Nicky: Day 31 TBU day 5

Nicky: Day 31 TBU Day 5 by knickerscat at Garmin Connect - Details
Nicky: Day 31 cont... TBU Day 5 cont... by knickerscat at Garmin Connect - Details

Jannine & I were getting a little bit fed up with Kirsty dragging us along at a pace that didnt suit us, so we strongly advised her to go ahead & take first place. We were happy to make it to the finish in one piece as opposed to wrecks! Today a shorter but tough day.  A mere 25miles ish!!  But, up & over Pen Y Ghent & a couple of other horrors!
Interesting start to the day! Out along the river, then down a track for a bit. We were so busy jogging along happily & chatting that we didnt check the map properly & ended up a mile or so down a long hill. Asked a local farmer where we were & he kindly gave us a lift back to where we went wrong, on his quad bike! Yes, probably cheating but when you are totally knackered - who cares! We certainly didnt!!!  Back en route, we had a long slog up some or other blowey cold hill followed by a lovely long  meandering path great for jogging along. Stopped & chatted to some walkers who were intrigued as to why 2 wind bedraggled women wearing large back packs were running!!! Also photo stop at the viaduct which looked straight out of a Harry Potter film to CP1. Greham who was manning the CP commented on how much happier the pair of us looked without Kirsty!!!
From the CP a little more road then muddy farm tracks & back up into the hills. Again, due to our chatting we missed the correct footpath & had to fight our way through bracken and heather onto the correct path. Wind had now picked up big time & the cloud closed in! We found some shelter behind a dry stone wall & put on more appropriate clothing before the long ridge run & then down into the village of Horton to CP2. CP was outside a cafe at the bottom of Pen Y Ghent. It would have been rude not to stop for a swift hot chocolate & sausage roll! :D !! Due to the now dreadful weather, we put on all our mountain survival kit. We were secretly hoping the race director would redirect us around the mountain but NO! Up we had to go! A brisk walk with the poles 3.5 miles up to the top. Freezing cold, & very gusty wind - almost hard to stand upright. At the top, good old Taff met us to escourt us down the otherside! Apparently the views are supposed to be stunnind!!!

After a clamber over big boulders (bit scarey with the wind), it was a lovely long trot down). Well it would have been if we hadnt missed the path again! Up another hill onto the correct path which was a total quagmire over the fields & another mile or so up to the final campsite! Tough but great day!