Blown Along the South Downs

The time had finally came along for Team OUCH to do their last training session together. After reports of bad weather and flooding in their first and second choice locations they decided if they were going to get wet and blown away they might as well do so on the route they'd be walking a month later.

So off to checkpoint 1 (South Harting) they went, their first destiation was checkpoint 2 (Cocking). In record time (~30 minutes) Mnemosyne managed to miss a turning so a small scenic detour was added to the route. But then they were on their way. There wasn't the number of cyclists on the route this time so a hobby was made of working out who on the trail was there training for Trailwalker, any team of 3 or 4 was a likely contender...

Checkpoint 2 was made in reasonable time given the detour and then the route was done in reverse, but without the detour. The wind was a steady 25 mph with the odd gust of far more, well we wanted a cooling breeze... Beacon Hill, hard on the way out to checkpoint 2 was worse on the way back, thankfully we never have to do it that way round again, Mnemosyne was doubly glad after seeing it closer up...

On returning to checkpoint 1 Medusa's parents surprised the team with rock cakes and tea :D. Revived and refreshed it was onwards to the start. On the way the promised rain decided to make an appearance and the team got reacquainted with the sideways rain concept. However their route was soon tree lined and sheltered. Another short detour amongst tall trees and we were at the start. Medusa's parents met us again, a friendly face at a checkpoint works wonders on morale, and then we were heading back to checkpoint 1. This was our fastest stage, knowledge of the route helping keeping the momentum up.

That's a raindrop and camera flash not a metorite

 
By the time we were out of the shelter of the trees the weather had eased and stayed that way until we got to the cars at checkpoint. It was a great days walk, even with the weather against us, and more knowledge of the route was useful.

Not long to go now...

Peak District Day 2 - Good weather, Good walking, Good Company

Although overcast as we set out the day soon turned glorious and waterproofs were packed away, not to be unpacked again that day. After walking into Edale the walk up Hollins Cross beckoned and upon reaching the top the view was admired by all.

The delights of Castleton called to us and downhill we headed where a swift half (of lemonade) was enjoyed by all before heading along Cave Dale with its high limestone cliffs. After a while of gentle uphill walk the route switched back and we saw Peveril Castle from above.  And then we saw the route down hill...

Sometime later Arthurs way was reached and it was decided that the walk up Winnats way would do rather than over the hill top. Afterall there was still Mam Tor to wanderover.

 With the hill top ticked off it was back to the hostel, a quick change and back to the pub for a well earned dinner.

A wet day in the peak district

For what was supposed to be a refreshing change from the rolling hills of the south of England the titans headed north to the slightly less gentle rolling hills of the peak district. The weather had gone from glorious at the beginning of the week to steady rain as the OUCHers headed in to what was going to be the first of three walks.

 Heading towards Jaggers Clough the stream turned out to be a little bigger than expected and the everyone's boots were tested for waterproofing; all passing at this point. Onwards to Haggwater Bridge, passing round fallen trees, jumping 3ft drops (called infinite drops to make a mist covered, wet, windy walk seem more epic).  Mnemosyne had taken to calling her left ankle C.a.U.B by this point, since it wasn't in the mood for all this walking (the rest of her was more of the opinion of 'better a wet day walking than a day indoors' and wished her ankle would just get a grip and stop whining).

Next it was on to Bridge-end Pasture and what should have been lovely views of the reservoir. It was occasionally spotted between breaks in the mist.  It was a quickish walk to reach the reservoir and the loop back to woodland valley was quickly made.  The route was quickly altered to stay out of the worst of the weather. Walking through the boggy woodland provided a further test of the footwear - this time things weren't so good (much re-proofing may be need for a couple of OUCHers).

Once out of the woods it was a short(ish) walk along the least straight roman road Mnemosyne has ever seen and a jaunt back to the hostel. The other two walks planned for that day were abandoned, too much wet kit, but a useful test of kit in the wet. Hopefully the weather the next day would be better.