Tuesday 7 July 2026 - Spunch Mellor

Spunch comes to Mellor, where the satellite points to be visited are almost all in the lovely countryside of the margins of the Peak District, so today's outing was somewhat undulating but offered some lovely early evening views. Sue and I started soon after 5:30, after when the cloud cover slowly cleared, providing the sunlit view of the church at Mellor seen in the picture above.

Back to our start... As I am suffering from Ischia Bursitis (Bum Pain) I've been told not to run for six weeks, so I enjoyed a two hour walk, covering about 10km, and Sue set off running in the opposite direction, covering over 14km in the two hours allowed for this event.

I soon met her coming the other way, in the fields on the path to/from Moorend.
 

It was a slow plod up to a high point, next to a hedge on an overgrown path, with good views in my rear view mirror.

Sue had time to pause for a picture of some Yellow Loosestrife.

Spunching is a family activity as well as a challenging activity for runners.

After a short diversion to pick up point 42, I went back up to a small pond and a high route to the disused quarry that houses a large cross. We've been here on evening walks with Stockport Walking and Outdoors Group (SWOG). En route to the quarry there were good views back into the Peak District.

After a short dogleg to pick up point 17, these two came flying past me.

While they went down the hill towards The Banks, I joined others in a bid to find all five points within the vicinity of the quarry. I don't know how I managed to miss point 4!

Meanwhile, Sue was approaching from the other direction. She had no trouble in finding all five points in the quarry.

After that, Sue headed along Black Lane. "You must be Spunchers, Andy will like that picture!"

Rosebay Willowherb is coming into flower beside Black Lane.

After crossing Longhurst Lane at point 68, I enjoyed a final climb up through vineyards to Mellor Church.

Then it was a short dash past the archaeological excitements in the vicinity of the church (see here for more details on a more leisurely visit) to grab point 27 before strolling down the hill and there and back to point 29, before finishing nearly 9 minutes inside the 120 minute deadline.

Sue soon arrived and we were tucking in to chicken curry and pints with over 100 other participants on a lovely evening in the garden of the Devonshire Arms.

Here are the results for the 33 '120' participants. Walking the route I'd chosen seemed to work well, and Sue managed on her own despite some 'uncertainty' at the golf course.

Here's a screenshot of my 10km route with 300 metres ascent. The green circles are the 40 points I visited and the solid blue line shows my approximate route between the points.

Here's the same screenshot for Sue - full page this time as she covered 51 ppoints in a wider area.

This final screenshot shows Sue's route in the context of the whole area. (Click on the image.)

That was a lovely outing in wonderful countryside, though I fear my Ischia Bursitis didn't appreciate it, so I'll be a bit slower next rime!

Monday 6 July 2026 - A Hot Pot Supper with the Dixie Beats

This was another great night of jazz with the Dixie Beats and a full house of around 100 jazz fans at Eagley Jazz Club in Bolton. They are in full flow above, beyond the raffle prizes.
 

What a way to spend a warm summer's evening. The fliers, with all the information you should need, are below. As usual, click on the images for better versions.

Saturday 4 July 2026 - Wythenshawe parkrun #673

Back to normal, after missing a few weeks - there are no parkruns in Romania, and very few people out running there - and it's one of Richard Evans' quick briefings before 404 runners and walkers set off on two laps of the nice dry course with no obstacles.

And they are off.

I was even closer to the back than usual as an Ischia bursitis (aka Pain in the Bum) problem means that for the moment running is out of the question for me. I tracked Mark Jones (yellow t-shirt below) all the way to the finish, my walking pace just matching his run/walk technique.

That gave me time for a short chat with Mark Critchley, who was marshalling at Far Bridge.

Looking back from there - there were very few people behind me as I walked round in 46:51, in position 396/404.

Full results are here, and Jeanette was able to brag about coming seventh in the age related results, just ahead of Paul and Sue. After being plagued with injuries for so long, this was a great achievement. (Don't overdo it Jeanette!)

Time for a well earned coffee and cake.

Friday 3 July 2026 - A Bollin Valley Stroll

Today was supposed to be GM Ringway Stage 11, but we are in a period of travel disruption and we didn't fancy the replacement bus service to Littleborough.

So Sue and I met Paul, Jeanette and Sue W at 11am at Altrincham Interchange, for a short walk in the Cheshire countryside. We didn't really start until after a bacon buttie and coffee stop at the Two Brothers Café in Altrincham, after which suburban streets led to a ginnel beside a collapsing graveyard in Bowdon (above).

Our route passed across a small area of parkland to the side of Al and Hazel's allotment, avoiding the public footpath that Sue can be seen on that has been allowed to get completely overgrown.

Soon we were passing The Priory on paths leading to a familiar bridge over the River Bollin. No children playing there today, and the whole area looks different from usual thanks to the crops that are growing here.

Beyond the bridge, more crops, and an attempt by Sue to achieve an artistic portrayal of them.

Pineappleweed dominated the verges.

Welsh Poppies and Oxeye Daisies were abundant as we pressed on towards Ashley after crossing a footbridge over the M56 motorway.

The path near Stock Farm to Ashley cricket ground had not been preserved by the farmer, whose crop we could have trampled, but we were kind, and followed tractor tracks that led roughly to where we wanted to be.

That was ... to a sheltered spot under a tree next to the cricket ground, where refreshments were offered to those of us (me and Sue) who were travelling light. I think we all managed to enjoy a coffee (thanks P+J) and some delicious cherries (thanks Sue W).

Continuing past Ashley Hall, Hogweed now took centre stage in the verges.

We passed Brit Fest entrances. This appears to be a fairly major event.

Beyond that, a pleasant path beside the River Bollin, which we crossed again at Ashley Heath before making our way through Rosehill to Paul and Jeanette's house in Hale for chocolate biscuits and iced coffee in their garden on the warm, sunny afternoon.

Here's our route - 11.5km with very little ascent, taking 4 hours including a long break in Hale, before Sue W and Sue and I returned home via Altrincham Interchange. A lovely little excursion.