Alport to Youlgrave via Bradford Dale circular.

Today's weather engendered more enthusiasm in us. 

Not that it was stunning, but rather that it was considerably better than the previous day. The improved weather combined with the revelation that we were not broken after yesterdays mission and that today's walk was to be a gentler affair, we set off with a relative spring in the step. 

The weather was more "Seasonal" with the promise of showers rather than non-stop drizzle, the chance of some sunshine in exchange for occasional rain seemed like a bargain worth accepting with glee. 

Lathkill Dale and Cales Dale from Alport.

Today was a day for walking, no matter what the weathers opinion was.

We had the kit, and was ready.  Rain and cold were promised, and thus we prepared. Over trousers, boots (always) waterproof coats, walking trousers, hat, gloves, fleece, sandwiches,

In the beginning.

The trouble with a busy mind is how to begin.

Not that there is a shortage of material, rather the opposite, that there is far too much. Within the space of a second there is a multitude of beginnings, or the possibility of beginnings there of, but very little in the way of actual beginning.

That is to say, without making the text too much like an extract from Tristram Shandy, with so many diversions you are not sure who you are, let alone where the plot may be, where there are so many probabilities for