A reasonably good night but a cold one. I was just about warm enough although I could have put on more clothes. Up early at 6:15pm. Cloudy but sun trying to break through. Washed, shaved, breakfasted, cleared up and was about to move off at 8:45am when a woman (late twenties?) came along the path. We greeted each other and it transpired she was 'going all the way'. I followed her at a distance of about ¼ mile. I soon reached the M62, the hum of which I had been able to hear all night although it was the other side of a hill. A footbridge straddled high above the motorway and I felt most unsafe when I started to cross. It dipped down towards the middle as if it was sagging! I was determined to take a photo of all those cars and lorries from the centre of the bridge. I stood with shaky legs and pulled out the camera and switched it on. The batteries were flat!! I now had the task of changing them whilst poised trembling high above the M62.

Once I reached the other side, I came across the woman sitting having a rest. I stopped and chatted. She informed me that she was hoping to do the whole route in eight days, started yesterday and needed to average 32 miles/day. Either fantastically fit or stupendously stupid! I moved on and only after 20 minutes or so did I see her following. It was now about 10am and light rain started falling. It was clear that the weather was closing in. I stopped and put on waterproofs.

I last saw the woman behind me just after I crossed the A58. She had caught up a little - not surprising since I had stopped to try and help two lambs get out of a culvert. (without success - they eventually managed on their own.)

It was 11:00am and the rain was fairly heavy. When I saw some slightly overhanging rocks by a disused quarry, I sheltered under them for a drink, some dried fruit and to put on my top base layer as my arms were wet and cold. Moved off again at a good pace as I had chilled whilst standing still. My pack seemed a lot lighter today. Passed yet more reservoirs (it could be called Reservoir Ramble). Two men came from the opposite direction. They were doing the Pennine Way from north to south in 19 days (including one rest day). This was the first rain they had experienced!! One of them had done it previously from south to north but preferred this way as it got easier as you went along.

By 12:30pm it had brightened up and I was feeling hungry so stopped for lunch by some rocks. I thought the woman would catch and pass me as I was there for a good hour. There was no sign of her so I don't really think she'll make it in eight days! It was warmer now and I had the dried out.

Set off again towards a monument on the edge of a hill. I was aware that just before I reached it I needed to turn right so, not wanting to go astray, on reaching a cairn and a prominent post with a way mark on it I followed it. Crossed a wall and travelled 400yards or so before realising this was no longer the Pennine Way! I retraced my footsteps and carried on to the monument. Built to commemorate the victory over Napoleon. To my surprise you could even climb stairs inside to a viewing balcony about a third of the way up. Spoke to a couple from Cleethorpes on the balcony who often spend weekends walking in the area. Shortly after leaving the monument I left the Pennine Way to follow footpaths down through woods to Hebden Bridge station. I would return here next year to continue my walk. It was about 3:45pm and a train left in just over 10 minutes.

The going today had seemed easy and apart from the rain pleasant. Of course my load had lightened as almost all my food was gone and there were no significant climbs. My water supply was almost exhausted, as there had been no streams to replenish it so I was thankful for the bottle I had found the day before. I bought an ice-cream and a bottle of lilt.

On arrival at Doncaster there was no timetable for trains to Gainsborough. When I enquired at the information desk the man told me that most people caught the bus! Unfortunately I had one-and-a-half hour's wait for a train. Still it allowed me time to admire the station displays!

The time had flown by and yet it seemed so long ago that I'd stepped out of the train at Edale station. My legs were still strong, it was more my feet that had suffered. Perhaps better boots would help with a more cushioned sole.

All in all it had been thoroughly enjoyable.