And so to the last day of walking. We had done 19 days of walking, and this was scheduled to be our last. As we had breakfast at the ‘old house’, the debate was about the weather. The forecast was for some light rain from around 11, that would last till late afternoon. We packed waterproof’s in our back packs, but started off hopeful we wouldn’t encounter too much of the ‘light rain’ that had been forecast.

We walked up onto the road, and back down to the Pennine way, then up out of the valley, away from Torside. It was a climb, but not too bad. Then as we we skirted the hills, the first drizzle arrived. So, raincoats on, but it didn’t seem to last too long. The route wasn’t flat and easy, so it took us some time to make progress. We went across Bleaklow Head, and come down ‘Devil’s Dike’. At this point we started to get stronger drizzle, so Tricia changed into her waterproof trousers as well. We crossed the A57, ‘snake road’ and shortly after the rain became stronger, so waterproof trousers for me as well…. Which was just as well, as the rain became very heavy, and wind was up… The Pennine Way was not going to let us go without  giving us a reminder of how hard it could be. Driving rain.

It was more than the waterproof clothing could cope with :-(. We were wet, cold, and some way off finishing. The path was pretty good along ‘glad hill’, then ‘mill hill’, but as we came towards Kinder, the terrain became very rocky, and the climb steep. We were up in the clouds, the wind was stronger. We stopped for a while behind a rock to get some food out, and then ploughed on, eventually reaching Kinder Downfall. The view was white… Just cloud / mist. We had at least seen the views when we were back here in May, but it was disappointing nonetheless. We crossed, and then continued along the way, often checking the gps to make sure we were on track. The rain stopped around 3pm, just as we were coming to Kinderlow, Edale rocks, and then Jacob’s Ladder.  A couple of ‘views’ showing what it was like. The first is Kinder Downfall…

We came slowly down Jacob’s Ladder and then the next few miles across fields, and finally the narrow path that lead down to the traditional start of the Pennine Way, and our finish. Shattered. We were pleased to have finished, but the last day was something of a damp squib. We had a couple of photo’s taken, and then went onto Ollerbrook where we were staying…. A very welcome tea, and baths. We went back into Edale, and ate at the Nag’s Head. Both yawning :-).

Walking is an underestimated form of keeping you fit. I certainly feel fitter, and have likely lost a few pounds… Bit of an extreme way of doing it though 🙂