Breathless Hikers

We woke up to rain, oh so very much rain.  It started about 2 in the morning and was very heavy.  I think if it had just been the rain it would have been ok, but there was wind as well.  I’d not clipped the storm tensioners on the tent and the fly sheet was flapping on the inner tent and water had come inside, getting Zara’s bed and sleeping bag wet.  It was not a great start to the day.  The weather forecast had also changed to say heavy rain all day.  We had to pack up the tent though and move onto our next destination.  The water on the tent added so much extra weight to my rucksack.  As I said, Zara and her prophetic ways the previous day saying I was getting an extra 30kg added to my pack seemed to come true. 

We said goodbye to Appletreewick and headed up to Burnsall in the rain.  We didn’t stop to admire this area, though we did find it amusing that there was a sign saying you could pay to picnic in the area.  There are so many beautiful places in the Dales.Why would people pay to picnic there?  Maybe it was the rain making us grumpy?

So the section from Burnsall to Grassington I imagine is lovely on a sunny day.  We were walking in very heavy rain and the river was getting higher and higher.  It had burst it’s banks in a few places but we were able to manage to walk through the flood water.  Thank goodness for our boots being waterproof!

We came across a suspension bridge that we had to cross and I’ve got to be honest I  was pooping myself crossing it.  The whole thing moved when you walked and with the river gushing below I felt like I could have been in an Indiana Jones movie, minus the crocodiles as they had been swept away. 

We finally made it to Grassington.  Spirits were low. Despite wearing waterproofs, rain had run up our arms and made it into odd places.  We went to the pub and had some lunch while we decided what to do.  I knew that we couldn’t camp that night as our tent and gear were wet and rain was forecast for all the rest of the day and that night as well.  Zara just wanted to get the bus home at this point. I didn’t want to come home at this low point as I doubted I’d ever get her to come back out on a multi day hike.  Remembering the book mentioned a hostel in Kettlewell I got to searching online using the pub’s WiFi. 

We were so lucky, I managed to get us the last room in the Youth Hostel in Kettlewell. I also made the decision that we would take the bus to Kettlewell from Grassington as well.  Zara was very happy with this decision and started playing some trivial pursuit with me in the pub. 

It was like luxury!  The owners Floss and Saul were amazing.  Such fabulous people.  They showed us the drying room. They helped dry out our tent.  Such amazing people and I have no doubt that without their kindness we would have probably gone home.  Saul even made Zara a special dinner off menu.

A really difficult day and probably the lowest point of our walk.  I think we were lucky to be able to pivot and change our plans so we could continue on with our adventures.  Resilience is all well and good when you’re dry, but intelligence is knowing the limits of the group.

It should have been an 11 mile walk, but we only ended up doing 6 of those 11 miles. 

http://hiiker.app/maps/planned-trails/dales-way-day-2–425713931