A journey of discovery or the wrong destination? We, the slow section of the Serious (Slow) Warts, were accused of incompetence by the fast Serious (Slow) Warts. They had run ahead to Shelf Stones and Shelf Moor to The Pike to appreciate its cave, and, because they are fit young men, they crossed Yellowslacks via the very steep descent and the following steep ascent to the other more civilised cave with a walled entrance, near Dog Rock. Meanwhile, the slow Slow Warts trudged to Shelf Stones and then made it to The Pike, stumbling on hands, elbows and knees on the slippery wet grass.
Subsequently, in the YBI, we had decided that our outing was exploratory, to search for other possible caves. We had been successful in finding a cave big enough to shelter one or
possibly two people. It was also close to the other Pike cave, potentially sufficiently close for them to be mistaken for each other. The satisfaction of finding a different cave in The Pike area was somewhat spoilt by rogues caterwauling across the valley, suggesting that we’d missed The Pike cave. They just did not understand our successful mission and so were not able to appreciate our unbridled satisfaction. Unsurprisingly, there was much discussion at the YBI, unfortunately, with some warts being unnecessarily agitated.
Having been inspired by our successful exploration, some of the slow Slows skipped off like frightened hares (a mountain one was spotted), following Yellow Slacks and on to Wain Stones where the fast Slow Warts had posed proudly for the camera, such vanity. Meanwhile, the slow Slows had also reached Hern Stones but the stragglers (Phil, welcome back, and l) had been left somewhat behind, So, we took a direct line back via the Shelf Stones wreck, with its very colourful Stars and Stripes, Crooked Clough and the Pennine Way.
By this time, we had resorted to head torches, the first this season, so preparing us for next week’s Hunter Wreck race with its multi choice start times. There was plenty of welcoming light at the YBI where the cave location banter continued, it’s rare that any of the Serious (Slow) Warts have such a prolonged discussion. If only the fast Serious (Slow) Warts had been more understanding of our exploratory mission!
The weather had been fantastic, a glorious evening again which is beginning to change our normal run of Wednesday’s bad weather, to good weather on Wednesdays. We should have miserable weather, maybe next week?
Thanks to all.
Graham
