Day 0: Getting to St Bees

Expectations

Short walk from the Hotel Pullman to Euston station, where we catch the 10:30 London-Carlisle train, switching in Carlisle to the 14:35 train arriving at St Bees at 15:59. Even shorter walk from St Bees station to the familiar-from-last-time Stonehouse Farm in St Bees.

Realities

Updated at the next usable internet connection. Which turns out to be on the train–what a surprise. We are sitting on the Euston-Carlisle train in first class, which is rather nice. Free wi-fi, free food (which makes it a bit amusing that we struggled around the Sainsbury’s at the station to make sure we had food for the journey.)

Rewinding to the run up to breakfast. I had another awful night. Why do I keep waking in the middle of the night, around the time I would be falling asleep at home? Makes no sense. I read for a couple of hours or more, and then fell asleep again. Overall, half the sleep I need.

We found a breakfast place where Sherlock was filmed…

I did another couple of miles walk after breakfast before heading back to hotel to pack up. Then onward to Euston and the journey north.

Very impressed by the Virgin train. Almost comical frequency that the food cart went past, piloted by a cheerful crew. The ride was smooth, fast, and pleasant. Carlisle was a bit of a let down–clearly has seen better days.

The train to St Bees was slow and crowded.

At 4pm,we finally pulled into St Bees station and hauled our bags off.

We walked the few steps to Stonehouse Farm.

Greeted cheerfully. Since our last visit two years ago, the kitchen had been renovated, but otherwise the place seemed unchanged. D and L are on the top floor again, though in the room opposite. M downstairs.

At the landlady’s recommendation, we headed out to make a dinner reservation at the Manor, since the other major dinner place (The Queen’s Hotel) is closed for renovation. While there, we had a drink and overheard a group of five women with familiar accents discussing the walk. I introduced myself, and one of the five was from Green Lake! The rest of the party from California.

D & L  then headed down to the beach for a test flight of the drone and a refresher on the GoPro. Lovely evening.

Then the Manor Inn for dinner. M had fallen asleep and decided he was more interested in rest than food, so he stayed in his room.

D & L both had Steak and Ale pie–delicious!

Overheard conversation at the next able in familiar accents again–a mother/daughter pair from Mercer Island. Crazy!! Of the 20 people in the dining room, a total of 5 were from the Puget Sound region, four more from the west coast of the US, two from Australia, and then some Brits.

Figured out how to (roughly!) edit GoPro footage…

In the morning, we have a relatively late breakfast (8:30am) then head off for a 9-miler, at the end of which we should meet up with L’s brother.