Autumn Sunshine in Timperley

Well, after many overcast days, we at last enjoyed wall to wall sunshine today.

Shame it was an ‘admin’ day.

Sunday 8 November 2009 – A Circuit from Burtonwood

I popped out for a stroll on a gloomy Sunday morning.  At least the rain kept off, though judging by the motorway spray it could have been chucking it down.

From the deserted car park of the Chapel House pub in the nondescript village of Burtonwood, where lots of smartly dressed middle aged folk were engaged in Remembrance Day activities, I headed across sodden fields towards the M62, beckoned by the distinctive outline of the Burtonwood Services building, and a large ‘IKEA’ sign.

The paths appeared rarely walked and were deserted today.  I bimbled on past broken signs and piles of rubbish (being close to Liverpool!), across fields planted with spring crops, eventually emerging from underneath the motorway into Sankey Valley Park.  Here, an avenue of birches leads the walker alongside Sankey Brook on the left and past the high fences of one of Warrington’s new industrial estates on the right.

The hedgerows around here were teeming with bird life; a buzzard, gliding between its favourite perches, flocks of starlings, chaffinches and more wary yellowhammers, chattering sparrows, black-headed and black-backed gulls, gaudy jays and distracted blackbirds.

The trees here are looking quite bare, leaving little cover for the birds.

The colours hereabouts reminded me of a car my dad once had - ‘Maestro Bronze’ perhaps?  No, I fear it was a rather ugly, mustard coloured Morris Marina.  Not my dad’s finest hour!

After crossing a footbridge, I headed alongside the brook, passing bushes laden with berries.

Soon I reached The Sankey Navigation (St Helens Canal), the first canal of the English Canal Age.  It opened in 1757, two years before the Bridgewater Canal, and was used mainly to transport coal from St Helens’ collieries and, more recently, sugar from the Sankey Sugar Refinery, to Liverpool for over 200 years.

After its closure in the 1960s it deteriorated rapidly, with some sections being completely filled in.  Recently some restoration has taken place, but some sections of the canal are only traceable by the outline of edging stone.

Winwick Dry Dock (below), made from sandstone, with stepped sides and curved ends is the only remaining dry dock on the canal.  The sleepers were for the traditional ‘Mersey Flat’ boats to rest on.  Once a boat was inside the dock the gates were closed and the water was drained through a culvert – very simple and effective.

Here’s a lock that was filled in but which has recently been ‘restored’.

The ‘winter crops’ (looks like grass to me – a townie) are currently flooded in places in these fields, but look healthy enough.

A winding path led back along a short section of fly-tipped road to a track, past some stables near a kingfisher pond, where a couple of horses were clearly joyous after being liberated from their warm stable into a field, and onto the road that led back to my start point in the centre of Burtonwood village, where the pub was still shut and its car park still empty.

This pleasant 10 km (6 mile) amble took me a leisurely 2¼ hours.

Here’s a brief outline – it’s based on Jen Darling’s ‘Around Sankey’ walk in her book – Walks in North Cheshire.  It’s covered by Explorer Map 276, which shows all the paths described.

Park in Burtonwood village and turn left from the front door of Chapel House pub, pass the church, then turn right down a footpath beyond the parish hall.

Soon reach fields and continue on to cross a track to more fields, to reach Tan House Lane.  Turn right then immediately left down Burtonwood Road.

Turn left before the road rises to cross the motorway, and head down the lane to Dial Post Farm.  Go straight on through the grotty farmyard and follow waymarks by the field edge, keeping to the right of the hedge.

Go straight on at one sign, then after a few metres follow a further sign, bearing right across the field towards a pylon.  On reaching the pylon, carry on through a wide gap in the hedge, along a track through the crops towards a lone tree then on to reach the M62.

Turn left, then right, under the motorway and into Sankey Valley Park.  Keeping the brook on your left and the industry to your right, continue on pleasant paths until a concrete bridge takes you left and over the brook.

Follow the path alongside the brook for a few hundred metres before leaving it in favour of a gravel track with the remains of the St Helens Canal between you and the railway.  Continue along here, appreciating the industrial heritage (information boards) until you come to an old canal building with 1841 written on its side.

Go under the M62 and down a gravel lane to the left of a scrap yard to reach a tarmac lane – Alder Lane.  Turn left and stroll past ugly fly-tipping to reach Sankey Brook again.  Bear right, and after about 50 metres take a path to the left, following the edge of a field with the hedge on your left.

After a while the path veers round to the right.  Continue in this direction briefly, before turning left along a track that leads through a copse and on to a T-junction.  Turn right, then immediately left to pass by stables before reaching the lane (Farmers Lane) that leads back into Burtonwood, where a left turn down Chapel Lane takes you back to the Chapel House pub.

Sunday 1 November 2009 – A Stroll from Cressbrook

Sue, David, Jacqui, Gill, Marcus and Gaynor were the ex-Jo’burg Hiking Club stalwarts who had assembled at Owl Cottage in Cressbrook for the weekend together with Woody.

I braved driving rain and flooded roads to reach them at around 9.45, in plenty of time to enjoy a coffee from the correct side of the rain lashed windows.

Being ‘fair weather walkers’, we fumbled.  Gill did this best, claiming for some time to have lost the boots in which she arrived back from the previous day’s walk.

“Perhaps I left them outside and someone stole them?” she enquired!

The rain eased, the boots miraculously reappeared.  It was time to go.

Sue didn’t want to get her library book and map wet, so the guide book was abandoned and I was given free rein.  My initial plan was binned – they did that walk yesterday; so we headed off towards Litton, sliding through woods and fields, restraining Woody from chasing the cows, and veering off towards Tideswell.

Tideswell is at the edge of one side of the White Peak map, my copy of which is disintegrated to the extent that removing it from the map case in even light rain is inadvisable.  As a result, we fell off the map at the wrong place.  Luckily, nobody noticed, the rain stopped and the sun came out as we strolled up the straight lane towards Water Lane, heading for Wheston.

Beyond Wheston, a rough lane, then tarmac, then another rough and flooded lane – we joined the Limestone Way here – led to fine views south over Miller’s Dale and the gem like scenery of the White Peak.

Having successfully negotiated the flooded track, we slipped down a steep, narrow path, across huge slippery stepping stones through a bog, to the delights of Miller’s Dale, namely the Anglers Rest, a haven for hikers as well as anglers.

There’s a hikers bar, where boots etc can be worn – the sort of place Mike Coldwell would like.  We lingered there for the best part of an hour and a half, joined for lunch by Marcus, who recent activities on the surgeon’s bench have driven him to decline such exercise as today’s in order to nurse his phantom pregnancy.

The stroll back to Cressbrook was delightful, starting across the rampant River Wye, then joining the Monsal Trail – along the course of the old Midland Railway that was opened (to Ruskin’s distress and disgust) in 1863 - for its scenic trip through Litton Mill Railway Cutting, where the 19th century engineers scythed through the 330 million year old rocks.

Here we are before leaving for Litton Mill:

Martin, Jacqui, Woody, Gill, Gaynor, Sue and David.

Jacqui and I go back nearly as far as to the last days of this railway in 1968, so it’s always good to meet up and reminisce.

A deep carpet of leaves led down (below) to Litton Mill, from where the river path was followed briefly before we ascended back to Cresswell, avoiding the habitually flooded section of the path.

Here’s the route – 14 km, 500 metres ascent, taking around 4 hours excluding stops.  A delightful little excursion.

A slide show (20 pictures) of the day’s exploits is here.

Susan’s Visit to Timperley (Manchester) – 26 to 29 October 2009

Here’s a bit more on Susan’s trip, principally for Susan herself.  I hope it will bring happy memories.

We collected Susan and Dave from Kendal, on our way home from Ingleton, and whilst Dave returned home to work, Susan spent four days with us, visiting several local landmarks during the course of her stay. 

There’s a slide show (57 images) here, covering the whole trip.

Monday 26 October - Shutlingsloe

Dave had to return to Birmingham, so it was convenient to drop him at Macclesfield en route to the Peak District.

I reported briefly here by way of a piccie on the summit of Shutlingsloe – the Matterhorn of the Peak District.  Given the view from the summit (uniformly grey), it may just as well have been the Matterhorn!

The mist had however provided a bit of atmosphere as we strolled up to the tree line in Macclesfield Forest.

We bumped into Helen and Richard on the summit of Shutlingsloe and they rejoined us whilst we dallied at this pretty spot in Wildboarclough.

We chatted with them, on and off, all the way to beyond the Hanging Gate near Langley.

It was a great struggle to walk past this, beyond which the Gritstone Trail transported us neatly outside the Leather’s Smithy.

For some reason (perhaps we were muddy) we went past this as well.  I fear some readers will be less than impressed.

Anyway, I can assure you that we returned safely to Sue, and that the wine flowed, with a good meal, that Monday night.

Here’s our route – 11 km, with 500 metres ascent, taking around 3 hours.

Tuesday 27 October – Snowdon

Susan had never visited Snowdonia, so I had the Snowdon Horseshoe in mind by way of a gentle introduction.

I have already reported briefly on this day out, here.

Despite an early start, when we reached Pen-y-pass at 9.15 am we just missed the last legitimate parking space.  Others had no conscience about placing their small cars in the large spaces allocated to minibuses, but Susan and I drove back down the road and parked in the lay-by on the main road by Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel.

Some of the resultant savings were utilised on coffee and cake at the café, once we had strolled back up the road.

The beauty of the Snowdon Horseshoe is that, being a short walk, there are no real time pressures, even in winter.

So it was 10.15 by the time we joined the procession of folk who were filing up the Pyg Track.

[Note to self - ‘start earlier to avoid the crowds’.]

It was quite breezy, with cloud on the tops, so reluctantly we decided to miss out Crib Goch and head easily up the Pyg Track in good weather below the cloud.  It was a pleasant morning’s walk, with only the very summit of the mountain in the murk.

It was my first visit to the new café.  Folk were crouching outside with their butties, only food bought on the premises being allowed to be consumed indoors.  It was 12.15.  Should we enjoy our lunch outside, or buy a drink inside?  The decision was made for us.  The serving hatches lowered their shutters at 12.20.  It was too windy for the supply train to run, and supplies were exhausted.  We were free to enjoy our packed lunch and flask of tea in the warmth of the café.

Heading on around the Horseshoe we descended steeply towards the Watkin Path, soon emerging from the mist.

By the time we reached Bwlch Ciliau we enjoyed wide ranging views to the coast and down to Llyn Llydaw to the north east (below).

 

We strolled along Y Lliwedd, keeping religiously to the ridge, together with a young family.  The children were clearly loving the easy scrambling.

Care was needed on the descent – both Susan and I fell on the greasy rocks, but injuries were avoided and once near the foot of the slope we enjoyed the dregs from the flask before strolling back down to the car.

As is often the case on this walk, the mountains cleared of cloud in the afternoon and Susan was at least able to get a good view of the summits, so she could see a little of what she had missed on Crib Goch.

We finished at 4.15, having enjoyed a leisurely 12 km with 1090 metres ascent in around 6 hours.

Our route is shown above.  It’s quite easy really, as long as you know where to turn east at point 4.  Having said that, we did encounter two lads at the northern end of Y Lliwedd who had mistakenly descended by the Miners Track, when their car was parked at the end of the Watkin Path!  They should just about have made it over Y Lliwedd and back to their car before dark (I bet they didn’t have torches).

Wednesday 28 October – Arnside Knott

The Arnside/Silverdale area, just north of Lancaster, is one of my favourite spots.  Most of our overseas visitors finish up here, in this area of lakes, marshes, woodland, sea shore, limestone pavements and low hills.

I’ve previously mentioned this particular visit, here.  We started with a coffee in the Leighton Moss RSPB café, before strolling down to the public hide, past a group with powerful telescopes looking for bearded tits.

My little camera was totally inadequate, as you can surmise from the slideshow, but during our short stay in the hide, and with the help of a kindly bird watcher and his telescope, we did spot the following:

Whooper swans
Gadwall
Mallard
Shoveler
Coot
Teal
Tufted duck
Pintail
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Moorhen
Black-headed gull

and elsewhere on our walk, these birds were in evidence:

Red grouse
Pheasant
Magpie
Carrion/Hooded Crows
Rock dove
Wood pigeon
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Goldcrest

and many more unidentified estuary and woodland species.

These short lists rather expose our lack of observation skills in this area, but I have reiterated these positive IDs for Susan’s benefit.

Continuing over a golf course and through a mixed terrain of fields and woodland, we rose eventually to the 159 metre summit of Arnside Knott.  Sitting on a bench with an elderly couple, they confirmed what we could see to the north:

“Torrential rain and a huge traffic jam in Ambleside”, they pronounced, “so we’ve escaped to this spot.  Isn’t it wonderful.”

Well, it was overcast but fine – not a bad day for late October.

A few metres from the bench, this distinctive but long deceased tree, knotted in Victorian times, is always a good spot for a posed picture.

Down the other side of the hill, at Far Arnside, Susan appears to be staring at a wall, whilst I regretted not knowing where Mark (Beating the Bounds – essential reading for those who appreciate this part of the world) lives.  It would have been good to meet him.

Instead, we strolled along the beach to Silverdale, past autumn leaves, to the Wolf House Gallery, much changed since the days of Ted and Denise, but still a good place to linger.  Today it was warm enough to stay outside amongst the many families who were enjoying a day out on their half-term holidays.

On we strolled, past Jack Scout and Jenny Brown’s Point to reach the Smelt Mill Chimney and round the estuary to turn our backs on sunlit Morecambe Bay and return past Heald Brow to a minor road that took us easily back to the bird reserve.

Here’s our route – 17 km, with 350 metres ascent, in a leisurely 6 hours.  There are endless variations and permutations to this – given the numerous footpaths you can make walks around here as long or short as you wish.  Silverdale Beach (point 11) is a good alternative start and finish point.

Thursday 29 October – Dunham Massey

For Susan’s last day in the UK, we chose a venue where Sue could join us.  So after Susan had strolled into Altrincham and explored our local ‘facilities’, we took the 10 minute drive to Dunham Massey and enjoyed pottering around the grounds and the gardens.

I reported earlier, here.

The beech leaves are a lovely coppery colour just now, and when the sun shines, it’s still quite summery.

Then it was a walk back home along the Bridgewater Canal (featured heavily elsewhere on these pages!) before adjourning for a Market Gardener’s Pie at Hale Towers, with Al, Hazel, Andrew, Kate and Fiona.

A very pleasant evening.

Then Susan went home….  We do hope you enjoyed your visit; we certainly enjoyed having you to stay.  And there were some excellent days out….

Here, again, is the link to the slideshow.

Ramsoc Weekend at Ingleton – 24/25 October 2009

I made brief reference to this weekend in an earlier posting.

Now for a bit more….

‘Ramsoc’ is Sue’s Nottingham University hiking club, and this weekend is her contemporaries’ annual opportunity to get together, with families, at some suitably countrified venue.  This has been happening for over 20 years!  Folk are going grey.  Those that still have hair!

(Phil and) Sue is the organising team, and they also plan a decent Saturday walk for those without children in tow.

On Saturday morning we drove up to Dent, intent on walking back to Ingleton via Crag Hill, Great Coum and Gragareth, as planned by Sue.

The light drizzle (it always rains on Sue’s walks, so that was wholly expected) and low cloud were in evidence by the time we reached Crag Hill’s 682 metre trig point.  I looked back to see just Julie in tow.

“I think they must have stopped by the wall”, she reported.

Sure enough, Sue, Phil, Colin, Dick and Jess were huddled at a confluence of walls, admiring the drizzle….and plotting a conspiracy.

We trudged off to Great Coum. 

Of course, everyone got to the top of that.  It’s a ‘Marilyn’.

“We are going back to Dent” one of the conspirators announced. 

“I’m not, the weather’s going to clear” I asserted.

So, six wimps filed off back to Dent (it was their prerogative, of course, just as it is mine to insult them accordingly) whilst I hopped across a few bogs to reach the summit of Gragareth via a scenic lunch stop (bar the fog) on Green Hill.

I didn’t see a human soul after the deserters had left, but on descent from Gragareth these three men appeared – the ‘Three Men of Gragareth’ according to my map.  They had a view, as well.

After this diversion, I headed in fine weather around to Dodson’s Hill then down past Marble Steps Pot to join this newly laid path to Masongill Fell Lane.  Looking back, this path looks good, doesn’t it?  Well, after about 20 metres it deposits the unwary walker in a deep peaty bog!

For the descent to Ingleton, along Tow Scar Road (a track) and some pleasant paths, through fields full of sheep on heat, each field with its randy ram, I had the pleasure of Ingleborough’s fine profile in the distance, here seen beyond Cowgill Farm.

Such a lovely afternoon’s route.  I felt sorry for the six deserters, but was glad not to have to transport the drivers back to Dent, as the rain set in again once I’d gained the comfort of the fleshpots of Ingleton.  (Namely, the youth hostel.)

Here’s my route – 20 km, 750 metres ascent, 6 hours including stops.

Meanwhile – it’s Sue who is the Ramsoc person.  She’s poorly at present, but managed to drag her pain racked being around the
8 km ‘Waterfall Walk’ together with various families.

Here they are at Thornton Force, where you can get behind the waterfall.

They seem to have enjoyed themselves, despite it appearing to be wetter than where I was.  On close observation they seem to have been through some strange ritual.

Followed later by another ritual…

Sunday dawned showery.  Chris left Alys and ‘The Bump’ behind (there was no car space for him) and set off back towards Matlock.  He’d cycled all the way (115 miles) from there on Friday, but today we suspected he would cheat, somewhere around Lancaster.

Meanwhile over 20 of us trundled down to Clapham and enjoyed a
9 km circuit in mainly fine weather with good spirits and good views.

Here’s a cheerful chappie trotting through the frame in search of bouldering challenges, which frequently punctuated our stroll in this land of erratics.

We waited ages for Andy and Jim, who promptly disappeared again.

Today Mike and Phil enjoyed competing with each other to see who could most adversely affect Robert and Martin’s behaviour!

Finally, Clapham Drive led gently back down to Clapham from Ingleborough Cave and the outpouring of the Gaping Gill cave system, with the trees still hanging on to their last vestiges of foliage.

Here’s the day’s route – 9 km, 315 metres ascent, in 4 hours including lots of stops.

Recommended for children.

I’ve been selective with the above images, but there’s a full slideshow (45 pics) and a bit more commentary here.

Well, it’s not quite ‘full’ – I can’t bring myself to upload the picture featuring ‘Randy’, the ram, in action.

Tuesday 3 November 2009 – A Great British Ridge Walk – Number 11 – Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man

During her stay last week, Susan unearthed from a pile of unread books Bill Birkett’s tome entitled ‘Great British Ridge Walks’.

I had promised support for PW’s Wainwright bagging expedition today, so ‘Lakes’ was inked in the diary.  Although that attempt had been aborted I took the opportunity to enjoy a sunny day out and headed off up the M6 in driving rain.

‘If it’s raining now, the sun will shine later’ I told myself.

The road to Torver was flooded.  I tore on regardless.  ‘Clank, clank’ went the car.  I’m not mechanically minded, but a cursory glance was enough to ascertain that the front of the large tray that protects the underside of the engine had become detached and was merrily scooping bits of road and gallons of water up into the engine compartment.

“Hello Mr Myers, I have a problem.”

…I had discovered that Mr Myers has a small garage just off the Walna Scar Road. 

Lucky me.  They dropped everything and set to work on the problem.

“First time it’s ever broken down” I moaned, about Sue’s eight year old motor.

“It hasn’t broken down” muttered the mechanic from the depths of his pit.  “A bit has fallen off, that’s all.”

Forty five minutes later, the boss went down to check the handiwork, shook the offending tray a few times and pronounced it secure for the time being – certainly as secure as they could make it.

“What’s the damage, then?”  I had a £20 note at the ready.

“How about £10”, said Mr Myers, thoughtfully.  He had earlier assured me that the recession had not yet reached Coniston, so “How about £5” I joked.

“Ok”, said the boss, thinking I was being serious.

We settled for £15, which gave us each, in effect, a £5 profit on the transaction.

If you are going to break down, dear reader, I commend you to do so here.

[Interestingly, the ‘dashboard rattle’ that has plagued the car for years, also seems to have miraculously – I hesitate to say ‘vanished’ -subsided.]

Whilst ensconced in the garage, I noticed the lashing rain start to wear itself out, and by the time I set off from the end of the Walna Scar Road at 9.30 it was completely exhausted, with the sun now shining brightly on the copper coloured bracken, and the cloud having lifted off Dow Crag and The Old Man.

Low black clouds provided a threatening looking canopy to the view across to Morecambe Bay, but these had passed me by and were of no practical consequence.

The path was deserted.  Becks crashed down the hillside to join thundering rivers.  Ravens hovered menacingly as I negotiated slippery rocks to reach the summit of Brown Pike, where a hat and gloves were donned for the first time in months.

The onward path to Dow Crag was enjoyable, with excellent views.  The only annoyances were the constantly slippery rocks and the bleeping of the ‘phone which kept losing its signal then waking up to welcome me to the Isle of Man!

The summit of The Old Man of Coniston was deserted when I reached it at noon, but there were around 30 folk slogging their way up the ‘tourist route’, many appearing to be on outdoors training courses.

I noticed a man wearing a fetching cowboy hat slowly ascending.  I wonder whether he or anyone else spotted the Ghostly Prisoner of Colt Crag Mine as they passed through a wide area of old quarries and mine workings.

It was a day of rainbows, apart from the duration of the walk, when the showers passed me by.  Just as I reached the car at 1pm there were a few spots, and this rainbow provided the backdrop to my drive back down to Coniston.

Are those the Ghosts of Christmas Future peering out at me from the windows of the Black Bull?

Here’s today’s route – an enjoyable 10 km, with 780 metres ascent, taking 3.5 hours including tea and lunch breaks.

 
It’s walk 11, on page 48 of this excellent volume (see below), which expands considerably on the history of the mines (they date from the 1560’s to the present day, employed over 600 men at the height of their activity in 1855, and extend up to 500 metres below the surface), and also on the climbing exploits of one O G (only genuine?) Jones.

I’m trying to find a copy of the out of print book for Susan, and spent some of the afternoon scouring the shops of Coniston and Ambleside accordingly.  Fred Houldsworth was helpful, but despite finding the chap who had sold off the last 200 copies …”you could get it anywhere in Ambleside for a tenner up to last year” he told me, I couldn’t track one down.  They have all gone.  Does anyone have a spare copy for sale?

The photos above are just a sample of those taken – I’ve uploaded 25 images, and a bit more commentary, here, for anyone with a spare couple of minutes.

Finally, I’m aware that the blog entries have ‘backed up’.  Sorry about that, I’ll catch up, albeit somewhat out of order, over the next few days.

A Sunny Morning in the Lake District

Worth the trip?

I think so, despite some flood damage to the car!

Heading for Brown Pike, up the Walna Scar 'Beck'


Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Blowing in the Wind

Quite often, at this time of year, we can be found luxuriating near Lymington, doing a bit of bird watching and country walking in view of the Isle of Wight.

The snap of rushes, blowing in the wind, was taken on 27 October 2005.  It seems a distant memory, as we spent today taking Susan to the airport for her flight to Boston, and then catching up with an assortment of ‘house admin’ on an overcast autumn day.

Leaves for tram, slavering at the prospect of a fine Thai meal…

Dunham Massey in Autumn (2)

For Susan’s last day in the UK…

…what better than a trip to Dunham Massey?

Where the Canada Geese were gorging themselves on the half-term holiday offerings, and the beech leaves were turning quite coppery.

A walk around the park saw Sue and Susan admiring the autumn colours.

But the privacy of the rutting deer was respected, and we didn’t get close enough to photograph a fine fellow with his nubile hareem.

Sadly we won’t be consuming any venison tonight, as a ‘third party dietary issue’ has dictated ‘Market Gardener’s Pie’ rather than our more usual carnivorous fare.

I’m sure we’ll survive!

Wednesday 28 October 2009 – A Stroll in the Arnside/Silverdale AONB

Today’s 10 mile stroll with Susan brought us to this point for lunch.  Normally the Lake District’s peaks would be laid out before us, but today we sat on the bench with a couple who had escaped from Windermere.

“Torrential rain and huge traffic jams” they reported.

Susan and I reflected on the luck of our easy journey to Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve, from where this pleasant country stroll had started.

(To be continued.)

Tuesday 27 October 2009 – A Café Somewhere in Wales

They stopped serving at 12.20, so we enjoyed our own butties inside this café with no view.

Outside, the visibility wasn’t much better, but at least Susan could smile from the highest point she will reach on this trip to the UK.

Later, we could look back to the vanquished pimple from which the cloud had now dissipated.

This, That, and The Other

Just a quick entry as life is acceptably busy this week, after a hectic weekend, with Susan over from Connecticut and trying to make the best of our Autumn weather.  More detailed entries will perhaps follow in due course.

This (below) is an image from Saturday afternoon, on the descent to Ingleton from Gragareth, after my six companions for the day had elected to turn back towards our starting point in Dent.

That (above) is Sunday morning’s view south, over fields of the Yorkshire Dales, from near Thwaite Lane – by Clapham, where a group of 24 of us fumbled our way across the moorland, eventually emerging from the road to Ingleborough Cave in rather showery  weather.

The Other recent activity was today’s ascent of The Matterhorn of the Peak – Shutlingsloe, with Susan, who posed on the misty summit with her posh new gaiters before the flask came out.

Next: A visit to a café in Wales?

New Zealand Memories, and Web Site Problems

Sue and I had the pleasure of reliving last year’s New Zealand trip  (still to be indexed) the other day, by way of a slide show to the long term patients and the caring staff of the NHS’s Continuing Care Facility at Dermot Murphy Close.

They all seemed to enjoy it.

Here’s Sue, having climbed through cloud to reach the sunny summit of Conical Hill (1515 metres), just off the Routeburn Track, on 2 February 2008.

I may even have got around to doing that long overdue indexing, had I not discovered that many of the images created in Fireworks for our website had decided not to show on the web browser.  So the nice little buttons I created seven years ago seem to have worn out.  This left the topwalks.com site (which receives 50-100 visitors a day for one reason or another, although the site is only occasionally updated) looking a real mess:

So I’ve spent the last day faffing with it as a temporary measure, pending an upgrade of the index pages – all very tedious when the page loading also failed to work properly, leaving us with lots of blank pages.

If you do have occasion to use that site, and find any glitches, please do let us know!

Tuesday 20 October 2009 – Eel Crag by the Shelf Route with the Knipe Boys

 

The Knipe boys had been planning this walk for some time.  It was their third attempt within a year, and there had been recorded failures spanning several decades.  They had got so close that they’d even renamed Wainwright’s ‘Shelf’  route and called it the ‘Ledge’ route.  They had previously nearly fallen off it. 

What’s easier to fall off?  A Ledge or a Shelf?  I wonder?

Anyway, John’s friends Ian and Brian had been in subconscious telepathic communication with me, and our three strong Essential Support Group assembled at Braithwaite with the two protagonists, Mike and John, who then eagerly led us up Coledale, as shown above.

They were panicking a bit as the weather lady had predicted the tops to be somewhat like Himalayan peaks in a monsoon.

They rushed across the ford at the head of Coledale, whilst I fell in trying to take this picture.

I’ve cropped out most of the blurry, splashy bits and am relieved that the camera seems to have survived its dunking, even if my knee has severe bruising.

Anyway, that slowed me down a bit for the slog up to the Shelf/Ledge via a welcome stop for a hot drink that was needed to wash down Nallo Lady’s CCS.

Soon we were on the Shelf, romping along its grassy flank.  It was here (see below) that John admitted, “We turned around at this point as it seemed too dangerous.”  It’s about 20 metres from there up to the point where the easy (but mildly exposed) Shelf joins the main highway coming from Coledale Hause.

John and I waited, admiring the view (below) back down Coledale, with the (Cole?) mine hidden to the left, Blencathra still clear in the distance, and our descent route to the right.  Mike eventually fought his way up to join us, his vast pie consumption having taken its usual toll on his speed of ascent, and Ian – having admitted to suffering from extreme vertigo – was finally allowed to take off his blindfold.  Meanwhile Brian’s phone had been playing jolly tunes, but he also made it to the ridge.

It was a breeze, then, as opposed to the predicted Himalayan monsoon gale, to reach the summit.

Everyone was very happy. 

Especially Mike and John, who seemed to think they should get some sort of Lifetime Achievement Award.

Then we all trudged off to Sail, Outerside and Barrow (a hill), in continuing fine weather apart from a little drizzle on Barrow, and with even the distant Scafell peaks in good, if grey, view.

Back in the Coledale Inn in Braithwaite the Brothers marveled at their success, and at the (previously hidden) route card that I had managed to produce in anticipation of today’s route.

It had indeed been a grand little stroll, and as I pottered off down to Grasmere for dinner at the Red Lion in the excellent company of Brummie Dave, Connecticut Susan and Wainwright bagging Peewiglet, it never did do anything more than drizzle a bit.

Here’s the 13 km route.  It involves just over 1000 metres ascent and took us about 5½ hours, including stops. (Full route card here.)

In his widely acclaimed illustrated essay: At Last! Eel Crag by The Ledge Route, Mike Knipe provides further insight into the history of today’s attempt and bemoans the fact that his life is ‘now but an empty vessel.....’.

It was a fairly ‘grey’ autumn day, but for anyone interested my full set of 21 images is here.

Dunham Massey in Autumn (1)

Dunham Massey, just ten minutes from home, is our local National Trust property.

It’s particularly convenient to visit at present, and a good place from which to observe the onset of Autumn.

The following snaps were taken on 12 October.

Saturday 17 October 2009 – E4 Bike Ride again

After collecting a bag from Susan (looking very fresh after her long journey from Glastonbury CT) at Manchester Airport, and waving her off for a week’s travail in the Lake District with Brummie Dave, I took the opportunity to nip out to Marple for an hour’s exercise on ‘E4’.

It’s only a month since I was last here (report), and I was expecting some Autumn colours.  However, down by the River Goyt at Strines, in rather flat light, the season is drifting very slowly from summer to autumn.

After 30 minutes the sun had emerged and I was enjoying tea and a stilton and salad butty at the picnic benches in New Mills.

The Millennium Walkway is always good for a visit. 

Today, as I tarried for the following photo, two ladies with a large dog preceded me along the walkway.  I found them, stuck, half way along, with their now terrified dog – it must have looked down and been gripped by a severe bout of vertigo.  It needed much coaxing to complete its walk.  Perhaps there should be a sign ‘We recommend you blindfold your nervous dog on the Walkway.’

Meanwhile, I was saddened by this plaque that I had not noticed before.

The ride continued uneventfully, with the repairs to the Fox Inn’s roof seeming to be progressing smoothly - I was not accosted here, nor was I stoned by trail bikers….

SWCP – Torcross to Exeter

We have, over several years, walked most of the coast path from Minehead.  Last year’s journey from Plymouth to Torcross was recorded on these pages, the index for which entries is here. 

This year’s daily reports can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

Day 1 – Torcross to Dartmouth
Day 2 – Dartmouth to Paignton
Day 3 – Paignton to Teignmouth
Day 4 – Teignmouth to Exeter

Here are a few further images and additional observations and links, to supplement the postings made during the trip.

I would reiterate that anyone planning to walk on the South West Coast Path (SWCP) would benefit from the SWCP Association's Guide Book. This is updated every year.

Sadly, having made it all the way from Minehead to Torcross on previous visits, Sue was not fit enough to come this year, my only companion on this trip being Andrew.

DAY 1 – Torcross to Dartmouth

Here’s our route – 15 km, 550 metres ascent, 4.5 hours including 20 mins stops:

After being waylaid at the start by a café in Torcross, and distracted by the relics of Operation Tiger, we made our way through Strete and along the recently re-routed (to avoid roads) path to Stoke Fleming, before descending to Blackpool Sands in dull weather.

Continuing around to Combe Point, the sunlit sea drew our eyes all the way back to Start Point.

The previously deserted path gradually acquired walkers and fishermen as we rounded a corner to reach Dartmouth Castle, before the pleasant stroll around Warfleet Creek to Dartmouth.

Taylor’s Restaurant provided a superb meal at a reasonable price, and our B&B at Brook House, 6 Market Street was clean and efficient, with a good breakfast.

DAY 2 – Dartmouth to Paignton

Here’s our route – 28 km, 1400 metres ascent, 9.5 hours including 1 hr stops:

The ferry to Kingswear got us off to a good start, then we progressed through Warren Woods to the old Battery Buildings at Froward Point, where National Coastguard Institution volunteers keep an eye on the vessels coming in and out of the Dart Estuary.  On then to Pudcombe Cove, with grey seals in the bay and the delights of the café at the National Trust gardens at Coleton Fishacre.  Undulations continued to make progress relatively slow as we continued above Ivy Cove to Scabbacombe Head, then to Scabbacombe Sands, Long Sands, and Man Sands for lunch.

Andrew refreshed himself sufficiently to storm up Southdown Cliff, nearly keeping pace with some errant mountain bikers.

It was easier going now, to Sharkham Point and thence to Berry Head, where a strange man who had earlier requested advice on walking boots very publicly offered his new mate (Andrew) a Twix bar.  We escaped to the lighthouse to finish off my flask of tea before ambling into Brixham.

From the pleasant harbour of Brixham, where a replica of the Golden Hind reclines by the quay, it’s an easy walk (unless you get misplaced in Grove Woods) around the coast to Broadsands, and the start of many miles of intermittent beach huts.

Goodrington is dominated by some green spaghetti water slides, then after rounding Roundham Head and passing Paignton Harbour - there is no shortage of accommodation in Paignton – we stayed at the friendly and adequate Ambassador Guest House.  We failed to find decent food in the town centre and resorted to the Harbour Light Restaurant.

DAY 3 – Paignton to Teignmouth

Here’s our route – 23 km, 1170 metres ascent, 8 hours including 45 mins stops:

On a drizzly morning, I ambled along the sea front at high tide, largely on tarmac as far as Torbay.

Around Thatcher Point some old signs point the way.  This marks the end of the ‘beach hut zone’ and the start of the ‘memorial bench zone’ of Torquay.  ‘Fawlty Towers’ was inspired by Monty Python’s Flying Circus’s visit to a nearby hotel run by an eccentric.

Dropping down to Oddicombe Beach the path then crosses underneath a Cliff Railway then inland to pass a Model Village, where Andrew and I lunched on a bench.  The old coast path is seriously eroded hereabouts, and unfortunately the SWCP has been re-routed inland.

It’s a very pleasant afternoon’s walk to Shaldon, above which there are splendid views to Teignmouth.  On dropping down to Shaldon, I half expected Weird Darren to emerge from this teepee, uttering words like “Hi Martin, do you like my new tarp?”

The small ferry to Teignmouth was still operating (until dusk), and we were soon installed in Devonia House B&B.

As in Paignton, there’s a dearth of good restaurants, but we struck lucky again, finding a superb Indian meal, though officially there has been no foreign invasion of the town since 1690, when it was the most recent place in England to be invaded by a foreign power (France).

DAY 4 – Teignmouth to Exeter

Here’s our route – 20 km, 310 metres ascent, 5.3 hours including 40 mins stops:

It was high tide again as we set off in light rain, so we had to head inland on predominantly hard surfaces, much to Andrew’s chagrin.  The tide was too high to follow the breakwater at Dawlish, so up and over we went, to Dawlish Warren and an abortive hunt for a tea shop.  Luckily, as we left the village we grasped the whiff of fresh coffee and were soon able to relax with doughnut and coffee outside an excellent little coffee shop.

The road to Starcross made further demands on Andrew’s delicate feet as we pottered slowly around the harbour at Cockwood.

He was simply unable to continue beyond The Atmospheric Railway, and pointed to a nearby ferry to Exmouth.  “That’s my Coast Path route”, he exclaimed.

As Andrew bussed himself back to Exeter, leaving Exmouth until next year, I continued on along the SWCP as far as the Topsham Ferry, from where I headed across Exminster Marshes to pick up a bus to Exeter from the Swan’s Nest Roundabout.

It had been a pretty route, past Powderham Castle and its deer park, before an easy path beside the Exe Estuary to Turf (lunch) and the final amble beside Exeter Ship Canal towards Exeter.

A slide show (about 50 images) can be viewed here, if you have the stamina!

Tuesday 13 October 2009 – Around Latchford

This evening’s walk exploring some of our local industrial heritage was not accompanied by a camera, so the images are ‘some I took earlier’.

Andrew, Sue and I congregated at 7.30 pm on a fine, warm evening on the ferro-concreted Kingsway Bridge (SJ 625 880 – easy parking in nearby side streets), which in 1934 provided Warrington with its second road crossing of the River Mersey.

Poking out from under the arch, the soaring 281ft spire of St Elfin’s parish church dominates Warrington, though it is only just visible in the picture above.  Added to the ancient church in 1860, it’s apparently the seventh tallest church spire in England.

Our walk started from the east of the road (furthest away from Warrington), where we went down the ramp to the south (left) bank of the river, then left under the bridge, from where the illuminated spire stood out much better across the amber river, lit by the night sky over the town, than it did in the daylight below.

It’s nice to see swans and other bird life here in the lower reaches of the once polluted River Mersey, where there must also be lots of aquatic life, judging by the carefully gouged positions that have been created for fishermen.

Almost immediately, we headed left into Black Bear Park, and down the tarmac lane down which the once busy but now filled-in Runcorn to Latchford canal has been transformed into a wildlife haven.

Passing under Knutsford Road, signs like the one below indicated that we were in the Trans Pennine Trail area, where there’s a proliferation of these delightful waymarks in this neighbourhood.

Continuing along the well lit path, albeit night had fallen, we passed under a railway bridge and then under Loushers Lane, continuing straight on until reaching the substantial barrier that is the 36-mile long  Manchester Ship Canal, opened in 1894 to give the city of Manchester direct access to the sea, at a cost of about £15 million (£1.22 billion as of 2009).  In its day it was the largest navigation canal in the world; today it’s no longer considered to be an important shipping route, but it still carries about several million tonnes of freight each year.

Anyway, we turned left along the Trans Pennine Trail, heading beside the Ship Canal towards Manchester.  The rustling in the undergrowth was perhaps the scamperings of this little chap.

The high level Cantilever Bridge soon came into view.  To reach it we took the last cut through on the left before Warrington Town’s football ground, past Bethel Baptist Chapel which is said to have been built in 1852 but has 1860 emblazoned on its brickwork.

The Cantilever Bridge is easy to find from here.  ‘It’s a bit dilapidated and in need of repair’, I thought, as I passed over it a few days ago.  On the evening walk, we noticed that roadworks were in progress, with single file traffic and a closed pavement.  The bridge is at least 70 ft above the canal, allowing ships to pass underneath it.

Over the bridge an immediate right turn led us down a ramp to Fairfield Road.  Crossing over the road and heading to the right and under the bridge soon brought us to a footpath to the left, where the road veered right, along which footpath we followed the Ship Canal to Greenbank Road and onwards to the swing bridge at Knutsford Road.

Crossing Knutsford Road onto Thelwall New Road we continued along the canal, under the skew railway bridge that looks in fair condition.  However, the need for heavy repairs to this bridge is said to have been a principal contributing factor to the final closure of the Warrington to Altrincham railway line in 1985, it having been closed to passenger traffic since the Beeching cuts of 1962.

Continuing on beside the canal, we soon reached Latchford Locks.  There’s a well lit footpath across the locks – somewhat necessary due to the large drops, but despite its possible dangers the route remains open at night (no doubt guarded by CCTV!).

Here’s the daytime view west along the Ship Canal to the skew bridge and beyond to the Cantilever Bridge in the distance.  There’s a similar ‘straight line’ view to the east, with the M6 motorway passing over the Thelwall Viaduct in the distance.

After crossing the canal, my old map indicates ‘Works’, and a guide book refers to Richmond Works, which started trading opposite the locks in 1906 and by 1947 had produced over a million gas cookers.

On seeing the new building work going on below, I assumed that gas cooker production in Warrington had ceased with all that remains of the ‘Works’ being the new building’s neighbour, an Aluminium Can Recycling plant.  However, further research reveals ‘New World Domestic Appliances Limited’, behind the recycling plant, with the new buildings taking the place of some bowling greens.  So manufacturing in Warrington continues, even if some of the works, and its sports facilities, have been sold off!

One of the new buildings, thin town houses or flats, I presume, has been finished.  It looks slightly odd, not just because of the wide angle lens, but because the building actually curves – its centre being furthest away from the camera.

As we walked left down Thelwall Lane after crossing the locks. we passed the above houses and took the second right into Nook Lane, where the factory workers used to, and probably still do live.

After bearing left along Marsden Avenue, some playing fields are reached.  We now forsook the tarmac in favour of a walk beside the River Mersey, the banks of which at this time of year sport swathes of Himalayan Balsam.

Our route headed across playing fields to the river, where sufficient ambient light made our torches obsolete on the warm evening, and a pleasant stroll over an inverted ‘V’ in the river took us happily back to Kingsway Bridge.

Here’s our 8 km route.  It’s virtually flat and should take 1½ to 2 hours (it took us 1¾ hours at night time).

This walk is described in Jen Darling’s book - ‘Walks in North Cheshire (Alfresco Books, 1994).

Sunday 11 October 2009 - The Calderdale Mountain Bike Marathon

Here are Robert and I, clutching our certificates and t-shirts after Sunday’s event.

We’ve been doing this annual bike ride, on and off, since 2000.  It’s an excellent route, taking in the sights of Calderdale, with some brilliant off-road sections.

I’ve previously reported on the 2007 ride here, and on the 2008 ride here.

This year the forecast was good, and the quality of support (very good) a known quantity, so we set off at 9am with minimal kit – just a spare inner tube, tool kit and ‘phone in a waterproof bag.  The cloud we had passed through at the top of the M62 appeared to have cleared.

So it was a bit of a surprise when, after a few minutes on the bikes, it started to rain.  The morning proved to be showery but warm.  We got muddy (hence the change of clothes for the photo).

We had started near the back of what appeared to be a large field of keen mountain bikers (at over 450, the largest field ever, by a considerable margin), so progress was relatively slow on the crowded lanes, and then on the bridleways where overtaking is difficult.  Plenty of time to take in the lovely countryside, then.  When it wasn’t raining.

There’s nothing technical for the first few miles, until after passing the site of a mock Manchester Airport built to fool the Germans in WW2.

The descent to Mytholmroyd is fun, but it’s a great shame that so many participants choose to walk down the narrow, rocky lane.  A minimal amount of bravery does permit overtaking, though, all at a very modest pace.

Robert was well ahead of me by now – his uphill speed is much quicker than my ‘walking pace’ – and I didn’t see him until the end of the ride.

The first support point comes after about 10 miles and is always a welcome sight.  My antique bike was admired by one of the helpers…

“A proper bike, wow!”

Well, I’m not sure about that, but the old steed did get me past numerous broken down hi-tech bits of machinery and round the course without incident, though in the damp conditions I was pretty careful; I’ve recently heard of a few cyclists who have incurred serious injuries in falls.

Luckily, today all those who were falling off around me, particularly on the tricky descent from Midgley Moor, were greeted by soft landings and, after the obligatory “are you ok”, hearty laughter all round.

There’s a short hill soon after this strenuous descent which I find brings on cramp – it must be the sudden change from using one set of muscles to using completely different muscles for the ascent?  I was lucky on this occasion, just staving off the onset of cramp.  “You’ll be ok in five minutes”, I offered comfort to two chaps who were writhing on the ground at the top of the hill next to their bikes.

It’s easy going from here until the final 150 metre (it seems more) final sharp ascent to Sowerby and welcome refreshments at St Peter’s Community Centre.  By the latter stages most people simply maintain their position, some of the walkers even overtaking those of us who cycle up the steep final hill.

Earlier, when I arrived at the finish, bikes were strewn everywhere, but now, some 4 hours after the start, after Robert and I had got changed and enjoyed some soup and tea, most people had gone home, but the stragglers would be dribbling in for some time to come.

Only geeks – those who enjoy route descriptions and statistics – need read on!

ROUTE DETAILS

Here’s the route – 42 km (26 miles), with 1320 metres of ascent, of which all but a few metres can be managed without dismounting.  On a normal day out I would expect it to take around 4 to 5 hours.

You’ll need Outdoor Leisure map number 21 – South Pennines – to guide yourself around the route, which on ‘CMBM day’ is well signed and marshalled (no map required), but at other times would need care to make all the correct turns.  A GPS may also come in handy as there are numerous paths and side-tracks that may serve to confuse!

1  The official CMBM starts from SE 040 225, down Bowood Lane to the south of Sowerby.  Any other ride could start from Sowerby, where St Peter’s church is a convenient landmark.  From the official start go up a short rise then down to the village of Mill Bank, where a left turn then a sharp right lead you down to the river and steeply up the other side to Soyland Town.  Here take a couple of right turns before going left down Hob Lane until reaching a track on the right, Cote Road.

2  Follow Cote Road past SE 029 200 (point 2), slowly climbing to Flight House Road then the tarmac lane that is Coal Gate Road.  After passing Greave Head, turn left towards Flints Moor, and when a small brick shed is reached turn right along Water Stalls Road.

3  Passing point 3 at SE 013 223, at the end of Water Stalls Road is a short section of tarmac.

4  Point 4, SE 020 235, is passed on this short section before a left turn leads down towards Nab End Quarry.  A sharp right turn along Moor Bottom Lane is followed by a very sharp left turn onto New Lane, which becomes Stake Lane before dropping steeply down a rocky bridleway to the village of Mytholmroyd.  This bit is a little technical in places, but should be rideable with care.  At the bottom take a couple of left turns then go right by the pottery, under the railway and alongside the River Calder on your right.  Past the clog factory on the other side of the river, turn off-road up to the left to re-cross the railway.

5 Point 5, SE 001 264, is the site of a CMBM support point on the railway bridge.  Continue left up the lane and turn right at Wood Top to drop back down to the valley.  Go under the railway and past Hebden Bridge station, then left onto the tarmac of the A646.  Take the main road to the right (A6033) for a kilometre before turning left down the road to Hardcastle Crags.

6  The car parks at New Bridge are point 6 on the above route outline (SD 989 291).  Go right, and up past the top car park then laboriously up the steep lane.

7  At point 7 (SD 987 298), another support point, take a left turn and traverse the hill around Shackleton, then on along easy tarmac to Walshaw Hamlet.

8  At Walshaw Hamlet (SD 974 313) turn sharp right to labour across a shallow valley before ascending beside a stone wall up a slope that can be slippery when wet.  Towards the top of the slope the bridleway crosses to the other side of the wall and winds around Shackleton Knoll before turning right down an entertaining lane to Nook, where a left turn leads down a rocky bridleway (quicker for those with suspension), eventually emerging back onto tarmac at Grain Water Bridge (SD 995 324 – point 9), where drinks and snacks await you on the CMBM.

9  Turn right here to head south along an easy lane to rejoin the A6033 for a speedy descent (you may be able to get up to 40 mph!) to Pecket Well.  Slow down for the right hand curve here, then brake before turning very sharply left at SD 997 295 to climb steeply up towards Delf End.  The start of this climb is the steepest of the day, and you are allowed to dismount (briefly) before the slope eases!  Keep on going upwards for 0.7 km until you reach a clear T-junction near Delf End (SE 004 298 – point 10 – more support).

10 For off-road enthusiasts the next section is superb, as the route turns right towards Moor Side, then left, first hugging the edge of the moor then ascending over the moor past Dimmin Dale, over challenging terrain which is rideable in all but the wettest conditions.  The descent of Midgley Moor to Catherine House (SE 024 288) should be approached with care, as there are steep drops to the left, but it’s rideable if you adjust your centre of gravity correctly.  A left and then a right at Catherine House sees the technical difficulties over, and a nice fast track leads down to a clough, from where a short ascent up ‘Cramp Hill’ (try it and you’ll understand) leads to a cruise down Jerusalem Lane past Jerusalem Farm (SE 037 278 – point 11).

11 Beyond Jerusalem the route takes a sharp left turn in Booth, then very soon it turns right and heads down beside the river past a series of water channels built to power the local mills.  Emerging at Luddenden, you are allowed to take a break at the Lord Nelson, if they’ll let you and your mud through their door!  From here, follow the road between the Weavers and the Coach and Horses and head down to turn left and immediately right at the main A646 road in Luddenden Foot.

12 Cross the canal and the river then turn left (SE 036 250 – point 12) along a lane where another left turn takes you under the railway and steeply up Styes Lane, to join Pinfold Lane, with St Peter’s now in view.  A right turn at the top completes the 26 mile circuit at point 13 – Sowerby – SE 042 232.

Well done!  Let me know if you actually try this route.  I hope you appreciate it as much as the people listed in the statistics below have done over the years.

STATISTICS

We first took part in this event in 2000, and I think it may only have started in 1999.  Here’s how we got on:

2000
Winner – 2 hrs 19 min – 226 finishers – slowest 6 hrs 16 min
Craig: 4 hrs 31 min - 185
Martin: 4 hrs 42 min – 195
Don: 4 hrs 45 min – 201
Sue: 4 hrs 46 min – 202

2001
Winner – 2 hrs 19 min – 276 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 12 min
Craig: 4 hrs 32 min – 248
Liz: 5 hrs 12 min – 275
Don: 5 hrs 12 min – 276
Note: Liz did have a bad crash, and they were delayed as a result of Don’s brother, Nigel’s bike being destroyed by a horse – hence he recorded a DNF and was never seen again!

2002
Winner – 2 hrs 7 min – 269 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 24 min
Robert: 3 hrs 41 min – 192
Martin: 3 hrs 46 min – 204
Alastair: 3 hrs 46 min - 205

2003
Winner – 2 hrs 7 min – 259 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 13 min
Robert: 3 hrs 19 min – 151
David: 3 hrs 31 min – 176 (Robert’s brother)
Alastair: 4 hrs 17 min - 235
Sue: 4 hrs 26 min – 240
Martin: 4 hrs 26 min – 241
Craig: 4 hrs 29 min - 244

2004
Winner – 2 hrs 13 min – 229 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 8 min
Robert: 4 hrs 32 min – 213=
David W: 4 hrs 32 min 213=

2005
Winner – 2 hrs 5 min – 174 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 16 min
Martin: 3 hrs 26 min – 95
Robert: 3 hrs 41 min - 116

2006
Winner – 2 hrs 2 min – 203 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 47 min 
Robert: 3 hrs 19 min – 107
Martin: 3 hrs 22 min – 111 (Starting 2 hours after landing from SF)

2007
Winner – 2 hrs 6 min – 253 finishers – slowest 6 hrs 30 min 
Robert: 3 hrs 7 min – 116
Martin: 3 hrs 15 min - 133

2008
Winner – 2 hrs 11 min – 348 finishers – slowest 6 hrs 40 min 
Robert: 3 hrs 1 min – 109 (impressive new bike!)
Martin: 3 hrs 32 min - 187

2009
Winner – 1 hr 54 min (WOW!) – 426 finishers – slowest 5 hrs 28 min 
Robert: 3 hrs 10 min – 192
Martin: 3 hrs 29 min – 263
We were both slowed by huge crowds of riders; Martin came 3rd out of only 13 ‘over 60’s’ taking part – it must (sadly, and completely without reason) be a sport for the young!

Sunset

This picture was taken on the beach in San Francisco, on 6 October 2006, though I suppose it could just as easily have been taken on, say, Crosby beach. 

You’ll just have to believe me!

Friday 9 October 2009 – John Beatty’s Wild Vision

I’ve just returned from John Beatty’s excellent 2 hour presentation in Bolton to an audience of around 150.

The promo video is below.  I strongly commend this event.  Wonderful stories and wonderful photography.

John Beatty Tour promo from Speakers from the Edge on Vimeo.

The remaining venues are shown in the extract below:

DATES & VENUES

Please click on the links below to book online where possible.  Please note that booking fees may apply.

OCTOBER   
Thurs 22         LONDON    Royal Geographical Society      
0114 250 8048   or click on link to buy tickets from our website
Fri 23             EASTBOURNE    Congress Hall      01323 412 000
Sat 24            GUERNSEY    Whittaker Hall        01481 711361
Wed 28          STIRLING      Albert Halls            01786 473 544
Sat 31            ISLE of LEWIS       An Lanntair Arts Centre                 01851 708 480

NOVEMBER
Fri 6              BARNSTAPLE    Queen’s Theatre       01271 324242
Wed 11         MALVERN          Malvern Theatres      01684 892 277
Fri 13            SOUTHEND       Southend Theatres    01702 351135

JANUARY
Thurs 28        KIRKCALDY        Adam Smith Theatre   01592 583302
Fri 29            INVERNESS         Eden Court                01463 234234
Sat 30           PITLOCHRY *      Festival Theatre        01796 484626

FEBRUARY
Mon 1          BIRMINGHAM       Town Hall Birmingham   0121 7803333
Mon 8          BUXTON               Buxton Opera House     0845 127 2190
Sat 13          BRECON               Theatr Brycheiniog        01874 611622

*Please note John will be appearing at the Festival Theatre in Pitlochry as part of their Winter Words festival.  This will therefore be a shorter version of John's Wild Vision lecture with no interval.

There was no need to book in Bolton, where the full price was £13, and posters diaries and calendars were also on sale.

All in all, a most enjoyable evening.