Today’s walk ascended the length of Wharfedale, crossed over
the watershed divide, and descended into Ribblehead. It was a delightful walk
to experience, except for the cold winds, the unforgiving bogs, the relentless
ascent, and the difficult route-finding. There was no one else – absolutely
nobody – in sight the entire day. Initially, I could see a few cars on a
distant road, but before long, there were not even distant roads. It was the
kind of walk that makes you thank your lucky stars that you’ve experienced all
those conditions before (although maybe not all of them at the same time) and
then to doubly thank your stars that your wife wasn’t with you. It was the kind
of walk that makes you think if you can handle this, you can handle anything,
even if you really can’t. It was the kind of walk that makes you think that if
anything goes wrong, all of your other worldly concerns will never again bother
you. And I loved every minute of it.
Those of you who followed My 1200 Mile Summer may remember
the bad grades I gave to the Pennine Way, and that I vowed never to walk it
again. Today’s walk eventually joined with the Pennine Way. I was never so
happy to see the Pennine Way as I was today.
There’s no way I can possibly share the experience or the
range of emotions, so I’ll just tantalize you with the scenery. But don’t be
misled. Viewing the scenery in person is only for professionals – don’t try
this at home.
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Field of flowers
|
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| Alongside the Wharfe |
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| Drystone walls |
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| Shrinking stream |
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| So remote that payphones still exist |
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| Deserted trail |
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| Nobody around |
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| "I've been here before" |
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| Weather rock |
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| Un-ending moors |
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| Nobody there |
