P.W. Day 7- Horton-in-Riddlesdone to Hawes 14miles

  The majority of today's walk would involve old packhorse trails and stony tracks climbing steadily throughout the entire day before a quick and hard drop to Hawes. After the day before the distance was not daunting, the problem lay in the fact that I needed to get to Hawes by half twelve to collect my maps for the next section before the post office shut- tomorrow would be Sunday and if I arrived late I would be stuck there till Monday. I wasn't ready for a day off yet and therefore set my alarm for half four in the morning and was fully packed up by six. The camp was deserted when I left, the countryside cold in the early morning hue.

Two of the three Yorkshire Peaks- Pen-y-ghent

Pen-y-ghent

  I headed out hoping my legs would warm up and the stiffness would leave. My feet had recovered although my heel was getting worse and the pain seemed to go deeper than the blister and be worse when I placed the weight down too quickly or with too much force. Yet I had a challenge which, according to the guidebook, I could achieve if I refused to give myself a single break along the way. Navigation would not be a problem, according to the guide a blind donkey could finds his way.
  The ascent is quite stiff but constant and the dirt road means you can switch off and allow the legs to do the work without the brain getting in the way. The view are lovely, only slightly lessened by the walls enclosing the track. On several occasions I was tempted to pause and would have done on previous days, but time restraints meant I could not and therefore the entire task was made easier.

Leaving Horton-in-Riddledales

  I met a few other early walkers when I started out but the only other two characters along the way was a lorry driver who asked if I was doing a three peak challenge which as taking place that day. He asked why hadn't I began to sweat yet, by this point in the morning I should have completed the first peak. The other was a middle aged man with his ten year old son, both sat drinking tea, near the top of the long climb.

  This day is nothing compared with the day before but its also simple and pleasant. As I walked today I felt strong, singing to Dolly Parton and other classics the entire way at times at the top of my voice. I was a little worried as I glanced at the guide book and found that by eleven I seem to have another four hours to go- I hoped this was written as a guide for people walking in both directions and applied more to does climbing than descending to Hawes.  

  I reached Hawes at twelve and found the post office by quarter past feeling as if I'd given myself a half day, and not walked 14 miles. After I'd sent the used maps back I found a cafe and bought myself yorkshire style buns and jam with a cup of tea for lunch. Here I decided on the campsite I wanted and headed towards it in the hope they owned dry cleaning services. Bainbridge Ings Camping is quite far out of town, twenty or so extra minutes but its worth the climb. The owners are a friendly bunch and the campsite is vast with a special area for hikers, laundries pretty cheap and the showers are warm and plentiful. Definitely one of the better campsites. Whats more the owner will recharge all your electronics for a donation to air ambulance.

Bainbridge Ings Camping

  After a twenty minute doze while my freshly laundered clothes were tumble dried I wondered clean and odorless into town to buy supplies and dinner. Hawes has a massive town center with wonderfully quirky shops as well as a number of hiking suppliers. My shopping list were a head scarf, tent pegs, and food. All achieved I bought a small bottle (50ml) of local gin, some lemonade and wondered back to the tent for food and bed. I cooked my instant mash and added tinned diced beef in gravy. The fruit salad I'd bought for desert was horrible and thrown.