GNT Day 1 - Derby to Hollingworth - 12/08/21

Derby is some 16 miles south-east of the start of the Peak District section of the trail in Middleton Top, so, after a leisurely bit of shopping in Derby (Emma forgot a charging lead) we took the road to the start. A decent climb up on the road to the top of the moors, and we were on a perfect, flat gravel trail all the way to Parsley Hay, where we stopped for coffee and snack and to admire the views.

It then all got a bit harder and the first signs that the phony war was over came as we struggled up from the Wye valley on an almost unrideable, steep and rocky path. Pretty much from then on, it was absolutely brutal, with climbs and descents equally difficult. Possible for an experienced and unencumbered mountain biker, but for fully laden gravlistas, albeit ones made of steel, this was hard, hard work, with a fair bit of pushing. 

The weather was kind, the scenery spectacular and the company the best you could ask for. I was encouraged that Emma and Kate seemed to love my stories, so I made a mental note to keep them coming. We were aiming to wild camp having gone over the M62 where it crosses the Pennines over Saddleworth Moor, but it wasn't until almost 8.00pm we eventually found our camp for the night. 11 hours in the saddle, we were all a little shell-shocked. We knew this was ambitious, but this was just suicidal. 

However, we sparked up the jetboil and fashioned a dinner from some pre-cooked rice stuff and tins of tuna, with a pile of chocolate, and all was well with the world. We even saw an owl hunting as the stars appeared and took an early night to the comforting background hum of the motorway and a bit of bleating from the occasional sheep.

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