Mind the Bloody Gap

Some things were just meant to be. On a day when Murray started his Wimbledon 2015 challenge, when the temperatures soared around the country, and when I found myself sadly nursing a blister the size of a 10p piece it seemed nevertheless that destiny was on our side. The shortest day of walking so far was achieved such that by 3.30pm just as the players stepped onto the court to 'warm up' (joke) so we checked in to The Samson Inn in Gilsland after a tough but mercifully short 9 miles. Simply put, after yesterday's roller coaster terrain over 13 stunning but exhausting miles and with today's heat to contend with it seemed the scheduling Gods were on our side. 

We began the day today by climbing up to Steel Rigg and onward to the highest point on the Wall. Thankfully it was not yet too warm which proved fortunate since despite the general trend from here onward inevitably being downwards the undulations were by no means over. 

Bit blowy up at the trig point at Green Slack! Not quite enough to have blown the clouds away though.

The crags which form a natural barrier to the north also dictate the course of the Wall, When it does make an appearance though it has the most incredible scenery as its backdrop.

Note how straight the section ahead is.

Looking back. A descent typical of today's walk. But what goes down ....

... Still got those ridges ahead to take on.

Every so often the path drops down into a gap. Caw Gap was pretty steep down then up again, here we're at the bottom of Shield on the Wall, later we trekked down Bogle Hole, through Thorny Doors and onward via Bloody Gap (I kid ye not) and each time you have to go back up again! 

Sometimes you get helpful steps 

Other times not! I am there somewhere, it's just a very long way from where I am (near the top, taking it steady) to where HRH was, already at the bottom, taking the pi...cture!

And finally, shortly before the end of today, we stumbled upon the ruins of the 14thC Thirlwall Castle. Thirlwall means 'gap in the wall' and it was built as such where the Wall had deteriorated to defend the owners' lands from sheep and cattle rustling by those brutes north of the border! 

A shady spot. Unfortunately we didn't find this bench until after we'd had lunch in the full sun, up on the ridge at turret 45a. 

Mercifully tomorrow is again just a 9 mile stretch with far fewer undulations, which is just as well as we may need to step it up to stay ahead of the threatened storms due to arrive at around 2.00pm. 

Early night tonight, tired from heat and hills. Here's hoping I don't now dream of London Tube Station announcements!