TraceysTrek

Poppy is never one to miss a trick and while I was driving to our start point a new bag of dog treats fell on the floor. She was right on them and the whole bag was gone in seconds! Little did I know this was going to be a theme for today!

So it’s a big weather warning today as storm Bert hits the UK. Everyone kept sending me pictures of snow in their area. Fortunately, here it was just a cold wind and rain.

I parked up Priscilla for Aly to collect later then I wrapped up in my waterproofing including waterproof socks and put Poppys waterproof jacket on which she doesn’t really like!

It was cold and wet and Poppy wanted to stop and sniff every few meters. No time for that girl! Oh, oh now she’s doing a big runny poo! That must have been the biscuits she stole last night!

We spent much of the morning walking along the route of Hadrians wall. Then Poppy needed to go again…and again…and again!!!

The combination of Poppy pulling, stopping, the rain and wind and cold hands meant I had difficulty keeping track of where we were. Needless to say we veered off course and ended up down a really muddy farm track. I was tiptoeing around the puddles when I saw what I thought was stone. Wrong!! My feet went straight through the ice and into freezing ankle deep cold water! This was to be a test for my waterproof socks. They were squelchy but felt ok. My feet stayed warm all day.

I had to reroute us, avoiding at all costs the sinking sand!! Aly met us for lunch and Poppy was cold and very wet so spent the rest of the day in Priscilla.

The sky was stormy, and the wind picked up but I still had time for a smile 😊. The rain had baited a little so I managed a few more pictures. Although they are a bit emotionally dark.

At tea break Aly had to confess that she hadn’t secured the food she had kindly prepared for my supper and it had fallen on the floor while she was driving! You guessed it. Poppy had my spinach and feta filo pie!!! Definitely no more food for her today!

My route finally took me off road and into fields. I was happy at first for the change in terrain. Initially down a muddy farm track that vehicles had been on. Then through a gate into a field of sheep. It was getting dark and I don’t know who was more surprised when some lone black sheep appeared from the hedgerow! The track petered out and much more mud appeared. The next gate was locked so I had to climb over it. The same with the next one. The following one was covered in brambles on both sides and looked like it had never been opened in years! I managed to stretch over the brambles with only minor scratches. The next gate was even worse. It had barbed wire holding it together and it was very entangled with really established brambles. This one was tricky. As I attempted to climb over I became stuck in all directions being held captive by the sharp thorns on the brambles digging into my flesh and holding on like cats claws to my clothing. Where were my secateurs when I needed them!! Eventually, after much pulling and tugging and tearing and snapping I got over. Immediately on the other side was a new barbed wire fence! I carefully hopped over that and thankfully a metal gate was all that stood in my way to the road! Guess what? I couldn’t open it so had to climb it!!

It went dark really quickly while I was still in the fields. Thank goodness I had all my night gear with me. I’m lit up like a Christmas tree! Another 40 minutes of road walking and finally I was at the coast. It sure was blustery and I could just make out the sea in the darkness.

Aly was waiting Priscilla with the lights on like a beacon of hope in the darkness drawing me close.

Aly had taken Poppy for a walk as she had been barking. Poor Aly, she was subjected to a repeat performance of this morning. I hope Poppy’s got rid of it all now and doesn’t need to go in the night!

All that was left to do was to take Aly to Maryport so that she could get the bus home. I returned to Allonby and parked up for the night.

I’m absolutely knackered, my feet hurt and I have new blisters from the last few miles in my waterproof socks!! I’ve had a shower and something to eat and am now in bed writing this.

Its another weather warning from the met office tonight and Priscilla is being buffeted by the wind even though I’m down a side street away from the beach. Oh and now here comes the rain!!

Best bits: strangely it was negotiating the overgrown gates and fences. It sort of gave me a sense of accomplishment!

Worst bits: last few miles of road walking creating blisters.

Distance: 21 miles