On the top of the range are the Nine Standards; nine large stone cairns. I can't explain who built the standards or why, as no one seems to be sure. It is possible that they are less than 500 years old, but also possible that they are several thousand years old. Any analysis is complicated by the fact that they seem to have been rebuilt/restored many times in their current location. Although we are not quite half way yet, if the Coast-to-Coast had a symbollic half way point, the Nine Standards would be it.
Then on across the moors and into Britian's grouse shooting heartland. People pay a staggering amount of money to come here and shoot at rusty brown coloured chickens. I must admit that I don't get it. The grouse that we have seen are relatively tame and will let us get to within 25 metres. I could understand the "challenge" in grouse hunting if you were restricted to hitting them with a spear, thrown knife, or even bow and arrow - but hitting something the size of a chicken at 25 metres with a double barrelled shotgun - well, it might be sport if you had to kill the bird by throwing your gun at it.
We finished in Keld, at the head of the Swaledale valley. Keld was once a major centre for lead mining. Probably best not to eat any grouse from here that we've gun butted along the way.
In the end it wasn't too wet today. A short patch of rain while on the tops of the hills, occasional drizzle at other times; but mostly it was overcast, windy, but fine. More good news is that my knee is slowly improving. I'm very happy about this because a few days ago I thought that there was a chance that I would not be able to complete the walk.
Distance Walked Today: 21km
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