Sunday 4 June 2023 - Another Visit to Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb

Shelsley Walsh is the oldest motorsport venue in the world still to run events on the original course and is older than Indianapolis, Le Mans or Monza.

Sunday was the perfect day for a visit. Sue's mum and dad joined us, travelling in the MG pictured above. If I'd still had my 1972 Ford Capri, I'd have come in that. It was a rather better version than the yellow object in the photo - mine was bright blue with a black vinyl roof, pictured below on a trip to Istanbul. Happy Days!

Back in the Shelsley paddock, a selection of vehicles was preparing to storm up the hill, whilst we enjoyed breakfast in the sunshine.

Visitors' vehicles were duly admired. My first car was a green version of the Mini pictured below.

Sue and I went up the hill to watch from a selection of vantage points. It's steeper than it looks!

At the top there are good views across Worcestershire from a lovely buttercup meadow.

The commentators have an encyclopaedic knowledge of everyone and their cars who are competing, from cleverly placed boxes on the course.

Buzzards circled continuously overhead.

We settled down to watch from a few spots on the hill.

This tatty Austin Seven took pride of place amongst the visiting Jaguars and Ferraris. Our friend Barry had one of these for a while. He only just fitted into it. It had a roof.

After our alfresco lunch we pottered off, back up the hill.

The next picture is for Conrad (Sir Hugh) - albeit I know it's not quite the model of company car in which he used to go racing.

There were some very powerful motors on show - these get up the hill in as fast as 23 seconds, whereas the slower racers take over 40 seconds.

That was a lovely day out.

Sadly we missed Mike Dunne's Memorial Run at Wythenshawe (see previous blog entry), but he was in our thoughts as Sue and I completed a virtual 5km up and down the hilly course, taking over an hour.

Goodbye Michael

Michael Dunne (487 above) recently passed away after a brief battle with cancer. I first encountered him at Wythenshawe parkrun some eleven years ago. We ran at about the same pace, so I had many encounters with him, chatting about running and holidays and stuff, though Michael put everything into his running, leaving not a lot of breath to talk whilst running!

Mike became a good 'running' friend, and I helped him whenever possible to collect the course marker cones after the Sunday morning Community Runs at Wythenshawe, of which he was so supportive.

The following pictures are taken from the Community Run's facebook page.

Last Sunday 141 runners, far more than usual, turned up for Mike's Memorial Run at Wythenshawe Park. Sadly I couldn't make it, but Paul and Fechin addressed those present and Mike was given a good send off.

I've found witnessing Mike's fairly rapid decline rather distressing. Albeit restricted to running activities, he was a good friend and is sorely missed.

Unfortunately Mike is not alone; this week I've received news of another UMIST contemporary being very ill, and it's not long since John Heald (another UMIST friend) passed away in March.

The sun is shining. Bye for now.

Saturday 3 June 2023 - A Parkrun, Isabella, and Disney

Wythenshawe parkrun #525: Michael, Isabella and Dinosaur turned up to join Grandad and Grandma.

Isabella is still wearing her coronation Crown!

After the usual warm up, and lots of clapping from Dinosaur when the 'milestones' were announced, Isabella and crew set off behind the 336 participants who made it around the two laps of the course. (Full results are here, for what they are worth.)

Afterwards, coffee from the pony kiosk, and a clamber in the playground.

Meanwhile, Kate, Jacob and Jessica were enjoying themselves in ***** (the picture says it all!)

Friday 2 June 2023 - Y Garn and the Glyders

 
This is one of my favourite walks, and a surprise that I haven't followed the route since 10 October 2018.

Today's weather matched that in 2018, and Sue and I enjoyed he 12km circuit at a leisurely pace, taking over 7 hours compared with the usual 5 hours taken for this walk. I am slowing down.

It was busy by Llyn Ogwen, but we found a space to park about a 15 minute walk from Ogwen Cottage. At least that enabled us to relish the flat start, with good views along Llyn Ogwen.

After an 8 o'clock start from home, a walk, and a leisurely coffee and cake at the Visitor Centre, it was 11 o'clock by the time we set off up the hill.

They have installed some posts with holes that you can look through to see the hill that is named on the post.

The path to Llyn Idwal is very well surfaced and accommodates hundreds of walkers every day.

Tormentil

We left the crowds after reaching Llyn Idwal, and slowly rose up the slopes of Y Garn, meeting just three people before encountering a guided group of 10 or so on the summit. This picture taken near Llyn Idwal shows the majority of our day's route - click on the image for a better version.

The sky was a clear blue colour, but thankfully it wasn't too hot.

The summit of Y Garn reveals good views of the Snowdon massif and beyond - towards the Llŷn Peninsula.

In the other direction, the Carnedds and Tryfan.

Down at Llyn y Cwm, we found a fine spot for lunch, under the beady eyes of a watchful herring gull.

A further short but slow slog got us up to the 1001 metre summit of Glyder Fawr.

There's a good view back to the eroded path up Y Garn.

Ahead, the gnarly summit of Glyder Fach.

There were the usual good views across to Snowdon.

I'm sure we took some pictures at the summit of Glyder Fach, reached with some rock climbing children - Sue must have them.

She then ventured onto the Cantilever rock for a bit of yoga.

Then it was down to the Tryfan col path junction for another break and to finish off our second flask.

The path down from here is strewn with bags of rocks that will be eased into position by way of reparation of the eroded route.

The stile at Tryfan col marks the start of the final, sometimes rocky, descent to Ogwen Cottage.

The water in Llyn Bochlwyd looked pretty cold, but that wasn't putting off some hardy 'wild swimmers'.

Here's the 12km (or so) route, which involves over 1000 metres ascent. It's a classic. Today it took us nearly 7.5 hours, but in the past it has taken just 5 hours.

Fish (three fishes actually) and chips in a park in Ruthin rounded off a great day out.