We made it to Scotland

We’ve left the Pennines and the Dent Valley and headed off for the south Galloway coast. We were unsure whether to drive into Cumbria (too busy), across to Northumberland (coast might be busy) or into southern Scotland. In the end the latter won. It’s not an area of coastline we know that well, although we have been here before. But without any real feel, we sense it will be the least busy option. And, at the moment, being around people is not (are not?) what we want.

It is fair to say that we fell in love with the Dent valley. We cycled to its head on Monday, past a couple of viaducts which, apparently, take England’s most scenic railway from Settle to Carlisle. Just the other side of the valley is the famous Ribblehead viaduct which we have visited before and could see from both of our recent mountain ascents. My brakes failed on the way down (metal on metal) and I had to switch pads from front to rear (I have just been into Halfords to get a replacement set), so that was a moment. On Monday we had more of a relaxed day. I ran and then we cycled down the valley one side, and then back up again on the other.

Yesterday the weather broke, but that didn’t stop us trekking up one of the side valleys (10 miles and 420 metres of climb). It was lovely, even with the wind and showers. We stopped for lunch on the path – just sat where we were – and then had to cover ourselves with our picnic blanket to see off a  hailstorm. Thankfully we were able to find a copse to hide under when the thunderstorm came next. We’d seen almost no one on the mountain, except a man and his daughter … thankfully, unlike the Snowdon women, they weren’t in the news today for getting hit by lightning. But it must have been an opportunity.

We’re going to do this coast in detail, we think. And then head home towards mid-August. We have people to see and a wedding to go to. 

our latest view

And we are enjoying the Olympics. I think we’d both like to see more sport on the BBC’s evening round up rather than the family interviews, but I guess many people want that. Of course it’s been fascinating to watch the armchair pundits have a go at Simone Biles for pulling out of her events for ‘mental health issues’; oh, and Piers Morgan having a go at people celebrating getting a bronze and silver, rather than anguishing over not getting the gold.

The Simone Biles thing, which has really rocked the US as I understand it – she is a poster girl of theirs, sums up the culture war which is ding-donging here and in the US (including here: the National Trust and the RNLI among others; in the US: anti-vaxxers in the Republican Southern states causing an upswing in covid numbers). I’ve played  bit of competitive sport and if individuals want to bow out because of the pressure they feel under, even if they’re world class, then they get my vote. We don’t own them and they owe us nothing. For highly technical sports, like gymnastics, where one mistake could cripple you, then absolutely over to the individual.

Of course those pundits here having a go have probably never worn sports gear since compulsory PT at school. As for Piers Morgan … well, he gave in when confronted by his weatherman on GMB, so he’s hardly one to talk about mental resilience. Fool.

Enough. Respect to every athlete in Tokyo – winners and losers. They’ve all managed something which was always way beyond my abilities. 

Stay safe (we’re back in a country where facemasks are compulsory. Hurrah.).