We walked alot of road track and footpath path trying to avoid the A685.
The day was started with a race agsinst the weather. We knew it was going to be a wet day so we were moving fairly early to get the tent packed before the rain really started. All was going well and we would be on target to leave Tebay Inn around 7.30. A slight problem was Josh over flexed the tent pole and broke two lengths. In affect we had no pitchable tent. This was a particular pain because this tent is fairly light quick to pitch and generally good piece of kit. Luckily I was able to contact Monique who we were meeting today as we woll be less than an hour from home. She could bring the spare tent and I could adapt a flex hoop pole with hack saw and pliers....I hope!
I was not happy with J . His slap dash ways have to change or I will send him packing within the week.
We were picking up another National Trail today, the PENNINE BRIDLE WAY,at Ravenstonedale.
The walk was a wet one with some heavy rain and some trudging along narrow lanes. After about 9 miles we reached Ravenstone Dale but could find little info about the walk itself. We popped into a small shop and then into a pub and I downloaded some info about it via wifi. It started at Street about 3 miles further on, no more than a farm. After a cuppa we ambled via lanes to Street. Because signals for the mobile was poor we had trouble keeping in contact with our support team - Monique.
We sat a while then I walked up to phone got a signal but they obviously could not receive a call for the same reason as us. I sent a text stating we were starting the Bridle Way and was going up a___nd over to the next valley - the Kirkby Stephen / Hawes road.
The track was a bridle way was steady up. We could see black clouds brewing to the south of us in and rain falling to the west but so far we only had the odd spot.
The route took us to High Dolphinsty a saddle or dip between the higher tops of Wild Boar Fell.We stopped and at the top for a breif spell and as dark cloud gather and the wind picked up we started down the other side at speed. Sadly the weather caught up and wlth a vengence. Wind and rain hit.We put full waterproofs on and brollies up. With torrents of rain driven by the wind we stuggled to stay up right and I had to use my rliggt arm to prevent the brolley from collapsing. Josh was not so fortunate and his cheap one was about crushed in the bedlam. As the initial force of rain and wind decreased we stood under a railway bridge about quarter of a mile from the road below. It was still rain when we ventured out .I could see Moniques car driving from our meet point toward Hawes direction and I flashed the brolley to get their attention to no avail.
We gained the road and walked the short distance to The Thrang. On arriving there the sun came out and started to steam our wet gear. We sat in the sun. It was 3.10.
At 4.10 I could not believe that Monique had not returned so walked a wee while up hill on tomorrows route to get a signal. I eventually got through only to discover she had driven 12 miles to Hawes to let the children play, Maria a friend and her son was also with her. I was annoyed that they had left our meet point without a decent wait leaving us sat like lemons on the side of the road. About half hour passed before Monique returned. Luckily the sun shone.
We were taken back to Hawes where she had legt Maria and the boys to play in a park.
I straight away got to fixing the pole with took about the half an hour. I needed to lengthen the spare tent pole by about three inches. It all went ok and soon I was sat in the park having a Monique prepared picnic. YUM!
I had planned to camp on route that evening but when Monique suggested all staying at the Youth hostel here and run us back in the morning where she picked us up. This we did and the evening was a time of chat food beer and kids. We had a seven bed room but did not sleep until gone midnight. The boys slow to sleep with excitement.
No comments:
Post a Comment