A windy day on Derwent edge....13/01/2019

Another day, another walk...we used to visit the Peak District every other week, we did this for years and years but just recently [the last year or so] it seems difficult to find the time to go there. When we do manage to get there these days its a real treat. Not having to work this weekend, so I jumped at the chance..I Let Karen choose the walk for todays visit..She said she fancied Derwent edge..Yep im up for that, you cant go far wrong with Derwent edge...The weather looked quite promising as we left Donny but by the time we reached Ashopton it was grey and drizzly..we sat in the car for 15 minutes willing it to stop..it didn't..Waterproofs and boots were donned in the car..still raining...it was that sort of rain that soaks you to the skin in minutes...Sod it, lets just go for it. I tucked my camera away into my rucksack, I don't think I will be using it much today...The thought of not being able to take photographs pissed me right off..i felt quite grumpy...We set off to pick up the path that starts at the southern end of the edge..we eventually made it up to Whinstone lee tor. I have always regarded the view from here as one of the very best in the district...not today though...could see chuff all...we were really being battered by the rain now and the wind was so strong we were stumbling around...out of the murk the Wheel stones suddenly appeared we nipped behind them for some welcome shelter..A gulp of water and a humbug raised the spirits slightly [im easily pleased]

We thought it had been windy..we had seen nothing yet..We left the rocks and the wind seemed to up it a notch. By the time we had reached Dovestones tor it was getting a bit scary, I had never heard wind roar like this before...I got blown off the path onto my knees, this was getting serious. I eventually managed to stand, only to be blown over again...I literally crawled to a large rock the size of a car and sat down...I looked across to Karen and Alfie...He had a stupid look on his face...She was bent double unable to move..The rock I was sitting on [ that was the size of a car] was rocking in the wind, I couldn't believe it...I have never witnessed anything like this before...Time to shorten the walk. We had planned on going over Back tor and Lost lad but in this wind we just wanted to get down off this hill so we slipped down off the edge path at Bradfield gate...We could have chosen a nice low walk, but no we ended up up here braving the elements...Sitting at home now though writing this...I realised that I kind of liked it..it made me feel alive...This is what we need in our lives....Real adventure.

We left the edge path, turning west ,we were now walking head first into the weather..but as we dropped down amazingly the wind did start to ease..amazingly the rain slowed then stopped...result, get the camera out...at last I could begin to enjoy things

The clouds slowly lifted and there was even a bit of blue here and there..This is what it is all about.

We even saw several other walkers now...and we thought we were the only silly buggers to be out on a day like this..We are not crackpots..we are part of the most popular pastime in the country, there will be thousands upon thousands of other people out walking today..a simple pleasure...I couldn't live without it..we picked up the lane along Pike lowe...the views are superb along here as we dropped back down to Ladybower.

Down on the track by the reservoir..almost over..keep going..lots of folk around now, families out for a short walk on a sunday afternoon with clean dogs and clean shoes ...we looked wet and bedraggled..we got some funny looks.."Mummy look at that dirty dog"...oh yes son he needs a bath.It looks Horrible.....I felt like pushing the little brat in a muddy puddle..of course he is muddy..because he is a proper dog..

Back at the car....time for some scran.