After having a couple of hours sleep and a couple more hot chocolates, 6 am soon came round. I don’t know what came over me, but I suddenly perked up, grabbed my bags and started to walk again.
The aim was Northallerton, via Yarm.
Quickly popped over to a mobile phone shop, jumped on their wifi just to get my map bearings and it seemed pretty straight forward so let the 6 hours of walking commence.
About an hour in, and I’d reached Eaglescliff, seeing the welcome sign for this little village was a great mental boost as it should of taken me a hour and a half to get here yet it had just gone 7am, I was flying. Straight through Eaglescliff and out the other end, just following whatever sign displayed Northallerton on it, or at worse Yarm. Hunger kicked in, ok I 90% hungry all the time, with lack of funds etc, but this was painful. My stomach was certainly trying to grab my attention and boy did it know how to do it, I persevered through the pain barrier and followed the signs with the miles slowly being ticked off.
I arrived in Yarm, and I don’t know whether my stomach just gave up or I had just gotten used to the pain, but it had seemed to have subsided at least. I came to this hug roundabout with about 4 possible exits, but not a single sign told me which way to go? Surely I hadn’t missed a turning back down the road? I couldn’t of. I found this old chap, and stopped to ask him if he had any idea. He just kept telling me to get the 10A bus, and every time I reiterated the fact I was walking. Finally I think he understood, and said, “I think its right at the roundabout” Great! “....or is it left, yeah it may be left” hmmm, I wish he just stuck with the 10A bus option to be honest. Anyway I gambled on going right.
About 15mins down the road and nothing, no sign, no indication a town was ahead or anything. I did however come across a train station, Northallerton train station to be exact. Even though this was the station for Northallerton it still didn’t really help with which way to go unfortunately. Just as I was walking away, the announcer came on, and said the next train will be for all stations to Manchester Airport, via Thirsk, York.... Do I risk it? To hell with it, why not. (I don’t condone fare dodging at all but I was desperate)
I thought 1 stop to Thirsk wouldn’t hurt anybody plus it would eat up a couple of miles nice and quickly. The train pulled up, only 2 carriages, and only about 10 people boarding, it won’t take long for the inspector to come along. I saw him at the front, and Thirsk was 15mins away, would it take him 15mins to reach me? I sat down, made myself comfortable, popped some headphones in, took out a book opened to a random page and “feel asleep” Sure enough inspector, enters my carriage. “Any tickets from Northallerton” a couple of guys said yes bought their tickets off him and then the inspector proceeded towards me, I just ignored him and he pasted me. Did I pull it off? Turns out I may have. We pulled up at Thirsk and I got a bit ballsy, “lets stay on for one more stop” it was York next up, so a nice big City. Sure enough I stayed on and got to York without a hitch, thankfully, York station has no ticket barriers phew!
10am in a new City once again. By 11 I’d found the library, all the amenities I’d be needing etc. Spent around 6 hours, in the library and its immediate area before places started to close. Right what now. I headed back to the station just for the sheer fact I knew it’d be open, I stayed there till around 11 before moving on, I had no idea where I was going to try and at least close my eyes, but never the less I trudged back into the City Centre and managed to find a little space behind a restaurant, where I put my head down and tried to get some shut eye. Please don’t let it rain.
Zzz
Day 4, done.
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