Sat 29th May - Day 43, Alston to Greenhead (16 miles)

I got the tent and rucsac packed dry but as soon as I started walking the rain came, it was quite heavy but at least it was behind me.

It was easy walking in the valley, the path meandering between the main road, the dismantled railway and the river. I stopped for a break while sheltering under a railway bridge at Lintley.

The rain had eased enough for me to have a dry lunch and an hour later I was able to take my waterproofs off.

After 7 miles the path had taken to the side of the hill and from Lambly continued north across the commons as the valley swung east.

I was meeting quite a few hikers now, maybe just because it was the weekend.

By the time I got to Greenhead at 16:00 the sun was almost out, the caravan site here is small and it was packed full of tents and tourers.

The owner of the site let me charge my phone up in her house and she gave me newspaper to put in my boots to help dry them out. I had another pub meal here.

It is 20:30 and I am in my tent, I can hear other campers complaining about the midges so I won't be coming out of it again.

736 miles completed.