Bleugh!

This was a trip like no other. Mike and I had agreed upon a few days camping at Duncan Syke above Dentdale. The idea was for a few days of gentle pottering and not really doing much. Being a fixed camp, extra goodies where being packed in, plus more tea, coffee and drinking chocolate. The one slight problem I faced was that as yet I could not get boots on. My Inov8's where hardly winter footwear but they would suffice.
On the Thursday Mike met me off the train at Kirkby Stephen. The previous weekend I had been slightly ill. A   wee bit of flu but by mid week I felt fine. There was a sense of eager anticipation. After around three months of confinement due to surgery and such, I was keen to be out and on the hill. A couple cups of tea and a bit to eat in Kirkby and we headed off to Ribblehead.
Time was getting on as we headed up and we decided to camp before the light went totally. To be honest I was rather pleased that I had managed to haul a heavy pack up the hill without too much difficulty.
Late that night I woke feeling nauseous. Worse still my stomach was churning. Anyone who has winter camped knows of the need to snuggle down deep in the sleeping bag when conditions are freezing and everything is icy. Trying to get out of the sleeping bag and then the tent in the dark was a nightmare. Throughout the night I had constant and violent diarrhea. Not willing to risk getting back in the sleeping bag, it was draped around me, quilt like. By morning I was cold, shivering and generally feeling grim. For breakfast I tried a weak cup of tea and a dry bread roll. Possibly that worsened the situation.  Also I took two Imodeam which had been in the first aid kit. It was a slow plod over to our intended camp spot and unfortunately I was caught short yet again. If anything the situation worsened through Friday. By then I was constantly passing fluids. Another weak cup of tea early afternoon did nothing to help.
By Saturday morning it was obvious I could not survive another night. By now I was badly dehydrated, weakened and not willing to risk taking anything more jn the way of food and drink..Mike in the meantime had picked up a weather forecast indicating bad weather on the Sunday. Thus by mutual agreement it was time to bail out. It was not until I started to pack up that I realised how far gone I was gone.  There was difficulty coordinating anything, I felt faint faint and unable to focus. Struggling to put the rucksack on I promptly keeled over. The first of a few falls. Mike valiantly took my sack for the first mile or so. Clearly I can remember him saying something about the retreat form Moscow! He also coaxed and cajoled me as I struggled along. Things where very close to needing to call the rescue team. A couple of tablets from a woman heading up, certainly helped stabilize things a bit. Mike saw me safely deposited at the hostel in Kirkby and head home over the A66. A few hellish days.

One shoe, one sandal

The last few months have been a trying time. Early December saw me having a second foot operation.. At the end of December I  returned to hospital to have dressings and so forth removed. In the process, by accident the nurse tugged on the stitches. It hurt, very much so. What was strange was that the nurse totallywrapped my foot in a new dressing. Normally when a dressing is removed only small dressing is required. Odd! my whole foot ended up swathed in a full dressing. Being a tad flummoxed, I later rang the foot clinic. The nurse was adamant, the dressing had to remain on until my next appointment and that was a month away. Bathing with one leg hanging out of the bath is not an easy procedure  Feeling the need for some gentle exercise, the crutches where soon discarded for a trekking pole. The support platform shoe l had been given was swapped for a sandal, Thus of late I have been trundling around with one shoe, one sandal. Today I had to go out despite heavy snowfall. Improvisation was needed, the dressing was covered with a plastic bag and strapped around the ankle with gaffa tape. The foot got cold but remained dry.
 A sure sign of cabin fever is when I found myself sitting gently fondling my rucksack! Plans are afoot though. Come February a few days away are planned. There are also further plans in the offing too. So, A slow but steady return to the hills.

All quiet

Well, a second operation on the feet has been done. More painful this time but that has now eased. Over the next week or so there will be little walking. However, my eyes are fixed on May and the TGO. Possibly early February there will be a couple of nights camping. There is a tent being reconfigured and I want some time for a wee faff. Gentle walking but a breath of fresh air. My aim will be to start building up mileage slowly through February onwards.

Hurpling in the Lakes

Mike and I had originally planned on a Cheviots camping trip. However, the recent foot operation had scuppered that. Being laid up and somewhat confined to the flat was not doing me a great deal of good. With another operation looming ahead I was becoming desperate for a wee break. Deciding on something very different from the norm.I finally opted for a camping barn in the lakes. Mike was persuaded to come along. To save on train fares I traveled up to Durham which was some fifty pounds cheaper than catching a direct train. Mike collected me from the station and we drove over to Buttermere. Cragg camping barn offers basic facilities. One thing we rapidly discovered was how cold the place was.

 Thursday started off as a rather grey morning. Not cold though, quite mild. It was good to get out and do some walking though. We headed across Scales to the waterfall. From there we contoured around and over to Mosedale. No difficult walking following the track that runs down the valley..Our walk led us over to Crummock Water and the higher path that follows the lake back to Buttermere. A shortish walk of some nine miles or so. By the time we got back my foot was playing up, just sore though.

 Friday was a trip down to the coast and a daunder along the beach and  dunes. A chilly wind kept temperatures down a a bit with  grey, sullen waves lapping the shoreline.

Saturday saw us having a stroll around the lake at Buttermere. After a cup of coffee we nipped off so that Mike could collect a wee top that was on his list. In the meantime I went for a stroll up a bumpy lane. A few sleety showers on the way back. Sunday saw a dusting of snow on the higher tops. However, we where heading out. Many thanks to Mike, who, I am sure prefers real tents to cold, drafty stone ones!

Cabin fever

Little is happening with me at the moment. Cabin fever is setting in. Much time has been spent pouring over maps. Unfortunately when I had the foot op. The surgeon decided one foot needed a lot more work than the other. Thus currently, only one foot has been chopped and lopped. That now is healing fine. My next appointment with the surgeon is in November. Hopefully he will get the other foot done soonest?
A random selection of photos from the archives.

An added note. Currently I have two winter sleeping bags. One is a top of the range Golite, down, used only twice. It is up for sale.

Interlude part two

Surgery went through on Thursday. Oh the indignities of hospital gowns and bedpans! However, the surgeon has now decided my right foot need far more extensive surgery than first realised. Living on my own and having Parkinson's has meant he has refused to do both feet at once. My right foot is going to be a lot more painful than my left. It seems December is the earliest he may consider operating. To say that I am gutted would be putting it mildly.  At present I am confined to the flat for the next couple of weeks and am hobbling around on crutches. Thank you to everyone for their kind messages.

Interlude

For some time I have had foot problems. The bones around my big toes have fused and there are bits of bone protruding out of the side of my feet. Last week on the Wednesday I saw the surgeon. Two options where on offer, ignore the problem, put up with the pain and allow the situation to deteriorate further. The alternative was surgery, which I agreed to. On the Friday of the same week a phone call from the hospital admission and I am going under the knife this Thursday. Bone is going to be cut from both feet. This something I am not looking forward to. Mind, I am not done yet.