Friday = Isabella Day (76)

Jump Heaven. We haven't been there for a while. Two hours of joy for Isabella.

Then she wanted a baked potato with beans for lunch, but they had run out of potatoes so she had to make do with a chocolate cupcake. 

Back at home, the campervan had visitors, and a party that lasted all afternoon. 

Wednesday 9 October 2024 - A Phoenix Park Circuit

I'd advertised this ride, so felt obliged to do it despite rain and no other takers apart from Sue, who joined me for a 22km outing to Lymm before turning back. She took the above photo before retreating to Timperley

I left the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) here, taking back roads and tracks to avoid the angry dog walkers of Lymm, before joining the Bridgewater Canal towpath at Moore. Time for elevenses.

On then to Runcorn and Phoenix Park, where the cafe was well sealed up, as expected.

On rejoining the towpath, autumn colours perhaps disguised the fact that it was still raining, albeit fairly gently, on the warm day, so not really at all less than pleasant.

I chose not to go to Norton Priory, as I think the cafe would have been shut. The North Townfield Bridge was crossed where the towpath was deserted in favour of a series of meadow paths, where I found a bench for another coffee break, to reach the Manchester Ship Canal. That canal was crossed, then the Trans Pennine Trail was joined. After a while, that trail re-crossed the Ship Canal, with the M6 and Thelwall Viaduct in view through the old railway bridge at Latchford.

The TPT then follows the disused railway line all the way to the outskirts of Altrincham. It passes by the Lymm Ranger Centre, where I found another bench on which to enjoy the last of my provisions.

There's a huge information board at the Ranger Centre.

The Bridgewater Canal is rejoined before Seamons Bridge, for the final ride home along the towpath, to conclude this gentle 60km ride with about 250 metres ascent. I was home, and the bike was washed, by around 2:30, after our 9:30 start. Here's the route (click on the image to enlarge it).

Reports on previous similar outings can be found here.

Sunday 6 October 2024 Wythenshawe Community Run

Sunday's Community Run saw me marshalling at the statue, and watching 51 runners as they completed the 5km two lap circuit. A further 39 participants chose the 'there and back' 2km course on an unexpectedly fine morning.

I took just a few photos of some of the runners, including some familiar faces, as they cruised past me having either reached half way or, second time round, got to nearly within 1km of the finish at the running track.

Results are here.

 I collected a few mushrooms that were later rejected as 'probably poisonous' by Heather T-S, on her return from a function in London. Never mind, we live to taste another day.

Saturday 5 October 2024 - Around Lyme Park

It was past 11am by the time eleven of us set off again up the Bow Stones path. This time we didn't turn left at the top of the woodland, instead carrying on at a modest strolling pace, above a backdrop of Greater Manchester, to the top of the path at Bow Stones, where an impressive footpath sign pointed us towards Kettleshulme, etc.

Beyond the Bow Stones, a good path led on to Sponds Hill, where we turned right to start our long descent to the Macclesfield Canal.

A navigational faux pas (my fault) led over a barbed wire fence above Bakestonedale to our unexpected arrival at a monument to mining around here. Situated on the lip of a disused quarry, the sealed off pit head has a trig point like memorial to the mining activity.

Ian Delve said this about it in November 2023:

An 1881 OS map of Bakestonedale shows lime kilns, brick kilns, coal shafts and a smithy along the narrow Bakestonedale valley road, near to Hammond's brick works. Ultimately brick production and the associated extraction of coal and fireclay became the sole preserve of Hammond's. Peak District National Park planners eventually put a stop to the industry in the mid 1960s. A number of deep mine shafts remained open until the 1970s when they were capped by the then National Coal Board, leaving distinctive concrete obelisks on the shaft tops.

Shortly before reaching the canal, the Coffee Tavern was passed. Had it been open, we would have offered some custom. As it was, we couldn't resisist taking advantage of the outdoor furniture to enjoy our packed lunches in comfort rather than on a soggy hillside.

The Macclesfield Canal towpath was soon joined, where more refreshments would have been available had we required them.

A sunny Sunday afternoon had brought out a good number of walkers and cyclists, as well as an assortment of barges.

We missed our turn off the canal and chose a route leading to the entrance to Lyme Park near Platt Wood Farm.

After following the sign to Lyme Park, we soon realised that due to closed paths (rutting season?) we were heading to the entrance in Disley rather than the Hall and the car park, so we re-traced our steps and headed along the path towards Green Farm. It was uphill, but correct, and we were soon back inside the Park, where The Cage came into view to confirm our position to any doubters.

Earlier, we had been first into the Park at 8:30. Now the car park was overflowing and the place was heaving with activity. It seemed a long time since we had arrived for the early morning parkrun.

We'd walked the best part of 16km, with 350 metres ascent, arriving back at the car park in mid afternoon. A lovely walk, in excellent weather.

Saturday 5 October 2024 - Lyme Park parkrun #474

Here are some of Saturday's 'tourists' at Lyme Park parkrun. L to R: Keith, Carol, Phil, SueW, Sue B, Jenny, Martin. Paul F and Andy W missed the photo, and Richard and Nigel didn't run.

It's up the hill towards the Bow Stones path to the start, where the run director was keen to acknowledge that today was the 20th anniversary of 'parkrun'.

Some of our team were keener than others to get to the front of the 149 participants. Carol was less keen!

The first kilometre is relentlessly uphill. I walked.

We turned left into some sunlit woodland, before heading up again to a left turn.

It's still uphill.

Soon I managed to catch up with Jenny, who had been walking faster than me.

The last of the hills for a while - we steadily approached 'The Cage', an ancient hunting lodge. It's described here.

Richard lay in wait with a camera, but he arrived too late for most of the action!

Then it was a gentle run over rough ground to get back to the bottom of the hill, with Greater Manchester laid out before us.

There were nine in our group, led home by Phil, with Jenny bringing up the rear at a walking pace most of us could only dream of.

The first three celebrated while waiting for Keith to stumble home.

All nine of us posed with Richard at the finish.

Our stats are below, and the full results for the 149 participants are here.

Given our wide age range, the age related percentages are a better guide to performance than the finishing positions.

Here's the 5km route, which unusually for a parkrun is just a single lap.

We enjoyed coffees and butties, etc, at the nearby cafe, before eleven of us (the nine runners plus Richard and Nigel) set off on a 16km hike.

What a great way to start the weekend!