Notes to Self:-

1) do not book onto any walks longer than about 12 miles because after that point you don't really enjoy it, your body starts hurting all over and you stumble along blindly.

2) do not book onto any walks that follow Edges because walking along the top of an Edge isn't nearly as interesting as walking along the bottom.

Todays walk was 16.5 miles, although it turned out to be a mile longer, and it covered eight Edges - Stanage, Burbage Lower, Burbage Upper, Froggatt, Curbar, Baslow, Gardoms and Birchen. 

It was a linear walk and we caught the bus from Baslow village to Moscar Lodge and walked back. I made the classic mistake of starting too fast - there are some super strong walkers in my Ramblers! There were three relatively new members who were at the back from the off, taking loads of photographs and making no effort to catch up afterwards. It was exactly the same last weekend and the rest of us waited for the three to catch up four or five times, getting cold while we waited. Today's and last week's were both billed as "Strenuous", todays was also down as a "Challenge" walk, so why did they book themselves on? 

Today, because the bus was a bit late, we didn't start actually walking until almost 11am and with the mileage there wasn't much leeway for stopping, although we had a good coffee stop and lunch was at the Longshaw Estate cafe, where I had a very welcome pot of tea. But the point is that, if you want to take photos you have to catch up, not expect the majority of the group to wait for you.

Nigel, our leader, came to an agreement with the three, he'd text them where we were re-grouping etc and then it was up to them. Luckily they knew where they were going, but I hate to think what time they finished the walk... unless they cut it short.

I'd given two friends a lift to Baslow so I didn't get home until after 7.30pm. I drank a pint of milk, put some washing on, did the stretching, cooked my tea but didn't really enjoy it, slumped for half an hour and went to bed. How on earth am I going to manage climbing on Sunday?

17.61 miles
1,598 ft elevation gain 
6 hrs 12 mins moving time