Day 19: Untill next time friends...

Unfortunately hike 2009 has suffered the same fate as 2008. My knee's have given in and Edinburgh will have to wait...
...for now.
I am now in Sheffield and will be heading back home to London on Monday. Although we have not been able to complete the hike this time due to injury's, we shall be completing it soon. I am sorry to anyone who I have let down in ending the hike here but thank you to all those who have sponsored and to those who haven't, M.N.D.A. is a very needy cause and our justgiving sponsorship page will remain active for another month or two. Thank you to all of you for following the blog and please look back over the old posts as new photo's and video's have been added to them since the original posting.Remember, it isn't over until the fat Scottish woman sings and we have some deep fried pizza in our hands, and where better to find them than Edinburgh so watch this space as we will be back and we will complete the journey to Edinburgh. Thank you.

Day 18: Reeth to Barnard Castle

Today we awoke to a mild warmth with dry air and a 3-4 mile climb ahead of us. Feeling the heat as soon as we hit the road we headed up the steep path as cyclists waved as they sped past. Several times it seemed as we where almost at the peak but each time we where faced with another hidden climb. Eventually however we reached the top and stopped for a short rest enjoying the views before heading on down through a wonderful pine forest. Over the past few days my knees have been playing up and today they where beginning to push me. My left knee especially was beginning to become excruciating in the last few miles into Barnard Castle. Megan's feet where also taking quite a battering with several blisters and heat rash playing up making it extremely uncomfortable simply to stand on them, let alone walk miles over steep terrain with a heavy weight on her back. Despite all this however we did make it to Barnard Castle, however not in great shape. We settled in a small pub to make a very difficult decision hanging over our heads...

Day 17: Redmire to Reeth

Spoilt for choice in Reeth. (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Heya! All camped up now. I had a lovely shower and am feeling great for it! So here's the daily blog:

Today, a cloud in an empty sky. With all that has happened recently, regardless of making good time and progress, I awoke feeling that soon something was about to go wrong. With my mind not settling we decided to stop in Reeth to look over the maps and disprove my worries and doubts. After figuring out a viable new route to edinburgh my worries subsided and we decided that we had walked far enough today, even though it was only about 6 miles. Instead, we sampled a couple of the local ales and ciders before camping up in a quaint little campsite owned by a Jimmy Savill look-alike.

The target is Hexham by Sunday and Edinburgh between the 20th and the 24th.

Day 16: Hawkswick Cote to Redmire

Aysgarth Falls (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Aysgarth (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Waking up to a tent that is soaked through and nothing but drizzle to see for miles is not exactly what a camper dreams of. After packing the damp tent and washing our mess tins, bringing back memories of our Quorn sausage sandwiches from the night before, we headed off towards Kettlewell. To get there we crossed the large hill immediately next to us. The hill was quite draining but before too long we arrived in the small town to find ourselves swamped with tourists. They were in Kettlewell to visit the town's annual Scarecrow Festival that runs through every street and building. After stocking up on gas and having breakfast we continued on our quest to reduce the number of miles between us and the ever closer destination of Edinburgh.

Throughout the day Megan managed to add two blisters to her collection, making the walk just that much more of a challenge. Even my hardened feet are complaining today though I have only one blister to worry about so far.

The route today seemed to go on forever, with more uphill than downhill, and we were pretty drained by the time we rolledinto the pub in Redmire. The landlord was kind enough to give us a bowl of chips and a local said that if we had no luck with the campsite we could camp in his garden.Luckily we are all camped up now.

Tomorrow we are hoping that the weather will change and that we will get to see some sun.

Anyway, that's all for now. Cheerio.

-Josh-

Day 15: Skipton to Kilnsey to Hawkswick Cote (Near Arncliffe)

Hawkswick Cote (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Josh and Megan stopped in Kilnsey for a short break. (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

To my adoring blogites, (a word I am coining as a reader of blogs), I am sorry for my absence from this wonderous site. As you will have heard on the last post, due to an injury, Isaac unfortunately had to head for home. Over the past few days we have been pretty shattered by the end of each day and haven't much felt like writing the blog once in bed. So let me fill you in with some of the highlights:

At one point we were heading through some moors when a wrong turn took us 25 minutes off course, setting us back an hour. That night we were priviledged to view a simply beautiful sunset falling perfectly in the dip between two mountains on the horizon. The following day we landed in a campsite with a rather bad midge problem that sent us to an early bed, although they didn't prevent us enjoying a bottle of beer each. We drank the beer from beneath our head nets.

When heading to Skipton we were lucky enough to see a new born calf being coaxed into taking it's first steps by it's mother.

When we camped up we were in the most perfect, secluded location, found by Isaac. On a little bank with a stream on one side and a tree covered slope on the other side. We were completely hidden with the shelter of the trees above. After setting up our tents we set to making a fire to keep us warm but partially to drive away the midges. We sat there in the darkness, watching the showers of sparks rise above the crackling fire to vanish into the pitch blackness that surrounded us. The only sound was the occassional squeek from a bat above.

Today, with Megan at my side again, we headed out of Skipton and north towards our goal. We are now lying in the tent, camped up in a campsite at a place called Hawkswick. Tomorrow the goal is simply to go as far as we can. Fingers crossed for good weather!

-Josh-

Day 14: Skipton

Isaac prepares to head for home.

With an unfortunate change of events, Isaac has headed home for Bristol. Four days ago Isaac began experiencing serious pain in his right foot. Through persistance and determination he still continued on the hike for three days while his foot worsened. By the end of the day it was obvious, by his voice and expression, that the pain was excrutiating.

Yesterday we arrived in Skipton with Isaac's foot worse than ever. We managed to get his foot looked at and Isaac was told instantly not to do any more walking, let alone hiking cross country with 3.5 stone on his back, until it had been fully healed and rested. Still determined not to let his injury get the better of him, Isaac decided to wait until morning to see how it felt. Unfortunately this morning his foot was in pain before we had even begun. Isaac is now on a train heading for home as I plan the next leg of the journey.

There will soon be a video from Isaac explaining the situation further. I will also send a Blog update later today covering what else has happened over the past few days.

Watch this space!

-Josh-
-----------------------
I knew that you were covering up something, Josh, but I'm glad you both had the good sense to seek out a doctor and have Isaac's foot looked at. He needs to focus on healing that foot now.

I understand the disappointment that you must feel, Isaac, but Yorkshire isn't going to disappear overnight so just get better and return some day in the future. You did really well and no doubt had quite an adventure while seeing some amazing sights and raising funding and awareness for MNDA. Big applause from me!!!

Since Josh's girlfriend, Megan, said goodbye at Sheffield, she has been following the blog and has also been determined to keep up her walking. When she heard that Isaac had hurt his foot, and would have to pull out of the walk, she decided that she would rejoin the walk immediately. I hope that she will be able to add a few words of her own to explain the events but all I know is that Josh started Sunday morning in Skipton, saying goodbye to Isaac at the train station, and by the end of the day he was sitting in a cottage in Skipton with Megan and her parents and his mother's relatives.

A big thank you goes out to Debbie and Steve and to Ron and Anne, and of course to Megan. Welcome back, Megan!!!

Today has produced some strange coincidences which are almost unbelievable, but I will let Sue tell you about them.

-Paul-
--------------------------------

Early afternoon I spoke to Josh on the phone who was obviously feeling downhearted at Isaac suddenly having to leave the hike. I asked Josh where he was and he told me he was in Skipton.
Little bells stared ringing in my head as it slowly dawned on me that my cousin Debbie and Steve and their two daughters were going for a few days to stay in a cottage owned by a relative, in yes, I am sure you have now gathered.........Skipton !!!!! After many, many phonecalls to get mobile numbers of my cousin I finally got through to Esther, their daughter. She told me they had just arrived in Skipton and she, and her sister Simone, were sitting in the car while Debbie and Steve were buying in some food at Morrisons. I asked Esther to get her Mum to call me back on her return as Josh was also in Skipton ! I then phoned Josh and enquired where he was exactly. He replied that he was sitting outside Morrisons !!! I told him that Debbie and Steve were in there and he said he had just been in there but hadn't seen them. "Oh, hang on", he continued.........."here's Steve now!!". Talk about a small world !!! Of all the villages in all the land and all the supermarkets in the country, Josh and our cousins just all happened to be in the same place at the same time hundreds of miles from home !
Debbie left Steve and Josh talking and went back to her girls waiting in the car. "You'll never guess who we've just bumped into !!" exclaimed Debbie. "Josh !" replied Esther, explaining to her mother how I had just phoned. This was good timing for Josh that he could now have a dry, warm place to sleep, though unfortunately they couldn't get the washing machine in the cellar to work to catch up on his washing.

When I next spoke to Josh later that evening, he informed me that Megan was going to be joining him this very evening in Skipton!!! I then spoke to Megan's Mum Anne and then to Megan herself. And yes with only a few hours notice she was once again getting ready all her hiking gear and her parents were kindly driving her the two hours to Skipton to join Josh on the next stretch of the journey to Scotland. Lucky for Megan she had been keeping up the exercise, so it won't be such a shock to her system! So that very evening, after getting a little lost around Leeds, Megan too found herself in beautiful Skipton! After a cuppa with Josh and his relatives, Ron and Anne then drove back to Sheffield. Quite a long round trip.

So, many thanks to Debbie and family for putting Josh and Megan up on the first day of their holiday and to Megan's parents for getting her up there so promptly.

-Sue-

Day 13: Cowling to Skipton

Our tents at Skipton

Narrow boats on the Leeds - Liverpool Canal at Skipton (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Very slow progress is making it obvious that there is something wrong. It seems that Isaac has developed a problem with one of his feet. The boys are being very cagey and not saying much, probably in the hope that tomorrow everything will be alright again.

I don't know exactly what is wrong but it sounds like Isaac may have strained, or bruised, something in his foot. The boys set off this morning feeling positive and the foot didn't feel too bad but it wasn't long before Isaac was hobbling again. They decided to carry on to the nearest village, only about 5-6 miles further along the Pennine Way from Cowling, where they attempted to find someone to take a look at Isaac's foot but being a Sunday they were out of luck. Tomorrow they will try again to have Isaac's foot checked over and then make a decision on what to do from that point. It doesn't look good though. Josh admitted that Isaac may be heading back to Bristol tomorrow but he is determined to continue with the walk. I'm not so sure that is a good idea but he says that he has adjusted his route so that it is more direct and makes Edinburgh attainable within the next two weeks.

We wait to see what the doc says tomorrow.

Day 12: A Farmhouse Garden to a Garden in Cowling

A very tired Isaac.

Bug free beverages.

Approaching Cowling on the Pennine Way (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Josh and Isaac only managed about 5 miles today. I think that they probably did too many slightly anxious miles over the past couple of days, off of the Pennine Way, not quite knowing where they were going, and are now just chilling in a garden in Cowling, back on the Pennine Way, while they give their feet a rest. Tomorrow they will start afresh.

Day 11: Pecket Well to A Farmhouse Garden

North of Pecket Well (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

The guys made their way back onto the Pennine Way and covered quite a few miles. They had a campsite in mind as their destination for the day but when they arrived they found that it had changed hands and had been closed down so they carried on walking, looking for somewhere suitable to pitch their tents. (With all those fields I would have thought that wouldn't have been too difficult but perhaps they were looking for civilization.) They eventually asked a couple if they could direct them to somewhere where they would be allowed to pitch camp and the couple told them that they could setup their tents in the field next to their house. I'll have to check those details again but I'm pretty sure that is what Josh said. He said that this couple had a beautiful, old stone farmhouse, that they were just finishing renovating, and that it has an amazing view across the whole valley.

Josh is being a bit vague at the moment and his texts are not getting through to me so we'll just have to wait for his full blog update.

A couple of video's from the past 5 days

Chicken Bakes does the Pennine Way.

Starring: Chicken Bakes

Python Microwave does the Pennine Way.

Starring: Python Microwave

Day 10: Standedge to Pecket Well

Approaching Pecket Well (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Today we awoke to the sunlight filling our tents. Once we emerged from our tents the wonderful owners of the Great Western Inn presented us each with a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea. A wonderfully British way to start the day. Anyway, after packing our bags and saying goodbye we set off again, back onto the Pennine Way. We had our hearts set on getting to a sandwich stall that had been highly recommended by several people. As we crossed the first hills, which rolled into low mountains, the grey sky broke and illuminated us in a wonderful warmth. Continuing on in the fantstic weather we covered 8/9 miles before we were informed that the stall had closed for the day. Still we pushed on, our spirits held high by the weather and the stunning views, stopping occassionally to enjoy the sights. It started to become apparent that it is flying ant season, walking for miles with nothing but ants beneath our feet or in the air around us. When nearing Hebden Bridge we ran downhill for the last half mile, mainly to get a break from the ants.

Arriving in Hebden Bridge Isaac and I had just one thing on our minds...food! We settled for the ever so healthy burger and chips option and then set off to find the campsite. Unfortunately finding it proved more difficult than expected and we ended up on a dark road on completely the wrong side of the valley. With it being pitch black, and with us not wanting to walk back down the dark road, we ended up pulling over the first car that we saw to ask for advice on what to do. The driver turned out to be a lovely lady called Sally who said that we could camp at her's for the night, in her garden, which was just around the corner. When we had pitched our tents we where invited inside to meet her partner, Ben. They both took us through possible routes for tomorrow, on their map, and offered us the use of their bathroom facilities. Two days in a row we have been shown amazing hospitality which we are very grateful for.
So, here we are, camped up in Pecket Well where we will rest for tonight, looking forward to tomorrow.
-Josh-

Thank you Sally and Ben!
Josh, what have I told you about flagging down cars?! Oh. Nothing, huh? Well, I guess that one never came up for some reason but... well, it could be intimidating for the driver and it could be dangerous and should only be used in the case of emergency... but I'm grateful to Sally and Ben and pleased that you guys have somewhere safe to pitch your tent tonight.

Are you sure those flying ants weren't really faeries? That river and woodland, which run between your current location and Widdop, on the Pennine Way, look like the perfect environment for faeries and enchantment. Very pretty.
Sleep well, guys.

-Paul-

Day 9: Crowden to Standedge

Looking back towards Crowden (1) (Courtesy of panoramio.com)

Leaving Crowden

Looking back towards Crowden (2) (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Image of The Great Western Inn (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

"After a day resting up in Crowden Isaac had recovered from his heat stroke and we where on the road again. But last night we took advantage of our situation, chowing down into some pot noodles whilst sitting on chairs we'd each made. Isaac's, a rock with a pillow on top. Mine, a stool made of sticks tied with long grass. We then finished up with a game of cards played on a wooden table complete with wind shelter that I had made. How very posh!

Anyway, back to today. Upon leaving the campsite we met up with Pennine Way again, heading into a gorgeous valley. As we walked we challenged each other's media knowledge with a game involving remembering celebrity names. (Oh dear! Oh dear oh dear oh dear! - Dad)

After climbing the first mountain that we hit the path followed on to the very edge of a cliff with a good thousand foot drop to our right. Thankfully we weren't walking the cliff edge in the rain. We pushed our way through the wind until we moved down to flatter ground. Unfortunately down there it was no more forgiving as we found ourselves in the middle of wide open moors filled with bogs and marsh, reminiscent of the bog in the film, Labyrinth. Just 5 minutes into the moors and the heavens opened on us. We were soaked so quickly that there was no point putting on our waterproofs. It wasn't before long that we had both mistaken deep bog for reliable path, and filled our boots with repulsive smelling sludge. With no choice but to carry on we persisted down the moor and eventually escaped the rain. Further down the path, when stopping to wring out our socks, we met a couple of young teachers from Bristol who are also walking the Pennine Way. We walked with them the rest of the way to Standedge where we found a lovely pub, called the Great Western Inn. Luckily the owner said that we could camp for free in the back garden.

So that is us for now. New blog tomorrow and hopefully some pictures. "

-Josh-

----------------------------------

Just be extremely cautious when you do hit those beautiful, edge of the world, vistas, especially with those cumbersome backpacks and gusting winds! Looking at Google Earth indicates several more days of moors ahead so be sure to stick to the path and keep a rope handy, just incase. I can't see any cliff edges near the path so that should be some relief to anxious parents, watching from afar. I'm sure that you will both be sensible. Have a good sleep and a dry and exhilerating journey tomorrow, guys.

-Paul-

Day 8: Crowden (A day of rest)

Today Josh and Isaac decided to stay put in the campsite at Crowden where they spent last night. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and today's weather was almost like summer. Josh's shoulders where starting to get sore a couple of days ago and Isaac has developed a beauty of a blister on his heel and is feeling the effects of a little too much sun, wind and rain, so a day taken to relax and recover in this environment will do them both good. They intend to move on tomorrow and cover as much ground as possible, without over doing it.

The camera on Josh's phone is still playing up so he is a little upset that he was unable to capture some of the highlights of yesterday's trek. At the moment the boys are in a valley, where reception is poor, so they have to go for a walk to find a signal but will try to remember to text me their position every day from higher ground.

-Paul-

Day 7: Snake Pass Inn to Crowden

Snake Pass to Crowden (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

I have just received a text from Josh, who tells me that he and Isaac are now on the Pennine Way, a little south of a town called Crowden. I believe that the weather is much more pleasant today so I am hoping for some beauty shots sometime tonight or tomorrow.

I have also just received a few words from Megan which I am posting here:

Megan's Goodbye:

I never thought I would walk from Manchester to Sheffield on my own two feet! Or feel the pride of walking the whole of High Peak in a day, with the rain soaking me to the bones, or stand right in the middle of a cloud and enjoy the walk up there... but thanks to these guys, (and the kindness of people we met along the way), I've done it, and loved it! Thanks to Isaac's hilarious sheep impressions, to keep me entertained, and to Josh's amazing determination and support to keep me going, they've given me an experience I'll never forget and have learnt a lot from.

Good luck to your continued journey up, guys, (rather you than me!). You should be very proud of yourselves. I certainly am.

Lots of love,
Megan x

Oh, Megan! You've got me all choked up now. That was lovely!

-Paul-

Day 6: Sheffield to The Snake Pass Inn

Snake Pass. (Image courtesy of panoramio.com)

Josh and Isaac awoke warm and snug. A day's rest at Megan's parent's house was just what they needed to thoroughly dry out from the previous few days of 'glorious British summertime'. This morning they would say farewell to Megan, and her family, and head back towards the Pennine Way to start their journey northward. They were keen to get back on the trail and start ticking off the miles. Outside, the weather seemed to be suggesting that they make other plans. Torrential rain hammered the ground and the rooves of Sheffield and the sky showed no signs of relenting it's attempt to damped the lads' spirits... but they were determined to leave no later than 9:00 a.m.. They checked their waterproof covers and prepared for another day of deep sea walking. Very kindly Megan and her dad, Ron, offered to accompany Josh and Isaac to the A57, which would take them back into the mountains where they could pick up the Pennine Way trail again. So they thanked Megan's mum, Anne, for all the washing, cooking, love and care that she had shown them, said their goodbyes and stepped back into the great outdoors. An hour or so later and they were saying sad farewells again as they thanked Ron and Megan before steeling themselves for the trials of a long wet walk up and down the rising terrain. The rain persisted all morning but the scenery grew ever more beautiful as the day wore on and lifted their spirits. At some point in the afternoon the rainclouds must have realised that Josh and Isaac were going to enjoy this walk, whatever the weather, and finally relented.

The boys just followed the A57 all day, and covered about 20 miles, coming to rest eventually across the road from the Snake Pass Inn. They spent the evening at the inn, where they dined, and were treated very kindly by the landlady. They also met a lovely group of people, (3 ladies and a man), who were kind enough to add their sponsorship to the cause. Josh and Isaac want to say thankyou to everyone who was at the Snake Pass Inn last night.

Josh managed to fix his phone/camera himself but due to poor mobile phone reception in their current location they will have to wait until tomorrow to send any pictures.

Details of today's blog were phoned to Josh's mum, Sue, which were then passed on to Josh's dad, (me), to be entered here. I hope that nothing has been lost in translation. I also understand that Megan will be sending me her own blog entry which I will add as soon as I receive it. I just want to say a big "WELL DONE" to you, Megan, for the terrific effort and spirit that you have shown in your trek across the Pennines, in some pretty unpleasant conditions! I know that Josh is very proud of you and will be missing you on the rest of the journey.

-Paul-

Distance walked today: Approx. 20 miles