DAY FIFTEEN

DAY FIFTEEN

Packing was proving difficult this morning. How were we going to fit it all in? Somehow we managed to pack everything in and strap the tent onto the bottom of Ash's bag. We went down for breakfast early as Ash wanted to get a little snooze in before we left. As a result of our or troubles packing however, he never did get they snooze as we had to leave by ten.

The bags were heavy and the hill out of Bryness was long, steep, fill of flies and very very hot! We were walking at an almost snail like pace as we struggled to keep our balance for the climb. Eventually the forest cleared and a welcome breeze greeted us at the top. We stopped to admire the view and see where we had walked from. I pretended to admire the view for a much longer time than necessary just to cool down.

Lots of ups and downs lay ahead of us as we strode out the two final days onto the Cheviots. No sooner had we achieved one sumer before we were heading down for another. This really was going to be a tough end to the journey. We soon lost count if the ups and downs. Byrness Hill, Houx Hill, Lamb Hill, Beefstand Hill, Windy Gyle etc...

The walk up all of these, and especially up to Windy Gyle, was indeed very windy. It was hard to keep upright in places, with our big bags on, as we got blown sideways along the paths. As we reached the summit we sheltered as we watched blue skys turning darker.
  
By the time we reached Clennel Street it was time to find somewhere to camp for the night. It was also time for god to decide it was high time for some rain. Virtually no rain all week and then the heavens open and it buckets it down. The one time we really didn't need it too! We trapsed about now soaked through looking for a good place to camp. In the end we settled for a less than great spot, but by now it was a matter of getting some shelter and getting away from the rain, flies and increasing midge population. The tent went up in record time and Ash dived in closing the door quickly to prevent too many insects getting in. I stood outside and passed items through a small opening in the door before making a quick leaping entrance crying "shut the door, shut the door" as I got in. 

Inside the tent it was really hot. There was almost no ventelation and we had gassed ourselfs with insect repellent. We could do little but hide in the tent all night. There was no way we were going outside to cook. Fortunatelly we had a massive picnic prepared for us by Kate so we didn't starve.

It sounded like it was raining outside all night as we slept. We realised that it was infact millions of midges hopping on and off the tent all the time. Never have I seen so many before. It would have been relaxing if not for feeling incredibley itchy, hot and generally uncomfortable. However soon tiredness got the better of me and I finally fell asleep to the sounds of the forest, the owls and the stillness.