Stroll #16 – Midgehole
There was heavy rain overnight and it was still falling when I got up this morning. I didn’t fancy cycling in that, so I switched on the PC and continued my ongoing struggle to find a way of earning a living on t’Interweb. NB – any non-stressful, legal, honest, reasonably paid methods would be considered! 
The hours passed quickly, as they do when one is constantly flitting about from one website to another. It suddenly dawned on me that the weather had improved considerably. I should go out!
Then Lisa phoned. She was up at her mother’s house doing some painting, but would soon be heading down the hill. Did I fancy meeting her halfway? Sure!
I got my walking togs on and ‘power-walked’ via the Salem riverside route round to the entrance to Hardcastle Crags, at the end of Midgehole Road. No sign of Lisa. I knew that she was coming down the bridleway from Pecket Well so I decided to head off up the hill rather than hanging about on the road, getting cold.
I was halfway up the bridleway before Lisa came round a bend towards me, then I turned round and walked back down to Midgehole Road with her.
The Salem path had been a bit muddy from all the rain, so we decided to walk home on the road.
I only walked about 3 miles with about 550 ft of altitude gain (5 km distance , 170 m gain) but it felt like more because I’d done the first part of the walk at a very brisk pace. I think I might do more ‘power-walking’ in the winter when the weather conditions are not good for cycling. My hip joints and knees won’t take the battering of running any more, but I can still do hard, hilly walks without too many problems.
