Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Land's End to John O'Groats - 2010

Overview     Planning     Schedule     Map     Diary     Pictures
Day: 040
Date:

Friday, 11 June 2010

Start:

Bellingham

Finish:

Byrness

Daily Kilometres:

27.4

Total Kilometres:

1254.4

Weather:

Partly sunny and cool

Accommodation:

Youth Hostel (£18)

Nutrition:

English breakfast; ham, cheese & coleslaw sandwich for lunch; chilli con carne and rice and cheesecake for dinner

Aches:

Right knee sore (3/10)

Pictures:

Here

GPS Track:

Here

Journal:

At breakfast, I met Mike, another resident who was also hiking the Pennine Way.  He, like Andy and me, is aiming for Byrness today and he told us that there were a number of other hikers in town aiming for the same Hostel (where I didn't have a booking), meaning it would be quite full.  There were few other accommodation options there, so I knew I should call them as soon as I had mobile phone coverage.

Fortunately, as I climbed out of Bellingham through pastureland, I got a signal and called the Hostel who called me back several minutes later to say that they could squeeze me in if I was willing to sleep on a fold-up bed in a small alcove, which I accepted.  They also said I could get dinner there and buy food for the next day, which was good to know since there weren't going to be any other resupply options that I was aware of.  While I had phone reception, I took the opportunity to make a few other phone calls and ended up spending more than 30 minutes sitting on top of the hill enjoying the sweeping views and chatting to people in Australia.

It was a perfect day for hiking, cool, overcast and just a light wind.  Humidity must have been low because it was possible to see over the rolling hills far into the distance.  After crossing a few rural properties, the Pennine Way moved onto moorland covered with tussock grass and heather, with quite a few boggy patches.  Again, I was aware how fortunate I was that it had been a dry winter and spring, and it was possible to avoid getting my feet wet at all with some judicious path selection, use of the trekking pole, and the occasional large step.  While I took a morning break on top of Whitley Pike (356m) I enjoyed watching a military jet going through its paces low overhead, with some sharp turns, rolls and steep climbs.  In the distance, I could hear explosions which may have been artillery or perhaps bombing.  Andy caught me and we spent some time working on his feet, some parts of which looked a bit grim.  I gave him my last big blister patch.

After following the high ridges of the moors, the path then followed the edges of Redesdale Forest, part of a giant conifer plantation, for some time.  There were some steep boggy difficult parts, but generally the walking was reasonable and further along the path went through the forest itself on forestry roads.  It makes a nice change and I enjoy the smell of the pines.  My iPod has finally dried out and has begun working again, and I spent the last hour or so into Byrness, on what had turned out to be a pretty easy day, singing along to the iPod as I walked through the forest.

I arrived at the Hostel, which is privately owned, at 4pm and was able to check in immediately.  Fraser, a five-time Pennine Way hiker who I had met during the day was already there, as was Mike, from the B&B this morning.  The hostel is full, with some cyclists and a family of five, also walking the Pennine Way.  There's a bit of excitement amongst the Pennine Way hikers as tomorrow is their last day.  But it is a long one of about 48km.  They are all planning to get up early and reach the final town, Kirk Yetholm, in time to check into their B&Bs, have a shower and get down to the pub for England's first World Cup match against the USA at 7:30pm.

My route leaves the Pennine Way after only about 8km tomorrow and my goal will be the largish town of Jedburgh, which is only 31km away.  However, I think I'll get up with the Pennine Way hikers and leave soon after 6am in the hope of reaching Jedburgh in time for a late lunch and a lazy afternoon, before also watching the World Cup.  Jedburgh is in Scotland, so I'm not sure who the locals will be supporting.  Crossing into Scotland and leaving the Pennine Way marks the next milestone of my trip.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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You can email Dave directly at dave@davebyrnes.com.au or subscribe to his Adventure Blogs here.

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