Stovies save the day

I'm now sitting on the sofa after a huge plate of sausages (veggie), stovies and cabbage. I so needed that even though I'll never move again. Well....maybe to reach a bit of chocolate. It's been a challenging day to say the least, quite an adventure in fact.A few weeks ago I suggested to Rosemary that we do a point-to-point run and she had planned a great route from my house to Edale. It's 24km as the crow flies so her route followed the crow, albeit with far more obstacles than a Corvus cousin would typically face.

We set off nearly an hour later than planned, laden with enough kit to see us through many a major incident. My rucksack weighed a ton. Going was almost instantaneously tough. Heavy rain had made the path, starting by the Catholic Church, a total slide fest. I don't like slippery. We reached a bridge that was closed and even worse it was uncrossable. The bank on the other side had eroded away and was too muddy to climb. Rather we descended into the ravine, crossed the burn and clambered up the other side. It took longer to reach Charlesworth than expected even though it was only a few km my hoose.

We then crossed the road, heading up the steep hill to Coombes Edge. The ridge was especially windy today and I was struggling to keep up with my adventure racing legend of a girlfriend. I was smiling though as I love that path....so desolate, yet close to home. A quick wee stop behind some trees and then it was down the other side of the hill to Chunal. Over the road we went and up onto the boggy Moorland.

The wind was really strong and biting as Kinder Scout came into view. This was where it got really challenging for me but Rosemary was remained in control. I was starting to get very cold but we ploughed on up the rocky path at good pace. There came a time that I needed to get my jacket on, and not a moment too soon. I think my core temperature had started to drop and the hand that had been ungloved to get my zip up was now frozen. Rosemary upped the pace and I did my best to follow....into the zone where the spirits take control.

We reached the waterfall and Rosemary suggested I take a photo.....I didn't and got angry the 3rd time she suggested it. I just wanted to keep going, despite some amazing opportunities to take pictures. After another km, I knew I needed to eat and we stopped behind some rocks for a sandwich. Whilst absolutely necessarily, the cold got into my bones and for the next section I was in quite a bit of distress. I was hyperventilating, my hands were so cold and painful that I wanted to be sick.

Luckily things turned for the better on reaching Jacob's Ladder. We were now sheltered and the wind chill was gone. The steep descent was hard on tired legs but the feeling was better than hypothermia! When we got running again, it felt like the beginning of an Ironman run with the associated jellyfied legs effect.

We were now near Edale, only 5km to go and doing it in 40 mins would give us plenty time for a cafe stop before the train. We made it easily but it was by no means easy. Being exhausted isn't so bad with a smile on the face and a run 20...walk 10 had us moving swiftly enough. It was great to reach the Penny Pot and although not the world's best cafe, I didn't care. A seat in the warm and some food was absolute bliss!

Definitely one of the most challenging days for me in a long long time and bed before 9pm.