Friday May 12 Garrigill to Alston to Carlisle to Manchester
An excellent breakfast and I’m on the road by 8:15.
Anne was nice and helpful with my schedule. It’s a
cloudy day, off and on rain blowing in from
Scotland, even so a pleasant walk along the River
Tyne crossing stiles and bridges.
In Alston, I find the bus stop on the main road and
have time to walk into town for a look. It’s a
lovely village, quaint shops, loo behind the church.
The market square, actually octagonal, shares with
Buxton the honor of being the highest market town in
England.
After a rainy bus ride to Carlisle and a lunch on a
park bench of Scotch (lamb) pie, chocolate muffin
and banana, I had a cappuccino from the coffee cart
at the train station, deja vu from 1 1/2 years ago
as I was starting the C2C walk. Then a two hour
train ride to Manchester and a long walk to Potato
Wharf YH next to the Chesterfield canal. The hostel
is a large modern place in an urban renewal area
near nightclubs and restaurants. A bit of a shock
after where I’ve been staying.
I opted for dinner at nearby Chesterfield Club,
Spanish lamb on rice with a bowl of their wonderful
vegetable soup, thick and smooth, along with a pint
of Boddingtons. Good food, nice atmosphere, but no
real ale. I used my phone card to call Cathryn and
assure her I’ll be home tomorrow. This card has been
great to have, I’ve used it several times to call
home. Tomorrow, it’s a ten minute walk to Deansgate
Station for the train to the airport. I’ll land at
San Francisco airport by 6 pm, home with my wife
three hours later to tell her “the Black Sheep was
good, but I’d rather have you”.