Coast to Coast Day 3
We woke to a damp day in Patterdale; but a hearty breakfast set us up nicely for the day. Although that lasted all of the first half mile as the gradient increased and the rain fell.... 
We plodded up in grey; snow visible on the highest tops; the cold wind driving the equally cold rain into us. This could be a long day. We stuck at it and enjoyed the flatter meandering paths after the initial climb; up around Angle Pike Tarn and a hardy camper; onwards towards the Knott. The higher we got the poorer the visibility and with the choice of paths and lack of clear landmarks meant there was care taken with route finding. 

We staggered up past the Knott; took the 2 minutes to summit this Wainwright and onwards to Kidsty Pike in frankly poor visibility. At least the rain had abated and we were drying out in the wind. 

As we headed off the back of Kidsty Pike, the clouds parted and we got a fleeting sunny glimpse of Haweswater below; magical. 

Once on the lakeside we went up through the gears and motored effortlessly along with glimpses of sun and practically nobody about. (2 groups the entire length of the lake )

And past the dam and it was like stepping through a door from lakeland wilderness to pastoral green and pleasant land. Through fields and woods and the final 4 miles to Shap. At the end of the day it required motivation to cover the last little bit. 

We rocked up at New Ings, got our tent for the night, hit the shops and the chippy and hunkered down for the night; cosied up tightly against the cold. 16 miles done. Not an easy day but easier than day 2....! We will complete the mission tomorrow; this I know.