Walk Day 55 – Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Hawes

Friday 22nd June 2018

14.55 miles today. 596.50 miles total.

My last walking day of Phase 4 and another day of glorious views, Packhorse trails and grass paths and wide skies.

My lunch break was spent on the bank of a delightful stream in the company of swallows that swooped around me chasing gnats and midges.

They breed them tough up here. Today’s paths were mostly packhorse trails up over the tops with wide views.

I met a man who had started walking from Hawes and was on his way to Edale for the start of the Summer Spine Ultra – a race along the full length of the Pennine Way. Apparently it starts at 8.30 tomorrow morning. He is now 72, and was the oldest finisher in 2014 but is going as a supporter tomorrow.

The Pennine Barrier Ultra starts at 6.30am from Edale is a ‘mere’ 50 or 100 miles. The route will be busy over the next few days.

At one point I counted 18 paragliders above Cam High road, an old Roman road.

These ladies came across me sitting down giving some First Aid to my feet and stopped to check all was well. They reminded me of some people I’ve known in that they had an opinion but were too polite to voice it.

This was Gayle, the last stop before Hawes YHA.