Day 17 Dalton on Tees to Witton le Wear

Another day 'in the can'!  It felt really good to leave the outskirts of Darlington today and head off into the hills.  I found a great cross country route with beautiful views and friendly locals.  Crossing the A1 dual carriageway heading north was a bit of a highlight too. I was joined by my friend Bugs at lunchtime who had come all the way from London and clearly hadn't been put off by the last time she joined me (memories of wading through rivers and mud and navigating round Bedford) and we set off in bright sunshine with a spring in our step.  Actually, I can't really 'spring' at the moment as my right foot isn't in a very good way.  I thought it was all over this morning as I set off and every step hurt.  However, after another dose of strong painkillers, I gritted my teeth and got going.  I now realise that I have to get my best  mileage done in the morning whilst the painkillers kick in which is a bit worrying but never mind- Edinburgh is getting closer so I can't stop now and hopefully I won't do any permanent damage!
I then got a call out of the blue from my friends Michael and Helen Lancaster who announced that his parents were on their way with a boot load of tea and scones (more scones - yum- I could get used to eating these every few miles to get me up to Scotland).  So very many thanks to Joyce and Harvey for the best cup of tea ever - it hit the spot and made me walk faster! 
After that, I felt even more cheered by the weather, the kindness of people and the most beautiful scenery around every corner... and then it all went a bit pear shaped...
We walked along the grass verges down a steep hill and were only 3 miles away from Witton le Wear when my foot started hurting again so i slowed down limping slightly and tried not to wobble too much on the uneven ground and fall into the road (!)  Suddenly, out of the blue, a van raced past us at top speed and threw a bucket (I think - too fast to see properly- it could have been a VERY large bottle) of water at us - which hit me straight in the face (a perfectly calculated direct hit), in my eyes, up my nose and all over my hair so I was literally dripping wet.  It was such a shock and our immediate reaction was "why?!" and "is it water?"  Luckily it was water and not something more sinister but it ruined our afternoon of positive thinking and made the last few miles a bit demoralising (and damp).  However, we have now both perked up after an enormous supper (food works it's magic again) and i am determined not to let the incident get me down.  It's bad enough worrying about the traffic without having to worry about drivers throwing things out of their windows at me!  What a shame that people have nothing better to do than terrorise perfectly innocent walkers - anyway rant over and I feel MUCH better!  Onwards to Northumberland - can't believe it - roll on Scotland...