Crowden Wednesday 20 May 2015
Start: Edale
Finish: Crowden
Miles walked today: 16
Total miles: 444
A night under canvas! How romantic that sounds. Factor in wind and rain, and maybe not so. One of those nights when you listen to the comedy at 11.00 pm on Radio 4, then Westminster Hour, then the shipping forecast, then the World Service programmes. Perhaps I got a couple of hours sleep...AAAHHHH HAAAAA!!!
In the morning I wait for the rain to stop for a moment, and pack everything away. Off I go towards the Nags Head and the official start of the Pennine Way (PW). It is, to be frank, a tough day. Some steep climbs, and cold wind and some rain. The views are obscured by clouds, sometimes visibility is down to 100 metres.
I encounter several walkers, it's good to exchange pleasantries in an inhospitable landscape. Unlike the lake district, there are no distinct peaks here, just flat (ish) moorland tops. Eventually I drop down towards my destination - the reservoir near Crowden. As I descend, I hear disembodied voices. I look all round, and then see three men floating in the air on top of a huge pylon. It looks quite surreal.
The campsite at Crowden is very good. No charge for a hot shower either. No wifi and no phone signal though. The camp site lady did give me hot water for a pot noodle from her shop. Luxury... I chat to a fellow camper, Chris, who is doing the PW, and also to a couple of lads walking past who are wild camping and navigating only with Google maps on their iPhone. They must be mad :) What it is to be young...
I'm in my sleeping bag by 7.00 pm and listen to the Archers. I'm relatively warm thanks to Chris's lovely sleeping bag liner. It's silk, takes up no space, but seems to have an insulating effect. Good night all.
