Day 2

 What a difference a day makes! 

Just after I posted last night’s blog, my nose started to run.  Within an hour, it was streaming out of me. By 11 pm, it was a complete snot fest! I struggled to go to sleep, because the catarrh was making its way to my throat and causing me to gag! 

By midnight the wind started howling, also keeping me awake. Then at 2:30am, the rain started. It sounded like a monsoon on the tent and carried on until 8am.

Needless to say, I didn’t sleep very well! 

After I broke camp, I headed back into Grassington village, where I had a breakfast baguette in a cafe!

By the time I’d eaten that, the film crew were busy causing chaos, so I diverted around them and head out onto the path. 

The first stage between Grassington and Kettlewell, took me away from the river and onto the edge of the moors. 

It was only 6 miles, but it felt a lot more. There were some great views looking down into Upper Wharfedale. 

I stopped for a coffee in Kettlewell, which was quite busy with tourists. 

I then walked along the river valley to Buckden. 

As you can see from the grey clouds, we had a lot of heavy short sharp showers throughout the day. I got soaked a couple of times and managed to shelter under trees or behind walls for some of the others! 

I reached Buckden at 3pm and had a quick pint at the Buck Inn. 

I made a decision to push on, in order to make tomorrow’s stage a bit easier. 

I decided to head to Nethergill Farm, which was another 6.5 miles. The path took me alongside the river up Langstrothdale. 

I lost count of how many tight narrow stiles or bridges I had to get through. 

I then reached Yockenthwaite, where I literally stumbled onto the set of All Creatures Great & Small! 

I had to wait 10 minutes, whilst they recorded a scene, because I had to walk right through it! 

It was quite a nice walk alongside the river, but I didn’t enjoy it to its fullest because by now I was feeling quite shattered. 

Eventually, I reached Nethergill Farm, which has a ‘classroom’ and kitchen, with an honesty system to make teas and coffees. They also allow camping in their grounds. 

It is still quite windy here, so I’ve pitched my tent in an overgrown spot, that has some shelter from the wind. 

Initially I thought I had the place to myself, but not long after I arrived, a party of D of E students turned up. Thankfully, they are from a private school so are well behaved. 

I have walked just under 19 miles today and climbed 1650ft. My feet are tired, but apart from one tiny blister, not too bad!