Having enjoyed the company of the Merry Men a couple of sundays ago I allowed my arm to be twisted again by Mr.Wait and enlisted for some of the miles of the epic Langlee-Kielder jaunt he was planning. Despite not feeling up to the whole 30 something miles involved I probably would've had a go if I'd been able to give over the neccessary time. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Did the surf forecast for the afternoon have anything to do with wimping out of the full whack? Merely a rumour....
An early start was order of the day and I hurriedly guzzled some porridge and coffee to get to Langlee for 7am. Alot of rain during the night had woken me up a few times but consequent thoughts of mudbath conditions underfoot were replaced by a new environmental concern as the Cheviots loomed into view whilst I drove over toward Wooler. The higher tops were all ghostly white with snow! Karl took my text: "Have you got your snowshoes?" to be a joke since the Wooler contingent of the running party didn't see the conditions until they got up the valley. No white stuff lying at lower altitude or clogging the roads though, so our group was promptly assembled, trussed up with hydration packs and appropriate gear and ready for the off. The 'Famous Five' taking on the long haul up Cheviot, along the Pennine Way to Byrness then on to Kielder via the Forest Drive were: Karl Wait, Bruce Crombie, David Egan, Alison Wright and Sue Mitchell. I was to play a mutineering Timmy The Dog, only staying faithful to the gang until just past Cheviot summit before haring off on my own tangent to do a loop I had in mind.
Despite the rough weather conditions overnight we were blessed with a still day and, as we ascended Cheviot, the dawn put on a bit of a show for us with the sun cresting Hedgehope to our left and lighting up the snow crusted terrain. Beautiful...
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