This was meant to be my first full day on the PCW, but it was not as full as I had hoped.
The forecast was for a big swirl of rain just to the south of me. They were right, except that the rain had pushed about 50 miles further north, which must be quite hard to forecast. At least the southerly wind that pushed the rain up north would do the same for me, hopefully!
The route was mostly really nice. There was a little bit of A road at Buxton (in places it is possible to use the pavement). New Mills was not a joy and doesn’t figure in the video. Hadfield was OK although the route is a little convoluted.
I was rather disappointed in my mileage – or rather in the time it took. I wasted some time in Buxton (replacing the essential reading glasses whose empty box I had remembered to pack but without any contents). I “wasted” more time over lunch and photography etc. I also tend to keep my speed low when in waterproofs (which I removed just before Bugsworth) as, if I don’t, I get soaked in sweat. It’s worth noting that the Garmin records riding time only when my speed is over 6mph – for me, on steep hills, it often fails to record my time or ascent because I’m just too slow for it!!!
However, I was pleased to reach Holmfirth. It had looked quite a challenging ride after my late start, and it wasn’t until I reached Hadfield that I began to believe I could do it – and I was glad because there were campsites at Holmfirth that were near the route.
The campsite was pretty simple. The toilet and shower block (1 shower) was unheated and almost windowless (what do you expect for £10). Amusingly, the lights were controlled by a single PIR in the entrance doorway (there was no door). When I was in the shower the lights switched off and I had to sneak out into the doorway, dripping wet but otherwise just the way god made me, to trigger the lights back on while trying to hide decently behind a tiny lightweight towel! It was pretty cold too!
My new tent is a Durston Xmid-1. I am VERY pleased with it, but it does rely entirely on being pegged down accurately and firmly – so it won’t be suitable for southern Europe, if I get to go there again!
4 Comments
Another great little video pity the weather was crap for you but at least you where out and about and not festering indoors.♥👍
Your time spent photographing is never wasted – they're great. Shower story was a cracker!
Glad the weather brightened up for you. Some beautiful views again. The endings to your videos often make me anxious as you always seem to be short of time before nightfall. I must remind myself that the fact you have posted the video shows that you survived!
you let the car go through the "puddle" first? that was no puddle!!