Bogs fallen into: 0
Car disasters: 0
Progress is being made!!
This morning, I was so organised that I was parked and walking from Standedge at 7.30 am. Blimey! All day I’ve only seen one Pennine Way walker and one dog walker until Stoodley Pike which was overrun with ramblers.
It’s been very changeable weatherwise all day – with intermittent showers – so my waterproofs have been on and off all day. I had some climbing straightaway and reached two different trig points before 9.30 am. The views were amazing, even with the low cloud.
I had a major result at 9.30 am while crossing the A672 – a tea van! I got a severe amount of ribbing from all the lorry drivers there – along the lines of needing to get a shimmy on. The van owner, Brian, guessed exactly how far I’d walked, how long it had taken me, where I was walking to and my estimated time of arrival. I asked him if he’d ever walked it as he was such an expert, but he hasn’t – he has, however, had the tea van in that layby for thirty years and his father had been there before him. So he’s made it his lifetime study. His major customers are the campers who start early – the B and B’ers come along much later and are generally full so don’t want anything from him. Soon after leaving them chuckling at my expense, I had to cross the M62 which was slightly surreal following the peace and quiet of the last couple of days.
Not long after I reached my third trig point of the day and walked along a boulder strewn path – very bleak indeed. The path had been gently undulating today rather than major up and downs and indeed for a lot of the way has been totally flat as I walked wide gravel paths beside reservoirs – Blackstone Edge, White Holme, Light Hazzles and Warland.
Past Warland, the path became stone slabbed as I walked towards Stoodley Pike which dominated the skyline for ages. The villages down in the valley were really picturesque – all looking a bit chocolate boxy. It was while looking down on all the scenery that I decided to call the campsite to make sure I could turn up after eight o’clock this evening, only to be told there were no pitches. Gggrrr. So, with that, I sat and tried to do some planning – by ringing my Tourist Info advisers at Norwich! I was then bombarded with texted numbers so sat down to ring some local campsites by the side of a gravel lane. The postie pulled up in his van to ask if I was lost, but I just told him my predicament – with that, he offered me a lift to Tourist Info in Hebden Bridge. I thanked him profusely but said I was walking that way anyway. People are really quite extraordinarily kind.
I then had a bit of a grumpy march into Hebden Bridge to the Tourist Info office – the lady there listened to my tale of woe and told me that the campsite had shut completely but that the owner was a bit “odd” – lucky escape there methinks. She gave me a list of campsites and the first one I rang – the New Delight Inn at Colden – said yes I could stay two nights and they’d only charge three quid a night – bonus!
So, with that, I went off to find some sustenance – Mum and Dad had put a tenner in my birthday card with a note to say “have a cream tea on us” – which is exactly what I did.
There then followed a very exciting journey back to my car – a train to Brighouse, another train to Huddersfield to be followed by a final train to Marsden and a taxi to my car. So I finally got to my campsite after eight o’clock where I celebrated with a pint of lager shandy and a shower. And I’ve planned tomorrow that I don’t have to get in my car at all – bonus!!
Saturday, 15 August 2009
The Great Pennine Way Adventure – Day 2 – Monday 3 August 2009 – Crowden to Standedge – 12 miles
Bogs fallen into: 1, no injuries sustained
Car disasters: 2 – lost car and reversal into boulder
This morning I was quite a bit more organised than yesterday – I had chatted up another fellow camper last night, so my car was parked at Standedge just after nine and I was given a lift back to Crowden to start walking at 10.00 am. I’ve walked today with quite a few couples – and we’ve been catching up and overtaking each other all day. It’s been really sociable.
From Crowden, I immediately had a climb up to Laddow Rocks – a lovely path with lots of rock hopping and fording streams. I walked initially with Paul from Darlington and Andy from Wigan, who had started the Pennine Way nine years ago, although only Andy had finished it after Paul retired on day one with an injury – a likely story! So Andy has been nagging Paul ever since to have another go.
They sat down a lot though – even by my standards! So I pushed on to the top of the hill where I met two girls that I’d seen yesterday. They’d had a trauma and got lost in the peat bogs for three hours so had to call the Ranger out. Because they then had so much time to make up, they stopped at the A57 Snake Pass and got a taxi the rest of the way.
The path along the Crowden Brook was very well defined until I had to ford the stream and then it was a giant quagmire. Panic set in – as usual – where was the blinking path? As I was scratching my head and cursing, I could see Paul and Andy coming along so I strategically looked lost (not difficult!) and helpless (ditto!) and they then looked after me and got me through the bog – not without me having another dousing though. (But as they walked a bit ahead of me, I was spared my blushes – they didn’t see a thing!)
The path to the trig point at Black Hill was laid out again with stone slabs – according to my guide book, before the stone slab there was “doom and despondency” where now there is “cheery enthusiasm” – how lovely! I must admit the peat bogs were putting me off walking initially – there’s so much of it. At the trig point there’s a 200 metre stretch of this soggy black ugliness, with slabs leading you through. Yuk!
The path down to the A635 was a joy to walk, indeed as the rest of the day was. Really well signposted along various reservoirs - Wessenden Head, Wessenden, Swellands and Black Moss, where the path came down the hill to Standedge and the A62 where I was parked. Except I wasn’t ….. when we’d left the car this morning we assumed, incorrectly, that the huge layby was the actual car park for the Pennine Way. Wrong! So I had a quick fifteen minute march along the A62 towards Marsden to find my car. Then back to Crowden campsite for tent building, shower and tea – a three course extravaganza – fish soup, pasta in a cheese and tomato sauce and a cup of tea and shortbread biscuits. How civilised!
Oh, and I finally opened all my birthday cards and presents – thank you everyone!
Car disasters: 2 – lost car and reversal into boulder
This morning I was quite a bit more organised than yesterday – I had chatted up another fellow camper last night, so my car was parked at Standedge just after nine and I was given a lift back to Crowden to start walking at 10.00 am. I’ve walked today with quite a few couples – and we’ve been catching up and overtaking each other all day. It’s been really sociable.
From Crowden, I immediately had a climb up to Laddow Rocks – a lovely path with lots of rock hopping and fording streams. I walked initially with Paul from Darlington and Andy from Wigan, who had started the Pennine Way nine years ago, although only Andy had finished it after Paul retired on day one with an injury – a likely story! So Andy has been nagging Paul ever since to have another go.
They sat down a lot though – even by my standards! So I pushed on to the top of the hill where I met two girls that I’d seen yesterday. They’d had a trauma and got lost in the peat bogs for three hours so had to call the Ranger out. Because they then had so much time to make up, they stopped at the A57 Snake Pass and got a taxi the rest of the way.
The path along the Crowden Brook was very well defined until I had to ford the stream and then it was a giant quagmire. Panic set in – as usual – where was the blinking path? As I was scratching my head and cursing, I could see Paul and Andy coming along so I strategically looked lost (not difficult!) and helpless (ditto!) and they then looked after me and got me through the bog – not without me having another dousing though. (But as they walked a bit ahead of me, I was spared my blushes – they didn’t see a thing!)
The path to the trig point at Black Hill was laid out again with stone slabs – according to my guide book, before the stone slab there was “doom and despondency” where now there is “cheery enthusiasm” – how lovely! I must admit the peat bogs were putting me off walking initially – there’s so much of it. At the trig point there’s a 200 metre stretch of this soggy black ugliness, with slabs leading you through. Yuk!
The path down to the A635 was a joy to walk, indeed as the rest of the day was. Really well signposted along various reservoirs - Wessenden Head, Wessenden, Swellands and Black Moss, where the path came down the hill to Standedge and the A62 where I was parked. Except I wasn’t ….. when we’d left the car this morning we assumed, incorrectly, that the huge layby was the actual car park for the Pennine Way. Wrong! So I had a quick fifteen minute march along the A62 towards Marsden to find my car. Then back to Crowden campsite for tent building, shower and tea – a three course extravaganza – fish soup, pasta in a cheese and tomato sauce and a cup of tea and shortbread biscuits. How civilised!
Oh, and I finally opened all my birthday cards and presents – thank you everyone!
Friday, 14 August 2009
The Great Pennine Way Adventure – Day 1 – Sunday 2 August 2009 – Edale to Crowden – 16 miles
Bogs fallen into: 1
Car disasters: 1 – tyre blow out on A624
Bit of a tardy start today – a knight in shining armour I met in Edale offered to help out with my logistics today so that I could walk towards my car and not away from it. So, after getting up late, we drove his car and mine towards Crowden – it was a good job he was such a good Samaritan – as I had a tyre blow out en route and, while I know what to do in theory, I’ve never been very good at practical! So, after getting to Crowden and then back to Edale in my saviour’s car, I finally started walking at twelve o’clock after a quick breakfast at Edale. I am a past master at delaying tactics!
The walk starts at the Nags Head in Edale which coincidentally was right next to my campsite – I don’t just throw these things together. There were loads of walkers out today – not surprising as the weather’s been perfect. My guide book informs me that today is probably the toughest day of the whole walk and that an awful lot of Pennine Way-goers give up at the first hurdle. Not me though – I’m on a mission.
The views have been amazing – really stunning – not especially pretty in a conventional sense – but really interesting – lots of peat, lots of rock, almost moonscapes for some of the way. Jacob’s Ladder was the first tough climb – but so worth it for the views. The hills are covered in huge boulders and cairns to lead you onwards as they mark the route. From the trig point, the path was fantastic – quite rocky but pretty flat all the way to Kinder Downfall which had become a natural lunch stop for most walkers. I sat down for a snack and the most curious sheep ever came to pose for photos and to eat a banana skin!
Things got interesting as I reached Mill Hill – from here the path is laid out with stone slabs because of the peat bogs. This, however, did not stop me falling in one – my foot went down a crevice between two slabs and I was knee deep in poo! Much to the amusement of other walkers on the path. These slight chuckles soon turned into belly laughs as I then ended up putting my hand through the crevice too – God, I was a mess! I soon dried out though and took things pretty gingerly from then on.
I was looking forward to a tea van on the A57 to treat me for my “shock” – however, it was unforthcoming – blinking guide book getting my hopes up! Once past Snake Pass, the path became almost a culvert – along what seemed to be a dried up river bed – although not totally dry in places – easier to walk in the actual streams than in the boggy bits. Oh, I wish I was a mountain goat! I would certainly have felt more confident about my rock hopping.
At Bleaklow Head a huge cairn appeared – more lunar landscapes –and the path then kept to the ridge before descending quite steeply on rocky paths towards Torside Reservoir. Nearly there! From the reservoir, it was a short detour off the Pennine Way to the campsite at Crowden and my car. It was nearly eight o’clock by now, so a quick burger and chips and a pint of lager shandy in Glossop sufficed before I drove back to Edale. I was so tired that I didn’t even open all my lovely birthday cards and presents – sorry all. But I did manage a swift drink in the Nags Head before retiring for the night. An absolutely brilliant day – I loved it!
Car disasters: 1 – tyre blow out on A624
Bit of a tardy start today – a knight in shining armour I met in Edale offered to help out with my logistics today so that I could walk towards my car and not away from it. So, after getting up late, we drove his car and mine towards Crowden – it was a good job he was such a good Samaritan – as I had a tyre blow out en route and, while I know what to do in theory, I’ve never been very good at practical! So, after getting to Crowden and then back to Edale in my saviour’s car, I finally started walking at twelve o’clock after a quick breakfast at Edale. I am a past master at delaying tactics!
The walk starts at the Nags Head in Edale which coincidentally was right next to my campsite – I don’t just throw these things together. There were loads of walkers out today – not surprising as the weather’s been perfect. My guide book informs me that today is probably the toughest day of the whole walk and that an awful lot of Pennine Way-goers give up at the first hurdle. Not me though – I’m on a mission.
The views have been amazing – really stunning – not especially pretty in a conventional sense – but really interesting – lots of peat, lots of rock, almost moonscapes for some of the way. Jacob’s Ladder was the first tough climb – but so worth it for the views. The hills are covered in huge boulders and cairns to lead you onwards as they mark the route. From the trig point, the path was fantastic – quite rocky but pretty flat all the way to Kinder Downfall which had become a natural lunch stop for most walkers. I sat down for a snack and the most curious sheep ever came to pose for photos and to eat a banana skin!
Things got interesting as I reached Mill Hill – from here the path is laid out with stone slabs because of the peat bogs. This, however, did not stop me falling in one – my foot went down a crevice between two slabs and I was knee deep in poo! Much to the amusement of other walkers on the path. These slight chuckles soon turned into belly laughs as I then ended up putting my hand through the crevice too – God, I was a mess! I soon dried out though and took things pretty gingerly from then on.
I was looking forward to a tea van on the A57 to treat me for my “shock” – however, it was unforthcoming – blinking guide book getting my hopes up! Once past Snake Pass, the path became almost a culvert – along what seemed to be a dried up river bed – although not totally dry in places – easier to walk in the actual streams than in the boggy bits. Oh, I wish I was a mountain goat! I would certainly have felt more confident about my rock hopping.
At Bleaklow Head a huge cairn appeared – more lunar landscapes –and the path then kept to the ridge before descending quite steeply on rocky paths towards Torside Reservoir. Nearly there! From the reservoir, it was a short detour off the Pennine Way to the campsite at Crowden and my car. It was nearly eight o’clock by now, so a quick burger and chips and a pint of lager shandy in Glossop sufficed before I drove back to Edale. I was so tired that I didn’t even open all my lovely birthday cards and presents – sorry all. But I did manage a swift drink in the Nags Head before retiring for the night. An absolutely brilliant day – I loved it!
Friday, 7 August 2009
So what's happening in the world
Remember this scene? Difficult to believe this was over two months ago. Yes never documented on this Blog but all the family and friends were given first hand accounts after this great adventure. Had to smile last week when Steve announced that his feet were back to 100% working order. Just shows you how much of a hero you were Steve on the day, carrying on. Can still hear your outburst, probably never to be witnessed again? The DVD is well on its way, just having technical difficulties with converting the video plus cant help playing it back on what I've done so far and laugh. Public release hopefully shouldn't be that far away? Susan you shouldn't really stick your tongue out at the camera so can be captured for prosperity!So what's happened to every one, well being summer everyone have gone there own ways for now. Amanda is now an Essex Girl! Susan was last sighted in Yorkshire as Malham is now here second home while Steve after surviving the ultimate challenge, keeping two youngsters entertained for a week in a caravan and surviving to tell the tale, is off cycling in the Loire region. Whilst Rachel is on the verge, fingers crossed of becoming a house owner. That should help the credit crunch, with so many shopping trips needed to fill up all those rooms!
Its seems that more friends and families enjoyed this Blog then expected so from now on, write anything you want, tell us about your adventures, funny stories, plans, challenges? We are already set for April and the Yorkshire 3 peak challenge and guess will set other things. If you want to be removed from the automatic emails or have people added, just let us know? Not everyone is on Face book but most can access this Blog.
As for me, well the Berlin Marathon 6 weeks Sunday. Up to 19 miles in the training runs and doing the Great Yarmouth Half Marathon this weekend as a bench mark on how I'm doing against others? Finding it tough going, especially in this heat but feeling more confident. Should be quite a day running with 40,000 other people cheered on somewhere in a region of a Million people and finishing the run under the Brandenburg Gate? Lets hope the only wall I see is the remains of the Berlin Wall not the runners Wall !!!
So over to you (Susan, hint hint)
Tristan
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Do I detect a lack of commitment?!!
Well, Trailtrekker is over and done with - 100km successfully completed in twenty-nine hours and fourteen minutes. We have to apologise for lack of blog but our walking team and associated hangers on numbered about eighteen and we haven't been able to coordinate an appropriate match report yet! It may still happen ..... stay tuned.
So today was our first walk following the big event and, although we had a lot of acceptances, as the week went on, people have been dropping like flies - with excuses such as househunting, moving house, no excuse given, a hangover and shopping ...... hence the title of this missive!
So Amanda and I set off today in swirling mist to the sound of roaring tides - another coastal walk from Cromer to Cley - we spent a long time debating whether we should go down to Cromer Pier to buy tickets for next Sunday. Not for us Take That at Wembley or Madonna at the o2 next week ..... oh no, we're off to see Chas and Dave!
The walk has been variously on roads, pavements, high streets, grassy cliff paths and shingle beaches - ouch. Especially as Amanda had blisters and I'd rubbed a couple too - I had to tape up Amanda's feet at one point and she commented that I looked like I knew what I was doing. That'll be because I've had lots of experience!
We decided to call it a day at Salthouses because of blisters and tender feet - we just about had time to get an ice cream before we had to jump in front of the bus back to Cromer - this is apparently how you make them stop as there's a severe lack of visible bus stops. According to our driver - who manoeuvred the narrow lanes rather like Emerson Fittipaldi - the Salthouses bus stop has been stolen. Stolen???
So a very good day and the others don't know what they've missed!
So today was our first walk following the big event and, although we had a lot of acceptances, as the week went on, people have been dropping like flies - with excuses such as househunting, moving house, no excuse given, a hangover and shopping ...... hence the title of this missive!
So Amanda and I set off today in swirling mist to the sound of roaring tides - another coastal walk from Cromer to Cley - we spent a long time debating whether we should go down to Cromer Pier to buy tickets for next Sunday. Not for us Take That at Wembley or Madonna at the o2 next week ..... oh no, we're off to see Chas and Dave!
The walk has been variously on roads, pavements, high streets, grassy cliff paths and shingle beaches - ouch. Especially as Amanda had blisters and I'd rubbed a couple too - I had to tape up Amanda's feet at one point and she commented that I looked like I knew what I was doing. That'll be because I've had lots of experience!
We decided to call it a day at Salthouses because of blisters and tender feet - we just about had time to get an ice cream before we had to jump in front of the bus back to Cromer - this is apparently how you make them stop as there's a severe lack of visible bus stops. According to our driver - who manoeuvred the narrow lanes rather like Emerson Fittipaldi - the Salthouses bus stop has been stolen. Stolen???
So a very good day and the others don't know what they've missed!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Less than a week to go!!! Yes not long to go now and though best to have a catch up as plenty to talk about since the last post as it seems quite a few people now check the Blog from time to time other than us!
First of all a BIG thank you to all that have sponsored us, if you look at our on line just giving page http://www.justgiving.com/tearsforbeers we are now at £1099 which if you include gift aid takes us to £1370.90. We do appreciate this big time especially in this day and age when lots of people ask for sponsorship.
The 16th saw our Hardleybury music festival with all sorts of music descend on Hardley/Langley. We started off with Pearl (picture) with a 45 minute acoustic set which set the standard for the rest of the day. A joy to hear, amazing what two guys and one guitar can achieve and wish them luck in their promotion of their CD. Next on board was the Spanish Rock Band TEA.
Late stand in due to a last minute shuffle in the line up. Again their own stuff but first rate, instantly likeable. I thought they were ace and even bought their latest CD! The funniest revelation of the day had to be on their slowness to set up and get going. Apparently in Spain most of their gigs start around 1am. So the 4pm slot was far too early for them! Once started very much enjoyed. Next up was Egypt more Heavy Rock with Blues thrown in. Very talented and certainly could be heard all around the district foe miles around. But as they said, there is only one way to play this sort of music! Thanks for Alan for bringing Egypt and TEA to our festival.
Next up was the local school bands headed up with Across the Board b but all their proud parents, friends and relatives. Really great stuff to see, the musicians of tomorrow. Also good for them to play in front of a live mixed audience. All went away with smiles so excellent stuff guys and a big thank you to Richard Craig’s for organising this which brought an excellent different dimension to the day. Finally we ended with Audio Junkie, which could not of been a better way to end the evening with their wide range of cover versions. Guaranteed to be liked by everyone, a must to see if you get the chance. The Sex Pistols Anarchy in the U.K was fantastic, that chair will never be the same again?!
So again, thank you to the bands, thank you to the locals who manned the bar, glad you enjoyed it so much you wavered the fee :o) and of course thanks to the people who bought tickets and came so in doing so was supporting Oxfam.
As to training our last big training walk was the week before which saw us catch the 06.30 train out of Norwich to Great Yarmouth followed by a walk back using the Wherrymans way. With support crew meeting us at three points this ended being a dress rehearsal with us covering 32 miles in 12 hours (plus one unplanned stop in Hardley, thanks to Justin for the J2O's as passed his front door!). As ever as the miles pass the conversations become more comical and bizarre! Bitter disappointment that the Reedham Ferry didn't sell Duty Free plus Rachel’s insistence we had seen a Unicorn! For me the highlight was in the last 100 meters of the walk when we had a world premier of Rachel’s "Happy Dance". Yes all on a high, ready for the big day, BRING IT ON!
So apart from a few smaller walks by individuals to mention, just leaves me to sign off. Guess the next Blog will be post Walk!
For those who would like to see a selection of Photos covering the last 5 months, please paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027487&id=1234676639&l=2c72819a13
Catch you all later
Tristan
Thursday, 7 May 2009
King St Circuit - 2
Nice and early start on 2nd May to complete the King St Circular walk as it is becoming known as, 08:00. We set off from the C&W office in King Street and by the time we had hit Carrow Bridge we had decided to do it in reverse this time, Whittlingham then the fly over followed by the walk back via Yarmouth Road and the river bank area.
Tristan, Rachel, Susan and myself....what I have learnt about this walking malarkey is that it empties your mind of work thoughts and you become focused on some stupid things like " Pink Clothing, Underwear, Holidays, what to eat and drinks during the walking, Holidays, Gardening, etc....very therapeutic.....
We also heard our first Cookoo of the year in Whitlingham woods and saw lots of little ducklings on the lake.
And how nice to have the rest of the day to go shopping......(Susan & Rachel) !
Tristan, Rachel, Susan and myself....what I have learnt about this walking malarkey is that it empties your mind of work thoughts and you become focused on some stupid things like " Pink Clothing, Underwear, Holidays, what to eat and drinks during the walking, Holidays, Gardening, etc....very therapeutic.....
We also heard our first Cookoo of the year in Whitlingham woods and saw lots of little ducklings on the lake.
And how nice to have the rest of the day to go shopping......(Susan & Rachel) !
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