Summer in Timperley

A typical summery weekend:

Starts with a parkrun - 5 km in less than 30 minutes and a leisurely coffee or two afterwards.

Here’s a serial offender before the start. If you click on the image you’ll see behind Jan in the background, Andy W playing with his banana, a race director (Andy H) trying to marshal his troops, and on the far right – Andrew W, one time Commonwealth Games silver medallist (cycling pursuit, Edinburgh) limbering up for 5 km in 19 minutes.

The park was simply studded with elite performers today. On the right in this picture, looking on and asking “Where’s the gazebo?” is Ken B, capable of sub 21 minute five kilometre runs well into his 70s, despite the ‘muddy passage’.

We used to need a table for two for our coffees, now it's a table for ten or more. 'Parkrun brings a steady stream of new friends' is a comment that applies to not only Wythenshawe's participants but to parkrunners all over the planet.

Here are today’s results, and last week’s summary statistics for parkrun UK (including junior parkrun) were:
87,625 parkrunners
8,932 volunteers
6,546 first-timers
14,682 Personal Bests

Even Oliver must have been impressed by the turnout of expensive apricot customised t-shirts, even if he did turn his back on them.

That left me with several tasks for fellow parkrunners, including a Moelwyn project for TGO Challenger Jenny. How refreshing it is to revisit 'Wild Walks' and also Walter Poucher's Welsh guidebook, with their general impressions of routes rather than the precise guidance that may be the current vogue.

Then, back at home, a visit from Jacob and Jessica and their parents, with a trip to the park, ice creams, and a barbecue, with lots of hanging about trying to catch Pokémon characters.

Sunday saw Richard and Jenny picking us up for a morning stroll from Monyash in sunny weather. Here we are near the start.

Just two hours were spent on easy paths including the Limestone Way and the High Peak Trail. Here we are strolling past rampant wild flowers along Hutmoor Butts to a Donkey Sanctuary.

You wouldn't want to spend too much time on the High Peak Trail at a weekend unless you are on a bicycle, as they rule the roost on days like today. (Despite there being none in these pictures!)

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After leaving the High Peak Trail and its harebells and clover at Pomeroy, we took a short break then found a pleasant path back to the Limestone Way.

A field of cows, complete with a beefy bull, might have been expected to freak Jenny, but she passed by unscathed whilst the docile bull gave Sue a good lick.

There are some lovely footpath signs hereabouts, this one directing us amiably past a nice looking campsite and back to Monyash.

Here’s our route – 9 km in two hours, with minimal ascent.

After tea and sandwiches in Monyash, the metropolis of Bonsall was visited, where Richard abandoned his spectacles and Mr and Mrs Williams guided us (I'm not sure why) to Hulland Ward and District Village Hall, where Pam and Paul were celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary with tea and lots, Really Lots, of cake. Luckily there was a squad of retired teachers ready to spring into action to separate the quarrelsome pair (just joking!) and settle the argument as to who had eaten the most cake. We all gave it our best shot!

Congratulations, P & P!