Day 62 Cowling - Gargrave

Moorland followed by lower ground and even a canal - who said the Pennine Way was all hills? It was up and down though.
Friends of Jos will be familiar with the trig. point picture!

Day 61 Jack Bridge - Cowling

Jack Bridge has an excellent shop near the Pennine Way so we had coffee before we left.
Moorland walking along with reservoirs and then a break at Top Withins, the derelict farmhouse which is reputedly the source of inspiration for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. One thing that is unusual is the footpath signs in the area - I don't know if it can be seen in the picture but they are in English and Japanese!
On then to Cowling and a campsite before 6 O'clock - great!

Day 60 Standedge - Jack Bridge

A long stage of 18 miles as we get past the major conurbations. The M62 was busy and quite a culture shock!
We're camped near Hebden Bridge, again next to a pub - we could get used to this.

Day 59 Crowden - Standedge

Rain first thing and a steady climb up. Phone with flat battery so no pics!
Camped behind the pub at Standedge and had a Turkish meal!

Day 58 Edale - Crowden

Brian from Flat Coat Rescue joined us and as he knew the area well acted as our guide - thanks Brian!

Day 57 Blackwell - Edale

Robin and Gwyn sorted transport so Robin walked with us and our bags were taken to Edale meaning we walked with only a day sack - wonderful!  Robin was our guide for the day so no route finding problems.
An excellent meal at the Ramblers, Edale and donations from the staff - many thanks for both!

Day 56 Rest Day

A day off. We were picked up by our old friend Robin and taken around various outdoor shops to get Jos some new boots after her old Meindls started to leak. Various repairs etc and then a lovely meal with Robin and his wife Gwyn. Time passed far too quickly!

Day 55 Biggin - Blackwell

A long day of over 18 miles so we were happy to get to the camp site.
We've seen more walkers today than we have see for the last month - it's definitely walking country!
A special thanks to the Rotherham Metro Ramblers for the impromptu collection as we passed on the Limestone Way. I meant to get a photo of you all for the blog - perhaps you could arrange for another walk so we meet again...
The countryside feels much more like home now - we're heading towards home!
We had some new comments on Barmey's pack today including 'is he carrying pyjamas' and cappuccino.
The views show where we've been and where we're going.

Day 54 Thorpe - Biggin

First, we met up with staff at the Ashbourne Heights site where we camped overnight and had a welcome coffee. Thanks for the donation - may see you in Scotland.
The walk was a day of sunshine and showers through Doverdale and onwards to Milldale where we had more coffee - the day's turning out pretty good.
We eventually stopped early at the Waterloo Inn Biggin - camping behind a pub was too good to miss!

Cows

This one is for Terri!
Look what we had to negotiate on a gated public road...

Day 53 Uttoxeter - Thorpe

A long day of 19 miles with the first 5 hours steady rain but it steadily got better after we got past JCB country (Rocester),first woodland and then onto higher ground and we heard a curlew!
Reaching Thorpe we crossed the bridge over the Dove to enter Derbyshire!

Day 52 Abbots Bromley - Uttoxeter

We were camped a mile outside the village so still no pub in the evening!
We went to the farm to pay and the kind lady gave a donation - many thanks. Also the knowledge that we could get across to our route without going all the way back to the village.
A short day of 7 miles as we needed a break. Luckily it wasn't race day as we would not have been able to get onto the campsite!
A trip into town for provisions and a much welcome couple of pints and a meal in the Dapple Grey where we were treated like royalty and had our photo taken! Many thanks for the donations from both pub and customers - people are so kind. The walk was basically fields so only one pic!

Day 51 Cannock Chase - Abbots Bromley

A day of sports - bikes, horses, joggers, sailing, even shooting!
After Cannock Chase the Trent Mersey canal took us towards Rugeley before we headed north again. More barges including one belonging to Helen who had a flat coat on board! She even knew about us from the flat coat Facebook page!
Then it was onto Abbots Bromley via Blithfield reservoir and hence the sailing sports!

Molly

Here's one especially for Cath!

Day 50 Whitegate Farm - Cannock Chase

Lorraine from Guide Dogs DogsUnite arranged to travel up from Reading to spend some time with us today. We eventually met up outside Penkridge Co-op and had a very pleasant walk to Bednall.
More interest and donations at the Star, Penkridge and at Bednall.
A change of scenery for us with a canal walk - another slow pace of life like walking!

Barney's Story

We've met many people who are now following Barney's trip so I thought I'd tell his story for those of you who don't know it.
We got him from the Flat Coat Rescue Centre 6 years ago. Jos had phoned the centre to see what they had and Brian who runs the centre said yes, he had a dog looking for a new home. We're not sure why Barney was passed on to the centre but believe he came from somebody who shows flat coats and had been well looked after. Some questions about suitability and he was happy we could be potential owners. We were travelling down to Essex so arranged to call in on the way.
On arrival Barney made instant friends with Jos by putting his paws on her shoulders and to be quite honest I think that was it! We were warned how lively he was, already having been tried (and returned) by two potential owners.
On arriving at home our cats thought he was just a replacement for our old flat coat who had died 6 months before but how wrong they were! He immediately chased one cat around the room and we had a job getting it out of his mouth! Training required! Two new kittens, a muzzle and a water pistol were the answer - he got water pistol treatment as soon as looked at the kittens! Gun dog training with a local expert brought him under control.
Now he could go backpacking with us so a new, larger tent was needed. His first trip was almost his last when he showed his love of rolling on his back in snow unfortunately on the cornice on top of a mountain! However he survived and has clocked up over 200 Munros (Scottish mountains 3000ft and over) with over 70 of them on backpacking trips - he's used to the tent and the routine of wild camping. Barney accompanied us on the section of the Cape Wrath Trail from Torridon to Cape Wrath and has also backpacked over all the Scottish 4000ft mountains in one trip - he likes mountains!
At home he is out daily walking the North Pennine moors with Jos.
He doesn't like the heat or road walking.
He loves eating tissues people have dropped and vegetables out of the garden, especially lettuce and carrots!

Day 49 Tong Norton - Whitegate Farm

The forecast was for heavy rain so we opted for a short day and only walked to what was originally yesterday's destination.
We only had limited food as a result but surprise, surprise the site also had a farm shop so we indulged!
Barney has slept all day through what turned out to be light rain, Jos caught up with the Archers and I published Barney's Story!
As for the walk, two things of note - we are now in Staffordshire and we have crossed the watershed.

Day 48 Ironbridge - Tong Norton

A notable day, first getting to Ironbridge itself and then coffee at Darby's next to the bridge where Thea found us! Thea has been following the blog and when she saw we were in Ironbridge decided to try and find us - well spotted!
Next the interesting industrial heritage before we struck out across footpaths.
The heat slowed us all down so by the time we got to Tong Norton we'd had enough. Jos made some enquiries at the pub and we had an invite from a local farmer to camp in his garden - thanks Tom!

Match a Mile for Barney

All you doggie people, your dog could also help raise money for Guide Dogs as well as Barney. Go to www.guidedogs.org.uk/dogs-unite/ and see 'Dogs Unite Match a Mile for Barney'

Day 47 Rushbury - Ironbridge

First, thanks to our hosts of the last couple of nights - Hilary and Mike. We're eating Hilary's home made cake right now!
Then, great to meet Jo and all the other people on the trail today - thanks for all the donations both from today and all previous days, now more than 100!
Next,  Much Wenlock where we were welcomed in the Copper Kettle Cafe and Wenlock Hardware who both donated as well as cream tea and glue! I'll let you work out which one was from which! Also, the cafe is now collecting for Barney! Much Wenlock is definitely a place we will be coming back to!
Finally, we're camped next to a power station - can't be bad!