Day 19/20 The Pennine Way 429km - Bellingham to Byrness - 15 Aug 2009
>> Tuesday, 25 August 2009
24km, 544m ascent, took 6 hours (no rest)
The first half of the walk was the boggiest and muddiest I'd ever been through in my life. The rain and fog was not helping in any way. I just hated the Northumberland then. What a terrain! It was amusing at first to get both boots wet within the first half hour, and followed by crossing over boggy wet fields (with legs sinking/ being sucked into the mud up to nearly my knee level at times). But after such terrain persisted for hours, it got on my nerves and I was not very happy about it any more. It was stated in my guide book that this easy yet occasionally thrilling section was just what a personal trainer would recommend prior to the upcoming trans-Cheviot marathon (tomorrow!) OMG! I wondered how challenging the terrain would be tomorrow. It sounded very scary!
The walk began today, by climbing out of the North Tyne Valley onto the moors. It meandered through knee-deep heather over Deer Play, Whitley Pike and Padon Hill. Foggy and wet...not good!!!
Then the horrible part: The short, steep and sodden ascent alongside Redesdale Forest, leading to a interminable slalom of bog- and puddle-dodging between the plantation's northern edge and a fence. It was IMPOSSIBLE to keep my boots dry. The terrible ordeal ended with a Forestry Commission sign, welcoming Pennine Way walkers. Thanks ar...
The weather improved as I started along the long forestry road. Memories of Kielder Forest returned. How beautiful Northumberland was! What a contradiction lor!
I finally converged with Blakehope Burn carpark, before the woodland and riverside walk towards Byrness. Just before reaching the YHA, I took a different approach and I couldn't see any bridge over the river, hence stupidly stumbled into some horrible forestry terrain. Got my way out by doing some crazy stunts: pushing down some big stones which were part of the wall in order to climb over it and I found my way back to the proper bridge. That was probably illegal - destroying/ damaging stoned walls. Shh....
The YHA was a SUPER hygienic and eco place. I got told off for using the tap too long. Quite angry, but it was my fault. The beds were very comfortable though, and I had a 2-bed room to myself. :)
I made a last-minute change of plans for tomorrow: I would go all out to complete the last part of the Pennine Way. It had been planned to be done in 2 separate days initially, as what most walkers would do. Why? Because it would be a 40km, boggy and involving many up-and-downs across the Cheviot Hills! It was a crazy decision made but I hoped I could do it! Finishing 1 day earlier and saving on 1 night of B&B sounded good. :) Good luck to me!
