470 miles of driving for 7 miles of walking? Sheesh....

After breakfast I headed home on 2 wheels to return with 4 wheels an hour later.

The dogsitters arrived, so me n Her departed. Across the border and turned right at Penrith, left at Kendal and stopped at Grasmere. Those of you who've not fallen asleep with boredom been paying attention will know that Wainwright's Coast to Coast is still unfinished. From St Bees Head, we've made it to Northallerton thus far. But there remains a small bit unwalked. 

When we scouted C2C originally, we sought advice from blipper oneD who knows a thing or two about a walk and he suggested Grisedale as a decent taster walk. So on his advice we parked up at Patterdale and went up as far as Grisedale Tarn in...2016? 

When we came to do C2C a year or two later,  we started day 2 at Ennerdale YH with the intention of getting to Patterdale YH at the end of the day. However we managed Grasmere by about 1530, and the prospect of traipsing on to Patterdale was too much for Her so we boarded a bus to Windermere, changed there and arrived at Patterdale by bus. 
So there still remained a small section thus far undo from Grasmere to Grisedale Tarn.

So, when Her lass bought tickets for Parklife, and then couldn't find accommodation or train tickets back from Heaton Park on the Sunday night, a plan was formulated. Not a good plan, mind but it was a plan.

As the drizzle turned to steady rain, we set off from Grasmere at about 4pm. Trudging up into the imposing landscape, the plan seemed even more ridiculous now. 

But. The rain eased, jackets were removed. No factor 15 was needed but at least the rain was off. And so we wound our way up against a steady trickle of walkers coming down. It was never said, but you could tell in their express that they were wondering who this pair with their t shirts were, wandering up into the wilds at teatime, whilst they were all heading out of the gloom, happed in waterproofs and hats. Southerners, eh?

And so we arrived at Grisedale Tarn. Slightly regretful at not having brought a towel as a dip might've been fun. 

Always on the lookout for a tick on a list, I suggested She start back to the car whilst I powered up Seat Sandal. So She turned and half way up, the bright lights of a migraine flashed on. Not since the 2nd half of Ben Alder in 2007 had I been hit whilst out in the hill,but I pushed on. No navigational difficulties; follow the path til it stops going up. Then retrace the steps. Simple! ( for those of you who have avoided migraine, nothing is simple at the onset of an attack)
But. 15 minutes after leaving Her, I was up. 30 mins I was back where I'd left Her and was in hot pursuit. Migraine shuts out all but the absolute necessity and so I flew down the hill, with nothing more than a single fixed goal in mind.

We made it back. 5 minutes too slow; we could see the line of rain edging across Helm Crag towards us but the rain won the race; but hey... we made it, changed and drove off through sunshine and showers to Chorley. 

Here we picked up the lass's bag and found fish and chips - Brown's- noteworthy. In a good way.

And onwards,  with a glimpse of my beloved Bolton Wanderers home as we rolled into the mayhem that was the Parklife pick up area. 

3 hours later, with 2 only slightly off their faces girls we headed north. 

An uneventful drive home; the last hour from Moffat as daylight slowly eased its way past nightfall was a joy; glorious green fields and forests slipped by as the rest of the car slept. 

I dropped them at 4.30 am, and was in my bed for 5. Work at 9? No problem.