The second of my ‘walks for the wobbly’ brought some cracking views – but my camera, with a mind of its own, had a severe case of the blues.
This week we ventured south to the Westmorland Dales, which although mostly in Cumbria now count as Yorkshire Dales. Guided by the Yorkshire Dales Orton Walk leaflet, we did:
“A delightful half day walk that provides an excellent introduction to the Westmorland Dales area, starting in the unspoilt village of Orton and taking in the beacon monument on Orton Scar, Great Asby Common and Gamelands stone circle.”
Stats
Distance: 4.43 miles Time: 2 hours 34 minutes Climb: 552 ft
Terrain: lot of nice grassy path
Obstacles: 11 gates, 1 cattle grid, 6.5 stiles
Directions: excellent, with additional historical detail
Weather: Brrrrr! 3°C. Chilly wind, not one for standing around in. Sunny going up, but some baby hailstones on the final stretch.
Birds: skylark, pied wagtail, curlew, rook
Kit tweaks
Reporting walk #1, I said I wouldn’t be describing the scenery in great detail. My mission is to list the little tweaks to kit and instructions that will make walks more enjoyable for my companion(s).
Things improved from last time:
- Fingerless gloves
- Map case (though it helps put the map in the right way up, i.e. upside down)
- Poles I didn’t have to remove to take pictures
- Different backpack with better access to lip balm, meds, and Softmints.
Things still to tweak:
- Put on lip balm while hands and face are still warm. It’s solid when cold.
- Elastic-waisted trousers are all very well but since what goes up easily must come down, they can leave a nasty chilly gap between top and (not-quite-builder’s) bottom. Needs more thought.
- Stick a patch on the down jacket. In the last stile half stile (no climb up but a few steps down) there was a tight squeeze and the wall fought back.
- The bloomin’ camera insisted on introducing me to some of its more advanced features. It’s usually happy just trotting along in Intelligent Auto and the occasional panorama. But this time out I got some funny post-focus stuff with blue splurges on it, and some 4k video. I know 4k is good when you are snapping birds and want to pick out your best shot. Stone circles and limestone pavement aren’t going anywhere fast. I couldn’t put this right on the hoof without the manual, and without both of us getting very cold.
Tips for walking companions
- No surprises, please. Before you say ‘Oh look, there’s a [whatever it is!], please look and see what my feet are doing. If I am the slightest bit off balance, I will look up at the [whatever it is!] and may fall on my face. I don’t mind if it has flown or blown away by the time I am steady enough to look. Please enjoy it for yourself.
- Let me try. The stone stiles are tricky and the steps high. I like to assess them visually and decide which foot I am going to put on which step. While I’m doing this, I can’t process any spoken instructions or corrections or, worst of all, either-or options! I know you are trying to be helpful, and I’m grateful, but speaking to me will not make me move any faster. When I look up, that’s the time to speak. Don’t you dare say “you should have gone that way!”
- Camera buffs, please don’t feel you have to pray for my soul. I’m blissfully happy in my little world of point-and-shoot. The fewer bells and whistles I see in my viewfinder, the better. Unless, of course, I am taking a picture of bells and whistles.
*Sorry, no carmine bee-eaters in Cumbria. Yet.
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