Sunday 11 April
Distance: 16 miles (Tot: 351 miles (that's more than 33% complete!))
A somewhat nippy night was had, which was perhaps predictable after our day of fine weather and given that we were camping at the bottom of quite a steep sided valley, and rising just after 6am it started to feel even colder as a mist descended, obliterating our surroundings.
The mist was shortlived, and by the time all five of us were setting off at 7.45 everything was starting to come into focus, although it didn't show much promise for the forecast glorious day.
Having ended yesterday somewhere slightly different (and undoubtedly far superior) to where originally planned, a bit of rerouting saw us back on track just beyond Langsett Reservoir this morning. A quick yomp on an obvious footpath took us across fields (and under power lines which Richard will be pleased to know were exactly where they should have been!) to join the Trans Pennine Trail, which gave swift passage (it being (at this point a disused railway line) to Winscar Reservoir, where a leisurely second breakfast was had.
The blue skies opening up above us convinced all of us that within minutes it was going to be a scorching day, so off we all stripped, only to find that the breeze was a bit keener than we had thought and thus although the day was gorgeous, at no point did I feel as hot as I did yesterday (incidentally, I have a glowing beacon in the middle of my face, thanks to putting suncream everywhere except my nose yesterday).
We're well and truly into reservoir country now, so after Langsett and Winscar we passed Riding Wood, Ramsden, Brownhill, Digley, Wessenden Head, Wessenden and Butterley reservoirs on the way to Marsden, although not without stopping at the Fleece Inn at Holme to refresh ourselves at lunchtime.
Reaching Marsden our numbers decreased as Dave and John departed for their trains home, having enjoyed (or perhaps they were just being polite and they meant 'endured'?) their weekend of walking with us in stunning conditions. Phil's time walking with us is also over (work tomorrow for all three of them), but he and his family are kindly putting us up tonight, so having paused briefly in another pub, Phil's wife Rosa arrived to transport us to their house, where we have enjoyed an enormous and mightily tasty tea.
So, tomorrow we're back down to the two of us, and unless anyone's going to surprise us along the way, as far as we're aware we're on our own now for the whole of the rest of the distance.
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Your route down Wessenden valley was where my parents used to take my brother, my sister and myself walking at the weekends. No car for us then (more than 50 years ago), only a bus and then trolley bus from Heckmondwike via Huddersfield. We always walked up from Marsden and then usually down to Holmfirth. The urban part of the West Riding was much dirtier then, more industry, so it was great to get out into the countryside. Those family walks led directly to my interest in long distance walking.
ReplyDeleteI look forward every day to reading of your adventures. Keep up the good work.
I too enjoy reading you adventures, Have been reading you progress since half way through you lejog. (You dont know me,I am just an armchair traveller)
ReplyDeleteCarol
See, I didn't curse the weather! ;o)
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