Day 3 Clitheroe to Earby

Good evening. I did get to Earby Youth Hostel tonight, I really needed to go a bit further but my little legs are very achey. So a cheaper bed for tonight, £17, and a dormitory to myself. I asked for breakfast but the warden said they don't do food, so I had to traipes back down to the Co op in the town for some supplies. I was shocked at how much everything cost, no Tesco here. I got a frozen fish pie for £1, and a cheese and onion flan for £1. A bottle of Lucozade was £1.15.

I had a text message from Kevin, a chap off the walking forum, he said he would come and meet me for a drink, so that was nice company for an hour. I didn't have time to microwave the fish pie and eat it, so I will have it for breakfast instead.

First pic is the Rose and Crown, my B & B in Clitheroe. I had a castle view from my window. Another full English breakfast, without the meat of course.

There hasn't been much time for sightseeing on this trip, but I made time for a look round the castle before I set off. There isn't much of the old castle left, but it looks like they have built quite a lot buildings around it in a similar style.

A view looking out towards Pendle Hill.

There was these strange steel tubes sticking up allover the place. One person speaks into them and another person listens across the other side of the courtyard then answers. An interactive thingy.

A view in the other direction. The open air amphitheatre in the foreground.

Anyway, must get on my way, even though every step is so painfull. I went through Worston, and stopped for a few minutes at Downham. Trouble is when I stop I can't get going again.

Downham is a beautiful little village, the sort of place you want to linger. There were a few people about picnicking by the stream which runs through the middle. Children were paddling and the ducks were quacking.

Lots of stone cottages with flowers at the front.

And the church stands majestic and proud, on the hill over looking the village.

Lots of cottages and flowers.

Off I set again. I wasn't going to take a photo of Pendle Hill, because hills all look the same to me, but here we go.

I decided to stick to the minor roads rather than go on the paths. My legs were giving me hell and I didn't want to stumble over uneven ground. I took the national cycle route to Barnoldswick. Strangely the down hills were giving me stick, my knees were painfull and the muscles at the front of my legs were very sore. The uphills were ok, head down, lengthen the pace and take it slowly.

I stopped in Barnoldswick for something to eat and drink, popped into a shop, and took my snack onto a grassy area next to the bus station, in the shade of a big bush. It was so hot. What a relief to get my boots off and stick a pin in the blisters on my little toes. Smother them in Germoline and they will be ok.

This is the hostel, a cottage style building. It looks as if the place has been refurbished, all looks quite new.

I'll leave you with this little chuckle, it made me chuckle anyway. No matter how bad things seem you have got to see the funny side. Seen in a shop window when I hobbled back from the Co op, ha ha.