The way today is easy and mostly downhill. From 394m at Lion Inn down to double digits, 46m at Egton Bridge. The fog and mist don't want to burn away this morning.
We start out with two crosses. Young Ralph Cross dates back to the 1200's and was said to have been erected by a farmer called Ralph upon finding a dead traveler who was penny-less. The current stone cross dates from the 1800's. It is a tradition to leave a coin here.
Along the trail is Fat Betty. A short and tubby stone cross, the trail tradition is to leave a snack and take a snack.
The snack supply looks a bit dodgy, so I gave Betty my regards and tucked the KitKat away for later.
This site has a wonderful gallery of many walks in the region of North York Moors.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/don.burluraux/index.htm
Here you will find an index of the many crosses and stones. Some of the stories are quite fun.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/don.burluraux/crosses.htm
We pass above Great Fry-up Dale. A Fry-up is the traditional British Breakfast of eggs bacon beans mushrooms toast all done up in a pan. Usually associated with a lot of calories and a lot of fat, it is not an every day thing, though it is tempting. Can I just say, English bacon (!!!!!) I think I have had more eggs in the last 2 weeks than in the last year. I will have to return to slim rations. Servings here are monstrous.
The way continues along over rolling land and when we are on Glaisdale High Moor, if it is clear we could possibly see our first glimpse of the North Sea. Today there is no such luck. As we slowly descend I still cannot be sure of what I am seeing. I was sorry to miss the pretty views. I'm sure I will feel the joy Lewis and Clark felt when they saw the Pacific Ocean. The heath held a few grouse families to spy on, and I also spotted a Golden Plover.
As quickly as the heather moors started a few days ago, bang they are gone. We enter into cultivated fields and pick up the River Desk in Glaisdale.
The road tumbled down steeply through the village and at the river I went out to the rocks to get a picture of the Beggars Bridge. This bridge comes with a legend. A poor man named Ferris was trying to woo a girl from a higher class. She lived on the other side of the river. To be worthy of her, he had to improve his standing and set away to seek his fortune. He wanted a fair well with his love, but the river Esk was so high that he could not cross, spoiling the goodbye. As in all heroic stories, he returned successful, and used some of his money to build a bridge so that no one would ever have the misfortune to be unable to cross.
I had hoped to push on to Grosmont and the historic train depot. I will pass through there tomorrow but today was the chance to take a ride on the famous North Yorkshire Moors railway out to the seaside town of Whitby. http://www.nymr.co.uk/ This historic railway has been featured in many TV and movie productions, including the Harry Potter series.
Today it was not to be. I arrived without enough time to catch the 130 to the seaside town of Whitby. I was surprised to find an old stone marker in the high moor that said the path we were on was the Whitby Road.
So it is a quiet afternoon in the sunny yard getting ready for the final 16 mile march to the sea.
