Manchester to Kirkby Stephen

Question: How do you transfer a floppy near comatose man to Cumbria?
Answer: Two trains, two taxis and lots of cajoling and rest stops.

Fortunately after the night that was last night, there was nothing more challenging to do today other than sit on a couple of trains.  The 'cleaned up' car was duly returned to the hire company this morning and passed inspection (phew).  Ross was feeling weak and washed out but infinitely better and there was time to just sit and doze on the trains from Manchester to Leeds, and Leeds to Kirkby Stephen.

The taxi driver who collected us from Kirkby Stephen railway station for the drive into town was the same driver who took me, Ross and my dad to the station a year ago.  He kindly informed us that rain is expected tonight but will hopefully clear in the morning and gave us some pointers on the best route over the Pennines.  Regardless of rain tonight, Monday's downpour has saturated the ground and it's going to be boggy, boggy, boggy. Depending on the weather and Ross' strength, we'll either (a) walk over the Pennines and traverse the peat bogs, (b) take the easier 3-hr (dry) route along the road to Keld, or (c) cab it.... We'll make that decision in the morning.

After booking into the Jolly Farmers Guesthouse and resting for a while we ventured down the High Street into town.

The Mango Tree Restaurant in Kirkby Stephen (remember Dad?)

After fasting for most of the day a very pale and drained Ross found enough appetite to down some soup for dinner before we returned to the accommodation for an early night. Lights out at 8:45pm and merciful restorative sleep.  

I wouldn't be lying to say I'm quite nervous about tomorrow's walk.