Day 5. Kidsty Pike in the Fog

Day 5.  I faced this morning with trepidation.  I did not sleep much last night and today we're walking 16 miles with 2800 feet of elevation.  A few days ago, I developed a blister on the side of each big toe which are pesky and make themselves known toward the end of the day.  My legs feel like concrete.

We left the elegant Inn at the Lakes located at the southern shore of Lake Ullswater in Glenridding and picked up the C2C path a couple of miles down the road in Patterdale.  After a short 500 yards we began our ascent into the hills.  A rocky track straight up -- no switchbacks.  Over and down and around hill after hill, each with a splendid view of the valley below... unless the fog hasn't lifted!

Even though I am the youngest in the group, I am usually the slowest.  Peter and I bring up the rear.  I am able to trudge up the hills -- the rocky stream beds are easier than the grassy slopes -- it's the descents that I take slowly and can feel my knees.  At the end of the day we're all nearly the same speed.  I am appreciative of Dennis's advice to take it one step at a time.  I marvel at how far we travel step by step.  We are called "walkers."  And that is what we do.

Back to today's walk, the fog and mist became quite thick so we had limited visibility, especially as we neared the literal high point of today's walk, Kidsty Pike.  At 2558 feet, it's the highest point of the C2C walk.

We couldn't see 5 feet beyond us so missed what I can only suspect are spectacular views!  I'll never know.  As the saying goes, what goes up must come down.   Descending from Kidsty Pike was a knee killer -- the descent was straight down through grassy pastures where rocks lay in wait for some unsuspecting ankle to be turned or worse.

Once down, we walked along Haweswater Reservoir until we reached the other side of the dam where Driver Dave met us with late afternoon snacks.  I decided at 14 miles to call it a day (my knees had had enough) so I hopped a ride with Dave to our hotel just outside Shap.  We're walking 16 miles tomorrow with only 1200 feet of ascent.

The figurative high point for today, I hope, is a full and restful night's sleep.