Attempted to run The Dales Way (in reverse - Bowness to Ilkley) last Saturday & Sunday with a mate. We weren't quite in your state Mark, but we were hanging on by the time we reached The Station Pub at Ribblehead, 45 miles in. We had torrential rain for the last 15 miles. We were both shivering by the time we had our showers. But, we made all the right choices too. We delayed our start to pop in to a walking shop & buy a couple of Merino base layers. We stopped at Dent for a sandwich & a drink instead of pressing on for the last 10 miles. We looked at Sundays forecast (not good) & decided to postpone our 2nd leg for a later date. My philosophy is, I would always rather be too warm than too cold on the fells. And as my mother always says "you can always take a layer off". Every situation is different though & it's so important to stop for a moment, weigh up your options & make the right decision.


Quote Originally Posted by Mark Smith View Post
IDP, your article may have saved my bacon today, thank you.

I attempted the Fred Whitton ad set off from Coniston at 5:45. At 6 the rain started but it was light and so I thought the wind/shower proof jersey would've sufficient. By the time i got to troutbeck it poured then briefly stopped so I left off the rain coat as I felt good. As I climbed it rained and blew very hard and I descended right into the teeth of it into pattedale. I didn't want to stop on that descent and didn't feel cold. The wind and rain scared me to death on that decent so I stopped and put the coat on and pushed on the Keswick. I stuffed some jelly babies down and a gel and climbed matterdale end feeling ok and pushed on to Keswick where i pulled into a cafe and got a coffee and bacon sarnie. I couldn't face the food so downed the coffee and sat by the heater.

Suddenly I started shivering like mad. I felt pissed off and decided to bin the ride. I had no dry clothes so bought a cheap fleece in the shop next door and put it on and replaced the wet top stuff. The shop assistant asked if I was ok and then it hit me. Wet, cold, coffee, heater, denial and anger. I looked in the mirror and almost passed out. I ate four gels and half a pack of JBs and thought id sorted it.

bike and I got the bus to Ambleside and I started nodding off on the bus. The old dear opposite asked if I was ok and commented that my legs were soaked. I hadn't bought cheap trousers or a towel. I fought to stay awake and sneakily put my feet on the seat and could not stop shivering but I knew i was in trouble.

I had to get another bus to Coniston, a smaller one upon which they won't allow a bike. I went into a solicitors office by the bus station and asked if they could stash my bike until I drove back from Coniston in my waiting car. They asked if I was ok! I ignored them and got the bus and almost passed out. I hung on to Coniston and got into the car. Stripped off, towelled down, heater on but not too hot, more gels and the headache started and the sickness. I was almost sick but fought it off.

I drove to Ambleside, got the bike and drove home tomwrexham with a splitting headache and tiredness. I sipped energy drink all the way and got REALLY angry whenever there was a queue.

Home now and had a doze on the sofa. Drank some diarolyte and ate some chocolate.

In Keswick, in that shop, I remembered the article. Not all of it, but enough. The word I remembered was INSIDIOUS and it was. I thank goodness that I'm fit and able to fight off dozing on that bus...