An Adventure into the Abyss — Struggle.

Tuesday 22nd August, 5am, I woke up excited as anything to begin the week of adventures. I’ve always been someone who becomes excited, but like, painfully excited. I remember being a kid, and in the days leading up to Christmas, a sleep over, anything fun — I was so excited it was actually painful. Anyway. Planned, was a week of adventures. My friend Rachel was walking the Dales Way, a 80 something mile trail through the boggy yet glorious Northern realm of England, and I was going to join her for 2 days, and camp with her too. But obviously, that wasn’t quite enough. So I decided to cycle there, and back, before the walk. Then once I returned home, I was off again for another 2 days of wild camping and hiking in the Lakes, with my friend Kate.

Now, I sort of have no idea what I’m doing, in general, but especially on a bike. I thought you just got on bikes and pedalled, but apparently there’s a fair bit more to it. I managed to borrow some bike storage things (Paneers?) from some wonderful and very generous local friends (who have cycled around many countries), and ready I was to ride this donkey to Kettlewell, where we were going to start.

I had no idea where I was going to store my bike, what riding a bike with 10kg of gear on, in trainers, over 30 miles of serious hills, or what walking 30 miles with a 10kg bag that doesn’t fit you, was like. But I’ve somehow transitioned into somebody who doesn’t spend much time concerned for the unknown parts of these things, I have this, perhaps naive and stupid, but overall…