Saturday 20 August 2011

Day 21 - Birch Vale to Holme (20.5 miles)

Today has been a mixed day but mainly a fantastic one. All because of stunning views and nice people.

Breakfast was later than other days and threw me out of sorts. I left The Waltzing Weasel an hour later than I'd been starting on previous days but no matter, it's all about putting one foot in front of the other. Let's get going!

Within a few miles I bumped into a guy out walking his daughters dog. He'd moved near to the Pennines after his Father had passed away. The Pennines were his gym. He guided walked with me and guided me to William Clough. I later worked out a Clough is like a gorge cut out by water. Until I worked that out I was climbing William Clough and I was thinking if Mr Clough knew that a walk way was to be named after him he'd be proud!

I reached the top and my next encounter occurred. This was my inauguration on The Pennines and I didn't want to go wrong. I just need confirmation that Mill Hill were near by. A group of walkers appeared from the direction I thought Mill Hill was so I asked them. Indeed I was right but it sparked a conversation. The gentleman shook my hand and genuinely wanted to know what was going on. I left him feeling very happy.

At mill hill it was a right hook heading north. The ground had levelled out and the walking was good. A fellow walker caught up with me and I stopped to allow him to pass. Encounter number 3. Again a really genuine guy who had done masses of walking and really wanted to know my story. We walked and talked until the A57. A natural Pennine way break. I needed to change into my boots. I could feel the stones through my running shoes and looking at the soles I could see why. They were done! 300+ miles had taken their toll. I changed and bode farewell to my walking partner.

The way was a little confused at one point and I took a right instead of staying straight on. This was quickly rectified when another friendly walker helped me out. No real time lost. I headed towards Torside Reservoir.

The going was good but slow. Flies and a thin path were causing me to slow. I'm not a fan of heights and this was making me slightly dizzy. I ploughed on albeit very slowly. I got to the reservoir but after looking at my Garmin I was deflated. I'd only done 13 miles and had been going 6 hours. Not good. The descent had slowed me a lot. The pain in my toes had made me slow to a crawl. Descending is more painful that ascending.

A quick call to my brother and we decided (begrudgingly from me) that I should take the road from here on for today and pick up the miles another day. Grrrr! I wasn't happy. I stomped off, cursing the pain in my feet. How dare they slow me?!

The Holmes Moss Transmitting station stands at 1716 feet above see level. This I know because I read the sign as I passed it. I was determined to make time up and had marched up the 1700 foot climb at double pace. I was exhausted but no stopping! I needed to make the time up! The road route I had picked up would mean a 29 mile day!

On the decent from the Transmitting station I was in agony. The descent was crucifying my feet. I hobbled into Holme and saw a pub. No argument, I was in like Flynn!

Chatting to a local he said the walk across The Pennines from here to where I was due to stay is a really nice walk but it would be late if I did it now. Probably would be descending in the dark. Best to do it another day was the advice. Decision made I was walking on my day off. Encounter four and the people were getting nicer. Shortly followed encounter five - John Whiteley.

John is a fantastic guy. He noticed the pack and we chatted about what I was doing and why. Immediately he added £20 to the Richards Appeal pot but he also had some great stories of what he has done and it was obvious to see this was a guy who loved his challenges! John even offered a place to stop for the night, bought me a tasty pint and was generally just really really nice. They don't make many like Mr Whiteley but I'm starting to think they've nearly all been deployed to 'The North'. I'm generalising a fair bit here but the country seems to be like a kindness barometer - the further north you go, the kinder people get.

I'm walking on my day off but hopefully it will be in new shoes and a short walk at a leisurely pace. This will allow time for me to take in the stunning scenery and hopefully meet more nice people.

Tomorrow - Digsley Reservoir to Marsden.

3 comments:

  1. Well done D!! It's fab you're meeting so many lovely people (trying not to comment on nicer in the north vs south!!) - perhaps it's the further you've walked the more people take an interest :) You are doing bloody fantastic! Hope you've found a way to lighten your load.

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  2. Hi, you are doing just great and really nice socialiseing thrown in,it just continues to get better eh!!!!!! breakfast will welcome you at the Carriage house sunday, ENJOY, HAPPY WALKING

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  3. Or maybe the more north you go the nosier they are, tehe! I know its now, wait til you get to Scotland, you'll be offered weird stuff like Haggis and fried Mars bars too!
    Enjoy your wee walk on rest day. I'm going for a walk this morning (no way as long as yours but long enough) and can hardly walk after 2 hours of hockey yesterday so will think of the pain you've been through some days
    Keep blogging too
    Luce

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