Day 13 - Osmotherley to Chop Gate, into the wilds

Another blisteringly hot day. A fabulous day to start from osmotherly
this morning and head off along the northern ridge of our final
national park - the north Yorkshire moors.

We climbed out of osmotherley and took our time crossing the various
moors as the first leg of the last national park was only 12 miles.

At mid afternoon we descended down to the rather cheap accommodation
at beak hill farm. We had a very warm welcome from the farmers wife
lynn who showed us into the rather small and untidy house. Our first
impression was one of shock at how small and cramped it was - however
this was just half the story.

The farm is a hard working live stock farm and the family here has a
very fulfilled but tough life in the high moors. They do not make a
huge amount of money from what they do but what they have they will
share. That means sharing all the usual welfare facilities with the
family here but it comes with a wealth of stories, cups of tea and
general love of life.

We have now gone to bed but the farmers wife has to stay up all night
to watch a horse that needs to fowl tonight. So not only will she be
up every hour to watch the horse but be up at 6 to make our lunch and
breakfast. (apparently they all get up at 5 anyway in the summer!! )

Anyway better get some sleep - we have a big day tomorrow, 24 miles to
get to egton bridge. Could be thirsty work :-)