Twere always rainin' in Denley Moor and even when it weren't rainin it were precipitating. We should be so lucky!!!!!. Col here: We left St Bees under stormy skies and a light drizzle. Got a photo at the Coast to Coast statue. The early part of the walk was not too taxing and the lads made good time. We rolled along many a country lane and across a few fields into Cleator where to our amusement we were asked directions by the local fire brigade. We all had a good chuckle when I said we weren't likely to be much help including the firies.
From there we wended our way up a slight slope to a farm and then through a kissing gate to the start of the climb up Dent Fell (hill). Little did we realise what was to come. We climbed up through a boggy woodland until we arrived at the last bit of cover before the exposed upper reaches of Dent Fell. We had a short break at this point under a canopy of fir trees before deciding it was time to head off up over the top. However about 2kms of climbing later through thick cloud and pouring horizontal driven rain. We couldn't see more than about 10 feet away and at one stage we thought we might have lost Pete and Al but in reality there was only one way to go and there was a mountain goat track.
Once we got to the top we started the descent down one of the steepest hills I have ever walked down. Grassy muddy and very wet made it extremely treacherous. I resorted to walking down backwards as that was a lot easier on my knee. I reckon it was nearly a whole kilometere to the bottom of that drop and we were contending with our own little streams all the way down. JR and I seemed to get a bit a head of Al and Pete at this point and we then made our way across a bunch of fords as the normally quiet little stream that would meander it's way chirpingly across the green carpet of the valley floor - we've only had the one drink I promise - was more like a small river bursting its banks at regular intervals. All the pathways were little torrents. You ain't seen anything like the rain and wind and low clouds that we saw/endured today!
We then made our way up out of the valley crossing the stream on about 6 more occasions and eventually a bigger road appeared out of the mist when we were about 5 metres away!!! Then it was basically a wet stroll down the side of the main road and into Ennerdale Bridge where we are currently esconced in a warm bar sipping Coke and Strongbow. (warm and dry at least) and laughing at all the other drowned rats coming in after us.
We did learn to our cost that none of our gear is as waterproof as we might have expected. In fact, they weren't flood proof at all. So the bottom of our packs and all our pockets were filled with water. But it has been raining steadily all day and more of the same is forecast for tomorrow's 23km leg. So that will be a very long day but the walking shouldn'be too difficult. The big hope is that all our gear, now in the hotel boiler room, dries out by tomorrow morning. Then the next day the weather is supposed to improve which is great cause that is the day for the chance to do the very scary Striding Edge and very high Helvellyn which is a key wish of mine, but not necessarily of those of us who suffer vertigo!!
All stories from now on will be sub edited by our party Journalist Al - we're hopeful that the headlines at least will improve.
Al here:
Planet Frog
The one thing that's wrong with France is it's full of French and their bloody cigarettes.
Col here: I don't think Al liked France all that much.
No comments:
Post a Comment