The Mills & Boon Edition

Surely that’s a sight to put a spring into every stroller’s and strider’s step; not a bad way to start.

Helpful really as the guidebooks to this stretch refer to ‘featureless’, ‘boggy’ and ‘Pennine Way purgatory’. Not very inspiring and if you’re not familiar with route-finding in this sort of area then basically whilst there are occasional posts that confirm for at least that moment in time you are in the ‘right’ place they rarely have arrows or words on them so all you know is that choosing 1 of the 360 degrees you have available will be perfect (and that may be back where you came from) and all others will lead you in varying degrees away from where you want to go.. I got across perfectly due to years of experience, expert fieldmanship, a keen intuitive grasp of topography, an innate compass …… and some bloke 800 yards ahead with a bright red backpack on. (There’s a top tip for you).

He did that stopping and eating thing (???) so we caught up and me and my new bestie ( my bro in boots) happily chatted, laughed, punched each other on the arm and jostled manfully all the way in. NB this is the Mills and Boon edition not Brokeback Mountain.

The local Big Thing is that we passed Blakehopeburnhaugh. In the Guinness book for England’s longest place name. Thing is neighbours Cottonshope Burnfoot have decided that their name is supposed to be and has always been, honest guv, one long word. So B….. (18 letters) are going to be usurped by C….. (19 letters). There’s no McWhirter around to arbitrate and whilst not (yet) on the USA – N Korea level I’m keeping well out of it here in Byrness (7 letters, not an issue).

And to keep with the theme here’s a library shot from a couple of days back for my absent yet present partner…. ahhh ?

16 miles and 30,000 steps today, feeling good so fingers crossed

Stroll on ?