A bad tummy, Canadians, Penyghent and a load of bull......

It's been a frustrating week.  I wont go into details other than to say that certain bodily malfunctions prevented me from doing all I'd have liked to do.  Starting a week's course of Metronidazole (antibiotics) I'd been advised against strenuous exercise and told to take things easy.  

As if I could!

Struggling over Castle Hill  (Click pictures to enlarge)

Runs were limited to just two, each of 4 miles, both of which ended in disaster, not to say a certain amount of embarrassment.  It could be some time before I don trail shoes again.

Astilbe?  

A strange plant appeared in my garden which I'm told is called Astilbe.  I've no idea how it got there for I certainly never planted it.

Long tailed tit at the feeders

I'd like to think it's a present from the birds I feed each day, a seed stolen from someone's garden and conveniently dropped into a shady corner of mine they perhaps thought looked a little bare.

Yours truly and David with his auntie Sheila

We'd company at the weekend, all the way from Canada, and felt obliged to show them some of our wonderful Yorkshire countryside during their three day stay.

Our route over Penyghent

 My wonderful partner's nephew, David, had expressed a desire to visit Penyghent again, a hill he'd climbed  on a previous trip to England in 2004 whilst I was taking part in a fell race over it.  

Penyghent

An excellent idea, we thought, for on a clear day we'll see a huge chunk of Yorkshire from its 2,277ft summit, and that should be enough!  We drove to Horton-in-Ribblesdale to find it bulging with people and cars.  Hundreds were taking part in a sponsored walk over Yorkshire's three peaks of Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough to raise money for British Heart Foundation.
So we'd plenty of company.

Kim, going strong in the initial stages

David's partner, Kim, had never tackled a hill of such magnitude before so it was a baptism of fire for her. But she's young and fit so it posed no problem.  Coming from a metropolis like Ottawa she was fascinated by our Yorkshire countryside with all its free range cattle and sheep of which she took endless photographs.

Onwards and upwards

The day had dawned clear and sunny but not too warm, so excellent conditions for our 6 mile jaunt.  Swallows flitted around Brackenbottom.  Lots of  Wild mountain thyme inspired a verse or two of that beautiful song made famous by The Corries.  I've sung it scores of times on climbing meets and I'd love to think my mountaineering friends will raise their voices and sing it at my final curtain.
If they haven't all gone before me!

Up the rocky nose

To borrow a phrase from Miles Kington , "C'est un bleedin' doddle" is how I'd describe Penyghent's rocky nose, the hill's main obstacle where hands as well as feet are required for the ascent.

Kim enjoying herself on the steep bit

 It was soon over and smiling faces were happily making their way to the Trig point at the summit.

All smiles at the Trig Point

After the obligatory photograph we relaxed behind a wall, out of the wind, to refuel with sandwiches and juice before the easy downhill trek back to Horton village.

Relaxing before the descent

Charity walkers had all gone, trundling off towards Whernside and mighty Ingleborough, another 21 miles of energy sapping terrain. Some were already struggling and it's doubtful whether they'd complete the circuit in time to collect their medals by the 7pm finish.

An easy stroll down

There was no cut-off time for us.  We strolled leisurely along, our Canadian friends intrigued by dry stone walls, verdant limestone landscapes, the deep depression of Hunt Pot, extensive views - and a prime bull that posed to have its picture taken.

Hey, don't mess with me......

 It was a great day.  

Next time they honour us with a visit, we'll maybe take them over all three?