Having the magnificent stage of yesterday still in my head I start at 06:36 on the north side of the river, in Selby. The sky is clouded and there could be some incidental showers today. During the first 39km of today’s stage the trail follows the river Ouse. That has the possibility of becoming boring, at some stage. But not after 3km, where the concrete road is left behind and the first grass covered dyke is being used; the grass is very high, there are small bush straws between the grass, and the grass is very stiff, which makes it very tiresome to drag your shoes through it with every step you take.

not nice section to hike

After a few kilometers the grass, on the next dyke section, gets a bit easier. After 8km I pass a little fishing lake, where people are actually fishing, when the first shower of this trip comes down. Fortunately it is for less than 10 minutes, as I am unprepared for this. There are are a few more dykes following, these are inhabited by cows. They feel comfortable and do not make way to let me pass.

busy on the dyke

I walk down the dyke and up again to continue a few times. After crossing the inevitable motorway I cross the village of Howdendyke.

easy grass dyke

There are no pubs or shops, and I continue my way. From the village of Saltmarshe the grass dyke is extremely maintained, it could have been a golf course. A bit further downstream the river I pass a unusual phenomenon: I walk downstream, but the water in the river is streaming in my direction! This continuous for some kilometer or so, and then it goes back to normal. Remarkable. After following the river for many kilometers, the trail goes inland at 39km. It chooses to follow straight concrete roads for 5km; the sun shines strongly, there are hardly any shades but I am pretty okay. I take an extra break and continue in a moderate pace. The final kilometers to the railway station of Brough are along a grass dyke again, very smooth surface, and a great view in the far distance: the bridge across the river Humber near Hull. I am happy to have finished this tiresome day in long grass and warm temperatures all right. Only one more stage in the UK to go.