We walked thirteen miles today up and down the canal from Huddersfield to Marsden and back again. Thirteen miles! And it was extremely hot – around 23°C (that’s 74°F for people who can’t understand proper temperatures yet). I was sweating so much I would have been drier if it had been raining.
But as well as seeing a dying fish we saw a leech, a horsedrawn canal barge, and recieved an informative lecture on fresh water clams from a man in a red neckerchief. And to top it all we had a rather pleasant day too.
What’s more I’m starting to have more faith that I’m going to manage the Dales Walk after all. Sure I’ve a few aches and pains, and undoubtedly these will be even more prominent tomorrow. But the thirteen miles went pretty quickly and at no point did I feel like I was struggling.
Mind you, I’ve got vague ideas about climbing Mount Snowdon at some point this week, so I am prepared to have all my illusions about my hiking prowess cruelly shattered.



















on May 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Love the way you mention the heat and there’s one guy in a bloody heavy hoodie…
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on May 12th, 2008 at 2:02 am
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on May 12th, 2008 at 3:00 am
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on May 12th, 2008 at 3:05 am
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on May 12th, 2008 at 8:20 am
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on May 12th, 2008 at 10:07 am
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on May 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
“I say 75 miles.”
“No way, I give him 50.”
“Dude – $100 says he won’t make 35.”
Dan:
“What are you guys talking about?”
3 guys:
“Just discussing how long it takes until you look like this.”
I kid!… I kid because I love!
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on May 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Well done though, and you all kept your shirts on. I thought all British blokes whipped off their shirts at the slightest hint of sunshine. Or is that just where I live??
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on May 12th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Either way, don’t forget to drink plenty of water :)
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on May 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
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on May 12th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
on May 12th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Nat – Anything that reduces chaffing can only be a good thing.
Sam – You of all people should know that the fact that there were freshwater clams in the canal shows it is pollution free. Hurrah!
Avitable – We worked out we could have had that fish, the clams, and some wild onion that we discovered on the way. We’d have had to have eaten it all raw of course.
Penelope – The sad truth is that Sandip, the guy in the hoodie, only walked half of the way. He said he had to “go to a meeting”. Yeah ok Sandip, we believe you.
Arjan – We’re all hoping it won’t be quite as warm when we do the walk itself. But it probably bloody will be.
Jeff – $100? We use real money over here matey.
Jo – Trust me, you don’t want to see me without my shirt on.
Jason – To be fair, you do live in the middle of a desert.
Whit – I feel surprisingly ok actually. Not an ache anywhere.
(un)relaxeddad – Actually it wasn’t dead, just very unwell. It was floating on the surface and swimming round in circles. Using my expert knowledge gleaned by once owning a goldfish I diagnose a problem with it’s swim bladder.
on May 13th, 2008 at 12:02 am
He’ll be half way through the dales walk and get slapped with an ASBO.
(I’m not explaining that for the yanks)
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on May 13th, 2008 at 3:35 am
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on May 13th, 2008 at 6:38 am
What about the midgies? I get bitten to death when out with the dogs.
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on May 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
In one month, it will be 101 here.
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