Last updated at 08:45, Thursday, 26 May 2011

FOLLOWING a meat and potato pie breakfast, the Vagabonds were back on the road again.

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Fresh from a show in Bardsea the night before, travelling puppeteers Gary Bridgens and Phill Gregg were joined on the latest leg of their epic 100-mile journey through South Cumbria by people taking part in the Ulverston Walking Festival.

The pair were special guests at a village bash on Wednesday night, swapping stories with locals.

Gary Thompson, landlord of the Braddylls Arms, in Bardsea, said: “They popped into the pub and enjoyed a meal and a few drinks.

“They also entertained a few friends in the lounge area with bits and pieces of their show.

“We would always welcome colourful characters like them.”

And yesterday morning, surrounded by stunning scenic views of Morecambe Bay, the duo set off in search of the Lanternhouse, in Ulverston, for their next show.

Greeting everyone with a cheery ‘hello’, it is fair to say the Vagabonds are loving life on the road.

And those taking part in the Ulverston Walking Festival shared their enthusiasm.

Walker Jean Povey said: “It has provided an extra fun element to the walk.

“It is just a coincidence that these guys happened to be walking round the area at the same time as our walking festival. So it would have been silly not to join the two events really.

“The journey has been non-stop banter for three miles.

“I came to their performance in Bardsea and I was really impressed with how professional they are.

“We probably wouldn’t have done this particular walk if these guys weren’t doing it today.

“But it has been an excellent addition to the walking festival programme.”

Another walker, Paddy Dillon, said: “I haven’t done a walk like this before.

“It has been hugely entertaining having the guys along with us.

“I have had a go at pushing the cart and I’m impressed that they have been able to push it this far, given the weight of it.”

Along the route there was plenty of laughs and jokes. The dynamic duo, always looking to make light of the situation, revelled in the lime-light when a couple of villagers gave them some fruit for the journey.

Holding a banana each, the pair stopped to strike a pose in the style of James Bond.

Mr Bridgens said of the adventure so far: “It has been wonderful to have company and somebody else to chat to along the way.

“It has been great to have people with such fantastic local knowledge with us too.

“This has been the first big push from our home town of Barrow towards Ulverston and every bit has been glorious and I hope the rest of the journey is this good.”

First published at 13:08, Friday, 06 May 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk