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THE BIG DAY.
I met my two friends Steve and Melvin at our start point at Aireville school in Skipton. 493 people started the event and 109 actually retired (a high number as these people are not quitters). It was the extremely strong winds that caused most of the problems, the clouds of dust whipping your face and the dry, hard ground cracked, even on pasture land, resulting in the inevitable blisters.
We followed the Airedale canal to Gargrave, the Pennine Way up to Kirkby Malham, a pretty village, where we had a few bites to eat at the village hall checkpoint -- 11 miles done. Next up was a long steep climb over to Settle where the dust on tracks was unpleasant from the people in front of you, and at one place a tractor and trailer. The howling of the wind was like in winter at times and must have been in the region of 40 mph. I saw one man blown off his feet on the hills above Settle -- 18 miles.
We were hoping to walk at an average of 3 miles an hour, including our short breaks at checkpoints. We were all going well, enjoying the walk, but battling the wind that was behind or across us and at times you had to lean into it, unable to walk in a normal upright position. In Settle we had a few photos taken by Dave Montgomery my website designer from Walsden.
Heading west to Clapham and onto Ingleton I was aware something was not right with my feet. I have never had a blister on either of my 50 mile walks, or had foot trouble, certainly not on walks under 25 miles, and we had only done 19 miles. We arrived in Clapham -- 25 miles, Dave took a video of me walking along which is now on YouTube, which astounded my boys!!
There was a strong wind behind us to Ingleton and when we left there we not only had nearly 2000ft of ascent to the summit of Ingleborough over the next 4 miles but the longest climb of the entire walk and it was going to be directly into that oppressive wind. To say it was tough is an understatement, everyone agreed it was the hardest part of the walk. A lot of people with contact lenses had to retire from the dust and even grit. the Marshals at the checkpoint on the summit of Ingleborough - 2373ft were wearing protective glasses. It was gale force up there and we departed quickly and perversely, we now had a 1600ft descent to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
In the last few sections I met a young man -- Michael, who was originally from Burnley. I suggested as he was on his own he could team up with the 3 of us for the forthcoming night section. Steve and I had agreed in pre walk chats we wanted to be at Horton, the 38 mile point, before dark if possible. We made that target and left at 11pm after some pasta, crumble, hot tea, and essential foot repairs. A lot of people were retiring at this point and I was at a low ebb myself, but then I met a lady Val with such a wonderful helpful and encouraging manner, she was helping serve food but was an experienced walker at hundred events, she was to become my guardian angel over the rest of the event.
Into the dark of night we set off armed with our torches. We now had 1533ft of uphill on a rough stony track, we were back on the Pennine way heading north to Kidhow Gate and then onto Hawes, in total 14 miles but it took us almost 6 hours in the unrelenting wind.
Steve was not too well on this section and told me later he could easily have quit. I glimpsed the moon a few times, it seemed a dirty white in colour. We soldiered on for what seemed an age. You could see the torches of other walkers ahead of you and in the distance behind. What we really wanted to see was the red flashing lights of the tented checkpoint at Kidhow Gate. We eventually arrived and Steve had some hot soup, I managed a hot tea, some sandwiches and oat meal biscuits. The tent was about 5 metres square with tables and 4 chairs. It was full. I laid under a table as the wind kept howling. We stayed for about 20 minutes. I had chilled down and for the next few hundred yards my teeth were chattering but as we headed to Hawes I slowly warmed up. At last we had some descent. I could see the street lights in Hawes and slowly dawn arrived as we had some pasture land to walk on. It wasn’t far for our breakfast stop and the knowledge we had now done 52 miles.
Here we also had our own spare bag of kit which was sent from the start. I changed into my trainers and only managed scrambled egg for breakfast and tea. Some one passed out here which was not pleasant to witness although he was OK 20 minutes later.
We pushed on heading east to Bainbridge, 5 miles through pleasant farmland. I was walking with Michael and Steve and Melvin was slightly ahead. A gap was developing and it was me slowing down. I caught them by Yoredale Bridge and significantly, we were now heading south as we climbed up to Semerwater and Stalling Busk. I was struggling with my blistered feet and at the checkpoint at Stalling Busk -- 61 miles, I told Steve and Melvin to push on and leave me to plod on at my own pace. This had always been our agreement if anyone was injured.
Michael and I had a bite to eat and left for the 7 miles to Buckden, which had always been a mental marker for me as it would mean 2/3 distance completed --- only 32 miles to go! We now had some pleasant sunshine but still that swinish wind and the dust. Michael walked with another guy for a while and a gap developed so I told him to go on, and that I would see him later at Kettlewell, which I did.
Now on my own, it was over to Buckden. Meandering along, I had time to admire that glorious Dales scenery. It was a nice section and I was also trying to arrange a rendezvous with my family and Dave for a few more photos for the website. There was no mobile phone signal for miles, and then when we we able to talk and I could feel my spirits lifting, it gave me a much needed boost.
At Buckden -- 68 miles I came across Val, the lady who had been so kind to me at Horton the night before. She encouraged me and told me I had loads of time even at a measly 2 miles per hour. I had worked all that out myself but it was reassuring coming from her and her experiences of these 100 mile walks. I had been having pain in my right knee for a long while and Val suggested a type of numbing spray. My walking trousers have detachable legs to convert into shorts, a simple zip releases them. I told Val the zip would not work but that was because I was pulling it in the wrong direction! Processing simple information was becoming a little more difficult.
In another 2 miles on the way to Kettlewell I met up with my wife June and my two boys, it was good to see them. Greg carried my rucksack and Matt opened the gates we all chatted in the sunshine and for the first time there was a gentle breeze. We saw Michael at Kettlewell -- 73 miles, and I said goodbye to June and the boys.
I now had 7 miles to Linton the longest stretch between checkpoints in the final 27 miles. I had 1700 yards on the road and no stiles to climb over, it was bliss as the knee and both blistered feet were painful on stiles. I was overtaken by 3 people but all I did was follow them and had a mental rest from reading the route description. I knew where I was heading for, and really enjoyed up by Conistone Pie on the Dales Way and looking over at Kilnsey Cragg and the river Wharfe bathed in sunshine.
Finally I reached Linton -- 80 miles, where a car pulled up and out jumped Dave for some more photos. I had not seen him since Clapham on Saturday at 5pm and yet 26 hours later he is still smiling and telling me I have only 20 miles to go. That is true but I have already done 80 miles, we had a laugh!
On leaving Linton I knew I would be walking a sizable distance in the dark to finish the event and really for safety would be better walking with other people. My next target was Appletreewick, which is almost 5 miles away, and I wanted to be there before dusk at 9.30pm.
It was a beautiful evening by the river, ambling along, trout were leaping out of the water as I eventually came to Burnsall, surely the jewel in the crown of the whole Dales. It was bathed in evening sunshine and as I crossed the bridge I was aware of being filmed. I gave a quick interview and headed on to the tented checkpoint at Appletreewick -- 85miles.
Sat in the tent, I was trying to find something I would like to eat. I contemplated the final 15 miles and knew I needed to be walking with someone else. I had been warned that in extreme circumstances one can hallucinate. My knee pain had extended down my leg and I had just got used to the blistered feet problem! I was not very high in spirit. Imagine then, in this state, I look at the tent entrance to think I`ve flipped, I`m seeing things, my wife June was stood there!!! I have been told my greeting to her was “June, what are you doing here?”
She had gone home from Kettlewell earlier and been concerned about the night sections ahead of me and returned with my sister Nancie with a plan that one of them would walk with me.
Into the tent came another couple, Tony and Angela. I asked them what pace they were walking and thought that I could manage that. With hindsight I should have rested more and gone later. June had left to tell Nancie I was walking on and to see them at Bolton Bridge, the next checkpoint 6 miles away.
As I got up out of my chair my I lost my balance, it was my knee and it felt awful. I thought I`ll walk a bit but then a dreadful thought! I might have to quit with only 15 miles to go! I steadied myself and followed Tony and Angela into the dark. I felt OK for probably a couple of miles but then energy depletion set in. I told the couple to go on and I would stroll along at my own pace. I only had to follow the river to Bolton Abbey.
I was reading the route description by torchlight and it just seemed a little vague at points. In the dark of night, I found the track I needed but misread the yardage so as I walked it seemed to take forever to reach the Cavendish Pavilion. I phoned Nancie to give her an update on my position.
The sign pointed to The Valley of Desolation -- I laughed to myself. How apt, I felt I had already been there!
I had difficulties on the next section. I passed a bench on a path as stated in the route description, then the path steeply climbed up and away from the river, so far that I could not hear it. I had doubts, had I missed another path? I retraced my steps to the bench, 300+ yards for a definite fix on my position. I was on the correct path, had to walk back 300 yards and saw no other paths, so I continued. At this point my torch batteries ran out, I had another torch and continued, eventually coming out at Bolton Abbey which I could make out in the darkness. Here I could not process any more information the way I was feeling. I phoned Nancie at the next Checkpoint to ask for directions from the checkpoint staff. I knew I was close. The guy wandered out to meet me, I saw his torch and we walked in together where I found out Tony and Angela, an experienced couple and they had got lost for nearly an hour on this section and had only just left the checkpoint.
I was relieved to see June and Nancie and to be with other people, I lay down to rest till another group of walkers came in. I managed a hot tea but not much food. I only had 9.5 miles to go. Val, my guardian ange,l fixed me up with the next group and told me she would see me at the finish. I told June and Nancie to go home whilst I was immensely grateful for their support, it had weighed on my mind they would be worrying about me on my own in the dark.
Under 3 miles to Addingham. It’s not far, but so many huge stiles to climb over in the dark when weary. Eventually we walked up the deserted streets to the checkpoint. A lady in our group of eight walkers asked where I was from, it turns out she was originally from Mytholmroyd.
Only 6.2 miles to go and I had walked the upcoming section previously. It was 3 miles uphill to the penultimate checkpoint at Draughton Moor. The sun came up and I could see Embsay Cragg, the reservoir in the distance and below, the outskirts of Skipton and journeys end. I paused for a while to rest and contemplate, the others walked on, I had no feelings of euphoria but knew now for the first time I was going to complete this challenge. I felt proud, with everything I had been through.
I could see the group ahead were waiting, but not for me. I walked on to arrive at a field gate by the main track where a lady called Deidre had fallen and was suspended by her right foot in the sheep netting on the gate. I managed to release her foot, she was OK and walked on.
It was now the final mile. As I walked on the empty, quiet streets of Skipton, I was in the “zone”! I had a nice steady rhythm and I am sure I almost fell asleep while walking. I turned to walk by the canal for a few hundred yards and reached the swing bridge no 176 over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, turned into Aireville Park and up the hill to the school and the finish.
I then spotted someone waving. It was Val! She ran down the hill and we walked up to the school together, it seemed an eternity since we had first met at Horton at 10:30 on Saturday night and now it was 7 am on Monday morning. I walked into the school hall and a large round of applause broke out from people who had finished earlier. This is a tradition, as everyone present knows what it takes to complete 100 miles in 48 hours. My time was 46 hours and two minutes, I didn`t give a toss, I had got round.
I had some scrambled egg on toast and a coffee, climbed into my sleeping bag in the school gymnasium for a well deserved 2 hours sleep.
Finally I’d just like to say that I did this walk of my own choice, but also as a fund raiser for Cancer Research UK. If you would like to make a donation please click on the “Donate Now” button at the top of this page or you can make out a cheque made payable to Cancer Research UK and sent to my home address;
John Shackleton
Rose cottage,
Higher Eastwood,
Todmorden,
Lancs.
OL14 8RU.
Thank you.
John
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