Comments on: A Pennine Trek, Part 1 ??? Moorland and Mustard Gas

By: McEff

McEff — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 13:05:11 +0000

Hi Pete. It turns out to be one of my better impulse purchases. You can get bogged down with reading all the spec for outdoor gear to the point where you can’t make up your mind ??? so when something that looks like a bargain gets thrust under your nose it’s hard to resist.
That’s the way, keep them scared!
Cheers, Alen

By: ramblingpete

ramblingpete — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:50:04 +0000

Hello Alen – just catching up with your adventures. I think the single file notice relates to walking across the meadows in the spring when the flowers are sprouting. Glorious sight when they are in their prime as I’m sure you know.

That’ll teach you to impulse purchase.

BTW thanks for reminding me about scaring the grandkiddies

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 20:09:22 +0000

Hi Greg. It was partly inspired by your recent trek, because I’d never walked north from the A66 through Teesdale and when I read your account I thought it was about time I did it. Mind you, I didn’t stop for cakes and fry-ups every five minutes. And the weather was colder and wetter!
Cheers, Alen

By: Greg.

Greg. — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 20:04:23 +0000

Great stuff Alen. New tent fever eh? sounds like a great trip, am looking forwards to part 2.

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 11:28:29 +0000

Hi Keith. The trouble with drink is it’s too heavy. Someone should invent freeze-dried London Pride or dehydrated Tempranillo that you mix with water in a billy can.
Cheers, Alen

By: northpenninegallery

northpenninegallery — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 20:07:56 +0000

I’m alway restricted by the amount of beer or wine I can carry. Great post.

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:00:51 +0000

Hi David. Yes, there’s the other side of the coin when it comes to doctor’s advice ??? namely the alcohol intake thing, which my doctor’s always pushing! I reckon I live and eat pretty healthily, so I can bend the rules when it comes to having a drink. That’s my theory anyway.
My original plan was to camp down by the river at High House, which would have been about 15 miles from Bowes, but I didn’t know camping was forbidden in the nature reserve till I saw the signs so I pushed on that final couple of miles ??? which was all up hill. Still, it shortened the following day’s walk.
I like the idea of the cowboy walk. I shall practise my John Wayne impression.

By: David

David — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:40:56 +0000

I recognise Cronkley and Mickle Fell behind your tent. That’s a biggish day from Bowes and I think I would have been flagging by the time I got to your campsite. Clearly your doctors advice is keeping you fit. Mind you I find the advice of a doctor is to be heeded and ignored in equal measures. Some advice will help you live longer, while other advice will just make it seem like it.

Instructional signs like that do annoy me. Interestingly if you walk by Hadrians Wall the signs ask you to spread out a bit to prevent erosion. It’s hard to do on your own and other than a zig-zag walk, a cowboy walk is the best I can come up with

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:07:59 +0000

Yep, the best part about many of the more uncomfortable ventures and adventures is definitely blogging about them afterwards!

By: McEff

McEff — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:04:17 +0000

Hi Carol. I’d heard about the mustard gas a few years ago and assumed it was left over from the First World War. But a quick Google reveals that they stockpiled masses of it all over the country and even shipped loads to France during the Second World War in readiness for the Nazis using chemical weapons first. In the event they didn’t, so it all came back again. It was stockpiled at Bowes from 1942.
Backpacking. It’s a love-hate thing. When it goes well it’s great. When it doesn’t it’s worse than hell. And I agree with you about the Pennine Way. Too far in one go. The best part about backpacking is putting your feet up at the end and writing about it, like I’m doing now with a glass of London Pride.
Cheers, Alen

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:56:52 +0000

Ha ha! Love your definition of backpacking – you’re certainly spot on with that one!

Never knew they ever stored chemical weapons in the Pennines?!

Not sure I’ll ever tackle the Pennine Way – especially now I’m older. I always saw it as a challenge too far myself!
Carol.

By: McEff

McEff — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:46:43 +0000

Hi Chris. I’ve been thinking about that first sign since I uploaded the post because it doesn’t actually say “Keep Out”. And it was pretty low-key fencing around the place so perhaps access is possible so long as you don’t pick up strange objects ??? including suspicious leaves. As for the second sign, I’m still fuming about it now. A bloody landowner telling me how to walk on land that’s in the public domain. If I go back I’ll have my shirt out and be singing the Red Flag at the top of my voice.
All the best, Alen