Early June in a dry heatwave, with a moderate easterly wind: surely the midges would be blown and glared off this usual midge trap? No.
I was chosen to start with Kennel wall. Not ideal with a knee replacement with limited bend on one side, and an arthritic knee and now hip on the other. Oh, and we forgot to bring the wires and medium nuts.
There are two recently jammed friends in the uppermost crack which we used. Well although slow, mainly finding adequate protection without full gear, it went well as it’s’ a lovely climb. Offered the lead on Hindleg crack, which my guide from 1979 had written alongside it “led, 8/14, interesting”, but guessed this was not for me. The midges now woke up, the moss had grown since 2014, and we were older. So Ian grunted, cursed, moaned, mostly about “midge nests” and farted up this awkward “traditional” chimney, and I struggled, totally unable to believe I’d led it 9 years before. Neverlethess, a great evening out in what is now a lovely valley, since the river has been unstraightened and the meadows managed more naturally.
A visit to the pub in Bampton Grange was planned. Lots of cars parked outside, lights on but front door locked. Went to the back door, en route spying a large group of young adults in the bar, who thought for an unknown reason it was hilarious when we shouted throught the window ” are you open?” Ah, well, the Greyhound in Shap has returned to being a good, normal, local pub.
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