As I left Bellingham, I knew that the darkness was going to make this section particularly tough due to my extreme sleep deprivation. The hallucinations were vivid and disorienting, and at times, I struggled to distinguish reality from imagination. At one point, a familiar face—my friend Bill—caught up with me. His presence snapped me back to reality (it really was my friend, he was doing the Pennine way as a solo challenge and staying at various guest houses on his way.), and we walked together for a few miles, this kept me alert. Bill eventually left to catch a taxi which was waiting for him at Byrness, I continued alone, but feeling more focused.
