24 to 27 November 2022 - Beside the Canals, and a Bit of Running

Autumn is fading to winter along the canal, as the trees drop their last leaves and the robin that lives beside the 'Walton Perk' cafe barge becomes more eager for titbits.

Mushrooms could be crossed off the shopping list when I spotted two white blobs in the undergrowth just beyond the robin's perch. These 'blobs' turned out to be a couple of delicious field mushrooms that later enhanced our dinner.

That was Thursday, on a walk to the shops in Sale. Friday brought a lovely sunny day on which I cycled a 'lolipop' circuit along the towpath to Throstles Nest Bridge, then beside the Ship Canal to Eccles, via the BBC's buildings at Salford Quays.

After crossing back over the Ship Canal at the Barton swing bridge, the towpath led me back home via 'Waters Meet', passing on the way a pleasantly lit barge outside the Trafford Centre.

On Saturday morning Cary encouraged us to visit the Bramhall parkrun. This was an early venue on the parkrun circuit, and Cary wanted to take part in its 666th event. Some parkrunners 'collect' stuff in the same way as some walkers 'bag' mountain summits. Cary does both. The weather was fine for the 537 participants who turned up - far more than usual; I wonder why? We chatted to a bloke who had driven all the way from Falkirk just to do this #666 parkrun!

The route is an entertaining two lap affair, around the impressive Bramhall Hall.

Sue and I posed beside the ubiquitous sign. The chap from Falkirk is in yellow.

The start was somewhat congested and the run was slow going. Good fun though.

Here's Cary, looking happy at the finish as he queues to have his barcode token scanned. Full results are here.

SWOG's Campbell joined in for a photo opportunity, then we went home via coffee with some Wythenshawe parkrunners at the Courtyard Cafe, and Sue went of to a Bridgewater Gardens event followed by a meal with friends in a noisy pub.

Sunday morning, and where are we now?

That plaque is on Lindow Common, near Black Lake, which is home to a wide range of bird life.

Near the car park is a wood carving above a plaque - 'In Loving Memory - Alan McNulty - 1940 - 2014'.

We were there for the Wilmslow Festive 10km race, where Sue had been inducted as a 'Barber', who were doing this race as a family, but Jeanette is injured so Sue took her place.

I set up shop with my Indian bell part way down the first kilometre. The leaders raced past.

Then I walked back across the Common and reached the finish just as the winner arrived.

Philip Sesemann took just 29:21, and the chap shown below finished in the top 10 a little later. Here are the full results.

I took no further pictures, distracted by the Indian bell, that I rang constantly for about half an hour, encouraging the runners from a point just 500 metres before the finish.

There were 3242 finishers and I think all the Barbers (except maybe Paul who may have gone quicker in his youth) achieved PBs:

Laura - 37:13
Greg - 38:47
Paul - 42:51 (second in his VM65-69 age group by just a few seconds - well done!)
Frankie - 56:59

and Sue - 49:48 - beating her PB of 52:34 set on 23 May 2004.

[My PB was also set on 23 May 2004 - 45:00, on the Bupa Greater Manchester run. In those days parkrun didn't exist and we just did a bit of untimed jogging.]

We adjourned to the Barber residence for bacon butties, coffee and cake with various other friends. Many thanks for that. What a splendid morning.

Wednesday 14 November 2007 - Worsley Woods - some photos

It's autumn here in Timperley, with very few goings on for these pages in between 'running' weekends.

I've realised that I still have several hundred 'unprocessed' file of digital images. A random click, this afternoon, took me to a few images from Worsley Woods on 14 November 2007, which I've now indexed, and I publish them below. While I write this, Sue is actually off to the Worsley area for an event at the Bridgewater Gardens, which probably hadn't been thought of back in 2007.

Having started this blog in October 2007, the report on this walk was an early entry on these pages - with a link to a page on topwalks.com, where I provided meticulous details of the route.

So there's no need for further commentary on this 12km walk, especially as some of the pictures shown below are of information boards. (Click on an image for a slideshow with readable images.)

Monday = Isabella Day (31) and some jazz

The transfer from Fridays to Mondays for looking after Isabella went well apart from taking an hour to get her from Didsbury to Timperley - traffic chaos due to the closure of the A560 main road.

Then we dashed out for a short tram ride to Sale, and a stroll for Izzie's first visit to 'Explore and Play', where all today's pictures were taken. (Click on any one of them for a slideshow.)

No need for a commentary...

In the evening Sue and I enjoyed the Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz Band at Eagley Jazz Club. Here they are - Deano Revera (bass), John Hallam (reeds), Jim Lucas (trumpet), Andrew Mackenzie (trombone), Rae Owens (banjo) and a stand in drummer, Tony?, who we were told had played for some notable bands.

Wythenshawe parkrun #500, some Crazy Golf, and a Community Run

November mist lingered in Wythenshawe Park whilst 356 runners and walkers, and 31 volunteers, assembled for the 500th edition of this popular parkrun.

The hall, overlooked by Oliver Cromwell, gleamed in the strong sunlight.

Volunteers and early arrivals gathered beside the boggy area next to a big tree.

A few folk could be seen warming up, but despite the coolish morning, the lack of wind made it feel quite warm.

A display in appreciation of the dozen or so Run Directors since the event started on 6 August 2011 was admired by all. Their time commitment is huge, and is really much appreciated by all participants.

Click on the image for a readable version

After the usual 'First Timers' Briefing', we made our way to the start.

Some of those who took part in the first run were required to take a bow.

Then it was time to go.

I was not on the inaugural run - my first parkrun was at Oldham on 8 October 2011, my first at Wythenshawe was on 3 December 2011 (event number 18). Today's was my 300th parkrun. On hearing this Mike Dunne, flanked by Michelle and Vicky, insisted on a photo. This was Mike's 405th parkrun outing - a true parkrun veteran who I've got to know well as we are exactly the same age, and run at a very similar pace.

Coffee in the courtyard followed, with a marathon bar code token sorting session that wasn't helped by the level of incompetence shown by some who should know better! (They are hiding in the background below - I would never accuse Tris or Alan of incompetence!) 

Full results are here. As commonly occurs, Sue was first home in her age group, a long way ahead of me.

Then Sue and I shot off to Bacup for an afternoon with Kate and the grandchildren. We enjoyed a round of crazy golf, before which Jessica used her skills as a wizard to shrink Grandma.

The next three pictures show us on the course. Great fun, despite lots of cheating.

Then on Sunday I was back in Wythenshawe Park, volunteering in the woods near the naughty underpants tree. I'm supposed to protect little ones on the 2 km run from any monsters that might leap out from the trees!

After the little ones are all safely through I move to a corner where there's just a remote chance of runners failing to find their way. A couple of clicks on the camera record this mundane parkland scene.

The weekend concluded most amenably with a visit from Al and Hazel for dinner and Rummikub, with Sue concocting a delicate and tasty tomato, mozarella and basil starter.

The main course must have been a success, as our visitors left with the recipe (a slow cook version of beef stroganoff).