Bog trotting, misty meandering and rush rafting

We can't choose the weather for our festival walks, nor can we choose the weather for the recces.

Today Geoff led a 13 miler (we walked 13.3 by the end) from Garigill to Alston. Here are Tony, Al and Geoff at our coffee stop. They are not sitting down because it was raining.

All day we were in 100% humidity with rain, drizzle and cloud as our companions.  Geoff and I had been in training with last week's walk, when I was christened "Bog Trotter".

You can see big clumps of soft rush in the picture. This loves bog. When you walk over bogs, you need to walk from the base of one clump of rush to the next and never walk between them, unless you want wet feet.

We endured enjoyed the regular Cumbrian stiles on Isaac's tea trail and began to understand why Harry is not keen on the walk!

There was a live electric fence across the path, just beyond a waymark. I photographed this to send to the footpaths' officer.

We kept cheerful and there were some great oneliners. I wish I could remember them, but perhaps you needed to be there.........!

Recces are aimed at sorting out the route, so it was no surprise when Geoff had to check alternatives before finding the correct path.....and Al moaned at the back (76 moans at the last count).

We were wet through when we returned to Alston. Geoff and Al drove to Garigill to pick up Geoff's car. There were plenty of jokes about the time when we did a linear walk and I left my car keys in the wrong car...........discovering this after the first few miles.

Flat out tonight watching the amazing female gymnasts in the Olympics.