In the Shadow of the Mountains Day 1

An early finish at work, my mate Simon and I got to the hills well ahead of sundown to be greeted by some amazing rays of light filtering through the clouds.

A trek of an hour and a half and we were in the middle of limestone country high up between the mountains of Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.

We found flat spots and pitched up, the silence was palpable and the cold was very! Not a person to be seen, not a voice to be heard, not the sound of motor or engine.

We sat on boulders of limestone and watched the sun break through the clouds and scorch the horizon with light, the sky turned orange and then blue, grey to darkness.

Hot Steak sandwiches and Black Sheep Ale for sustenance. The second best steak I've ever had :o) The first was a camping trip a few years ago that was slow cooked (through necessity) and was just incredible. Indescribably.

And then the stars came out. Sirius at first like a disco ball from the Seventies, and then a few more. Orion's Belt, The Plough, and then the party started and they all came. Incredible. Absolutely mind blowing to see such a sight of a clear sky with an uncountable number of stars, so numerous that clustered together they looked like clouds.

I took photo after photo, then stopped to stare at the sky as frost formed on the tents. And then I decided to sleep but changed my mind as I wanted to stare again despite the coldness creeping in.

What an amazing day.

More of the day here...