Tuesday 19th July 2022, Death Valley, Lancs Postcode

 

We sensibly shipped in an additional 3 litres of water to see us through the first day’s trekking, 17 miles when you account for the extra mile we had to walk from the hotel to the start line. 

Mostly rolling farmlands and pastures to start with, our 7am start meant conditions were quite pleasant to begin with, but it soon got pretty hot as we got into the middle of the stage. Vultures weren’t exactly circling but we were inordinately grateful for every breath of breeze & stretch of shade along the route. There was even a bizarre 30 second shower from a solitary cloud directly overhead.

We then hit some low level fells and Lake District proper, and felt like we were in the swing of it. Many pit stops to drink water, a couple of glucose bars for energy.

Highlight was definitely Beacon Tarn, a sheet of water up one of the fells, overlooked by rocky knolls. It was tempting to go full immersion, but we had a paddle instead, relief for sore feet. Fern and bracken everywhere, and the rugged mountains of Dow Crag,  Old Man of Coniston and Wetherlam alluring in the distance.

The walk finished along the attractive shoreline of Coniston water, signed off by a welcome pint of local brew at the Black Bull Inn, where we are staying overnight. After nearly nine hours of walking in baking heat, we are ready for a high carb reward.

Joff x