the Kingdom of the Heaven.<br />
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When I see American friends who have been walking with Christ for years angrily attacking political rivals and defaming even fellow Christians who have a different political view I realize the Kingdom of Heaven is but a soft whisper in their ears that, sadly, is all too easily silenced by the kingdom of this corrupt age.<br />
<br />
In the end my breakfast companions polietly thanked me for my thoughts on that but, you know, Clint Eastwood was coming on now so lets give the God stuff a rest and watch what Dirty Harry had to say.Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-24051754917514077662012-09-12T15:00:00.000+08:002012-09-12T15:09:52.043+08:00Coast to Coast Walk ReduxFor those of you that don't know, in July my 14 year old son Gabriel and I did the Wainwright Coast to Coast walk across northern England. We started in the town of St. Bees on the Irish Sea coast and headed east eventually arriving on the North Sea coast 14 days later. We traversed the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors and it was the father / son trip of a life time.<br />
<br />
Last week I did a school assembly where I compiled a stack of photos
together and using the Animoto software program made a nice little
keepsake of our amazing journey together. <br />
<br />
800 students watched the presentation and when I finished I walked over to the side of the gymnasium where one of the teaching assistants was crying. Apparently she was REALLY touched by the following clip...I don't suspect most of you will have that same reaction, but I do hope you enjoy it! Cheers..
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Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-51130146375501510692012-09-07T18:05:00.000+08:002012-09-08T05:59:12.949+08:00How not to get Sucked into Election Season Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jIJC6i3p9NqSirI2ef74Ohb5mxEV3B45__3Fm0u3QAdmalISDcDHLuJGI6Zh2tFZP8-HhhmTOwdCSJsRJ1iy9eqjRk99szbAYtyBIW2nZ2Hp2tgJUIJYj5MW-yooLH1XPsLEAwvDmplD/s1600/jesus2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jIJC6i3p9NqSirI2ef74Ohb5mxEV3B45__3Fm0u3QAdmalISDcDHLuJGI6Zh2tFZP8-HhhmTOwdCSJsRJ1iy9eqjRk99szbAYtyBIW2nZ2Hp2tgJUIJYj5MW-yooLH1XPsLEAwvDmplD/s200/jesus2012.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Wow, my Facebook news feed has really changed lately. I knew the 2012 political season was in full swing when the normal posts featuring my "friend's" travel adventures, babies being born, and what they had for breakfast were usurped by updates showing why the apocalypse will reign down on America if there is a Democratic or Republican victory in November.<br />
<br />
What's most disturbing from my vantage point is that the most bombastic and "cringe worthy" posts come from Christians who, ironically, are supposed to be identified by the love they have for people. I'm left wondering at what point during the election season is the Sermon on the Mount no longer applicable to Christ's disciples?<br />
<br />
Back in 2003 when I was a graduate student at the University of Colorado our department invited former Democratic Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson in for a panel discussion. One of the questions asked was how things in Congress had changed from when they served. Their immediate response was the adversarial nature between the parties was much more bitter and personal than it had been in their day. They noted how President Reagan (R) and House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D) fought passionately over policy but at the end of the day "they were two Irishmen who enjoyed beer."<br />
<br />
What happened? Why have Christians, who are supposed to be putting out fires of strife and discord, are instead fanning the flames? <br />
<br />
I recently listened to an excellent teaching by Brian Zahnd called <i>Election Season and your Soul</i>. He gives his church congregation a 10 point "voter guide" on how <b>NOT</b> to get sucked into the "madness" of the political season.<br />
<br />
The original post can be found <a href="http://brianzahnd.com/2012/07/election-season-and-your-soul/">here:</a> Let me say I agree with the below points 150%...and you should too.<br />
<br />
<b>1. The political process, while necessary, has little to do with how God is saving the world.</b><br />
For more on this point go here: <a href="http://brianzahnd.com/2010/10/the-church-as-an-alternative-society/">The Church as an Alternative Society</a><br />
<br />
<b>2. The fate of the kingdom of God does <i>not</i> depend upon political contests.</b><br />
Don’t be swept away by apocalyptic political rhetoric. It is what it
is. Another election cycle. Jesus is Lord no matter who wins the Big
American Idol contest and gets their turn at playing Caesar.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Don’t be naïve, political parties are more interested in Christian <i>votes</i> than they are in Christian <i>values</i>. </b><br />
Do you doubt this? Thought Experiment: Imagine if Jesus went to
Washington D.C. Imagine that he is invited to give a speech to a joint
session of Congress. (He’s Jesus after all, and I’m sure the senators
and congressmen would be delighted to hear a speech from the founder of
the world’s largest religion—it would confer great dignity upon the
institution.) Imagine that the speech Jesus gave was his most famous
sermon—the Sermon on the Mount. Can you imagine that? Jesus is
introduced. (Standing ovation.) He stands before Congress and begins to
deliver his speech. “Blessed are the poor…the mourners…the meek.” “Love
your enemies.” “Turn the other cheek.” After some perfunctory applause
early on, I’m pretty sure there would be a lot of squirming senators and
congressmen. The room would sink into a tense silence. And when Jesus
concluded his speech with a prophecy of the inevitable fall of the house
that would not act upon his words (Matthew 7:26–27), what would
Congress do? Nothing. They could not act. To act on Jesus’ words would
undo their system. In the end, the U.S. Congress would no more adopt the
policies Jesus set out in the Sermon on the Mount than they were
adopted by the Jewish Sanhedrin or the Roman Senate. The Jesus Way and
the Politics of Power don’t mix.<br />
<br />
<b>4. The bottom line for political parties is power. The bottom line for a Christian is love. And therein lies the rub.</b><br />
The problem with our “change the world” rhetoric is that it is too
often a thinly veiled grasp for power and a quest for dominance—things
which are antithetical to the way Jesus calls his disciples to live. A
politicized faith feeds on a narrative of perceived injury and lost
entitlement leading us to blame, vilify and seek to in some way
retaliate against those we imagine responsible for the loss in late
modernity of a mythical past. It’s what Friedrich Nietzsche as a critic
of Christianity identified as <i>ressentiment</i> and it drives much of the Christian quest for political power.<br />
<b><br />
5. While in pursuit of the Ring of Power, you are not permitted to abandon the Sermon on the Mount. </b><br />
When the world is arranged as an axis of power enforced by violence,
the pursuit of power trumps everything. But in the new world created at
the cross (an axis of love expressed by forgiveness), love trumps
everything. The Sermon on the Mount is our guide to this new kind of
love. Among other things, this means you cannot deliberately portray
your political opponents in the worst possible light. (Attack ads?
Remember the Golden Rule?) Jesus also taught us that if you call someone
you disagree with a “fool” you are liable to the “Gehenna of fire.” I
might put it this way: When your political rage causes you to hurl
epithets like “fool” and “idiot”—you are kindling the fires of hell in
your own soul!<br />
<br />
<b>6. If your political passion makes it hard for you to love your neighbor as yourself, you need to turn it down a notch.</b><br />
Right?<br />
<b><br />
7. Your task is to bring the salt of Christian civility to an ugly and acrimonious political process. </b><br />
If you cannot contribute to the redemption of the political process,
but are instead being contaminated by it, then you are salt that has
lost its savor…and what’s the point?<br />
<br />
<b>8. To dismember the body of Christ over politics is a grievous sin. </b><br />
This business of denying that someone is true brother or sister in
Christ based upon their politics is horrible and must be repented of! It
is no small sin. When the Corinthian church carried their class
divisions to the communion table, the Apostle Paul said, “Anyone who
eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on
himself.” Don’t do it!<br />
<br />
<b>9. Exercise your liberty to vote your conscience and
conviction, while accepting that other Christians will do the same and
vote differently than you. </b><br />
There are committed Christians who conscientiously vote Republican.
And there are committed Christians who conscientiously vote Democratic.
This is true. You simply have to accept it.<br />
<br />
<b>10. It’s more important that your soul be filled with love than it is for your political team to win the game.</b><br />
If your team loses, the sun will come up and life will go on. But if
you damage your soul by succumbing to politically motivated vitriol that
causes love to whither, you would have been better off to have never
got yourself politically entangled in the first place.<br />
I leave you with this…<br />
<blockquote>
Love is patient and kind.<br />
Love does not envy or boast.<br />
Love is not arrogant or rude.<br />
Love does not insist on its own way.<br />
Love is not irritable or resentful.<br />
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing,<br />
Love rejoices with the truth.<br />
Love bears and believes all things.<br />
Love hopes and endures all things.<br />
Love never fails.</blockquote>
This is what the Apostle Paul calls the “more excellent way.”<br />
It is the way of Christ.<br />
It is the holy way of love.<br />
It is the way we are called to.<br />
It is the way of human flourishing.<br />
And if you have to choose between love and politics—choose love.<br />
<br />
<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-44879628174358043952012-08-27T14:25:00.000+08:002012-08-27T14:25:51.044+08:00In Memorium: Neil Armstrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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America lost one of her legends yesterday. Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, died at the age of 82. Armstrong landed on the moon on July 21, 1969 and cemented his place in the history books. </div>
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For the first time a human from Earth stepped on another celestial body.</div>
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A lot has been made over the last 48 hours about Armstrong; his accomplishments, his humility, his general good nature. Seems like everyone thought he was genuine "salt of the earth". After his history making adventure he chose not to cash in on celebrity, or even leverage his status for political purposes. (Although the offers were many) Instead he retreated to his home state of Ohio and taught at a local university. He rarely gave interviews and chose to stay out of the limelight.</div>
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That is until President Obama decided to cut the future Constellation Moon Landing program and development of the Ares launch vehicle. That was enough to call the legendary space pioneer out of retirement. In an open letter to the President he said that Obama's cutting of the program was "devastating" and that,</div>
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<em>"For The United States, the leading space faring nation for nearly half a century, to be without carriage to low Earth orbit and with no human exploration capability to go beyond Earth orbit for an indeterminate time into the future, destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature..."</em></div>
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and </div>
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<em>"Without the skill and experience that actual spacecraft operation provides, the USA is far too likely to be on a long downhill slide to mediocrity. America must decide if it wishes to remain a leader in space."</em></blockquote>
America used to be a leader in "reaching for the stars." My hope is that the renewed focus on Armstrong with his passing will allow Americans to remember when we dared to reach into the void and "make one small step for man, one giant leap for Mankind." <br />
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Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-28106551350134694692012-08-07T09:17:00.000+08:002012-08-07T09:24:21.175+08:00My review of Rob Bell's "Love Wins"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realize I'm a little late to the party on this one. Rob Bell's book, <i>Love Wins </i>has been out for more than a year now and the controversy surrounding it has moved on to other targets....but I've been on a book roll lately and this one was one I was meaning to get to.<br />
<br />
Most of the controversy centers on Bell's flirting with universalism, which for those of you with a real job means that everyone will eventually be reconciled to God and no one is going to be left in hell to burn for all eternity. What I always find interesting in any debate, and this one particular, is the attitude of peoples hearts when discussing it. Seeing some Christian's reaction you'd almost believe they would be furious if many people were not thrown into the flames for all eternity. Like a celestial crowd in a gladiatorial arena they gleefully give a thumbs down to Caesar as he seeks their decision on whether a victim who has fought in the games should live or die.<br />
<br />
Fortunately Bell brings a bigger and more loving interpretation to the debate. Someone asked me after I finished the book what I thought. I said I agreed with a large part of it. Some of it was a bit of a creative stretch at times (Bell is an intelligent and creative guy). For example his interpretation of the story of Lazarus and the rich ruler after death had me scratching my head a little but ALOT of what he brings to the table are questions that need to be asked and most church streams and denominations won't touch them with a ten foot pole.<br />
<br />
And why?<br />
<br />
Because if they do Pandora's Box would be opened and the whole thing could collapse. (which could lead to dancing :) <br />
<br />
But didn't Jesus do that very thing?<br />
<br />
Didn't he travel around asking questions that made the religious establishment very uncomfortable. He'd say the Kingdom of God was like "this" or the Kingdom was like "that" in a way that made the priests and pastors of the day crazy with jealousy and anger. Didn't Jesus then start saying that certain people were "in" when the religious leaders and holy men had declared them to be "out"?<br />
<br />
(Believe me, humans are far more enthusiastic about throwing people into hell than God... could that affect our theology at all?)<br />
<br />
For example when God says he desires all men to be saved, that every knee will bow and confess Christ to the glory of God the Father, that all creation will be reconciled in Christ... Does God get what he wants? Does the Creator and Author of Life get what he declares he wants to see happen? <br />
<br />
Or does the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, Does "I AM" give up at a certain point and admit, "I did what I could but that's about the best I'm going to get." <br />
<br />
Mmmmm,<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ufENWTtGAz0" width="560"></iframe>
Much of the book though deals with heaven and getting away from a Christianity that seeks primarily to get people a ticket to paradise rather than participating in Christ's plan of bringing reconciliation and "heaven" to earth now. That we would be active participants in fulfilling Jesus' prayer that His will be done on earth as in heaven.<br />
<br />
Bell says right now the earth is filled with a lot of different "wills" and Christianity should be bigger in scope than has often been the case.<br />
<br />
I actually have a good friend who I have known closely since high school. At one time he was a strong Christian believer but after some years left the faith. He told me not long ago that he believed in God again but one of the reasons he didn't consider himself a Christian anymore was that Christians made God far to small.<br />
<br />
And you know, I agree with him. We have made God to small. Bell's book seeks to get our view of God back to the standing and scope it should be at.<br />
<br />
Do I agree with every aspect of what Bell suggests in "Love Wins". Probably not...but it is an important contribution in making Christianity the Body of Christ that will bring Life to those in our world that are desperately looking for it.<br />
<br />
In the end though I agree with Bell that "<i>Love Win</i>s."Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-63428007294492496532012-08-02T15:35:00.000+08:002012-08-02T15:36:01.498+08:00Coast to Coast: Day 15 & Epilogue<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9KD3h-FHIacuZkAgqhGGwUQro_tpocG_Yw_jl_qS-TABB7zt81zSNrgDwrEVgQ1Sk5LqqiZWgrSLZPWvAN-f3zcoJRkbhlM0SdnQ5Wonf-UUUZuQq9R4dNwnB3rl3n307e7LRih5lFwo/s1600/CIMG4522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9KD3h-FHIacuZkAgqhGGwUQro_tpocG_Yw_jl_qS-TABB7zt81zSNrgDwrEVgQ1Sk5LqqiZWgrSLZPWvAN-f3zcoJRkbhlM0SdnQ5Wonf-UUUZuQq9R4dNwnB3rl3n307e7LRih5lFwo/s200/CIMG4522.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bags packed at "The Villa"</td></tr>
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<u><b>Back to London</b></u> <br />
<br />
Woke up the next Friday morning and Gabriel and I almost didn't know what to do with ourselves. It was the first day in 2 weeks where we didn't have to get up, eat, gather our gear together, and start walking. Instead we enjoyed a final evening in a Victorian Bed & Breakfast, a final full English breakfast, and a final goodbye to "the trail". <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The British Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Breakfast conversation was unusually good this last morning as well. There were about 6 others at the table who asked us a number of questions concerning our hike and what we experienced. I must say I was often asked by the British folk both at this breakfast as well as for the last two weeks some form of the following question, "So, how has Hong Kong changed since the handover?" My answer would elaborate on areas where Hong Kong hasn't changed at all as well as areas I feel have changed a fair bit. Oh, how I do love International discussions...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcBBJfw0CuwUxw0bVzxAuTZiPawzFfZoAPMiY2Gkj8Ti_benkT0_Q2skn_l02QofXKkyEaeqbsyTnF1-AbHPBxyUkMVFXv5G4-x3XPsYSZceuYZz36BCgjr_JzkaU-HAU2mF6UIOI7-NG/s1600/CIMG4533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcBBJfw0CuwUxw0bVzxAuTZiPawzFfZoAPMiY2Gkj8Ti_benkT0_Q2skn_l02QofXKkyEaeqbsyTnF1-AbHPBxyUkMVFXv5G4-x3XPsYSZceuYZz36BCgjr_JzkaU-HAU2mF6UIOI7-NG/s200/CIMG4533.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Jersey Boys" in the West End</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpRJFwOSRD4hmYTUHkd8SYr7teD-aWV1-lTinfY8Qj0EWq1H0sSm4QrljGNEo48uORzhQ9MADD_7NdKEHsH3db8W5-iu9YC18sYOm1tTicT9-5zE7jhEKUF97_5ogzA6GFY1-qW8Lu-sy/s1600/CIMG4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpRJFwOSRD4hmYTUHkd8SYr7teD-aWV1-lTinfY8Qj0EWq1H0sSm4QrljGNEo48uORzhQ9MADD_7NdKEHsH3db8W5-iu9YC18sYOm1tTicT9-5zE7jhEKUF97_5ogzA6GFY1-qW8Lu-sy/s200/CIMG4548.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Olympics 2012!</td></tr>
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After breakfast we packed our gear up, ran into Robin Hood's Bay to get Gabriel a souvenir Coast to Coast T-Shirt, and then caught the bus to Scarborough where we would transfer to a train that would take us on a 3 hour trip back down to London. We checked into a Travel Lodge hotel in Covent Garden which, I must say, lacked the style and atmosphere of the bed & Breakfasts I had grown accustomed. :) We had enough time to get showered and changed for our big celebration though. Two months earlier I had asked Gabriel what West End show he would like to see to celebrate the end of our big adventure. He responded, "<i>Jersey Boys</i>!". So I managed to get two tickets...second row! <br />
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What an amazing show. A perfect and joyful end to what was darn near close to the perfect trip a father son can have. The next day we toured the British Museum for about 3 hours before we headed out to Heathrow for our flight back to Hong Kong!<br />
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<b><u>Final Thoughts</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk0KJrnKaKz0T1emi2lpm_E_mb4bkG0MyE7AqX0vftPIYL914vtBHyqKf4Cg_y_5li_Pa6ierxo93G8g3ONxP9RfOpWbpxoThlgByPf04JpIgyNVyLzh5x4XRfj5gSycIW5is-zcP5uWA/s1600/CIMG4082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk0KJrnKaKz0T1emi2lpm_E_mb4bkG0MyE7AqX0vftPIYL914vtBHyqKf4Cg_y_5li_Pa6ierxo93G8g3ONxP9RfOpWbpxoThlgByPf04JpIgyNVyLzh5x4XRfj5gSycIW5is-zcP5uWA/s320/CIMG4082.jpg" width="240" /></a>If you are thinking of tackling the Coast to Coast, here are some things to consider:<br />
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* Packhorse was a helpful and reliable company for organizing everything for us. Find them here: <a href="http://www.c2cpackhorse.co.uk/index.htm">http://www.c2cpackhorse.co.uk/index.htm</a><br />
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* A rest day! Not really needed for a 14 day trip but Gabriel and I said one day where we didn't have to rush out the door in the morning and could pause to enjoy our surroundings would have been helpful. Rest day suggestions: Grasmere, Patterdale, Kirkby Stephen, and Richmond<br />
<br />
* People for months asked me what training I was doing for the hike. The answer?? <b> I didn't do any</b> beyond the occasional workouts and runs I do anyhow. It can be tough in sections for sure but if you are moderately fit and set in your heart you will finish it...you will finish it. <br />
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* Having said that make sure you do everything to protect your feet. Gabriel and I wore liner socks with a good hiking socks over them. Plus some form of blister relief bandages and creams. I went blister free for 200 miles by taking care and Gabriel was mostly blister free.<br />
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* Enjoy other people! Probably the most fun he had was the interaction we had with each other and all the wonderful people we met. Be proactive...introduce yourself and enjoy a laugh, a meal, and some ale with a new friend.<br />
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* Navigation: We chose NOT to use GPS as we wanted this to be an adventure and risk getting lost at times. If you go sans GPS don't think you you won't need a compass...you will! For all intents and purposes we did the whole walk with the Trailblazer "Stedman" guide which has about 100 hand drawn maps...and a compass.<br />
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* Talk to God: Let's face it, there are ALOT of hours to fill and people are not always around. God is...and there is perhaps no more beautiful place to chat with Him than in His creation...and if you listen carefully, He tends to speak back :)<br />
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* Enjoy! And if these posts have helped you in any way, leave a comment and let us know!<br />
<br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-74411491308084067632012-08-01T15:34:00.002+08:002012-08-02T06:40:50.475+08:00Day 14: Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKfK-vMtAa5pbgdftdHsXB06-aiBdWSXq3ursQww1yl9PaEHC6HqHBZzXIgHNvaxNYK8FmqJFaiqkcYnj6BaZpmfRihqI73VHdx_3fgfxz2G6DeXecAwJb2DptMBvPz3zDjEQoxRBTXeR/s1600/CIMG4506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKfK-vMtAa5pbgdftdHsXB06-aiBdWSXq3ursQww1yl9PaEHC6HqHBZzXIgHNvaxNYK8FmqJFaiqkcYnj6BaZpmfRihqI73VHdx_3fgfxz2G6DeXecAwJb2DptMBvPz3zDjEQoxRBTXeR/s200/CIMG4506.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>Day 14: Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay</b><br />
<b>Starting Time: 9:20 AM</b><br />
<b>Finish Time: 5:10 PM</b><br />
<b>Total Mileage: 15.5 miles</b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: Lisvane</b><br />
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Last Day! After two weeks on the road the excitement has really started to build that the end of our journey is nearly complete. There is something very different in a hike that takes multiple days and weeks rather than an afternoon. A feeling of victory, accomplishment, overcoming...etc. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself...as they say, "we ain't done yet!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR7PySNpV-KNh8ShDpMDH1QE2eRsXkTUs_kitA0ZqyK1v62AiJmIeG3muu9_bH0lIbFyzC2UJVUs4SZDh-DVENJA7fU6ZWiPP1urpi1kemm72QH32QmZCQ3ZzJshr9X9r4SoFbdRGrrFB/s1600/CIMG4455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR7PySNpV-KNh8ShDpMDH1QE2eRsXkTUs_kitA0ZqyK1v62AiJmIeG3muu9_bH0lIbFyzC2UJVUs4SZDh-DVENJA7fU6ZWiPP1urpi1kemm72QH32QmZCQ3ZzJshr9X9r4SoFbdRGrrFB/s200/CIMG4455.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Beck Woods</td></tr>
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Woke up in Lisvane bed and breakfast which was another gorgeous home. I must admit the owner at first did not win me over. Not that she was rude mind you, just matter of fact in a way that made us feel a little unwelcome when we arrived. Then I found out that I had to pay 2 pounds for the wi-fi password which made me slightly annoyed as we hadn't had to pay at any other place the last two weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGzmAIQ2dzyXb_-2aPU5vL7OCcRJh93wVG_18fgvOPBk3pwFizYbSOPWyyD793V73MnJIJwuB4GbA5CqRnJpD3M2edrAQmGSeU2jJmzaRLW1thMYKK6Ggluc296-CSj36lgIQNk7seke/s1600/CIMG4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zGzmAIQ2dzyXb_-2aPU5vL7OCcRJh93wVG_18fgvOPBk3pwFizYbSOPWyyD793V73MnJIJwuB4GbA5CqRnJpD3M2edrAQmGSeU2jJmzaRLW1thMYKK6Ggluc296-CSj36lgIQNk7seke/s200/CIMG4462.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found Shelob's Lair...Run!</td></tr>
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As with many situations in life though, there is always another side to the story.<br />
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In the morning at breakfast our landlady's demeanor had changed and she was very gracious and talkative (maybe something else on her mind last night?). She explained that she charges for the wi-fi (without my inquiring why) as a donation to the volunteer mountain rescue teams that help stranded hikers. (Any irritation I had with paying 2 pounds instantly disappeared). She mentioned that since the BBC documentary on the Coast to Coast with Julia Bradbury had come out in 2009 there had been a spike in the number of hikers needing the services of rescue teams as people watching Julia jogging along the trail were under the impression it was easy...and its NOT! (Rumor has it that Julia didn't even do the walk).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhBCMXapP_ArB3KAWlN14KzmTMKJ7soWHHxD2D5KsUwExJ58FNRApZ6YDMBci8Ub_0I-UptoygDiVLqHbzyrVDsjzoSIYz-GZ6FPXNPGWQcuQBWe5ejuDn3elB6ALKV5epmM3j3KqXPPq/s1600/CIMG4463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhBCMXapP_ArB3KAWlN14KzmTMKJ7soWHHxD2D5KsUwExJ58FNRApZ6YDMBci8Ub_0I-UptoygDiVLqHbzyrVDsjzoSIYz-GZ6FPXNPGWQcuQBWe5ejuDn3elB6ALKV5epmM3j3KqXPPq/s200/CIMG4463.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hermitage </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyhow we bid farewell but I do have to mention that you know you are in a small town when the barmaid who brought our dinner to us in the pub the night before is the same girl who came in the morning to deliver Gabriel and I our full English breakfast. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMr3p4VcqYMDlbwlME_UvhIw5peuVVAR-hm_fT22qKsWbYLdUL2yxYMOCfyGtsy6G-nARWHexU3kiE7bS_BicCpbCrzi3tCFOL1zmwT5GrCoL3PvA9aS4FKR1cEGi_simdPVDYc8_6suU/s1600/CIMG4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMr3p4VcqYMDlbwlME_UvhIw5peuVVAR-hm_fT22qKsWbYLdUL2yxYMOCfyGtsy6G-nARWHexU3kiE7bS_BicCpbCrzi3tCFOL1zmwT5GrCoL3PvA9aS4FKR1cEGi_simdPVDYc8_6suU/s200/CIMG4471.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last lunch before finishing</td></tr>
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The hike out of Grosmont is a somewhat steep climb and Gabriel's blister was bothering him so we moved slowly. We had now become accustomed to his foot needing a while to work itself in. As luck would have it though we took the wrong road out of the town (looked pretty confusing on the map I must say). Realizing we were heading in the wrong direction and yet trying to avoid backtracking down to the starting point again I looked around for a local I could ask directions from.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_GXvvBN0qypqiqdI-YWsP5kk9aVZ-gVGUHD9HQ0wXhG4l9tcJMWGTuaafl9j3TpffUzVcpqmG0OWe21WofFfv7f0J_cttZLoQq3p8DcHA5BVpEaOQsb8rkC7_EBbaZrHCmfjsh9wQncX/s1600/CIMG4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_GXvvBN0qypqiqdI-YWsP5kk9aVZ-gVGUHD9HQ0wXhG4l9tcJMWGTuaafl9j3TpffUzVcpqmG0OWe21WofFfv7f0J_cttZLoQq3p8DcHA5BVpEaOQsb8rkC7_EBbaZrHCmfjsh9wQncX/s200/CIMG4480.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally...a sign!</td></tr>
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I don't think I have mentioned how much I have enjoyed doing this walk in an English speaking country. The ability to ask a local person directions without crude attempts at a foreign language, speaking in baby talk English, or resorting to charades and hand signals was a welcome advantage. Finally an older man tending his garden saw me with my map in my hand and said, "you look like a lost Coast to Coaster". He went on to tell me that the intersection near us would put us back on track with minimum backtracking...a welcome relief.<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXg4JvhcIKxNMWxdUdHusDoTf2Me6YtUH2cLICiTCkmZScCfNgfofuXm7pAeB_Ltmmmo7I5EmFIw-MoHMcaXybCUySpkMkALqS2khTMjjbfcTRRB8yBs8_Ui3EE7MHpteNfcO9cN6vLq1/s1600/CIMG4451.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D2c52670eeaeaa6ad%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1346397423%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3DD3D465831A79B3EBB5100279B582B0D213782D4.B269BA6FB9A91FCF46A7AA70BD27EA9F0EEF79AB%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D2c52670eeaeaa6ad%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1346397423%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3DD3D465831A79B3EBB5100279B582B0D213782D4.B269BA6FB9A91FCF46A7AA70BD27EA9F0EEF79AB%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>We left Grosmont behind us and entered Little Beck wood which allowed for about an hour's walk through possibly the nicest, and most enchanting, woods on the route. It really felt "Middle-Earthy" and we enjoyed the time there save the mud in areas. At Falling Floss Falls there was a nice little cafe near the waterfall where Gabriel and I had a quick sit down lunch so as not to "rush through" our last day. We bought some preserves to take home to Tammy and shared a big slice of carrot cake together...when I say share I mean about 3/4 for me and 1/4 for Gabriel :)<br />
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Afterwards we hiked off into the woods and ended up on the wrong side of the river. Gabriel did and "Indiana Jones" by climbing across on a fallen tree while I continued down another 1/8 of a mile until I found a number of rocks that would allow me to get over. (Only got one boot wet).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtokm7CFrCAm6hxM5_lYyTk8Y1dJXMz3qH8YzP71wnrXsHRLNw18mg8qY6-HPfd9KxBmtUEcKb83ooY5OyQNaybyP9JVMqYmkYZKvyEnJzzOrqwF-vD9S7lAYJpsXnJaq929rjHPU_WJMB/s1600/CIMG4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtokm7CFrCAm6hxM5_lYyTk8Y1dJXMz3qH8YzP71wnrXsHRLNw18mg8qY6-HPfd9KxBmtUEcKb83ooY5OyQNaybyP9JVMqYmkYZKvyEnJzzOrqwF-vD9S7lAYJpsXnJaq929rjHPU_WJMB/s200/CIMG4488.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the coast!</td></tr>
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We emerged from the woods for one last march across the moors (I really thought we were done). Anybody who thinks this last day is just and easy end to the C2C has another thought coming. The moor areas were darn near close to swamp and as we got closer to the sea in the distance the ability to stay dry became impossible. We finally gave up and for about 2 miles we alternated between dry grass trail and being up to our calve in water. Oh, well!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yZeUeYAif0WWzNON_PucIQksUPUwxl09bzROUoJJTzYD816r3D9mTcQcgTjsMgFIJ-vAq9ayOuoGcmgulFbeF63yuGgPoNGDkw1V5jNMhhEmv5nRkpcz1N9zBXtezYpLqGlGsAaAwOUt/s1600/CIMG4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yZeUeYAif0WWzNON_PucIQksUPUwxl09bzROUoJJTzYD816r3D9mTcQcgTjsMgFIJ-vAq9ayOuoGcmgulFbeF63yuGgPoNGDkw1V5jNMhhEmv5nRkpcz1N9zBXtezYpLqGlGsAaAwOUt/s200/CIMG4492.JPG" width="200" /></a>At one point we missed a marker in the midst of a marshy area and we even knew we could get lost as the map said, "Careful, its easy to get lost in here". There have been a number of times where a compass came in handy on this trip to get our bearings...and this was one of them. We managed to get on some kind of path but realized it was heading us the wrong way again. I didn't even need a compass here as I could see the North Sea and knew we were heading towards Whitby and away from Robin Hood's Bay. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSubBACRsxJ0M68v0QjwdCRvcJi0oI_S_1VTMKbohrnvE4iOI_uLXin2Ok10VD1XIqyoAszpfLTSbjjwsMEXH2BD1bE75ypxNiQwcGqz5YIiJJ3QDzxpokhpZoiD2CfbSSyUIex7Ubowg/s1600/CIMG4494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSubBACRsxJ0M68v0QjwdCRvcJi0oI_S_1VTMKbohrnvE4iOI_uLXin2Ok10VD1XIqyoAszpfLTSbjjwsMEXH2BD1bE75ypxNiQwcGqz5YIiJJ3QDzxpokhpZoiD2CfbSSyUIex7Ubowg/s200/CIMG4494.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin Hood's Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I started getting really frustrated but it was Gabriel who kept the peace wanting to know why I was getting so mad when we should just enjoy the situation. I told him I didn't mind getting wet and muddy walking in the right direction...but in the wrong direction? Fortunately, as what often happened when we got lost...it wasn't as bad as we first thought (a good life lesson here). The negligible path we were on finally merged with a cement path that had a Robin Hood's Bay directional sign on it. About 10 minutes later we were back where we were supposed to be and FINALLY reaching the sea!<br />
<br />
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d5vwKFe1NQr8UM9g5FvYlhx6T2YO1Ik-qDNl17mQITbqoESQ7Dm6qwIq32Fe9lBU7TNCBDYe_FCiCZiQGR2I-7zbllc8i1PW59xEvdohyff3nVDBEqOSCNmVw2HWBHzGIiaV4npYvaqn/s1600/CIMG4501.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5b441dae8926af1a%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1346397423%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D97D55D9E453D115DED02FFB9FE0A4FBEC036E83A.98B53EFB1172DDC777D618C62B721A598B6C5B5%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5b441dae8926af1a%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1346397423%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D97D55D9E453D115DED02FFB9FE0A4FBEC036E83A.98B53EFB1172DDC777D618C62B721A598B6C5B5%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Old Wainwright though, he doesn't let you finish here, oh no! Like the beginning along the Irish Sea 2 weeks and 200 miles back, he wants you to see the coast for a while before dipping your boot into the water for a finish. And the wait is well worth it. Beautiful cliffs, ocean breezes, and gawking seagulls are part of your last hour or so on the Coast to Coast. Our necks kept straining around every bend to see if we could finally see Robin Hood's Bay...until around one particular bend...there it was. Just a quaint little fishing village...but it was our destination.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxXnujkj2fBEbfJzc5OGTqjnrW0eXMtfh9XHFHU-a7-zzF85K_vlMmiTOhOek-rhXQacLEDOYoB_Cr1KF5tDSWLTfMxujhzwpsxApqnBrOU6Pm7yRJT6xtp0lDaPY9IZcyJGr2cfcuP5C/s1600/CIMG4503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxXnujkj2fBEbfJzc5OGTqjnrW0eXMtfh9XHFHU-a7-zzF85K_vlMmiTOhOek-rhXQacLEDOYoB_Cr1KF5tDSWLTfMxujhzwpsxApqnBrOU6Pm7yRJT6xtp0lDaPY9IZcyJGr2cfcuP5C/s200/CIMG4503.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing with new friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We entered into the top of the town and walked past our bed & breakfast for the night. We decided to pop in and let our host know we had arrived before heading down to the bay for our ceremonial finish. Jane, the owner of The Villa, kindly offered to walk down with us to film the big moment.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfe9tZUjqqeXJShXG5ToXnL7NU7XNbEnH8Fnt-FNotV7FdP9zKCqXF9IL6JDhSvuxZvsUgM7UpCCFCbyZ2YOlS8dKFfWkXq6UpH7ZMPB2rGcy_rnAFbE6IWbDs3476vJ4pukkRFX5OpBi/s1600/CIMG4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfe9tZUjqqeXJShXG5ToXnL7NU7XNbEnH8Fnt-FNotV7FdP9zKCqXF9IL6JDhSvuxZvsUgM7UpCCFCbyZ2YOlS8dKFfWkXq6UpH7ZMPB2rGcy_rnAFbE6IWbDs3476vJ4pukkRFX5OpBi/s200/CIMG4518.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Like many others before us, we were getting ready to end our big adventure. As you walk past tourists and locals alike you want to almost scream out, "You know what we've done? We've just walked 2 weeks and across a country to be here today!!" Gabriel and I reached the water whose tide, which unlike St. Bees 2 weeks earlier, was in. We we let the water wash up on our boots, Gabriel threw his rock (I kept mine and turns out he had 2 and kept one as well) and we hugged.<br />
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Mission accomplished! A dream 16 years in the making was realized.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcChlDNKGPU9PEM-JZ2Meg7D-E3QbTr5XcEmE06llczYHHTKiUJTUoaRgoqBtFZDlw-2elKDbquzbwBBr89y3o-S1Ifq8PnXejYrhyphenhyphen7351fEEYD1kxOMVtnXXb7iJYPgr6eN977QkIXlI1/s1600/CIMG4513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcChlDNKGPU9PEM-JZ2Meg7D-E3QbTr5XcEmE06llczYHHTKiUJTUoaRgoqBtFZDlw-2elKDbquzbwBBr89y3o-S1Ifq8PnXejYrhyphenhyphen7351fEEYD1kxOMVtnXXb7iJYPgr6eN977QkIXlI1/s200/CIMG4513.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys enjoying the finish!</td></tr>
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Our fellow walkers from Germany were also on hand having finished about 30 minutes before us. We agreed to meet back at Wainwrights bar for a celebration dinner and a toast to having accomplished the Coast to Coast walk!Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-46731362088826319232012-07-19T14:21:00.000+08:002012-08-01T21:17:39.323+08:00Day 13: Blakey Ridge to Grosmont<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvwZaQF2rTiUSp4lwAmFv37nGQnFOLDQw1swV0LzDdf1aLMYDhRDybXbBQgyx0v8qkULvIroPIacroac6Nkewj1APw1qmhVsj2JZf_ltAoSYAWWwuxZjqUthexNaZJfxOOGAKwK0d6YhU/s1600/england+2012+554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvwZaQF2rTiUSp4lwAmFv37nGQnFOLDQw1swV0LzDdf1aLMYDhRDybXbBQgyx0v8qkULvIroPIacroac6Nkewj1APw1qmhVsj2JZf_ltAoSYAWWwuxZjqUthexNaZJfxOOGAKwK0d6YhU/s200/england+2012+554.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Lion Inn</td></tr>
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<b>Day 13: Blakey Ridge to Grosmont</b><br />
<b>Start Time: 9:30AM</b><br />
<b>Finish Time: 3:20 PM</b><br />
<b>Total Milage: 13.5 Miles</b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: The Lion Inn</b><br />
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Ah, The Lion Inn!! What could make for better atmosphere than spending a night in a 500 year old inn, isolated, located high up on the English moors on a foggy windy night?<br />
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Not much I guess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv76vaqG2i-gKKaAGhm8pKruVTT3W6sRoyIowVaPFaBmSaXDn7KNu09to_cf1j8gTLAj0UoG86C0NNmhSSkeqdkeBnufs3k367bH9ADHqDWXW_3IpeEUwGkj4jzUR4wjEBGsb7AkfeVxlC/s1600/england+2012+559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv76vaqG2i-gKKaAGhm8pKruVTT3W6sRoyIowVaPFaBmSaXDn7KNu09to_cf1j8gTLAj0UoG86C0NNmhSSkeqdkeBnufs3k367bH9ADHqDWXW_3IpeEUwGkj4jzUR4wjEBGsb7AkfeVxlC/s200/england+2012+559.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
I even woke up in the night because the window I had left open was now banging in the wind. I looked out into the foggy distance as I closed it and thought this is exactly the moment where the werewolves would attack in the movies...but not tonight.<br />
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We woke for breakfast which as usual was quite good. I even tried "kippers" for the first time which I mostly enjoyed. We packed up and said good bye to our Aussie friends as they would only be going as far as Glaisdale today...and waved to the Germans who we know we would see in Grosmont later.<br />
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When we left the fog had mostly lifted but the wind was harsh. The first hour of the day involves walking in a horseshoe pattern along the top of a moor. Ironically this meant after 45 minutes of walking we were closer to The Lion Inn than we were after 20.
It was hard to talk and Gabriel's blister was hurting so we walked slowly in silence as the wind howled. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_u1XKRA1ZWYpFkvvHlWMnnPJ9yu1nAm5hTskPiOrFCywuBSF45GswSBMWx3tautPYjMrHR1RIjUvqIxE_kujbqyTGeHLB1B7soU_JnrYzmp88qK7bJxCyVcY-svFGAm6qAWR64jjyAZW/s1600/england+2012+568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_u1XKRA1ZWYpFkvvHlWMnnPJ9yu1nAm5hTskPiOrFCywuBSF45GswSBMWx3tautPYjMrHR1RIjUvqIxE_kujbqyTGeHLB1B7soU_JnrYzmp88qK7bJxCyVcY-svFGAm6qAWR64jjyAZW/s200/england+2012+568.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fat Betty</td></tr>
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We did come to "Fat Betty" which is a large stone cross on the side of the road where tradition has it you are supposed to take a snack...and leave a snack. Unfortunately due to the heavy rain there was a moat of water and mud around old' Betty. There was a Snickers bar sitting up there but Gabriel and I chose to just get a picture and move on.<br />
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Gabriel and I kept commenting that "tomorrow is our last day". I think it is a bittersweet feeling. We're looking forward to finishing and getting home to Tammy and Ethan George, but we'll miss the adventure and challenges of the trail. We finally descended off the moors in to the green valleys again coming to the village of Glaisdale. Because we had spent a bit more money than usual at the Lion Inn we wanted to scale it down for lunch today. We thought to just get a couple of sandwiches from the village shop but that was closed for lunch. (ah, small towns). But the village butcher was open next door and we got perhaps the best deal we've had since we started our adventure. Fresh meat pies stock full of beef and chicken <i>for only £1.10 a piece</i>. We each had one and split a third.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_1O1HOxU8bjFORyYkxs0Z_FrxJukN8fq9r-Mc5P1ipx81JSJhFCwauu7YBc02rBbg_MnKXtBozYCzf0FKOr6sAbPBn4o6gVw9MbRJH6IkvkcHb8d5gttYRlisONR7PKC5wj7PemR0x3Z/s1600/england+2012+590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_1O1HOxU8bjFORyYkxs0Z_FrxJukN8fq9r-Mc5P1ipx81JSJhFCwauu7YBc02rBbg_MnKXtBozYCzf0FKOr6sAbPBn4o6gVw9MbRJH6IkvkcHb8d5gttYRlisONR7PKC5wj7PemR0x3Z/s200/england+2012+590.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Heddas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4M9xv_yBZO0xvl-bXL-Ix6kbyOd1PFifgar07dNaoQ0quNRpXHFfTsvmYFJvZ1lEuhstE4_TeSXuMS2dHeojmIIF6mOboptU-DtLEvRGAzNiMy0q2SNahg7gcZfoEDsateqOhaKccbso/s1600/england+2012+572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4M9xv_yBZO0xvl-bXL-Ix6kbyOd1PFifgar07dNaoQ0quNRpXHFfTsvmYFJvZ1lEuhstE4_TeSXuMS2dHeojmIIF6mOboptU-DtLEvRGAzNiMy0q2SNahg7gcZfoEDsateqOhaKccbso/s200/england+2012+572.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Skies in Glaisdale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Coming up to the town of Egton Bridge we stopped by the St. Hedda's church which is a beautiful catholic church and surprisingly is quite grand and ornate for such a small village. Certainly worth a look if you get the chance... The guidebook said that in 1679 Nicholas Postgate, the priest at the time, was hung, drawn and quartered for continuing to practice his faith. How can someone be sentenced to such a torturous death simply because they worship God in a slightly different way? Madness!!!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_qKsoXtjmyz83Se7IcMupA-pfI7G3sxiyssZ2iSjw022jQuafbsJQ-39BXLpkOmF0NXkP7iBee6ROpSgfxCwcQzQoim9QATHkf0pgp77ZWfoitDs_z2o12UL29SCWFONYVix14z6oKjY/s1600/england+2012+576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_qKsoXtjmyz83Se7IcMupA-pfI7G3sxiyssZ2iSjw022jQuafbsJQ-39BXLpkOmF0NXkP7iBee6ROpSgfxCwcQzQoim9QATHkf0pgp77ZWfoitDs_z2o12UL29SCWFONYVix14z6oKjY/s200/england+2012+576.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a meat pie!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We finally arrived in the afternoon at the Lisvane Bed & Breakfast which is another beautiful home in a very picturesque town. We had a bit of a rest before heading down to the North Yorkshire Railway Station to look at all the train locomotives. What is it with trains and guys? The locomotives here were used in the first Harry Potter movie as <i>The Hogwarts Express<i><i></i></i></i>.
After a walk around the train yard we headed over to the appropriately named pub called The Station for dinner where we were joined by our German friends who were already there playing darts. We shared a meal together before saying good night and agreeing to meet tomorrow evening in Wainwright's bar for a celebratory beer after finishing the walk.
We headed back up the road and prepared for The End...Robin Hood's Bay...15.5 Miles away!Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-19724676450973573432012-07-19T13:30:00.002+08:002012-08-01T15:36:57.528+08:00Day 12: Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb-WqM9lpOsv3BEPjMqRn-3ifuaU_K7IKdmReqKObtATnaQUJDZgzSWdDbPGrUkvn8z4S_7fbxWGrgGPCcxspAgGofwCVMs2Y0H4JKa3d2KK499GcF-f0MG4FXtM_s_sGyuYbNuUp1RI7/s1600/CIMG4391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb-WqM9lpOsv3BEPjMqRn-3ifuaU_K7IKdmReqKObtATnaQUJDZgzSWdDbPGrUkvn8z4S_7fbxWGrgGPCcxspAgGofwCVMs2Y0H4JKa3d2KK499GcF-f0MG4FXtM_s_sGyuYbNuUp1RI7/s200/CIMG4391.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Wolfgang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Day 12: Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge</b><br />
<b>Start Time: 8:50 AM</b><br />
<b>Finish Time: 12:20 PM</b><br />
<b>Total Milage: 9 Miles</b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: The Buck Inn</b> <br />
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Woke up this morning feeling good. Today was only going to be a 9 mile walk. This in itself is testimony to how we have changed. If I told Gabriel back in Hong Kong on a Saturday morning we were off on a 9 mile hike he would have given me all kinds of grief. Now 9 miles was going to be an easy day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel6brdCOyRGnBmguj8t1X6ozVj76DixEqSxtpPYVrsFnUlRt-N2YF48bqNqt8CaBkgZzvDgpQo-bTuvzN9k-JA2xcQc1yqK95jV3q6E7oQ_56PoQKzkEempRKHmHtBPVBPG4gbdcBYc-q/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel6brdCOyRGnBmguj8t1X6ozVj76DixEqSxtpPYVrsFnUlRt-N2YF48bqNqt8CaBkgZzvDgpQo-bTuvzN9k-JA2xcQc1yqK95jV3q6E7oQ_56PoQKzkEempRKHmHtBPVBPG4gbdcBYc-q/s200/photo.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buck Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Had a great meal the night before with a couple pints of good ale. Wolfgang may be "Australian" but his knowledge and appreciation of good beer was definitely "German". <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_REWivdoOHGNOo6nD-vYS3dKfjOnMEr-2ahKNRPON6bt7ALLt9uMEpCzLsio3C7D5BLbKa_4yzAfjAUgUacFVjRgXx1CSH6FVZtXWUoehXRlXK7-8KOIynp5yw4lwimpxjSEjIG0CShPz/s1600/CIMG4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_REWivdoOHGNOo6nD-vYS3dKfjOnMEr-2ahKNRPON6bt7ALLt9uMEpCzLsio3C7D5BLbKa_4yzAfjAUgUacFVjRgXx1CSH6FVZtXWUoehXRlXK7-8KOIynp5yw4lwimpxjSEjIG0CShPz/s200/CIMG4392.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shepherds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wolfgang's wife drove us along with "The Shepherds" (John & Cathy) back to Clay Bank Top. We started out together but as Gabriel's blister started acting up we said our goodbyes to "The Shepherds" who were heading farther today so as they would be able to finish the walk the next day. John sent be his audio blog of an encounter he had that we would have experienced if we had joined them in the longer day. Apparently up on the moor a hiker approached them from the opposite direction. At first he though the man was wearing pink which is a little strange while out hiking on the moors. However as the man got closer he realized other that hiking boots and a rucksack, the man was stark naked. Apparently they passed each other with John saying "Good afternoon" and the man replying the same back. He waited until the man was about 50 yards away and although he admits he doesn't usually take pictures of naked men, he needed this for proof to which I wholeheartedly agree. You can get <a href="http://audioboo.fm/boos/887739-coast-to-coast-day-11-update-the-real-one-clay-bank-top-to-glaisdale-featuring-the-naked-hiker">his audio account here</a>! I hope he doesn't mind me reusing his pic but I can't resist.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdUNcquHjF-dCqKx6k-WzyGqQ4wHYl2_qpeKZbhpKVWVkyyy5UN-gYPT-sgTvxT2bEGcJdW2QTUWCTkbI3QBPnBAHJzNdTOJ2-5MXbx_pjx6ahaPm1ShmZIHPYgkMEY8zIxoVGkDW6J5A/s1600/Coasttocoast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdUNcquHjF-dCqKx6k-WzyGqQ4wHYl2_qpeKZbhpKVWVkyyy5UN-gYPT-sgTvxT2bEGcJdW2QTUWCTkbI3QBPnBAHJzNdTOJ2-5MXbx_pjx6ahaPm1ShmZIHPYgkMEY8zIxoVGkDW6J5A/s200/Coasttocoast2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Naked Hiker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
We reached the Lion Inn about 12:20 in the afternoon. Usually this would be a problem at a bed and breakfast as they would be no where near ready to receive you at that hour but being an inn, and a 500 year old inn at that, they handed us our room keys and we were inn. Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-65286917824231844622012-07-19T13:27:00.002+08:002012-07-27T14:47:50.254+08:00Day 11: Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHKkaeG2ukjuoTDfT8oBvmRFAZKdq6sak2E4Eb0UNC3WqlX-wPoHTrehLi6Lv8yNDvrw1IeNDW7Ml0GN5qcrOivlos_vh0EctYlYMQkiFrn56KZfuOtjBkKhkTOJc-qVE4hTxTsiTnmb6/s1600/CIMG4366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHKkaeG2ukjuoTDfT8oBvmRFAZKdq6sak2E4Eb0UNC3WqlX-wPoHTrehLi6Lv8yNDvrw1IeNDW7Ml0GN5qcrOivlos_vh0EctYlYMQkiFrn56KZfuOtjBkKhkTOJc-qVE4hTxTsiTnmb6/s320/CIMG4366.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>Day 11: Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top</b><br />
<b>Starting Time: 9:40</b> <b>AM</b><br />
<b>Finish Time: 3:45 PM</b><br />
<b>Total Milage: 12 Miles</b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: Park House</b><br />
<br />
When we rolled into Park House last night we could hardly walk. Everything hurt. I long distance walking friend of mine had told me before this trip that when he keeps a daily walk over long distances at 18 - 20 miles, blisters and body do well. It's after that 20 mile number that the body starts to really feel it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkJUIC__ZAqwDXaqBsP5RXGQObEnu4ZicaxBA1EDZVmSMRnoPuRrs6Nn-aJqM92itSMA-oeSNGrO-emUs5wEDLnVsN2WJOvAcs1prooSZzvHBWMIwJpSmoiP6I02ZjVjOw_W9GJiFYXXe/s1600/CIMG4368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkJUIC__ZAqwDXaqBsP5RXGQObEnu4ZicaxBA1EDZVmSMRnoPuRrs6Nn-aJqM92itSMA-oeSNGrO-emUs5wEDLnVsN2WJOvAcs1prooSZzvHBWMIwJpSmoiP6I02ZjVjOw_W9GJiFYXXe/s200/CIMG4368.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
I can say that is pretty true. I was in good shape up to about 20 miles...then I started to get tired. Going upstairs to my room at the Park House I had to grab on to the rail as I was SO sore. Also, I had misread the guide that had said the Park House provided food. Gabriel had wanted to eat in Ingleby Cross but as it was already after 8:00 PM I assumed that Beverly, our landlady, would be wondering where we were. Sure enough, she had hopped on her 4 wheeler and had come looking for us just as we approached. Apparently, they provide a dinner with 24 hours notice but seeing our condition she took pity on us and in no time we had homemade bread sandwiches and steaming bowls of soup in front of us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiYgDm9AiFf7S-Cy5cUSx44FzKSQuG_WFbqkOfye6uEvmaXo0Hxo_KABz_GgUAiqCcSIZFgxFUmo-VCAZ9cPVQZI6ace2gSpgBZk5-v-HU6awfHEFnX7IZhs8JA0d4wyNe_gShGfiLBVr/s1600/CIMG4367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiYgDm9AiFf7S-Cy5cUSx44FzKSQuG_WFbqkOfye6uEvmaXo0Hxo_KABz_GgUAiqCcSIZFgxFUmo-VCAZ9cPVQZI6ace2gSpgBZk5-v-HU6awfHEFnX7IZhs8JA0d4wyNe_gShGfiLBVr/s200/CIMG4367.JPG" width="200" /></a>The next day we prepared for our much shorter journey of 12 miles to Clay Bank Top. After a pleasant journey (all uphill mind you) through a beautiful stretch of woods, you suddenly break out into the open fields and begin the first day of traveling across the moors of England.<br />
<br />
Although it was a shorter day there was a lot of elevation change...which essentially meant you went up atop one moor, walked across, and came down the other side only to then repeat the process again. There were some beautiful views up there though despite the wind.<br />
<br />
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF9Iu8UmqlCfo2X4peD44_JGwZPNACE2klzogvRR3acZIeqnpC9kxMOWOnqnE_VUdDlipp21EsGEdszEH7RF0ykJTWv67jSG3r9B6cgHNKrJdPO6CKwSQ5HAN4j35agfq2OI3zySbhNtg/s1600/CIMG4373.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D24f76a05f2d3fbe5%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345962625%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD8A1598466C74675909CEA915A4BA0D6F718ED14.4FBE199A1198B37A2D79D2CCD33E9E028B844CBD%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D24f76a05f2d3fbe5%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345962625%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DD8A1598466C74675909CEA915A4BA0D6F718ED14.4FBE199A1198B37A2D79D2CCD33E9E028B844CBD%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>At one point Gabriel was a distance ahead of me coming down a steep section...as he tended to do on steep sections. I slipped on a wet rock and slammed shin first into and exposed rock cropping. In 14 days of walking of the entire trip THIS was the most painful moment. I yelled out across the moors and then yelled for Gabriel. My son is something alright. Being 14 he likes to be a little smart alecky with me but whenever I stumbled or twisted my foot etc. he was quick to be a genuinely concerned son with a "Papa, are you alright"<br />
<br />
Now, when I really needed him, he seemed to ignore my calls and continue to prance down the hillside.<br />
<br />
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4Kt6uK4mn19TpTEnogVyk-I8SMs5nAHnrfctuxODXFm0hkh0UKELIVu0cIlNeYr4deoBhMX9x0S1p2pCpH6U-vINO0X7X1rxIDn0SUF1RyzCHePGofenMaaTqTLc_WDCModR3zZo8Mht/s1600/CIMG4381.AVI" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da1f52cec715a058d%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345962647%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D22EADA8D1FCB4BAF5A0F5838510888B08F55A7F3.AB2B80ECF2F09EB8304FF2ABCFB6924655C42CB2%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da1f52cec715a058d%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345962647%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D22EADA8D1FCB4BAF5A0F5838510888B08F55A7F3.AB2B80ECF2F09EB8304FF2ABCFB6924655C42CB2%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>I had to sit down for a couple minutes and then walk in circles a bit to "walk it off". Finally, the pained subsided and I continued down to where Gabriel was meeting me by a stile. I gave him a bit of an earful and he apologized not realizing I was really hurt. (I'm writing this entry 10 days after the incident and that shin is still bruised and sore)<br />
<br />
We met up with our new Aussie friends who I forgot to mention had spent the evening at Park House the night before with us. The nephew, Rob, was making a tuna fajita in the field for lunch. We chatted a bit and then made our way. We would connect with them the following evening when we reached The Lion Inn. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGmnqDghrKW4Wv6qVx_NqKmo7H8AxwndVedzbsrr8I0_Ji682TR3sfJRazbGbGz5aeQAmvzttPCE_M5_EU2zYAN4Ns45aWZshl95YJvU5sgBh0nrwSczS5GSByGfmaJg8MkIYG1nN3C9/s1600/CIMG4382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGmnqDghrKW4Wv6qVx_NqKmo7H8AxwndVedzbsrr8I0_Ji682TR3sfJRazbGbGz5aeQAmvzttPCE_M5_EU2zYAN4Ns45aWZshl95YJvU5sgBh0nrwSczS5GSByGfmaJg8MkIYG1nN3C9/s200/CIMG4382.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Australian - Mexican food"??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When we reached Clay Bank Top there is actually nothing there except a parking lot. The Buck Inn where we were staying was almost 3 miles away and we were expected to call them when we arrived and they would come fetch us and then deliver us back to the same point in the morning to continue. Gabriel and I were a little disappointed as we had gone 11 days now using no other transportation other than our own feet. We were kind of hoping we'd go the whole time without riding in a car but the choice was an extra 3 miles there and back...so we opted for the car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvgIwa1sXibIbiB3slOXDvYXMgFk9Am-4DQxjqQLUFJZs-0q7_2hyi-IMTjUnw7TOmkithKQH4zYFjB6FdQMoWuSkImVOWhTWcy51PSgwZiuA0f4rbC55-kjSM26Uzsfk-WaTceTRmb5H/s1600/CIMG4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvgIwa1sXibIbiB3slOXDvYXMgFk9Am-4DQxjqQLUFJZs-0q7_2hyi-IMTjUnw7TOmkithKQH4zYFjB6FdQMoWuSkImVOWhTWcy51PSgwZiuA0f4rbC55-kjSM26Uzsfk-WaTceTRmb5H/s200/CIMG4383.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel as Abraham Lincoln</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully as we didn't have a phone some fellow walkers lent us their cell and about 10 minutes later we were picked up by the proprietor of The Buck Inn, Wolfgang. Wolfgang had a strong German accent but said he was from Australia. Almost automatically he explained he had been born in Germany but lived in Oz for 28 years becoming and Australian citizen. I appreciated that as through the whole trip people asked where we were from, or the more perceptive asked, "So what part of the States are you from?" Of course when we said we were from Hong Kong we got that quizzical look So we started introducing ourselves as "Americans from Hong Kong"...and then the explanation.<br />
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After we checked into our room I came down to the bar area and one man was sitting there (it was still early) sipping a pint of ale and tapping on his laptop. He said hello to me with an air of familiarity. As I struggled to place him, he said, "I'm John. You ran into my wife and I a few days ago when we got those sheep through the stile near the motorway."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CzpR23RaNB8jgaowH7Mr2W9EzAVOuK8K-D81Ai4F_IHkop2dYESiqt_NXz3MDkFVUhvIYGSQWAAd88_ZbQ21PMJHA7ihg2YXGE-bY_L-Hsr9UBF6qZtziMuQ_HYQZFuelusNRKCW-LDM/s1600/CIMG4389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CzpR23RaNB8jgaowH7Mr2W9EzAVOuK8K-D81Ai4F_IHkop2dYESiqt_NXz3MDkFVUhvIYGSQWAAd88_ZbQ21PMJHA7ihg2YXGE-bY_L-Hsr9UBF6qZtziMuQ_HYQZFuelusNRKCW-LDM/s200/CIMG4389.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We missed the trail here</td></tr>
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Ah, The Shepherds. I hadn't recognized him without his hat. We chatted for a bit and I learned he was a business professional who had never dealt with sheep in his life...he just did what needed to be done. Good guy...as were just about everyone on this walk tended to be.<br />
<br />
Gabriel and I had dinner a little later and then got to sleep early excited that tomorrow's walk to Blakey Ridge would be the shortest walk of the whole trip, which after the last two day's walk we were sure looking forward to. <br />Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-34214516841039955112012-07-18T14:13:00.002+08:002012-07-27T12:58:34.616+08:00Day 10: Richmond to Ingleby Cross<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Day 10: Richmond to Ingleby Cross</b><br />
<b>Starting Time: 8:00 AM</b><br />
<b>Finish Time: 8:30 PM</b><br />
<b>Total Milage: 24 miles+</b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast The West End Bed & Breakfast
</b><br />
<br />
It's days like today you both dread...and thank God for. I knew being this would be our longest mileage stage that we would need to get and early start. We had an 7:30 AM breakfast at the West End. Ian ( we've been meeting a lot of Ian's on this trip) sorted us out in style with a helping of salmon and scrambled egg on toast that rivaled anything else we have had on the trip taste wise. There was even Chinese from Macau staying at the B & B that night who we chatted with for a moment before we departed.<br />
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I was so happy to set off a 8 AM but then things took a turn for the worse. We got lost taking the "short cut" through Richmond that Ian had suggested. I'm sure it was easy...just not for us. 20 minutes later we were right back at the entrance to The West End which, of course, put me in a great mood.
As we started out again Gabriel started, "ouching" and limping, pulling over to a bench on the side. Removing his boot revealed a nasty blister developing above his ankle. Pulling out our medic bag we affixed a blister bandage and then a little gauze and tape above that. Putting his boot back on he continued to wince in pain as he tried to shimmey down the street. He pulled over onto another bench to sit down while I looked at my watch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel replaces some tape on his foot</td></tr>
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8:40 AM.<br />
<br />
40 minutes out we had accomplished about 200 meters.
Not a good start when you have 24 miles to go through grain fields and cow pastures.<br />
<br />
For the first time I was wondering if Gabriel was going to be able to do the whole walk. Our luggage still hadn't been picked up at the bed & breakfast and Packhorse allows walkers to ride with them to the next destination if they feel they need a break or are hurting to much.
I thought for a moment that Gabriel could ride with Packhorse and I could walk the stage meeting him in the evening and giving him a good day's rest.<br />
<br />
But my goal, dream really, was that Gabriel and I would dip our boots together in The North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay having done the WHOLE Coast to Coast walk.
The voice of our new friend Tim was ringing in my ears from a few days before, "If you skip a little you'll always know you hadn't really done it.". I think the same voice was ringing in Gabriel's mind as well because as tempting as the thought was he said, "I'll just go barefoot on that foot."
"No way," I said, " you can't go 24 miles barefoot"
"Let me try" he answered," I can wrap my foot in the adhesive tape in the med kit."
He wrapped his foot and we made our way through Richmond.<br />
<br />
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L7dAdOLkSkhBldMxtmDK_tkK2PRKOYMSPd-YM6a3uIHvMfnXJzTNSCE8ds4aj4t_OwXvOPYWdL9COaRxr8v89UeDSrUiwl4_pomS-3qBGcvU2bvMF-RROO1tMHZKhbxsDnL8mtR-x0v4/s1600/IMG_0654.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D408d0c98c399f8a6%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345956639%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D6AE077471393A56E69E19216034453231C3622C3.91FF62B6EB05C4BF871E7441C5415C731F8B0F85%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D408d0c98c399f8a6%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345956639%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D6AE077471393A56E69E19216034453231C3622C3.91FF62B6EB05C4BF871E7441C5415C731F8B0F85%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>( Gabriel later confessed to me that he thought I wouldn't really allow him to ride the bus...which wasn't true but either way...it worked out for the best) <br />
<br />
Our travel maps are hand drawn in the "Stedman" guide and allows the walk to be done in map "sections". Most days we needed to get through 6 - 8 maps...today we had to get through 11. With Gabriel moving faster now we completed the first map about an hour later.
"How are you doing? I asked.
"Good, I can do this." he responded
I shook his hand and said "congrats, we made it through map 1...only 10 more to go."<br />
<br />
We were fortunate that the elevation changes were negligible on this stage. Mostly flat pastures and grain fields...and lots of mud. A couple times we stopped to re wrap the tape and admire Gabriel's mud caked bare foot.
I must admit I didn't know if he could do it. I mean to walk a mile or two...or even 5....but 24 MILES! I started though to get that <i>Band of Brothers</i> "leave no man behind" thing going. When I was unsure of direction I would run off first and scout the correct way so that he didn't have extra walking to do. It became my mission to get him to the Park House Bed & Breakfast even if we didn't make it until midnight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclabKMAlZGimPTUWxuPQDuhxNxHLxB0h12hYniDsqIPNGEQxay9cHbIQ2vqW40MOtzogMtku_MEeelM-G61SOTMEaAK8KFg1NcJke7N4xpRwHHM5R_aDNYn1wU6YszWf8Mkrue64CBixI/s1600/CIMG4360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclabKMAlZGimPTUWxuPQDuhxNxHLxB0h12hYniDsqIPNGEQxay9cHbIQ2vqW40MOtzogMtku_MEeelM-G61SOTMEaAK8KFg1NcJke7N4xpRwHHM5R_aDNYn1wU6YszWf8Mkrue64CBixI/s200/CIMG4360.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of fields today!</td></tr>
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Surprisingly, Gabriel got fairly quick on a barefoot so after a slow start we began to get into a rhythm. I've gotten pretty good at estimating time on the road and figured unless we had a breakdown, we could arrive before 10:00 PM when it got dark. ( Thank God for summer sunlight hours)
About 4:00 PM we came into Danby Wiske where the White Swan pub was. We were both getting tired so I said we could grab a very quick drink but then needed to get walking again. I went inside while Gabriel tended to his bandages. When I came out Gabriel said he wanted to try putting his boot on. I was excited as I had been nervous that at some point he would hurt his barefoot making the situation even worse. As he drank his coke, we began to clean his foot off with wet wipes and give him some fresh padding for the blister.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqpPpRTIUFlSbGbaBn4_iMtrpfgasM6zSmAt-w0tctVHkqR9pacnuO0iSSuyCkh1lZ2mOWhseM6-bY0aYuLuKSP9G8PggWRDbkw4F4KMiSx6GCHzQn8hrqIeIhY96E68yivGiCeRAOCja/s1600/CIMG4363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqpPpRTIUFlSbGbaBn4_iMtrpfgasM6zSmAt-w0tctVHkqR9pacnuO0iSSuyCkh1lZ2mOWhseM6-bY0aYuLuKSP9G8PggWRDbkw4F4KMiSx6GCHzQn8hrqIeIhY96E68yivGiCeRAOCja/s200/CIMG4363.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beverly helps Gabriel's blister</td></tr>
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Boot came on...we walked...I waited for the wince of pain!
It didn't come...
Gabriel was limping but using his walking stick to support himself better. We journeyed down the road...
It was at the pub that we met two German Coast to Coasters doing a father - son adventure as well. We chatted for a few minutes but as we were moving slower with Gabriel's foot, they said goodbye and moved ahead. Then the father double backed and offered some painkillers and ibuprofen that might help Gabriel. That's what I have really enjoyed out here on the trail...the camaraderie of people all doing this goal together and helping one another. <br />
<br />
But we figured out that Gabriel had walked more than 13 miles with one barefoot wrapped only in some adhesive tape!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FC5LeCcAlopZcgrM9kZ8VIptAqfIlOPWETuOA52e-XbX_wsoryqipQwBjjgW7I_hsd-y49AYpwnhPpQabW7ewrmBT0mEr1nKMz5auKVbeFAvwWdk3eAk6MR0DOfo5U3i5e6Gz4_t-YMl/s1600/CIMG4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FC5LeCcAlopZcgrM9kZ8VIptAqfIlOPWETuOA52e-XbX_wsoryqipQwBjjgW7I_hsd-y49AYpwnhPpQabW7ewrmBT0mEr1nKMz5auKVbeFAvwWdk3eAk6MR0DOfo5U3i5e6Gz4_t-YMl/s200/CIMG4364.JPG" width="200" /></a> Gabriel limped at the beginning but eventually the foot worked itself out...we were on our way.
About 8:00 PM we arrived at Ingleby Cross and at this point I was wishing we were staying here and not at the B &B a mile further on. We bypassed the pub even though we were very hungry as my guide said the place we were staying at provided food. Besides it was getting late and I knew the hosts would start to worry soon. Sure enough as we approached, and all terrain vehicle approached and our landlady, Beverly, had just headed out to see if we were OK.
We walked the last 1/2 mile (all up hill) to the Park House.
WE HAD MADE IT! I can't think of a time I was more proud of my son. With this behind us I knew we could make it the next four days to Robin Hood's Bay!Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-12644346437287222062012-07-17T03:21:00.000+08:002012-08-02T10:12:21.000+08:00Day 9: Reeth to Richmond<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkcdqUaO_2p6EfG-1f_EEE6-UqfXcq0Qsh3nc8jiAXlfEE5eCvfqI7j4T4qeU-NquvMpe3jjzmr_AjIiHW8BHN3qle6xpLN32W0aBvOZ4sAFtGUWOaP2vXvtN3hyBf-ciQ5bN4my2kDXa/s1600/photo(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkcdqUaO_2p6EfG-1f_EEE6-UqfXcq0Qsh3nc8jiAXlfEE5eCvfqI7j4T4qeU-NquvMpe3jjzmr_AjIiHW8BHN3qle6xpLN32W0aBvOZ4sAFtGUWOaP2vXvtN3hyBf-ciQ5bN4my2kDXa/s200/photo(5).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying in St. Andrews</td></tr>
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<b>Reeth to Richmond <span style="background-color: white;">: 11 Miles</span></b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: The Old School House
</b><br />
<b>Starting time: 9:00 AM
Finish Time: 1:30 PM </b><br />
<br />
I'm a couple days behind in these blogs so it's hard to write about this somewhat boring walk day when we've just completed a 24 mile marathon...but we'll give it a brave attempt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVHwdnFD-_5fUq975rPrXkukBrhG1ONfRZVloZkJpelDP1yJQUJohhF8sdDGaq4k06W2-EzePR0-ccYdLBi9U-YWQRTNvoGwB74GhFZ0IjHXuuXW67qT9YaZh0PkD9zu0eWhxHh7KiXLC/s1600/CIMG4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVHwdnFD-_5fUq975rPrXkukBrhG1ONfRZVloZkJpelDP1yJQUJohhF8sdDGaq4k06W2-EzePR0-ccYdLBi9U-YWQRTNvoGwB74GhFZ0IjHXuuXW67qT9YaZh0PkD9zu0eWhxHh7KiXLC/s200/CIMG4335.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses were the highlight today!</td></tr>
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Peter and Jan did possibly the best breakfast presentation I'd seen yet. When we commented on how good it was Peter admitted that he had been in sales before and had learned that presentation can make up for a lack of content. We all agreed that this morning's breakfast had both presentation...and content!
By "we" I mean to suggest the wonderful couple we had breakfast with. Steve and Mary were Coast to Coasters and were doing the trip to celebrate his retiring from being the theater operator in surgery rooms. As he was retired and had spent a long time in the field he shared with us some of the technological breakthroughs he has seen in surgery during his career. I am loving this walk partly because I love people...their lives, and the stories of their lives. Steve's stories were fascinating to me, especially over such a wonderful breakfast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW_wtmKtcbw44tb0uvKcD4y2QXkIj4VgoCtctXitxfz71s2x7Ny3LQhUsULR4kRXSYh8BJFkqQ2SXDAYSiOU92JJgoTvKWdWKtIr4aqIFT_GkhJbAS6Pcxl8qzoSKLqBwp6oQPL-RBiDs/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW_wtmKtcbw44tb0uvKcD4y2QXkIj4VgoCtctXitxfz71s2x7Ny3LQhUsULR4kRXSYh8BJFkqQ2SXDAYSiOU92JJgoTvKWdWKtIr4aqIFT_GkhJbAS6Pcxl8qzoSKLqBwp6oQPL-RBiDs/s200/photo(2).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel got some fudge!</td></tr>
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The walk itself today was a bit short and boring. We would be heading to Richmond which is the largest city on the Coast to Coast walk. I must admit we took a slight deviation from the path. Because we wanted to maximize our time in Richmond we took "the road" rather than the path. Same distance but road travel is a bit faster if, admittedly, slightly more boring - faster than slogging through people's farms and squeezing through stiles.<br />
<br />
So after saying good bye to our new friends Steve & Mary as well as to our hosts, Peter and Jan (telling her how my mom said she had honored us by her lovely "scratch" cake) we set off for Richmond.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt2pRvUOswPatyZBHDYl1qvJ_imYYJbvR3n2rhDHXjwaJ20vYTBbigsEvHna1-lIXiKjCz7a52ZXe-9LA3tIZXL2EcqKx-tHSdQzU6SlIwJtNw3N76MuPcA3-Kl70_oJQVoWwalhSAqth/s1600/CIMG4337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt2pRvUOswPatyZBHDYl1qvJ_imYYJbvR3n2rhDHXjwaJ20vYTBbigsEvHna1-lIXiKjCz7a52ZXe-9LA3tIZXL2EcqKx-tHSdQzU6SlIwJtNw3N76MuPcA3-Kl70_oJQVoWwalhSAqth/s200/CIMG4337.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reaching civilization again!</td></tr>
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Traveling the road meant dodging cars for 11 miles on a winding country road. I wish I had more to tell on this stretch...but I don't. It was a pleasure to walk but probably the least interesting on the Coast to Coast. The highlight was running into a couple Coast to Coasters coming along side of us heading back to the path we were avoiding. They mentioned we had to pop into St. Andrew's Church as it is the nicest church in Yorkshire.
Intrigued Gabriel and I made a slight detour to St. Andrews. We paused to look at some of the gravestones. I am fascinated by gravestones. memorials to people who lived and dedications by those who loved them. One grave stone stated that the father had died in 1732 and his son was buried with him in 1782. What did they do? What were their hopes? Their dreams? I want to meet these guys...and who knows, it's possible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiyDg64kXDcic2GE9XYFuCz97eik_VGVsX8FqyUl7by6fwBRE0c1DjcS_lz085idCt6SF6Pw-mh78GdgWDvTs_o5j7cAsmpWWyisJA2C9VgH5SdgpGxo0salt1Wfp3tAs4-6Q2_0pVSf2/s1600/CIMG4340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiyDg64kXDcic2GE9XYFuCz97eik_VGVsX8FqyUl7by6fwBRE0c1DjcS_lz085idCt6SF6Pw-mh78GdgWDvTs_o5j7cAsmpWWyisJA2C9VgH5SdgpGxo0salt1Wfp3tAs4-6Q2_0pVSf2/s200/CIMG4340.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish & Chips in Richmond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The church itself was amazing. More than just a relic, it obviously was used frequently having a children's area set aside and slightly upsetting the "solemnity" of the building. No one else was there so we spent a few minutes walking around, saying a moment of prayer, and signing the visitor log indicating we were from Hong Kong. Gabriel even wrote "very beautiful" in Chinese characters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFdQLXAm1Yfp4lgMAO0-yuvR1kpwp2z5NMybr8yghbIRNUGrYapDaPqPn8_Z7gHvjmgsvK5ZbRhszTw0xivwEW2mKItC84tKuTofCN1b1rB1YDTCIMHcfSJCWvHXhmwMUHrsUGiky5a6w/s1600/photo(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFdQLXAm1Yfp4lgMAO0-yuvR1kpwp2z5NMybr8yghbIRNUGrYapDaPqPn8_Z7gHvjmgsvK5ZbRhszTw0xivwEW2mKItC84tKuTofCN1b1rB1YDTCIMHcfSJCWvHXhmwMUHrsUGiky5a6w/s200/photo(4).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watched Spiderman here!</td></tr>
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Arriving in Richmond we stumbled upon our B & B almost by accident. We knew, being it was 1:30 that we were way early but we were hoping to at least drop our bags off. "No problem" said Ian, owner of the West End Bed & Breakfast. He took our bags and a few minutes later we were off to paint the town red.
Well...not really. We grabbed some lunch and then I bought Gabriel the next two books in the <i>Hitchhiker's Guide <</i> series at a second hand bookstore we found. We checked out the castle but being Hackman's what we really wanted to do being back in a big(er) city was see a movie. We had been told that the old train station had been converted into a cinema and art gallery.
So yes, in the middle of our big adventure we stopped to see Spiderman in 3D. We were going to need a little break for what was in store for us tomorrow.Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-59634828685729099692012-07-14T22:58:00.001+08:002012-08-01T18:08:56.501+08:00Day 8: Keld to Reeth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhcjXcbBdJTBWZcEEC4wct8CIn4wYJ-eQJsR8_ygC6yyPpxB0z-dYFW8FMiQvcC9KiMd0RauOSYuaC953Yp_NVWDlOXrAA_HkKC4C1mHLy8zDs9JzcfCrLuBLEHEBsqWEl8inqN6Bi7UA/s1600/Day+8+-+Keld+Lodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhcjXcbBdJTBWZcEEC4wct8CIn4wYJ-eQJsR8_ygC6yyPpxB0z-dYFW8FMiQvcC9KiMd0RauOSYuaC953Yp_NVWDlOXrAA_HkKC4C1mHLy8zDs9JzcfCrLuBLEHEBsqWEl8inqN6Bi7UA/s200/Day+8+-+Keld+Lodge.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>Keld to Reeth: <span style="background-color: white;">11 Miles</span></b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: Keld Lodge
</b><br />
<b>Starting Time: 9:40 AM
Ending Time: 3:45 </b><br />
<br />
The meals at the Keld Lodge were quite good. I have to note because of the at atmosphere I was expecting the typical "pub" grub choices. The restaurant there is a step up though. I had chicken breast with a garlic sauce wrapped in Parma ham with vegetables. It was so nice to get a big plate of beans, cauliflower, and carrots rather than a side of chips. My arteries were very thankful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved chatting with Nick</td></tr>
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The lodge itself was a converted youth hostel dating back to the Methodist settlement that Keld actually is. In fact Nick, the proprietor, mentioned that the village was "dry" until the 1970's. I then celebrated the end of that dark time in history by ordering a pint of Black Sheep Bitter.<br />
<br />
I also have to give a shout out to Nick as he was fantastic. As soon as we had arrived he sorted out our wet boots, got them in the drying room for us, and made sure we got settled right proper. Another place you'll want to stay when traveling on the Coast to Coast! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwfj-zsaDKDHk1ChAe-SRalDsCVEDhvfLmhfk7LiOLt9XWwwYh-T76ehRKz9zD_KGUDrnPw6i7KDgvCk5C_eRRYmVk6y3NyJcnF232BkKg7uUerbHyAUxV0qmyO4N6t3aAFHov9Amoyd5/s1600/Day+8+-+Steve+having+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwfj-zsaDKDHk1ChAe-SRalDsCVEDhvfLmhfk7LiOLt9XWwwYh-T76ehRKz9zD_KGUDrnPw6i7KDgvCk5C_eRRYmVk6y3NyJcnF232BkKg7uUerbHyAUxV0qmyO4N6t3aAFHov9Amoyd5/s200/Day+8+-+Steve+having+lunch.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on the river!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LbURJrOojONOmHItA6xh3aAyYllXDBDZ89ZtjHMMU8BNXyFy-v1hF8jakM5JC9NVpsdfS3AsXrRnpFkfpW3e0xG_HkXt13vSnilZR_eakgDdyV16wOPKj6Q8yh9ZCaiyNQcfupCxiV0e/s1600/Day+8+-+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LbURJrOojONOmHItA6xh3aAyYllXDBDZ89ZtjHMMU8BNXyFy-v1hF8jakM5JC9NVpsdfS3AsXrRnpFkfpW3e0xG_HkXt13vSnilZR_eakgDdyV16wOPKj6Q8yh9ZCaiyNQcfupCxiV0e/s200/Day+8+-+Creek.jpg" width="150" /></a>We set off in the morning after breakfast by walking through Keld itself. As small as the village was it had not one but TWO Methodist chapels. Apparently even when there are only 40 or 50 people in a village, the opportunity to "church hop" is made available.
We were now out of Cumbria and into Yorkshire. We had the option at this point of taking the "high" route or the "low" route along the river valley. As we've had no lack of elevation throughout the last week, we decided that the "low" route was the one we would take. Seems like that was the route of choice as we met many of our fellow hikers coming out of Keld. There are "the dog ladies" not because of their appearance, mind you, but the fact that they are doing the walk with their two dogs. We seemed to be dogging (no pun intended) their steps since The Nine Standards the previous day.
We had a leisurely walk through the valley and it's good thing too as Gabriel has started to have back troubles. In straight- a- ways I have been carrying his pack as well to give him a break. Now my back is starting to act up. Ibuprofen time!!!<br />
<br />
We stopped at a pub in Gunnyside and it seemed everyone else had as well. Many familiar faces from the last couple days were already there enjoying a break from the wind as well as some refreshments. After about 45 minutes we departed (you can tell it was a shorter walk day as we would never have stopped so long on a longer milage day) and headed down the road to Reeth.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmofMrRMGKDVMEpjF6grau2dJVI737L3Sp9LFsegUGWrANMxP7hnBY8guA2T1p3eQgM3gNGvWq7YlSrTd0QVhSMiWfuUGS9qc8dzgVEFNzrmIw8BcAINasV96q42rRWVcbRD81YtrSThs/s1600/Day+8+-+Reeth+cake+at+the+end+of+the+day%27s+walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmofMrRMGKDVMEpjF6grau2dJVI737L3Sp9LFsegUGWrANMxP7hnBY8guA2T1p3eQgM3gNGvWq7YlSrTd0QVhSMiWfuUGS9qc8dzgVEFNzrmIw8BcAINasV96q42rRWVcbRD81YtrSThs/s200/Day+8+-+Reeth+cake+at+the+end+of+the+day%27s+walk.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greeted with cake in Reeth!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRbhwPFXwEn6N_o3_nna0JuEsau5Wfzig39hNAZ7_9KfsfRPL7xbFfY2uxn5Lxd61m49J-2PmH0teI23-W-RE6F9pPXdPEneKqilZBt6qYQR8XB2UQGY1-kzqE0L_ZIlWZeqVKdimM5Z5/s1600/Day+8+-+G+on+brdge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRbhwPFXwEn6N_o3_nna0JuEsau5Wfzig39hNAZ7_9KfsfRPL7xbFfY2uxn5Lxd61m49J-2PmH0teI23-W-RE6F9pPXdPEneKqilZBt6qYQR8XB2UQGY1-kzqE0L_ZIlWZeqVKdimM5Z5/s200/Day+8+-+G+on+brdge.jpg" width="150" /></a>We missed the turn off onto the Coast to Coast path and were 1/4 mile down the road before we realized our mistake. Rather than double back to the trail, we decided to walk the last 6 miles on the road instead taking us right into Reeth. In fact the road took us right past our Bed & Breakfast for the night which was a beautiful home called The Old Schoolhouse.
We arrived a little early (seems we are always a little late or a little early) at 3: 30 so Peter, the husband, set us in the lounge with a pot of tea and homemade cake while he and his wife finished doing up the rooms.<br />
<br />
Later, we had suggested that we were a little tired and may just go buy some food in town to bring back and eat in our room. I could see the look on Peter wasn't receptive to that and he seemed embarrassed to say he'd rather we eat in the restaurant as they had had some "disasters" with people eating up in their rooms. Fair enough....so Gabriel and I hoofed it to The Buck House where we had dinner in another public house.
Tomorrow it's off to Richmond and the largest town we encounter on the Coast to Coast.Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-85225433942993612592012-07-14T14:26:00.002+08:002012-08-01T18:00:05.538+08:00Day 7: Kirkby Stephen to Keld<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrkZAJyLD72q6PzcQ2xTx4c1GLKUfJMT58ml-pNoHP4Ymi87Qyamx9IDYRjJDuxrSyiLKfEkIoGDJNfeeEJgyuOK86MaeW5B5ANJDWv5eJEOGEp1tIbXbhyphenhyphenDDxDCfOdIUSOqqIg_VQIVD/s1600/Day+7+-+Breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrkZAJyLD72q6PzcQ2xTx4c1GLKUfJMT58ml-pNoHP4Ymi87Qyamx9IDYRjJDuxrSyiLKfEkIoGDJNfeeEJgyuOK86MaeW5B5ANJDWv5eJEOGEp1tIbXbhyphenhyphenDDxDCfOdIUSOqqIg_VQIVD/s200/Day+7+-+Breakfast.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at White Gil</td></tr>
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<b>Kirkby Stephen to Keld: <span style="background-color: white;">12 Miles</span></b><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: The White Gill House
</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">Starting Time: 9:00 AM </b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">Finish Time: 3:45 PM </b><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Can the courtesy of our B & B hosts get any better? You certainly want to stay at the White Gill if you are on the Coast to Coast. Barbara is the perfect host and greatly reminded me of the "southern hospitality" I experience when I visit my wife's family in Louisiana. The house itself had a homey feel and you almost felt like you were staying in a son or daughter's room rather than a B & B.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnieMiNzGOao_JbE0tQzYSriaQcsirbA8dXbflj-eoYZDYVKr4-8D9GerGuWG9_crXvTH4pou6y49zpaRoMCqpSH8QjFkHdGuRoI5G2UHooV-d5VByfste76eYUr3gsi8nEnGbMEVyvLD/s1600/Day+7+-+Nine+standards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnieMiNzGOao_JbE0tQzYSriaQcsirbA8dXbflj-eoYZDYVKr4-8D9GerGuWG9_crXvTH4pou6y49zpaRoMCqpSH8QjFkHdGuRoI5G2UHooV-d5VByfste76eYUr3gsi8nEnGbMEVyvLD/s200/Day+7+-+Nine+standards.jpg" width="150" /></a>At breakfast we got to meet Simon, who stopped by to say hello. I forgot to mention we are using Packhorse for all of our accommodation arrangements, as well as for moving our luggage to the next location everyday. They have been fabulous and I couldn't recommend them enough for all the service they have given. Since they are based in Kirkby Stephen he stopped by to introduce himself and see how we were doing. He also gave me £7 that he said we had overpaid because of exchange rate or something.
Money going INTO my wallet on this trip...now that was a nice change.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj1P16CzQPImhcLSBSGm_29LVsF8ze1OZhuEy70feLN9CHKynchakzW-CIXVfG8i8UBPyhlwBL_M4ytpnfaM71Cfsdb4AFDZHG-XKdWtZ3j-R8MEHMO6p0OGIHxjzB9H0nFZl5-AOC6L1/s1600/Day+7+-+Poop+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj1P16CzQPImhcLSBSGm_29LVsF8ze1OZhuEy70feLN9CHKynchakzW-CIXVfG8i8UBPyhlwBL_M4ytpnfaM71Cfsdb4AFDZHG-XKdWtZ3j-R8MEHMO6p0OGIHxjzB9H0nFZl5-AOC6L1/s200/Day+7+-+Poop+path.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of sheep poo-poo!</td></tr>
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<br />
I should say now that England is EXPENSIVE. The blow for us is cushioned a bit because Hong Kong is expensive but any Americans be warned, you'll pay the same for an item in pounds in England as you would dollars in America; except pounds cost roughly 40% more. So if my lasagna dinner in a pub is £10 , the same dinner in the States is $10. Yeah, it hurts a little but I guess it helps pay for the National Health Service.
Well, we said our goodbyes and set off.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPpxk3PntR4R0Db9xbY2G-gHoVX8E06nxfCJBW-9BfgBKURIKigCdQhRlvOyQVF0-NT6weAsiV-32RT5G-sPalofSJZ0G_LToThP97SbSnuE8782Wd9jKB8e2aH3ADLv_i7bPRYwrvopY/s1600/Day+7+-+G+and+brick+towers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPpxk3PntR4R0Db9xbY2G-gHoVX8E06nxfCJBW-9BfgBKURIKigCdQhRlvOyQVF0-NT6weAsiV-32RT5G-sPalofSJZ0G_LToThP97SbSnuE8782Wd9jKB8e2aH3ADLv_i7bPRYwrvopY/s200/Day+7+-+G+and+brick+towers.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">This short day begins with a 4 mile uphill journey over the Pennine Mountains. We took a few breathers along the way to stop and admire the RAF fighter jets buzzing overhead. Apparently, Her Majesty's forces have been alerted to the fact that two American Allies are traversing the Coast to Coast and have kindly offered air support. "Jolly good show, ol' boys." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We passed the Motorway on an access bridge and two sheep had gotten out of the stile on the other side. We didn't know what to do as we didn't want to leave them. Then along came another couple doing the Coast to Coast. He obviously knew what to do and had Gabriel positioned at the gate as he grabbed the sheep by the scruff and herded them through the stile Gabriel was manning. They instantly became 'The Shepherds'.
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51fYBbW11cgDapImfd8X_ScQ83DnV8nhOGY4QnS20AIci0HmhIkgZ9Y3xgM5BhVehsBpXt1uvBQdWZiEKxgsKhrmF8oiogy46S7eNZi80XUOcrqfwsPe3PRLzrBl3OSXr_ZS81mhMFEZw/s1600/CIMG4299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51fYBbW11cgDapImfd8X_ScQ83DnV8nhOGY4QnS20AIci0HmhIkgZ9Y3xgM5BhVehsBpXt1uvBQdWZiEKxgsKhrmF8oiogy46S7eNZi80XUOcrqfwsPe3PRLzrBl3OSXr_ZS81mhMFEZw/s200/CIMG4299.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
About 2 1/2 hours in we finally reached the top of the mountain line where the 9 Standards are. The 9 Standards are just a series of man made rock cairns all in a line at the top. Pretty cool, but no Mt. Rushmore. We grabbed a bite of food and a rest and ventured on.
This is where things got REALLY boggy. We were with a number of other hikers all trying to navigate and everyone of us got soaked up to our knees at some point. It was about this time I needed a toilet break. I strategically allowed everyone to move ahead spying a crevasse that would offer a little privacy in this mostly barren area. I only had to finally wait for one old couple who were struggling to make it through a particularly boggy area. They kept doubling back to find a dryer route as my " dancing" got more frequent. They finally reached us and the man says to the woman, "Honey, this looks like a good place to stop for lunch."
"NO," I screamed in my mind....but alas, they started to settle in so Gabriel and I ran ahead and found another spot about 5 minutes later. This was something we laughed about.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsK4aVVrrwYNnJ2a332gVlcPRtpHriGlIs3MNsRdLFyaMcm5j-9rX-zX25WO3VeHdnIgM5X3slA_88VAQkthbI-8o5anpXNBJ3TOOcehIXboxnP3uKn6JuS1iqHoIvbJoXsZK3riXcLU0/s1600/Day+7+-+Steve+having+a+pint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsK4aVVrrwYNnJ2a332gVlcPRtpHriGlIs3MNsRdLFyaMcm5j-9rX-zX25WO3VeHdnIgM5X3slA_88VAQkthbI-8o5anpXNBJ3TOOcehIXboxnP3uKn6JuS1iqHoIvbJoXsZK3riXcLU0/s200/Day+7+-+Steve+having+a+pint.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Keld Lodge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We went through many more stiles and pastures finally arriving at the Keld Lodge just before 4 o'clock. The Keld Lodge is a hotel and pub and I found I enjoyed it when I only had to walk downstairs for dinner. We walk enough on this trip.
Well, tomorrow we are off to Reeth and another shorter day!</span>Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-84496772581781767392012-07-13T01:42:00.001+08:002012-08-01T17:49:21.563+08:00Day 6: Shap to Kirkby Stephen<b><span style="background-color: white;">Shap to Kirkby Stephen: </span><span style="background-color: white;">21 Miles</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgak05_iE2vTJqyaW1pdRBx1imjRxnABfBTy_k0Ej7Mwls9a8vwNYxaWrs6FRsW09vnLtXcMbXYk1tiE9YPWztLEasU8ExnbwmBH7FH4KKw7UDrEphbbHPzsGEXe0_Kz7fgwplWnpo5ZfwJ/s1600/Day+6+-+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgak05_iE2vTJqyaW1pdRBx1imjRxnABfBTy_k0Ej7Mwls9a8vwNYxaWrs6FRsW09vnLtXcMbXYk1tiE9YPWztLEasU8ExnbwmBH7FH4KKw7UDrEphbbHPzsGEXe0_Kz7fgwplWnpo5ZfwJ/s200/Day+6+-+breakfast.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>Bed & Breakfast: The Brookfield
</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Time started: 9:10 AM </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Time Finished: 6:45 PM</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">G</span><span style="background-color: white;">abriel was none too happy to hear that after the difficult day yesterday we needed to go 21 miles today. Thankfully, because we were out of the Lake District, things were a little easier.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS1oU3m22wIU87lc1gnUQwtif9XRGUwQNkY61fAd_s7N2yZvj0iAddkURVNo9ohbnDDzsnH6eZ3_xc2yeJN5htvLsPUt02qWK7NyoodnZ2Qt9Uldtd4urn6EX61K_QYWULfUA4mvB-XvH/s1600/Day+6+-+B&B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTS1oU3m22wIU87lc1gnUQwtif9XRGUwQNkY61fAd_s7N2yZvj0iAddkURVNo9ohbnDDzsnH6eZ3_xc2yeJN5htvLsPUt02qWK7NyoodnZ2Qt9Uldtd4urn6EX61K_QYWULfUA4mvB-XvH/s200/Day+6+-+B&B.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">First of all, all the rumors about Margaret at The Brookfield are true. She is gracious and thoughtful going the extra mile to make our stay special. Tea and cake were served to us in the drawing room, and the packed lunches she sent us with were so large we still haven't eaten it all. She also did a load of laundry for us at no charge! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">At breakfast, we were sad to say goodbye to The Navigators who became Chris & Elaine to us. Wonderful couple who had been with us since St. Bees but would only be going to Orton today putting them one day behind us the rest of the trip. Not only did we enjoy their company but Chris looked a little like C.S Lewis so I liked him immediately.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3SJOEGFTIq4Rsu7OCKzog4oXxcVk3Sw8g5TX7pyW82NZA6eqccqlyTSWq1dveWzeaMmK8sEsT4dd6WKJfDGmqcz-oNmIVpHJC01d5_DtACKWwYdTym0l4EFBSBmM4bur30RNa8Vt8hrs/s1600/Day+6+-+fence+hopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3SJOEGFTIq4Rsu7OCKzog4oXxcVk3Sw8g5TX7pyW82NZA6eqccqlyTSWq1dveWzeaMmK8sEsT4dd6WKJfDGmqcz-oNmIVpHJC01d5_DtACKWwYdTym0l4EFBSBmM4bur30RNa8Vt8hrs/s200/Day+6+-+fence+hopping.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of Stiles</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb9SUfsE0fBRTUocVtQ68kOtqH_fb_1hSMp320G-jLX9D1IE46em35HxzYcIxWJConnjWEYF_Vg5YOHykkFGEF2OXTR6Tf9qayqjLEmdWtK8UQcyzl3AmnvDMIpXtfVA3dbRv7WX3r_eh/s1600/Day+6+-+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb9SUfsE0fBRTUocVtQ68kOtqH_fb_1hSMp320G-jLX9D1IE46em35HxzYcIxWJConnjWEYF_Vg5YOHykkFGEF2OXTR6Tf9qayqjLEmdWtK8UQcyzl3AmnvDMIpXtfVA3dbRv7WX3r_eh/s200/Day+6+-+rock.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">Although the mileage today was long - it was a much gentler walk. The difficulty we find was the "boggy ness" of many sections. I must say that nearly every local we have encountered, from passerby to publican to landlady, has said this has been the worst summer in decades and the worst year to do the Coast to Coast. Although we have actually been spared a lot of rain and have enjoyed mostly good weather the ground is saturated. Navigating water on the trail and trying to lessen the mud impact is constant. I know we are moving slower than other times people posted on their journals and am realizing that many of these areas we are walking through are usually dry...but not this year. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARatBxj9hnFnoizrFSPWqLuhNEHxRgeRxhu0O-gJZ_TBkPBV200EcfOplJya0fPTaIXJDmC_0KzGcxL_331jcMyMKY2mlfYQIIx8YQjnGMUmC71ejYO9aSpkHNT0ZL3NvvXFpr3BLHY8_/s1600/Day+6+-+Sign+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARatBxj9hnFnoizrFSPWqLuhNEHxRgeRxhu0O-gJZ_TBkPBV200EcfOplJya0fPTaIXJDmC_0KzGcxL_331jcMyMKY2mlfYQIIx8YQjnGMUmC71ejYO9aSpkHNT0ZL3NvvXFpr3BLHY8_/s200/Day+6+-+Sign+post.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs helped</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Kirby </span><span style="background-color: white;">Stephen is a large town and the guidebook said that it had a Chinese takeaway place. Gabriel was motivated the whole day knowing that after 10 days of pub grub he would get some Chinese food. You can take the boy out of Hong Kong but you can't take Hong Kong out of the boy.
About 4 o'clock we took our chocolate energy shots that act as a real "pick me up" on the long days. My wife got them for me before the trip; I don't know what's in them...and I don't ask...but they work. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Gabriel also kindly turned his iTouch on and began playing </span><i style="background-color: white;">Over the Hills and Far Away</i><span style="background-color: white;"> by Led Zepplin. Apparently he felt it was "time to get the Led out". He then put it on an all British playlist that included: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Led Zepplin, </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">The Beatles, </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Queen, </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">David Bowie,</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">The Rolling Stones</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">The Who. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white;">That playlist got us through the frustration of the last boggy section entering Kirkby Stephen. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjRVWVNxfscsVLyxsqK16ppyU8P_fqEMSBjAORk1xvaR5POqwb7lMl765-XZxSe9mF42Q5CN0DFB5incACZH-A5a01poVB9VEBIHKgS-v54qjXlh9T8W1h7OaAwOAt9H0xfwaW6_wxKqG/s1600/Day+6+-+energy+shots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjRVWVNxfscsVLyxsqK16ppyU8P_fqEMSBjAORk1xvaR5POqwb7lMl765-XZxSe9mF42Q5CN0DFB5incACZH-A5a01poVB9VEBIHKgS-v54qjXlh9T8W1h7OaAwOAt9H0xfwaW6_wxKqG/s200/Day+6+-+energy+shots.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing energy shots!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">With wet and very tired feet we made it to the White Gill House where another lovely hostess, Barbara, helped us get our muddy gear off and into the drying room.
Gabriel and I did have the Chinese takeaway. The owner was from Hong Kong and was very happy to hear we were from Hong Kong as well. I think she really enjoyed chatting to some others from the territory...even if they were </span><i style="background-color: white;">gweilos</i><span style="background-color: white;">. I wish we could say we really enjoyed the food but my "Kung Pao ji ding" didn't taste all that great. Gabriel had a similar opinion of his sweet and sour pork. I wonder if she eats her own food?
Tomorrow should be a little easier at 12 miles to Keld....but we'll see.</span>Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305015494502481150.post-12814706491807941732012-07-11T14:03:00.001+08:002012-08-01T17:42:29.328+08:00Day 5: Patterdale to Shap<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggGqZmoO2n48En02Fo4tcNnl4ehimjtZH43ingZIFk_r51SnsyN8698PyRHN8fTkIaUS5DwX_htQ4jEEjmZTIXiLXbgLsPA17yomm2Q3e7tWoTcJoLtq35dphEbs_FvMM_k9pnnAIhNWB/s1600/Day+5+-+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggGqZmoO2n48En02Fo4tcNnl4ehimjtZH43ingZIFk_r51SnsyN8698PyRHN8fTkIaUS5DwX_htQ4jEEjmZTIXiLXbgLsPA17yomm2Q3e7tWoTcJoLtq35dphEbs_FvMM_k9pnnAIhNWB/s200/Day+5+-+finished.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Patterdale</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Patterdale to Shap: 17 Miles </b></span><br />
<b>Bed & Breakfast: Overview Water
</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Start Time: 9:10 AM </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Finish Time: 8:30 PM </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms7dF5iS4X4WG8KmJRZL_um9UvifNb5TTdp2pxd43tIwQVJ1iidxs40x1HZJHUmYWGnUwu1hrC7vf6AlIxD8tj3A8KqpjZqmQ8AlXPf93j6qp4lZtwT8IL22nZiLLPXI9ITZL6E93h0jW/s1600/CIMG4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms7dF5iS4X4WG8KmJRZL_um9UvifNb5TTdp2pxd43tIwQVJ1iidxs40x1HZJHUmYWGnUwu1hrC7vf6AlIxD8tj3A8KqpjZqmQ8AlXPf93j6qp4lZtwT8IL22nZiLLPXI9ITZL6E93h0jW/s200/CIMG4240.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">The Overview Water is a very charming B& B perched on the banks of a very charming river. I had gone down to the Patterdale village store to collect some things for tomorrow's lunch when we arrived, including a piece of the Million Dollar Shortbread Julia Bradbury recommends in the BBC Coast to Coast documentary. Gabriel was so hungry though he ate the shortbread (shared with me) and then the crisps and peanuts I had bought for our traveling lunch. This walk takes a lot of energy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We had dinner at the B & B with the Two Ladies, The Speedys, and The Navigators and we were disappointed to find out The Speedys and The Two Ladies would not be going all the way to Shap but would go a little less far into Bampton. As we would be saying goodbye we all had a grand meal together with a little wine and lots of laughter. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The Patterdale to Shap stage is said to be the toughest stage on the Coast to Coast. Not because it has the most miles of any stage, but because of the terrain. As our guide book says, although you leave the Lake District today, it doesn't give up without a fight. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ016Ys-9nm_iiUfTKG2jypLW7Nk8DrVHu2UU5VbSPpGoTcyWCwHP7PyudzDVpeDlWGzPZU3WbdBVq2tFAfbjkbB4cbfFGp9OP-bYAPb0uFX9Uqaj982O1gGwEHt5BJRVw3TTqKpR3Q20X/s1600/CIMG4233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ016Ys-9nm_iiUfTKG2jypLW7Nk8DrVHu2UU5VbSPpGoTcyWCwHP7PyudzDVpeDlWGzPZU3WbdBVq2tFAfbjkbB4cbfFGp9OP-bYAPb0uFX9Uqaj982O1gGwEHt5BJRVw3TTqKpR3Q20X/s200/CIMG4233.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGqtyryRM9Dr5IMz56rLlDK58OmCvq91u_ha0BeI3suJjyEJ0WDFfaCkzS3hNUlV-0GHbkIpiQOaomBoR3m4xVjPjlxARRM1HSs4U67RzuZEuO2uyD-55tTGNcMKicGIwexueb4ZQjNuR/s1600/CIMG4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGqtyryRM9Dr5IMz56rLlDK58OmCvq91u_ha0BeI3suJjyEJ0WDFfaCkzS3hNUlV-0GHbkIpiQOaomBoR3m4xVjPjlxARRM1HSs4U67RzuZEuO2uyD-55tTGNcMKicGIwexueb4ZQjNuR/s200/CIMG4222.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim met us to say good-bye!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Starting just after 9 in the morning we began the long ascent out of Patterdale. As we neared the top of the first "leg" we found our friend Tim from yesterday waiting for us. He was going to walk another path that day but thought he'd hang around till we arrived to say goodbye. Gabriel had been half joking about taking the bus this stage but Tim was a great encouragement. He told Gabriel how good he'd feel after all of this, when we arrived in Robin Hood's Bay. How, if he took a bus for a segment "you would always know you hadn't quite done it.". Gabriel, who liked Tim a lot, was motivated by the encounter. </span><span style="background-color: white;">We said our final goodbyes to Tim and headed up the path. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL7bABvov0b4ddm763Nnqhr57muBkinvRQ-k5VqfCSjfOyOcHny8CPuS6YJUHhhJO5BgmAcxOPUdEGLC89_l5f_oitJy7m0GNbFuXpjLs_jTQgP0fAZXYzW31hPh2YT4xt3hc0vEBQBlU/s1600/Day+5+-+up+high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL7bABvov0b4ddm763Nnqhr57muBkinvRQ-k5VqfCSjfOyOcHny8CPuS6YJUHhhJO5BgmAcxOPUdEGLC89_l5f_oitJy7m0GNbFuXpjLs_jTQgP0fAZXYzW31hPh2YT4xt3hc0vEBQBlU/s200/Day+5+-+up+high.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on the mountain!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When we reached Angle Tarn we caught up with The Speedys, and The Two Ladies and journeyed with them most of the day. We went together over The Knott, whose very name exudes a hikers challenge. From the Knott, we then ascended Kidsty Pike which is the highest point on the Coast to Coast route. The views were stunning so we all decided to have lunch there. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The locals have all talked about the above average amount of rain and I must emphasize how much time we have to spend navigating rocks and other high ground options to avoid turning our walks into total mud baths. And although we had been blessed with good weather the previous two days, today the rain gear came on, came off...came on again etc. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">What goes up, must come down and so we began our descent down toward Haweswater Reservoir. I'm sure glad we picked up new walking sticks in Grasmere as our legs and knees took quite a pounding. This though, was where Gabriel shined. He seemed to prance like a gazelle out ahead of us as we older folk carefully made our way down. Nearly everyone looked at him out and then looked to me and said, "Ah, to be 14 again." </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YDLL9VQjVDBYJ-nKpla4DoALhrd3cAu-Ai4Ssbp4qCtr9lHRoiJAozciHXdIy5kCqh9PIKwSgTGh1ZgxkWh93W0cMYZOmMnQLqjIrrc-FgUbPRElgUP9xKQYCJFcSQZEme-fhSYa3YSn/s1600/CIMG4255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YDLL9VQjVDBYJ-nKpla4DoALhrd3cAu-Ai4Ssbp4qCtr9lHRoiJAozciHXdIy5kCqh9PIKwSgTGh1ZgxkWh93W0cMYZOmMnQLqjIrrc-FgUbPRElgUP9xKQYCJFcSQZEme-fhSYa3YSn/s200/CIMG4255.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinks on the "honor system"</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Finally things leveled off and we began walking around the reservoir which, despite first impressions, does not go on for ever. It was about this time we had to make a decision to leave our new friends. We were behind schedule for getting to Shap. It was already 5 o'clock and we had at least another 5 miles to go. They knew our dilemma and suggested we might want to move on, but I confessed Gabriel and I enjoyed their company so much, it was difficult. Finally though, we felt we needed to press on so we said good bye to The Speedys and The Two Ladies who now as friends had become Peter & Sally and Jo & Nealma. And if you read this, you sure made the beginning of our adventure memorable. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1tDKD3SpPl1B8VURnqKXQMFDX_T3O6Nm3FlGlgVF3L2J0mG6yXE-I-yRhFF68OMfE-z0rOM7DhNa5DDKY0vlTzvTHJwhiI1g1lDbY7kkPJpGy8l85lD-3WeJq39DMBAMu4Rt8_lEYqjA/s1600/CIMG4252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1tDKD3SpPl1B8VURnqKXQMFDX_T3O6Nm3FlGlgVF3L2J0mG6yXE-I-yRhFF68OMfE-z0rOM7DhNa5DDKY0vlTzvTHJwhiI1g1lDbY7kkPJpGy8l85lD-3WeJq39DMBAMu4Rt8_lEYqjA/s200/CIMG4252.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearing Shap..getting lost!!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Once we left the reservoir (finally) we were out of the Lake District. The topography was now more of rolling hills than mountains. We hurried through wood and pasture until we got lost going through a field. The path just up and disappeared and I realized we made a wrong turn. We pressed on using our compass to try to find our way to get back on track. We trudged through waist high (wet) brush, through water, and mud -our feet all but soaked now. We hopped a stone wall fence and headed toward a farm house thinking their driveway must be connected to some sort of road. If we could get on to a road, we could get our bearings.
As we approached the house I was nervous some farmer was going to come at us with a shot gun. I kept my Coast to Coast guide book in my hand as an alternative to a "white flag" ...just a couple of dumb, lost Americans.
No one was around though and we slipped down their driveway onto a small road which dropped us right near the path we were meant to be on. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We trudged on past the ruins of Shap Abbey. A fence we passed by had a basket of soda with a money box. A sign said that a nice farmer wanted to provide you with a refreshing drink after that long hard stage. Just put 1 pound in the "honor system" box and help yourself. Gabriel was floored that a system like that worked... We dropped our money in the box and helped ourselves to two refreshing cold drinks.
We finally trudged into Dhap and the Brookfield House B & B where Margaret the landlady took our muddy rainwear and threw it in the wash, and set out our boots to dry. She then made tea for us in the drawing room where we were pleased to find our friends The Navigators, who had arrived about 30 minutes before us. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">...tomorrow we have 21 miles to go to Kirkby Stephen.</span>Steve H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.com0