Swamp hike: day 4

This last full day of our hike was forecast to be wet! And we wondered what to do with that knowledge. We decided to walk to Curbar and get a coffee. All waterproofs were out! The first cafe wouldn’t open until 12, but the other one opened just when we arrived. And in there, we decided to just follow the Derwent back to Bamford. Then we could take the train to Edale, and stay at the same campsite. And have dinner in the Old Nag’s Head. 

Standing on the edge

Coming down in the rain

When we put the plan to practice the weather promptly improved. And the walk was very civilised! But not too much so. And we had lunch by the river. And got to Bamford (meeting an emu called Karen along the way, as it so happened) on time for the others to take a convenient train. I decided it made sense for me to fetch my car. The weather deteriorated while I walked up. I was glad to get in! Also by then I was properly exhausted from the lugging that heavy bag around at all times. I was glad to sit down.

Walking along the Derwent

Pretty copse

It was rubbish weather when I made my way to Edale. I drove past the railway station; maybe I could do bag transport. I had no signal though, and it looked like their train had already arrived. So I went to the campsite. The others were already there! I found the tents, and Erik in one of them. The others were enthusiastically inhabiting the shower block.

I pitched my tent too, on the rather muddy field, and had a shower (lovely!). And I discovered a tick. It was high up on my right arm, so a bugger to get out for me. Everybody else tried, with three different tick removers. In the end it worked! Then we could go and have dinner, but it turned out the Old Nag’s Head was closed! But there was another pub in the actually quite tiny village, so that would have to do. 

Our last camping spot

We were quite early, so we first had a pint. And then we had food. And a nice opportunity to reflect on the past four days! They had been good. And we were snug inside while it was raining outside. 

After all the food and beer (I had two pints!) we went back. It wasn’t raining very hard, actually. And then we went to sleep in our tents for the last time!