At the edge of the moors

Planes, taxis and trains...   Our flight to London went fine and we were met at the airport by Sarah's biggest fans, her children Amy & Ben.

They took excellent care of us  and we enjoyed a stroll around their London neighborhood, a celebratory family feast, and then a long sleep.

Grandchildren Roo and Olive kept us laughing and I was honored to be asked to read  "Owl Babies" for bedtime (librarians and parents- we all know this one). It's been a very long time since I read it, but every sentence was familiar,  even the last one I couldn't choke out.
Olive read it for me: "I love my mummy," said Bill.  
                                     Hurrah for bedtime books at the Lyons Library!

This morning, we leapt from the warmth of family and sped by train through London and into the green countryside. Kirkby Stephen is a little town of stone houses, maybe about the size of Lyons, in a river valley with hills rising on either side. No taxi there, either, so we started our trek with a mile or two walk through the fields from the train station to town, with all luggage in tow.  We'll be happy to have someone else lug the big bags for the rest of the week.

Tomorrow is our first day hiking, and one of the biggest days on the Coast to Coast trail. We'll leave from the center of town and hike up to the moors for the day, and then drop down into the next little town, a pattern we'll be repeating most days.
So: 2 miles down, 98 to go.   Sisters 2, Blisters 0!

Ready, Steady Go!

We're almost ready to set off on our trekking adventure through northern England. The Coast to Coast trail is a famous long-distance hiking trail across the narrowest part of England. It travels through the Lake District and Yorkshire Moors: 190 miles of wild hills and moors.

Erica:  
Sarah knows this part of the world already, and had hiked these hills for many years before moving to Lyons, Colorado. I heard of the Trail years ago, and immediately put it on my "Bucket List." A few years ago, my husband Nick and I, walked the first 80 miles through the Lake District.  But the second half remained....


Sarah and I first met about two years ago, one morning at the gate to Lyons' Picture Rock Trailhead. The trail was closed because of muddy condition, so we had a great walk together up Old St. Vrain Rd instead. Over next months, we met on local trails numerous times, and eventually I ventured that we might try the Coast to Coast together....   I was delighted that Sarah was immediately enthusiastic about the idea and we began planning.

Sarah's best idea was to make this trek part of a fund-raiser for the new Lyons Regional Library. She is on the Board and our family has long used and loved the old library. She set up a GoFundMe site 

and we are overshelmed by the support from our friends and community. You'll be with us every mile!

Our last training hike: from the Picture Rocks Trail looking down over Lyons.