This day was a surprise gift after a long period of sun and showers. After spotting some planning chatter on telegram I began the rounds of texting and finally persuaded Rod Welford to risk a short migration out of The Lakes (exceptionally rare) to test ourselves from Parlick. I promised him that the A66 was doable and Hexham could be a lofty dream.

Rod told me to send him a FlySkyHy route to help him get his head round the geography and we agreed to convene with vans and an open mind at the foot of Parlick at 10.30am.

After all the thumbing on my phone I foolishly forgot to start my van after its long winter lay-off and I therefore lost a load of time with jump leads before getting on the road.

It didn't matter. Turned up at take-off to find 'the great and the good' all taking short bunny hops and for a short-while it looked as though thermals were never going to arrive. Finally a posse took a climb off the South East corner and 10 mins later Rod, myself, John Oliver and another Gin Bonanza were climbing out.

When the climb fizzled 200m short of base we showed surprising control in heading back over take-off to try and get a little higher before leaving - and to let a few more pilots go downwind and show us the air.

Finally getting away, Rod took a sensible line deep in the moor, while I followed the ridge edge towards the sun.

I ended up scratching low behind Dunsop Bridge but spotted a Mantra and a Zeno (Westie I think) making a beeline for some circling gulls over some high ground 300m away from the ridge. The Mantra and I secured the save while the Zeno didn't quite get up… A gentle 1m/s climb took me all the way to base again but following a cloud street East of Rod and two thermals behind.

At the end of the valley I was surprised to see Bud Paterson joining on his Zeno and we crossed the next valley, towards Ingleborough, together.

This short trip had taken nearly two hours in weak climbs and over the summit of Ingleborough I got lazy and left my lifting air to head across to Bud who seemed to have a strong climb at the head of the valley.

I arrived in lifting air but it was unpredictable and a little turbulent giving the occasional tip-tuck. Probably sea air due to arriving later and lower than the others who had just passed through. Rod had reported a lovely lifty street just 20 minutes earlier…

I gave up on the rough stuff around 200m short of base and was immediately undone. The air was dead and useless as I took my last glide down to the road just North of Ribblehead.

A brilliant lift with Simon Byrne of the Dales club and with a stop to collect Chris Kay, took me to the Slaidburn road out of Settle, then a couple more lifts to Clitheroe before getting a taxi for the last leg back to the van.

Rod had spent a fair while soaring Cotter End to the West of Stags Fell, before getting a climb to a street that took him all the way to Brough. The A66 as promised! Fair play and great reward for persistence!

We met up at the Station in Lancaster and then failed to find any pub who might serve food. It was a liquid meal ending with Rum and Port (I think? )

Awesome day. Just short of 50k for me and a UK PB for Rod over fantastic countryside.