The BOFRA Gargrave cross country on Wednesday was a struggle for me as I'd run hard at Widdop the night before and the going was soft. My legs were on strike and so was my mind after a narrow escape from a full head on charge by an enormous cow (well she looked enormous and murderous at the time anyway!). This happened not far from the start and I ran the majority of the race knowing I'd have to pass back through the field on the return. Yikes! Needless to say, I was glad to reach the finish in one piece. Andrew won a prize for being 1st MV45 :) , and there were tiny ducklings on the dew pond so all was good in the end!
We spent the weekend in the Lake District and stayed at Millbeck Farm B&B in Langdale. It's a beautiful ancient farmhouse (still a working farm) and it turned out to be a really friendly and welcoming retreat. We're definitely going back; you can climb the fell straight out of the door and the pub is a short amble across a stream and through a paddock.
On Saturday we had a lovely day exploring the Langdale Skyline. Our route took in Silver How, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag (I fondly know as lofty!) Pike O' Stickle, Rossett Pike, Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags, Pike of Bliscoe; 13 Wainwrights. We finished the round in the Hikers Bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll where we shared our table with a group of walkers and enjoyed their company. My chilli and half n half rice and chips went down well with a couple of bottles of Kopparberg fruit cider and I slept like a log.
On Sunday we chose a route that would take us off the beaten track a little. We climbed from the back of the cottage up to Pavey Arc and traversed via Thurnacar Knott to High Raise then made our way across the wild fell to Sergeants Crag and Eagle Crag. It was moody and windy and we were treated to some really beautiful and unusual cloud formations as we were buffeted along our way and the scenery was stunning. Andrew had the wild idea that Wainwright gave a route off Sergeants Crag west down to Langstrath along the line of the fell wall (what was that about a good memory?!). I peered over the edge and was very dubious but agreed to give it a go. We got about half way down before my best beloved started to make 'we're not going down there it's dangerous' type of noises. Unfortunately I'd got the determined-not-to-be-beaten hat on by then and couldn't be persuaded to re-ascend....who's the most stubborn one then?!!! We picked our way down between rocks and heather and made it safely down but it was slow going. From Langstrath we climbed up to Stakes Pass and back down into Langdale finishing.......yes you got it......back in the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hikers Bar! The cauliflower and cheese soup was the best soup I've ever had and their currant slices are like ambrosia (that would be the food of the gods not the white stodgy stuff)!
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