3 Peaks?!

So this half term is only 4 weeks long!  Must be the shortest half term ever (apart from those who have exams!)

The first weekend was a bank holiday too.  Anita came up for the weekend - we were planning to do the 3 peaks together, she wanted to do it as training for the National 3 Peaks she is doing in July.  I had done quite a bit of training: done each of the 3 peaks individually and a 2 peaks walk so I knew the route and was sure I could do it.  This week I did a quick lap of Oxenber Woods (to see the bluebells and a 5km run to make sure my legs were ready)  I kept sending Anita photos of me doing it with stats on elevation and time taken etc to give her an idea - living in Wokingham doesn't help - she has no hills anywhere near her to practise on.

At the top of Pen y gent

I picked her up from the station and drove her to Ingleton.  We then drove to Ribblehead so she could see all the mountains and get an idea of what she was letting herself in for.   We then went to the OPO for a quick drink (they opened the new room at the back - The Armoury which is as described - full of metal work and a great addition to the enterprise).

We then returned home for a quiet night in before our walk on Saturday.  I was also waiting for a cake to be collected.  It was for a party taking place on Saturday - normally when people collect cakes, they come before 6pm - 9.45pm the lady finally turned up.  I gave her strict instructions on how to drive as it was a cake with a model stood on top...guess what she broke the model.  She said she drove at 20 miles an hour (the fact she called me from Bentham 10 minutes after leaving here makes me disbelieve that - it would have taken me longer!).  The model had fallen off and an arm broken off.  By now I was in my pyjamas and I couldn't do anything about it.  I was livid!  I couldn't sleep, not anxious about the 3 peaks but angry about the cake!  We now had to get round and finished in time for me to get to the venue before the party to fix it.  That was never the deal - to have a time schedule upon us.

Top of Whernside

Anyway the day dawned beautiful - blue skies, no clouds, not hot, not cold and not too windy.  Yay.  Matt and Tom dropped us off at Horton at 6.20am and we headed up Pen-y-gent.  I went slowly but Anita went even slower.  I am officially fitter than someone!  Hurray!  It didn't matter - it wasn't about doing it fast, but just doing it and it had been 12 years since we had seen each other so we had plenty to talk about.   We got to the top, had a rest and then headed down out of the wind and along the flat to Ribblehead.  We dropped into Katie's for drinks, a wee and some suncream and then headed out up Whernside.  Anita struggled a bit here - it is a long slog up and it can look like it is everlasting (especially if you haven't done it before) but she slogged on, with plenty of rests etc we got to the top - we got a great view as it was still clear.  Then the short sharp path down to the Hill Inn.  We got to the Hill Inn at 3pm.  Anita was struggling and the view of Ingleborough looming over us was intimidating.  PLUS now we had a time limit  - she had to get up and over it in 3 hours.  She didn't think she could do it.  I didn't think she could do it - I think I could just about do it.  We called it a day and had a drink at the pub and told Matt to come and get us.  If we hadn't had the deadline looming over us we would have done it - Anita would have stubbornly got up it - don't think she would have enjoyed it though.

Ivelet Bridge

Anyway, it was disappointing for both of us and now I am determined to do it again as otherwise all the training would be a waste.  We left Anita running a hot bath to stop her legs seizing up and Matt took me over to Bentham so I could go and fix the cake.  Not only had she broken it but she had put the broken bits on the top of the cake - meaning she dented it - there was nothing I could do about that!.  I fixed it in 10 mins, all the while I was mumbling under my breath - not a happy bunny!

Got home to find a refreshed Anita, I put pre-made lasagnas in the oven and we had a pleasant evening eating and drinking - without any guilt as we had still walked 18 miles which is a fair distance (although I hadn't got out of breath at all so figure it wasn't really a fat burning exercise - normally when I walk up the 3 peaks, I am bright red and dripping with sweat with all my clothes tied around my waist - so I guess I push myself pretty hard.  I didn't take off my jumper or coat and was wearing a buff the whole time too.)

Swaledale barns

Sunday, as it was Bank Holiday weekend there were no trains from Lancaster.  Matt had a cricket match on, so Tom and I took her to Preston to catch one there.  No traffic in Preston - what a lovely surprise.  Once we had dropped her off, we went into the city for lunch and found a really lovely olde style cafe full of iron railings, olde worlde adverts, and a huge menu so we found ourselves a cubby and settled in.  We then did some shopping: sandals, wellies and jeans for the boy and some £1 purchases for me.  We then returned home so that Tom could watch the snooker - he's got addicted, but means that he is happy whilst I get things done.

Guess who wasn't with us

Monday, we got a call from Katie asking if Tom would like to accompany her and Rebecca to a steam gala at Shiloden Railway Museum.  Didn't get the whole sentence out and he was hopping and jumping and shouting yes, Yes, YESSSSSSS!  My alternatives of spending the day with us didn't tempt him at all.  So, we got up, dressed and breakfasted in no time at all to get us up to Ribblehead in time.  Matt and I then carried on to Muker for a very pleasant 6 mile walk around a Dale which was very pleasant.  Included a very old packhorse bridge, lots of sheep, lovely views, and a spot of house hunting.  It started to rain just as we got back to Muker, so we dived into a pub and had lunch before returning home.   A very pleasant day - must explore that area a bit more.