Diary 

The Final Day


Day Cocklawfoot to Kirk Yetholm
Date Sunday 18th June 2006
Distance 13.70 miles
Total Distance 280.10 miles
Ascent 2,581 feet
Total Ascent 45,496 feet
Moving Average 2.50 miles per hour
Weather

Low cloud on the tops with rain and cold winds.

Yippee

 

Sad its come to an end but glad we’ve finished.

 

The day didn’t get off to a good start as Dave had been sick in the night and we were both now suffering from shortage of sleep.

 

We were at Cocklawfoot for 9am and retraced the 2.50 miles now uphill back to the border fence. The cloud was very low on the tops, which spoilt what would have been wonderful views of the Cheviot Hills. The first ascent was King’s Seat, which took us into the cloud and made this an eerie place. On the way up to Auchope Cairn John and Mike caught us up. We first met them at Bryness and they had spent last night at Ushawayford taking the diversion this morning up The Cheviot. It was full waterproofs on by now as we descended passed the Hen Hole and to the shelter of the Auchope Mountain Refuge Hut for our packed lunch.

The security of the shelter made us hesitant to venture out but we braved the weather and started the climb up The Schil. This was draining and sapped our energy to near exhaustion by the time we reached the top. This was not the final day we had wished for and was getting close to the conditions on our first day back on Kinder. Stu phoned and encouraged us on reminding us that at least the midges weren’t biting today. As we left The Schil the cloud lifted from it’s summit and the weather improved for the first part of our descent so it was waterproofs off. We started singing silly songs to help us on our way and were soon within 2 miles of Kirk Yetholm. The rain came back but we were passed caring and continued without waterproofs, one mile from the finish we must have looked like drowned rats as we were offered a lift up the final hill on the road into Kirk Yetholm. We explained that we had walked from Edale and unfortunately had to refuse this kind tempting offer but could not cheat so close to the finish.

We were jubilant as we arrived at Valleydene and a very warm welcome from Jacky Wilks. Onward to The Border Inn and a pint with John & Mike, signed the logbook and had our certificate signed.

 

Thanks to all of you who have donated to Cancer Research UK helping to rid the world of this terrible disease.

Would we do it again – probably not as there are to many other things we want to do.

The worst bits – The descent from Pen-y-Gent and the Descent from Cross Fell.

The best bits – To many to list but definitely The Yorkshire Dales and making lots of new friends on the way.

Avoiding blisters apart from one small one on the top of Dave’s second toe.

 

Please keep visiting the website as we have taken over 1,000 photo’s and will post a selection soon after our return home.

 

Thanks again and hope you have enjoyed the trip as well albeit from the comfort of your homes.

 

Cheers

 

Mo, Dave & Colin.

 

PS – Colin is not very happy as nobody sent him any waterproofs and he got soaked today.

Not to boggy today

Descent to Kirk Yetholm

 

The Certificate

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