Moor, Moor, Moor

. . . how do you like it?

Day Four: Hebden Bridge to Cowling, 17 miles

A break in the rain

Today’s terrain was as varied as yesterday’s was unchanging.  Since we descended deep into the Hebden Valley at the end of the day yesterday, a goodly share of our morning was spent climbing our way up and out of the “hole.”  Through the rain and surprising cold, we twisted our way around reservoirs and winded through moor after moor after moor.  We were down valleys, through cloughs, up fells and across seemingly endless (windswept) moors.   Today we also passed through Withins Heights and briefly visited the ruins of the house which is believed to have inspired the Earnshaw Family home in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.  Believe us, the midst across the moors easily summons images of Heathcliffe and Catherine.  Moor, moor, moor!

Across all 17 miles today our pace was strong and steady despite the terrain, prompting Marty to characterize the walk as “Boltz Boot Camp.”  And while we can’t take credit for the weather or terrain obstacles, already each of us is experiencing the conditioning effect of walking – becoming stronger as we struggle through the minor aches and pains of each full-on walking day.  These aches and pains, by the way, feel anything but minor late each afternoon.  Thankfully, we wake refreshed and ready to go again each morning!  We live by an unspoken no-excuses, no complaints trail philosophy that is all about putting one step in front of the other (even when engaging nettles on a “personal relief” break – well, that certainly takes one's mind off of other pains for awhile😮).

As it was another rainy day, photos were few.  Tomorrow has some sun in the forecast -- finger crossed.  As we have come to expect, the sun made an appearance late in the day as we approached Cowling.  Cameras out!!

Foxglove are everywhere!

Once again, the sun comes out for the last 15 minutes of a nine-hour hiking day