Walk 53 (C2C 4) - 7.9 miles - Total 725.8 - To Go 274.2

A Walk for Patsy, Sarah and everyone with MS
Great Tongue, Grisedale Tarn and Valley and Patterdale






Wordsworth

There was a roaring in the wind all night
The rain came heavily and fell in floods
But now the sun is rising calm and bright
The birds are singing in the distant woods
Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods
The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters
And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.

The shortest walk of our 700+ so far and by far our wettest. Like drowned rats arriving in Patterdale our bags have not arrived so we steam in the bar waiting for our wet gear to dry on us. William Wordsworth was with us on our walk today as we pass the stone he last saw his brother and a barn he sheltered in. His words in his poem above are spot on except the sun didn't come out and although pleasant in a different way it was the noise and sight of roaring waters that filled the air on our walk today.

We set off from Grasmere with all the fells around hidden behind thick grey clouds and heavy rain falling on us. We soon encounter thick mud against a backdrop of clouds wandering down in to the valleys as if sent down to play by their grey elders above.
We start the ascent of Great Tongue climbing up a gentle slope at first with water cascading down towards us. At our first crossing of many Rob calls me a pussy cat for taking the bridge. The words are not out of his mouth before he is deposited firmly on his behind as he slips taking his brave route. I think there will be a bruise there later.




We catch up with our smiling Australian friends and exchange words about how wet inside we are and even wetter outside. Although a short walk today it is full of challenge. Trickling streams of yesterday are now torrents of water hurtling over rocks. It is slippy under foot and there are some very tricky stream crossings. We meet someone who has fallen in. Some of this was quite frightening and in the moment we are saying what are we doing here. When we have passed the trouble we feel ok but in the moment it is a worry.
I am grateful today for contact lenses and to Steve, Catherine, Sarah and Katie for my walking poles. I would have been in serious trouble without the latter and saw the benefit of the former as Rob dealt with steamed up glasses covered with rain droplets.


The rain got heavier and heavier and we entered the clouds and it was truly wonderful!!! At Grisedale Tarn we meet Adrian, a tree surgeon from Cambridge. Young, fit and cheerful we learn he has just done Striding Edge. I bow down to him in admiration. He talks of having to skip either side of the edge to deal with the wind and rain. Carrying his camping gear on his back he had inteneded to stay out on the peaks for three days and try out being alone in the wilds. He is going to give up until the weather improves telling us it is too dangerous even for him.
Rob had been wanting to do Striding Edge ever since seeing Julia Bradbury take it on in the Coast to Coast show that inspired us to do this walk. Meeting Adrian confirmed the sensible choice to take the safe route today but Rob still looks up wistfully (at grey cloud which is all you can see) at what might have been. He tells me he will be back.

The waterfalls around us are an amazing display of the force of nature. The rain is relentless and as we turn to look around we realise how important it is to have the wind on your back on this walk. Turn in to the wind and the rain stings your face and the cold wind is bitter on your bones.



The descent down in to Patterdale is gentle and the rain gets heavier and heavier. Socks are soaked, boots are waterlogged, we are wet inside, outside and all over but happy, smiling and hoping this all helps progress with a treatment for everyone with MS.