Walking observations

On Bank Holiday Monday I walked to Laddow Rocks in the Peak District. I wanted to get down to Crowden making it a total of 20 miles. I thought it’d be a good way to mark the end of August but I was quite tired after lots of driving for Sunday’s wedding in North Yorkshire:

So I settled on just over 15 miles. It’s not the quantity but the quality. I had a lovely time, lost in my thoughts. I set a comfortable pace, sometimes pushing faster before easing up to recover.

It had rained more last week than I’d anticipated and the ground was wet. My former nemesis, deep puddles, still freak me out a bit but once I felt the cold boggy water inside my shoe, there was no going back and I splashed freely through the murky water. I looked forward to crossing each stream, testing my balance and my ability to select secure rocks in the fast flowing water. I looked down at my feet and smiled at evidence of a good time:

It was quite busy out. I greeted fellow walkers cheerily and chatted briefly if it felt right. I got talking with a 73 year young man called John. His skin glowed and his eyes twinkled – a seasoned walker. He wanted a longer chat so I went with it. He was walking from Crowden to Marsden to catch a train to Piccadilly and another to Glossop where his car was parked. His wife had died during covid and he was making every moment count. He was on a mission to complete the Pennine Way with only 3 sections left. High 5 John.

A while later, a man was congratulating his dog enthusiastically near a stream. I joined in. Apparently the dog got freaked out by deep water and streams so I felt justified in sharing my phobia. Chicken? the man offered helpfully. Oh yes I said, I’ll get my feet wet for treats.

The thing about walkers is their good humour. Nature does that. I know that after 10 minutes outdoors, any whiff of a rancid mood dissipates into the ether. I picked up on the higher vibration of hikers I passed, buzzing from a strong dose of vitamin FA. Fresh Air.

5 miles from home I spotted a young couple coming up the really tough ascent from Digley to Black Hill. He walked on past me as I sat on a cushion of heather enjoying a breather. She had stopped at the signpost and was looking enigmatically in the opposite direction. Uh oh. There’s trouble afoot I thought to myself.

After 5 minutes she turned to face the hill and walked past without acknowledging me. I noticed she was wearing Dr Marten boots. She didn’t look happy at all. I wouldn’t be if I was walking up a tough hill in those. They sat and had a heated discussion a few metres up the path from where I was perched. I walked on, shaking off any negative vibes. I sploshed my way through the extra deep puddle 1/4 mile away. Long stalks of tough thick grass had been flattened where other walkers had trodden to avoid the troublesome puddle but in vain – the entire area was water logged. Uh oh, I thought again. Her boots will be trashed. I hoped he’d gallantly offer to carry her over the boggy water to their happy ever after. Romance can’t be dead can it?