Day 14 - Walking in gale force winds over Cross Fell was too much
for Mum
Sunday 25th May
Dufton to Garrigill
16.1 miles
Breakfast was a bit like dinner the night
before, the ramblers being rude and uncaring, especially towards
poor Margaret. Mum and I chose to have the continental breakfast,
hoping to make a quick getaway, the breakfast was very good but we
felt guilty about not sitting nearer to Margaret to give her some
support at the other end of the table. Whilst settling our bill we
had a chat with the warden, complimenting her on the decorum showed
by her16 year old daughter. She admitted that most rambling groups
she had experienced were similar but this one was particularly bad.
The final straw came when I asked someone from the group to take our
photo on the steps of the hostel, fully intending to include
Margaret in the photo. One of the female ramblers was heard saying
in a loud voice “you don’t
want her in it do you” I was incensed and pulled Margaret
more into the picture. It was a good job we were ready to leave as I
was fuming inside. Anyone who has met me knows how much I hate
confrontation so the fact I was ready to retaliate shows how upset I
was. Since that day I have reflected many times on the incidents and
realise that as individuals those ramblers were probably no more
offensive than the average person but I still feel very strongly
that as a group their behaviour was totally inappropriate.
The walk today began in bright sunshine but it
was incredibly windy. Even before we left the village Mum had to
stop to brace her self against the powerful gusts of wind. We
ventured on, crossing Great Rundle Beck where the real climb began.
Mum was feeling very weary and even after an early coffee stop she
decided the day was not for her. We discussed our options and Mum
insisted that she was just tired and didn’t relish the windy
conditions but was happy for me to carry on. I accompanied her back
to the track where she set off back to Dufton to find a taxi service
to Garrigill. With the benefit of hindsight this was the first sign
of a more serious problem but more of that later…
I set off, back up the hill, and the higher I got the more I
realised that Mum had made the right decision. I stopped a couple of
times on my way up to Knock Old Man, sheltering in the lee of a
large cairn. It was a real battle into the head on wind, I made use
of my poles just to stay upright and I had the weird sensation that
something was across my face. After a while, I realised that it was
the wind blowing my eyelids down and it was my eyelashes that I was
feeling on my cheeks. My nose was running and the wind kept blowing
my nostrils open every time I tried to sniff. I turned North,
heading for the radar station looking like a giant golf ball on the
skyline, here the wind got even stronger and crossing Little Dun
Fell was almost impossible – it was like being in a wind tunnel and
I kept having to drop to the ground to avoid the worst of the gusts.
Despite the battle I found it quite exhilarating but realised that
Mum would not have enjoyed being up here. Once on the top I met a
few other walkers also battling the elements but all had smiles on
their faces –or maybe they were grimaces! At the trig point on Great
Dun Fell I asked a fellow walker to take my photo and I tried to
phone Mum to let her know I was ok, as usual her phone was turned
off so I sent her a text. I wasn’t sure if Mum had progressed to
receiving texts yet but at least I had tried. I left the summit at
3pm, had a quick look around Greg’s Hut on the way down then made my
way along the 7-mile track into Garrigill. Mum phoned to reassure me
she was safely at the B&B but decided not to come and meet me as I
was still along way out. 90 minutes later I entered the pretty
village and heard Mum calling from an upstairs window. I had a good
soak in the bath at Bridge View before heading over to the village
pub for an excellent meal. Mum decided to retire to bed and I stayed
to chat to three guys, two walkers and their support driver. They
were walking the 1000 miles from Lands End to John-O-Groats and
raising money for the Macmillan cancer charity. I promised to
sponsor them on their website then headed back to Bridge View where
Mum was already asleepThought for the day:
Deb –
Mum is definitely not feeling 100%. Her decision today proved wise
considering the weather conditions
Mum
–
I was very disappointed not to complete the walk today and at this
stage could not understand why. However, I was pleased that Deborah
was able to achieve it
Pictures
Mum and I with Margaret on the steps of Dufton YHA
Heading for Great Dun Fell
Sheltering below the radar station on Great Dun Fell
Trying to stay upright on the top of Cross Fell
Gregg's Hut
Bedroom accommodation at Greg's Hut
The long track down into Garrigill
Garrigill
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