Day 3/4 Yorkshire Water Way v1 66km Walk - Pateley Bridge to Blubberhouses - 19 May 2008

Woke up at around 5am. Had a big surprise to see tiny ice cubes outside the tent. My shoes turned 'white' - frosted! So cool!!!! This just explained why it was so cold last night. Obviously temperature went below ice point...and it was unbelievable that I was sleeping in an unheated TENT.




Unpitched the tent, left the campsite and began my walk at 7am. It was a lovely warm sunny morning. Ideal for walking! :) Wore too many layers of clothes initially, and had to pause to remove the outer ones. Perspiring! Also getting tanner each day. Not a very common phenomenon in UK, really. Took the alternative route again - by road. Reason? Lazy...Haha!!! This walk was meant to be a leisure one. Main focus should be my exam revision still. Lots of excuses but....better not take any risk...haha!!!!

The walk from Pateley Bridge was along a quiet lane followed by moorland paths, climbing steeply up to reach Yorke's Folly. The view from the Folly was superb with Upper Nidderdale stretching away into the distance. Beautiful, impressive! Passed Thruscross Reservoir, another Yorkshire water source, located at the uppermost of the 4 large reservoirs along the beautiful Washburn Valley.














A 3-hour walk took me to my planned destination for the day. Didn't expect to take such a short time, probably due to the good dry weather and the choice of walking by well-built roads. I reached Blubberhouses - a scattered hamlet which lies just off the A59 which links Harrogate and Skipton. A59 is reputedly the most dangerous road in Britain. I could sense the danger and high risk of crossing it. Fear! This hamlet has only a handful of cottages, farms and a cricket pitch. The distinctive St Andrew's Church overlooks the parking area beside the head of Fewston Reservoir, built using stones recycled from the old church at Thruscross that has disappeared beneath the waters of the reservoir.



I checked into Hopper Lane Hotel - a nice cosy one. Had a sumptuous lunch. The staff then offered to change my room from a twin to a double. It was huge. Took a short afternoon nap, and woke up with an aching body - due to past few days of walking. Studied, watched lots of TV...I felt I was leading a luxurious life. Very satisfied, happy. :)