Tuesday - Wednesday, Johnny's Angels are out!! by Louise and Kirsty

Bonjour a tous nos amis!

For those who'd like a little French test here are a few words to sum up our day:

1. Repos

2. Montangue

3. Plusieurs Montangues

If you didn't get chance to Babel Fish or google these words they basically mean loads of rest (repos) and hills (montangue) and many hills (plusieurs montangues). Although today was to be our rest day, some of us decided to split the 21 mile day into two - at least the reasonable ones! For those of us who choose to survive the rest of the trip (with the others to remain nameless), our first 10 miles were absolutely spectacular, not only in views, but our many giggles and awe struck moments with all the new life around us and all the itty-bitty little lambs. Thank you Pip!!!!

" Johnny's Angels" survived the most treacherous first 5 mins of a super slope that lead us to the first real view of Hadrian's Wall. It was also at a time when Kirsty discovered she can't eat a Mars bar and walk up a steep hill at the same time...tooooooo funnny!!! Disregard the multiple leaps over extremely large cow patties and Kirsty's sad attempt of pole vaulting over one that nearly made her plop straight in the centre of the pile. Again...a very funny moment. There was also a scarry moment of Pippa going head to head with a stubourn cow that refused to move off the path. Do we really need to tell you who won the battle????

All in all, it was the most spectacular day, with well rested ladies (including John) and splitting the days allowed 2 full days of lying-in. If anyone knows me well, I'm all about maxium sleep and as long as possible!

Ladies Day 2

We started Wednesday with another lie-in and breakfast in our jammies, happy in the knowledge that the guys were most likely already up, out, and being route-marched along the path we took yesterday by 'Shoulders' (Adam!!)

After a stop in the cafe by Chesters Fort and getting our passports stamped we hopped a cab to the spectacular Housesteads Fort where we stopped yesterday. It was pretty amazing coming out of a stand of trees, to see the wall, the ruins of a gate arch and then the fort itself in a on top of a hill.

The scenery all along this stretch of the wall is breathtaking and many photos were taken. Some of the paths had sheer drops just inches from our feet, but the pics we took of these just did not do them justice. Equally so the hills themselves as we went up and down them. If you want to know how steep they are,I'd recommend getting out and doing them.

Along the way we kept looking back to see where the guys were, and there was much waving and flashing of torches etc to see if the specks we could see in the distance were actually them...it was!!!!! It was decided that we would try to keep a respectable distance between us and them until we got to Caw Gap where we planned to stop for lunch and also be hidden by the dip of a hill and could time how long it took them to catch us up. It wasn't until they came over the hill and down a very steep path that we found out how close they had been, Shoulders being so relaxed he was juggling rocks on the way down.

With the boys back with us, the conversation soon turned naughty wth many giggles to be had which livened up the afternoon until we reached Gilsland and a pub.

The landscape started getting a bit gentler, crags and steepness being replaced by rolling hills and meadows.

Splitting the 21 mile walk worked for us girls, but all credit due to Eric, Shoulders, Mark and Patrick for doing it in one go. Respect guys xxxx

Dinner in the Samson Inn in Gilsland was just what we needed after a hard day's walking, in fact, the only time we were ever quiet was when food was placed in front of us!!