Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2025 - Deepest Cheshire and a couple of runs

On Friday evening, Sue and I met Andrew and Graeme at Andrew's Cheshire mansion, for a 4.5km stroll from his rural front door.

It's still close enough to midsummer for the daylight to persist until after 10pm, so there was no time pressure for our dawdle through the long grass bordering the fields that in many places are fenced so close to the edge of the rights of way that you have barbed wire on the field side, and very little space to the lush vegetation on the other side.

The best bit of path tonight was that through a field of crops to the lone tree pictured above.

Before that, a rickety stile pointed us through prickly, stingy undergrowth.

A secluded pond was passed before open fields under the unseen watch of Jodrell Bank's telescopes.

The field of hay near Jones's Wood would have been easier on the mown side of the fence, but it was impractical to escape from that side.

Anyway, we were back at Andrew's in time for a welcome beer in his garden, before returning home after the very pleasant evening. Thanks to Andrew for hosting, and here's our route.

Saturday dawned warm and sunny for Wythenshawe parkrun number 625.  There were 61 volunteers today, many of them being pacers at a variety of different times for the 449 runners and walkers. Winston Runners and Dragon Running Club have to be thanked for that. Many of these club members, incuding the Winstons pictured below, are regulars here, as is Run Director Charlie, who is imminently getting married, hence the Tutus.

The start line seemed even longer than usual.

We soon spread out.

By the time the football pitches were reached after 1.5km, my walking pace saw me with a big gap to the people ahead.

The advantage of walking (I took 39:36 in position 387) is that I have good friends who have a coffee waiting for me at the end, by which time Sue had finished in position 134 and had left already to go bellringing.

Saturday lunchtime saw us collecting 'I' for a sleepover, but first a return to Wythenshawe Park for a half hour ride on Truffles. Sue had Inky on this occasion.

Heather had also arrived for a sleepover in our dining room, and whilst 'I' continued her French studies and others relaxed, I attended Sunday morning's Wythenshawe Community Run. Just 51 of us set off around the track. I started last as usual, but caught up with a few folk before finishing the 5km in 31:08, rather more quickly than the previous day!

Sometimes Fechin, in his day a class athlete, is even slower than me. Old age taking its toll!