Eggs But Not An Over Easy Day

The weather forecast wasn't the best today and we had a long bike ride planned. I thought I could hear the rain but it was in fact snow! Beautiful but not ideal. A quick change of plan.....we would run today and cycle tomorrow. Stupidly, as the weather had been warm all week, I wasn't prepared and only had shorts! A lovely cooked breakfast with freshly baked bread and homemade marmalade helped me stay positive. That was just for starters too! The main is shown above!

The run started with laughter, with us having to traverse a flooded field of very cold water. It was like walking on floating cotton wool! I was frozen within 5 minutes and slightly worried. We cleared the field and ran up the next hill. Then the heavens opened and we were pelted with sleet! Rosemary got me kneeling behind a wall to get my waterproof on, and with a little cajoling, she convinced me to continue. I was nervous as my knee has been iffy for a few weeks and a 13km hill run to Staveley was maybe not what it needed.

Onwards and upwards we headed, pace being a little slower than desirable. My mood changed as we managed to pass some mountain bikers heading to the same place as us, Wilf's Cafe. I was determined to get there before them. We did stop at one point though to take a few pictures, a point at which my hands got cold. As we descended to the village, they got so sore that I was hyperventilating and had to hold back tears of pain. Common sense didn't prevail though as I refused to stop to put on my gloves.

It was a relief to get to Wilf's for lunch and I was a piglette, having rarebit and chilli plus cake! We then went to the nearby bike shop for a browse....Wheelbase is one of the largest bike shops in the uk but I was a bit disappointed that all the bling didn't do it for me. We had planned to catch a train to save 4km but missed it so decided to go back to the B&B by foot. Heavily laden with lunch, we only walked fast, interspersed with brief jogs! There was still miles to go and we had a wedding to get to. I suggested running for "5 minutes, walking for 1". Going wasn't easy, especially on the hills.

Getting closer to the farm, Rosemary whimpered slightly, intimating that she just wanted to walk! Wow.....she's so tough, suggesting that she was knackered. No slacking and we pushed on, arriving back just before 6pm. Circa 25km on foot covered in the hills! After a quick shower and 20 mins chill time, I got my kilt on and we headed out again to the wedding.....a mile's walk away. I was again fascinated how the eyes of the sheep gleamed green like monsters when I shone my head torch on them.

Rosemary's race partner Lucy was the women of the day, welcoming us to a big marquee that was pitched beside a country mansion. I was amazed at how, although looking lovely in a wedding dress, she was acting as if getting married was an every day occurrence! We found the adventure racing table and I chatted with the only other kilt wearing man Bruce, who races and works for Haglofs! The inevitable occurred with music from the band starting! Rosemary loves to dance and I was soon dragged up for countless reels, pipes and general dancing carnage! It was more of a barn dance than a ceilidh with the Sassenachs being less wild that would be expected North of the border.

It's a small world. I met Nick, a chap from Glossop who I've coached with who just happened to be friends with Lucy's family! I was glad when we reached the final dance, which to my surprise wasn't Auld Lang Syne! Rosemary managed a 10 minute chat about racing with the bride before we departed. The walk uphill to the B&B was a complete slog. I was exhausted and think I was asleep before the head hit the pillow.