The 27 Club
it was a crisp start, thought I’d capture it before frostbite set in
The forecast was such for me to don the long trousers for the first time… various snow, sleet and hail showers but definitely more showers as opposed to yesterday’s storm. Of course there is a poetic romantic beauty to snowclad moors and mountains in exposed places … but it was far too cold and windy for me to expose places and taking pics fell down the pecking order behind such namby-pamby concerns of avoiding hypothermia
it was definitely a day to consider trade-offs: the first half of the route had no option, viz. north-west across the moors, grit your teeth and keep moving. Had to do more of the last two as I got hills mixed up (I’m blaming overhead electricity wires for screwing up my compass reading) … and the second half was touted as easy-peasy cos it was stream followed by Canal. Looking at the map (never the most definitive of fact finding options for me) it seemed that that option would be the equivalent of going around the field when I could cut across it. This would mean 12 miles of road walking but would save me 5 I thought. Job done.
so the last few days’ mileage have been 25, 26 and 27 (with a 27 just a couple of days before too). With all due deference to Janis, Kurt, Amy, Jim, Jimi, Brian, Robert, Pigpen et al (Wilson, blind owl) and I acknowledge their contribution to international jukeboxes and playlists I’d happily wager several re-hydration sachets that they never qualified for this alternative 27 club. Having established my case and canditature I now withdraw from future consideration and deliberate participation.
longditudinally i am now just above Edinburgh and Glasgow… here’s a rubbish pic of some Edinburgh bridges … couldn’t find my tripod in my pack, soz…
Milestones of the day: now above M8 and out of Borders into West Lothian
stroll on ?
Hi Paul
Sorry to be late to the party. I’ve been a bit busy post NZ, especially with son moving jobs and house.
Glad that your next three days’ walking should be shorter than the last three, especially Friday: relatively a stroll! Hope that forecasts of improving weather will be fulfilled. Did your knees suffer claustrophobia today?
Keep it up
Ian, great to hear from you, welcome back – we should share adventure stories soon, perhaps some NZ wine and Scotch ?. Knees were clamouring for freedom which will be sated tomorrow… a day of nothing but canal walking… hope all good with Chris … have a 6x for me please !!