Wainwrights achieved – 5 Gavel Fell, Blake Fell, Burnbank Fell, Fell Barrow, Low Fell

If you have a bad back and a dodgy knee, what do you do? Go for a 12 mile hike of course.

And so it was that we went on a very uppy and downy walk, enough to test the fittest of knees and backs. After discovering that ice actually does help reduce inflammation and reading that it also helps to lead with the opposite leg to the one that hurts, Steve’s ailments made a miraculous recovery.

Apart from a horrible descent from Low Fell, it was an uneventful but pleasant walk. I am however heartily sick of the weather. It’s cold, windy and apart from the odd glimmer, sunless. I know I should be grateful it’s not raining and grateful that I’m here but there’s something about an Artic wind in mid June that depresses the spirit. I’m wearing gloves and a buff for goodness sake!

I have tried my best to be stoic but I must confess my motivation to climb many more windy hills is extremely low.

I wondered what Mr W would have to say about this? I looked hard to find some wise words such as “when you don’t feel like walking -don’t” or “artic winds should never be walked in” but sadly nothing. In fact, worse than nothing. It was actually Wainwright who said “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

Bugger.