Well, what a stunning couple of days on the Pennine Way. I managed to cover the first stage of the Spine, but spread over two days instead of one. A friend agreed to meet me for my overnight stay at Diggle,  making the whole trip into a social event rather than just a recce. 

Some parts I remembered from previous Spine

events/attempts. Some I had completely forgotten.  Whichever way I looked at it,  the trail looks far better in dry sunshine than hideous winter rain.