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Monday 2 March 2015

Baldersdale Reccy Abandoned.

sunny at hury this morning (koff)

I was supposed to do this reccy for Wednesday’s Durham County Council guided walk on Sunday. The walk’s on Wednesday and starts from Balderhead reservoir at ten o’clock. However, it was wet and windy at Pietowers on Sunday, so I put it off till today.

This morning, it was snowing heavily at Pietowers and reports from the Knipe/Gray Eyrie up high in the Pennines indicated swirling blizzards and even blizzardier blizzards than in Crook. So I had another cup of coffee. And the last chocolate biscuit.

an early squall or blizardette

At some point mid-morning, in a short period of caffiene-induced enthusiasm, I decided I’d better set off. I put the dog’s saddle on, loaded him into the knipemobile and set off down the A68, which was clear and fast. The road to Hamsterley was no problem, but the high road over the tops was covered in highly polished ice and snow. Despite all this, I successfully avoided the white van that slithered towards me sideways at one point and arrived at Hury Reservoir without a scratch, ding, or small bush sticking out from the front bumper.

goldsborough

And not only this but the sun was shining and Lucky was happy, more than happy, really, to have a bit of snow to bounce around in (about two inches is my guess)

We weren’t supposed to be at Hury, obviously, because the walk starts at Balderhead, but it visits Hury and my guess was that the Balderhead road would be just one scary point too scary, whereas…

there may be trouble ahead...

waves...

quote "oh this just gets worse and worse" homer simpson

Hennyway, we progressed into a buffeting and arctic headwind, but in bright and beautiful conditions. After two miles, though, we hit the blizzard, or, rather, it hit us. I had my snow goggles on, so I was pretty much OK, but Lucky could make no progress at all into this storm and was intent on heading off towards Darlington. This was a worry cos I got the pooch from Darlington and it wouldn’t do to have him suddenly turn up at the Dog’s Trust all iced up.  So, we turned to shelter behind the dam wall. This wasn’t much help, to be honest and I couldn’t help noticing that the moor above the reservoir was a chaos of speeding clouds of drifting snow. There was no prospect that man nor dog – specially not a goggle-less dog would be able to cope with this – and this is where the walk goes next. So I packed it in and, with the wind now pushing me along – almost hurrying me away from the place, I retired to the knipemobile for chicken and turkey butties and chocolate and coffee.

where's goldsborough gone, then?

The storm abated and the sun came out. But it was too late now. I might try again tomorrow.

As a consolation prize, I went off down the A66 and bagged a small but bijoux Tump – one Diddersley Hill – 209 metres, and right next to the road. You are forgiven for not knowing where this is, or even, I should say, caring much about not knowing where it is. It does have a very good view, though.

We did four miles. That’s four out of eleven.  But I still have my dog.

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7 comments:

AlanR said...

Yep or yelp it does look uncomfortable. Valour is the contempt of death and pain.
A warm fire, a wee dram and butterscotch biscuits sounds better.
I hope Lucky had socks on.

Dawn said...

That is impressive Mike, must have scary on the road!

Chrissie said...

Obviously your next hill-purchase is going to have to be some goggles for Lucky.

One Girl and her Dog said...

Brrrrrr looks chilly haha.

We have a caravan over in Long Marton near Appleby and are heading over there on Friday for 10 days so I hope the weather behaves itself for us to get some walking done.

Best wishes.

Paula (and Heidi-dog)

Mike Knipe said...

Alan - Lucky laughs in the face of socks (he's Irish y'know... very tough)
Chrissie - I think a flying helmet would be just the thing. And a white scarf waving behind..
Paula - You should be OK by Friday. Its going to be tropical by then, apparently

Dawn said...

Scary looking stuff!

Mike Knipe said...

Dawn - Its all melted today!