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Day 1
Links on Walking Places
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Footloose Librarians' Coast to
Coast Journal Day 9 |
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Day 9: Reeth to Richmond The day dawned gray and threatening, with predictions of afternoon rain. With a short 10 ˝ mile stage planned for the day, an early start seemed advisable. Becca, our cheery hostess at Hackney House, got us off to a good start with breakfast and fresh laundry. Unaccountably, our luck with the weather continued and a “misty moisty” morning first turned darker and then began to clear as we walked. On through Marrick, with a brief stop at Marrick Priory west of town. Found a tombstone in the churchyard with a stonecutter’s typo: “Here the body…” with the word “lies”, very small, wedged in between the words “here” and “the body”.
The village of Marrick was listed in the Doomsday Book. Who knows how old it may have been in 1086? How much of the history we know is due to good census and tax records? Over the ridge of a hill and down to Marske, then on around Applegarth Scar through Whitecliffe Wood and down into Richmond. The descent offers enticing views of Richmond, and the castle above, and promises great things for the evening. James, who sat on his glasses several days ago, is still looking stylish with adhesive tape on the rims. Neither of the optician shops in town had the stuff to fix them. Both of us had looked forward to a visit to the Richmond Public Library and a chance to check in by email. Would you believe it? Closed on Wednesday! An accommodating computer seller on the square let us use his connection for a few minutes, but neither of us got completely caught up.
Our bags arrived after we did, the last stop on
the Sherpa Van route today, and our host at the Old Brewery Inn was
the day’s driver. It gave us time to wander for a little, see the
castle, and the old town hall. Had a “pick me up” in the Buck Inn’s
flowered back garden, and after cleaning off the days grime, headed
back into the center of town for the evening. |
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