Also known as ‘A Christmas Bimble’, today’s walk is a long standing tradition that I’ve been responsible for since the 1970’s. Detailed research could identify the exact date, but I haven’t time for that now. Back in those days I was lucky to get four people along, and we used it as a planning session for the year ahead.
Today I was expecting 33 people from far and wide, and two dogs, one (Kate) from Bath, the other (Rowan) from Long Preston. They all turned up. A credit to the health of the nation?!
My son Mike was in particularly good form, having gone in the flash of a gymslip from the last person to be picked in any team, to the recipient of a magnificent trophy at his local gym. (The trophy is in his left hand!)
It even has an engraved plate. It felt to me about the weight of a brick, but to strongman Mike it might seem a bit lighter.
We set off from the car park to the south of Tideswell soon after 10.30; a crocodile of 32 people and two dogs, Andrew having elected to take a shorter route. Footpaths led us past the village of Litton, near where the top picture was taken. We took the same route as on 11 December 2016, the report on which is here.
There were very few pictures taken today. They are something of an unwanted distraction when you have 33 people and two dogs to keep in order.
We wandered down Tansley Dale and stopped in the sunshine in Cressbrook Dale, where Sue distributed an entire batch of caramel shortbread during our elevenses break.
The crocodile then ambled gently upwards, with good views to Cressbrook Dale and beyond.
Fieldfares and redwings accompanied us on the path to Wardlow. Earlier we had been surprised to see a flock of parrots outside Mike’s house in Northern Moor!
The Crispin was reached in good time for our one o’clock Christmas lunch. We knew they had another group in so the kitchen would be stretched. We were in no hurry, as people needed lots of time to complete my (traditional) picture quiz. I made it easier than previously and the six teams got remarkably close scores, with the joint winners on 23/30. I’ll upload it as a separate posting in due course – it generated fewer complaints than usual.
The service and food were excellent. We will be booking again for next year. I took a few rather pathetic snaps.
Next year I’ll co-opt someone to run riot with my camera.
One team got bored with the quiz and started on TGO Challenge vetting… whilst Carmen got up to date with her homework.
After quite a while, we set off again.
It got dark fairly soon, but this was expected (it’s that time of year). Andrew left us to recover his car from Upperdale, and the rest of us proceeded through three tunnels then up Tideswell Dale, to reach the car park at 5 pm.
Here’s our route – 15 km with 400 metres ascent. I walked the same route last Wednesday, so I was pleased not to get displaced with such a large group!
Thank you everyone, that was a most enjoyable day out. Long may they continue.
2 comments:
Glad it was a good day for you all, we did think of you. It was very windy here but we did manage a 10km beach walk.
Thanks Alan, we missed you, but it was a good turnout and perfect weather. The rain started as we left the car park!
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