"The last mile is the hardest mile" sang Morrissey. Well Stephen, I hate to disagree but I have always found the third quarter of any run, race or endurance event to be the hardest.
Today was no exception, with the hot still weather, tired muscles, navigation errors and just relentless hills making it feel like bloody hard work with little progress across the map to show for it.
It started nicely, with the soft rolling hills of Brontë Country leading past fancy country estates. The official route takes a massive detour to avoid the suburb of Colne, but I decided on the direct route, not spotting the 1300' Weets Hill in the way, nor the equally vicious climb back up to the moors on the other side.
The Pennine Bridleway leads out over the uplands with its many reservoirs hinting at the cities nearby. But the surfaces are not great and the hills keep on coming. At least the familiar gritstone landscape of the Peak District is beginning to appear.
At Widdop reservoir I have had enough and drop down into the bustling Hebden Bridge.
From here, thankfully, there is a canal towpath route past Todmorden and Littleborough. It's a beautiful setting and a joy to get some easy miles done.
The Rochester canal rises through 36 well-spaced locks to a summit pound at 600' above sea level - the UK's highest - before slowly descending again.
Another mile stone passed:
I had thought a discrete camping spot might be found near Hollingworth Lake, but it is rammed with people drinking and sunbathing.
So I head back into the moors again, and find a reasonably well hidden spot with a nice view over looking Piethorne Reservoir.
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