Only one ‘F’ in Fletcher – my old Muker (to Hawes)

The morning was cool at Usha Gap Campsite and we’d both had a night’s sleep broken by the cold temperature. The midges were out again and we packed the tents away as fast as we could. We both got bit bad. We’d bought sandwiches, the previous afternoon, for breakfast and tinned fish for lunch. 

It was nearly 10 miles to Hawes from the site and the first half mile, to Thwaite, was easy road walking. A quaint bridge and Blacksmith’s cottage welcomed us there.

 It was an 8.30am start so we were ahead of the game. However the road rose before us and we started to lag behind it. But looking back was Swaledale, cradled between hills.

The wind was a harsh northeasterly and cold as a cabbage. I didn’t know cabbage was cold. No it isn’t but ice wouldn’t be alliteration you cretinous creature. 

We were aiming for the top of Great Shunner Fell as first base but it kept drifting further and further away in the cabbage-like wind. 

Dear old Chip was struggling under the weight of his rucksack and I took what I could but his shoulders were very painful. For a brief period I carried both of them but he’s so stubborn he wouldn’t let me do it for more than a hundred yards. Good job because it was knackering!

                                          
At long last we got to the top, and the wind was cruel and it started to rain. A 360 degree view from the third highest peak in Yorkshire and we were too cold and our fingers too numb to take photos. In August.

We managed to strip down a bit more of Chip’s load and transfer it to my rucksack and get our wet weather gear on for the walk down to Hardraw and on to Hawes. On automatic zombie pilot we made it to Hardraw, eight miles after setting out eight hours before. The Green Dragon Inn beckoned with an open fire and we slowly re-humanised. Fair play to Fletch he kept going, slow as an action replay but determined as a British bulldog. 

After an hour we finished the last mile to Hawes. The weather was such that camping would be a mess for Chip’s last night before going back home. A full day journey with wet tent and wet clothes would be a bummer. So we got a B&B twin room for thirty quid each, ate well and got an early night. I beat him at pool as well. Always pick on the weak.

Night night.