So on Friday afternoon I ran out of excuses and had to leave home after four days off.
Up till this point I'd always been walking toward home, into more familiar territory. It made sense. But walking out of the front door and away from home comforts felt quite illogical!
Quite a slog to cover the 15 miles back to Bowes, where I had left the path on Sunday, and a camp on the moor adjacent to the section fenced off by the army with signs saying "danger: explosive and toxic material". no side effects yet.
Day two started with very ordinary moors and reservoirs, but improved after a stop in Middleton for ice cream, with the rather impressive Low and High Force waterfalls. Camped by the river, quiet and secluded except for the low thunder of the river.
Day three, wow.
Alternating rain showers and hairdryer style wind and sun, but the headlines were Cauldron Snout, swelled by rain, and layer the sudden revelation of High Cup, and the perferctly symmetrical glacial valley. Breathtaking. Camped a mile or so beyond Dufton, anticipating a tough day in the morning.
Day four started in mist, showers, fog thickening as I climbed higher culminating at the summit of Cross Fell.
So not much in the way of views, but an enjoyable experience non the less, one minute being encapsulated in a bubble with walls of cloud all around, peering hopefully ahead for a cairn, and then the playful lifting of the mist long enough to glimpse the next ridge, summit, landmark, before once again becoming enshrouded.
After the high peaks the afternoon was a bit boring, a break in the mountain bothy Greg's Hut, which was already full of other pennine-wayers being the most notable diversion.
Tonight Alston, treating myself to a pub meal justified by the 1000 mile landmark and soggy feet!
