Coast To Coast Day 6 - the (terminal) breaking of the fellowship

[Mick]
Day 6 Keld - Richmond. 35km (181km total)
After about an hour of walking we realised that Eddie & Martin's walk was over. Martin's toes had got no better and Eddie's knee looked bad.

A plan was formed for Tony and I to carry on as planned while Eddie & Martin would find their way back to Bradford to pick up a car, then come back to drive 'support' for us.

So, Tony & I set off at mega-yomp pace to make Reeth for lunch - which we did at 1.30ish - 12 miles on from Keld.

Reeth is a beautiful, picturesque place with a large central green bounded by B&Bs, tea shops and pubs. Perfect. Definate place for a stop nest time.....

PM was 12 miles again, so we aimed for 7pm arrival in Richmond and set off, earmarking 2 stopping points en-route. We made very good time through showers and wind and a bit of sun as well. Eventually a rainbow appeared over our destination and we headed towards it gratefully through fields of new-born lambs.

Keld - Reeth was along the Swale (not as recommended by A.W.) but Reeth - Richmond was over the hills through countless farms & fields. Both 'legs' were absolute typical picture postcard Yorkshire - a lovely walk in all.

[Tony]
We arrived in Richmond ahead of time at 6.15. It took a little time to find our B&B but when we did we felt that we had found somewhere a bit too posh for us, our smelly clothes and our kit explosions. It was a grade 2 listed Georgian building with furnishings to match. The double bedroom was complete with a book of love poems on one bedtable and a book of insults on the other...

[Eddie]
Martin & I left the Swale at the first road we crossed, considering stiles and gates too difficult and expecting to make better progress on the tarmac.

We decided to hitch-hike and were picked up by about the 10th car to pass (note this took about 45 minutes as it's a very quiet road!) We now recommend this technique: Both hitch, both turn to the traffic & both smile!

Martin & I were picked up by 'the man from the Pru' who took us all the way to Richmond (we waved at Reeth) in time for a late lunch. The afternoon was spent formulating a cunning plan whilst sitting with an ice cream in the river.

Cunning Plan = Ruth rescues Martin & Eddie and returns with them to Bradford.