Halfway There
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| Half way! |
It's still bank holiday weekend, but the weather seems to have forgotten for a while and as we set off it is cloudy but dry. At once we see the benefit of spending the night at a high altitude, as we start the day off with a gentle downhill slope - previously we had generally begun with a steep ascent out of a sheltered valley. Before long we reach the end of the southern half of the walk, where it seems only right to get the camera out (P1 & P2) and pause for a while in contemplation of the distance travelled. But all too soon I am trudging off behind Alex (P3), as the landscape becomes bleaker in a portent of things to come (P4).
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| Looking back south. |
It begins to rain and the euphoria of reaching halfway dies away - we still have a very long way to go. We are grateful indeed to find a half-ruined barn (P5 & P6) in which we can at least be dry while we eat our lunch. From here on the day is gentle enough, through the farming country of lower Teesdale (P7), however Alex's body is beginning to let him down, not helped by the way one of his walking poles has already broken.
The descent into the valley towards Middleton (P8) is particularly strenuous, and we are glad to find a campsite half a mile or so before the town. After a much needed wash of both ourselves and our clothes, we head into Middleton to find it well stocked with pubs - we choose the the King's Head (P9) on the quality of the beer. We also obtain some food from the late night co-op, more of which tomorrow...
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| Alex leads the way. |
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| Proper wilderness here. |
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| Shelter. |
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| It's our packs look. |
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| A more agricultural bit. |
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| A green and pleasant land! |
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| Ooo, quite foody this one. |
Photos to go with this post can be found here.
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