'Pilgrimage to Portree' - 18 to 26 March 1994

 

This is a report on a rather wet week in Portree, for me (MB), Martin W (MW) Dave S (DS) and John M (RIP) (JM). It's triggered by my desire to get rid of some old photos. These were in a small album (see above) together with a few from the 1994 Bogle Stroll, on which I've already reported. 

 

Considering the report indicates new camera equipment was being used and 'lots of photos' is a recurring theme, the paucity and poor quality of said photos is somewhat disappointing. Maybe I'll come across some more photos or slides, but I doubt it.

 

The entry will be of little interest to most readers, so feel free to skip it, but it's 'quaint' as a personal record, and I hope that both DS and MW will gain a little amusement from reading it.

 

I've added a few explanatory comments in blue. 

Pilgrimage to Portree 

Friday 18 March 1994 (Author - MB)

Late arrival at South Drive of JM and MW - both delayed due to ("signalling failures") BR inefficiency - enabled packing to take place before rather than after a pleasant meal at the Tandoori Kitchen. Both MB and DS having been delayed at work (Arrows/hard disc failure).

 

Saturday 19 March (MB)

Set off from Dave's at 7 am, with plenty of space in new Mondeo motor. Uneventful journey with breakfast at Gretna, tea stop at Callendar and a 2-hour lunch/food shop stop at Fort William.

A lovely day with stunning views, especially of the Lakes from south of Preston onwards. Hit a shower beyond Glencoe, and there was thick cloud thereafter.

Arrived at Portree by 6 pm (430 miles/7½ hours driving) and soon found Portree House and got installed in a fairly luxurious cottage - an old outbuilding conversion rather than the commonly encountered prefab buildings.

Portree by Saturday night (D/M/M) was not an overwhelmingly thrilling experience but it did serve to walk off the effects of a large dose of spaghetti Bolognese.

Early night / good sleep.

Music shops abound in Portree - MW's mandolin may need attention? My old Philips tape recorder is rejuvenated following plug replacement (thanks to the cottage TV, which won't be turned on all week). New tapes used on the journey include DSM(PF), Bix Beiderbecke, Oscar Peterson, and some classical favourites, plus MW's old jazz favourites.

 

Sunday 20 March (MB)

Wake to clear blue sky and a cool breeze. Debate as to Cuillins, The Storr, or Quiraing. Cloud arrives and The Storr gets the vote. Cloud on top as we start, but we set off undeterred. Snow line is virtually sea level. Tramp up through soft snow before being hit by a snowy squall - with overtrousers on, a snowball fight ensues and DS loses. (Disputed.) On up to the Old Man of Storr - quite a slog in deep snow, where we enjoy a welcome break and coffee. Superb view and the weather has improved.

 

 

On to the Needle (down the steep slope) then contour around to Coire Scamadal, with the lochan some way below. Up to the ridge, which is split at this point. Poucher's route (P396) "...proceed carefully to the left ... climb ... skirt ... yawning gullies ...", etc. (Note that for many years we sought route advice from Walter Poucher, by way of his 'Scottish Peaks' and 'Welsh Peaks' books. My copies are very battered, as are the Wainwright guides that we used for inspiration in the Lake District.)

We take a direct route to the distant ridge which appears to be near the summit. Anyway, our route looked well trodden higher up. Off we went, the 'higher up' well trodden bit turned out to be avalanche debris. MW led the way over steepening ground, culminating in a near vertical haul up over a cornice onto the summit plateau. (A fall would have been easy, but not disastrous due to the copious amount of soft snow.) No one else around. Axes used for the final thrutch.

 

 

 

Spent about an hour on the top (719 metres). Pleasant lunch, no wind, stupendous views, Cuillins now clear, Torridon almost clear, Harris completely covered in snow. Lots of photos, including experiments - MB has a new mini tripod - seems to work well, if precarious looking (what if it's windy?).

Eventually stroll south down the Trotternish Ridge, elect not to descend by the steep gully used on previous occasions, and go some way down before reaching the burn described by Poucher. After a bit of trouble (JM) we go down this and stroll across the moorland back to the car by 2.45 (we left around 10 am.)

 

 

Here's the route - 9 km with 820 metres ascent.

 

 

Back to the cottage for a lazy afternoon, phone call attempts (MW is in love), Dave has invented 's-mail' - this involves the use of copious quantities of loo roll but does not affect his 'Michelin Man' physique.

Much sleeping (especially Dave, who manages to slot in two hours in bed between sh**s (or should that be sheets?).

JM's sleeping potion is in the form of Scientific American. MB stays awake by trying to work out how to cook the gammon from his Xmas hamper. (Succeeds.)

 

Monday 21 March (MW)

Rather overcast this morning. We are slow to start, partly impeded by the enormous breakfast preparations for D, J and MB. Porridge, followed by a fry-up of egg, leftover potatoes, bacon, sausages, toast and goodness knows what else. I opted for a simple line in muesli and toast. (MW was a vegetarian who enjoyed trips such as this one but ate separately from everyone else - it seems to have stood him in good stead.)

[Martin now tells me he is "pescatarian" and has been since a trip to Corfu with Julie when he got fed up eating omelettes and pizzas, while she had delicious looking fish dishes. He gave in. He, like me, now finds cans of mackerel a good backpacking meal with pasta.]

But really there is no great rush today as we decide that a walk to Loch Coruisk is a good bet, and set off at "the crack of 9.30" (one of JM's masterful "contrapuntal" statements) and drive to Kirkibost.

We take the path just to the south which is a good track Camasunary.

 

 

 

A sleety/drizzly sort of start with low cloud. MW discovers a hammock made from discarded fishing net and supported between scaffolding hoops that must at one time have formed a polythene covered nursery/greenhouse growing space.

 

 

 

Just past Camasunary is a bothy. An intriguingly attired couple ('hippies' for want of a better description) make their way towards it as we make for the ford across Abhainn Camas Fhionnairigh. Much hilarity as MB slips on the stones in front of the paparazzi. Chilly coffee stop.

Thence on to the coast path to Rubha Ban, where JM unaccountably turns back.

(JM was our resident Munro bagger, but he lost confidence after an accident in the Alps and some of us lost contact with him in the late 1990s. I don't think he ever managed to complete his Munro round, which is a great shame. Someone must have stayed in touch, as I recall seeing his obituary a few years ago.) [I've now appended it below.]

Decent if occasionally rocky path, intermittently wet - and still low cloud.

The 'Bad Step' is a large rocky, rounded and fairly smooth outcrop that forms an obstacle to progress along the coast. The major difficulty is climbing a 4 inch diagonal crack that leads up its face. Although fairly exposed (potential 20 foot fall into the sea) there are parallel cracks wide enough for fingers, and it presents no problems for MB and MW (though MW took a wrong turn and had to gingerly backtrack). Once at the other side we waited for DS who did not appear. Not wishing to go back to the crack any more than necessary we walked along the coast a little until he could be seen shining resplendent and blue in his waterproofs. Eyeing him through binoculars he made some incomprehensible gestures before turning his back and setting off down the track.

MW and MB continued to Loch Coruisk and sat by this isolated body of water for lunch and coffee.

 

 

Just a few seagulls watched us from the safety of an even more isolated island. Cloud was low, and the impression, I am sure, was not the best the place has to offer.

We returned after only a short stay, to the 'Bad Step' where MB favoured a 'sitting' descent of the crack, whilst MW preferred a 'reverse climb'.

Fairly speedy return to Camasunary, where there is no sign of DS and JM.

Several people inhabit the bothy, though since it's not marked as a bothy I am unsure whether to intrude. We catch sight of the others around about the track summit (Am Main) and return to the car for about 5 pm. Weather is unchanged, though perhaps it is drizzling more than sleeting now.

Home to supper while wet clothes adorn the cottage. Michelin Man adopts various couch potato poses (eg with hands resting on expanding girth) in armchair and settee but eventually finds even these too exhausting and takes up a prostrate position behind the sofa JM retires at 10 pm and MB now at 10.30 is asleep in an armchair.

Alas, middle age is upon us.

 

Here's our route - 17 km with760 metres ascent.

 

 

Tuesday 22 March (DS)

Usual preliminaries lead to a latish start - Portree for some more shopping, and Dave phoning work (hard disc crash etc). MB buys a fish slice that is heat friendly - he melted the plastic one supplied in the cottage. Weather variable - high cloud and heavy wind. Some sun, some rain.

Set off for the Quiraing, to the north. The road climbs quite high up a 1 in 7 / 15% hill. At the top where we park it's very windy. Opening the door is an effort - wrap up warm. Footpath engineers are in a van - we walk along their handiwork. J&D rapidly forge ahead.

 

 

The two Ms are soon 'lost' and can't be seen. After waiting for an age and going back to look for them, J and D carry on. Decide to go up a gully to the left and select a suitable one to try. Very slippery and steep, then eventually came across a scree slope with a path which was an easier way up. Then we can go no further, so go down scree and up into the near gully - again steep and slippery.

The two Ms are seen again and start coming up - they have been to The Prison - a rock formation on the other side of the valley. Very steep and unpleasant grass seems to have featured a lot.

After coffee in a precarious position, J and D don't make much further progress. So we follow the Ms up another path which eventually leads to The Table, a lovely plateau. Snowball cricket is tried but it doesn't seem to work.

 

 

Off down a steep slope to rejoin the lower path, then set off around the back and up the ridge to find the summit - Meall na Suiramach (543 metres). Very windy. Lots of photos. Good views. Walk downhill to car. Dave gets bum wet falling down - no overtrousers. Coffee in car, then back to base listening to Classical Experience ll tapes. Jigsaw started in cottage.

 

Here's our route - 8 km with 700 metres ascent.

 

 

Wednesday 23 March (MB)

"Hut" breakfast of tea in bed courtesy of DS, 7.30 am, with NO BISCUITS, heralded another wet and windy, not to put too fine a point on it, day.

There was no sense of urgency in breakfast, and consequently no skimping either. By 10 am the work on the 'Cluedo - Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle' had recommenced. Soon it found a more hospitable venue on the table, as middle-aged backs and knees were beginning to stiffen from unaccustomed awkward positions.

By 4 pm significant progress had been made, so the Ms decided to take a short walk to Portree Heritage Centre, the other side of town. We achieved this between squalls, encountering many coach loads of kids on their way home from school to various parts of the island.

The Heritage Centre comprises a gift shop, restaurant and exhibition. It was surprisingly busy, except for the exhibition which was being renovated and would not open until 28 March.

On leaving, the squall which had started soon after we arrived, afforded us the luxury of a bright double rainbow over Portree. MW left in favour of the music shop, which he found to be closed. MB braved the woodland walk - a 40 minutes or so stroll with an excellent viewpoint about 150 metres up. Lots of dark woods - see walk 37 in Mary Welsh's book imaginatively titled 'Walks on the Isle of Skye'.

Returned via the Presto (Safeway) supermarket for more food and booze, then back to find the denouement had taken place in my absence - it was Colonel Mustard with the electric drill and the piece of chain 'what crushed the Doctor's head like a melon'!

That challenge over, Dave set about Super Monaco GP on the Game Gear, but failed to score, that after JM had fenced for a while with the machine at Chess.

Due to the low level of exercise today, tea was another non-urgent affair. MW ate early and left the rest of us to nosh a botched up mixture based on the remains of Grant Thornton's Xmas hamper gammon.

MW then decided to go swimming but delayed his departure 'as it is wet outside'! He returned later, only to leave again for the phone box - no excuses about wetness for this trip.

JM resorts in desperation to reading the reel-to-reel tape index, but fails to find anything of interest. He then fails to work out how to use the dishwasher* and washes by hand (only one hand as the other was burnt in a minor accident).

Dave and MW have an interesting session comparing attributes (Walkmen). Dave has an extra socket and a digital readout. MW clearly has better headphones - this is obvious as he talks louder than Dave (in comparison with their respective normal decibel counts) when kitted out with headphones. Or is it because he has the volume higher and the speech adjusts to this higher volume. Perhaps a technical memo is required.

 

* (MW) This cottage is our first ever equipped with a dishwasher - a technical mystery to most of us, but MB did work out how to use it! (I had one at home!)

 

Thursday 24 March (DS)

Usual latish start - uncertainty about the weather leads to a decision to go coastal walking. Martin (the garden ornament) has a walking book of the area and we set off to do two walks nearby. ('Walks on the Isle of Skye' - Mary Welsh, walks 12 and 18).

We drove to Dunvegan Castle, decided not to pay £4 to go in, and went up the road to the coast on Coral Beach.

 

 

Pleasant if short coastal walk. Quite windy, but good views and interesting beach. Dave attempted to skim stones, but not easy in the sea.

 

Here's our route - 5 km with 60 metres ascent.

 

 

Back to car and on to the next walk to Ullinish Point and Oronsay. To get between the two we have to cross a causeway to reach Oronsay, which is an island - the tide was out. Climb to the top the other side. John turns back early with a purposeful gait. The others lounge about, drink coffee, etc. On the way back we notice that the causeway is starting to get covered by the sea. John had anticipated this. We run down and splash across. Dave and MB get wet feet. MW stopped to put on gaiters which appeared to work. John laughs at us. Lots of photos.

 

 

Here's our route - 5 km with 130 metres ascent.

 

 

Next stop the Dun Beag Brock at Bracadale. Fascinating - just the dome remains but there's a thick drystone wall and the entrance tunnel, guard room and staircase were all visited. Lots more photos.

 

 

 

Back to cottage - Dave plays Columns and Grand Prix games on the Game Gear. Go out for meal in veggie bistro, with a nice view on the way.

 

 

Food so so. Lots of foreign tourists.

Back to cottage, where Dave and MB tackle a 1000 piece jigsaw, finishing it at 1.15 am.

 

Friday 25 March (MW)

7.30 reveille with tea courtesy of Dave. Changeable sort of day outside. Breakfast ritual commenced around 8.30 and was rather quicker in running its course today. Dave engulfs and absorbs his quota at the usual prodigious rate - this includes half a can of beans (warning!) although today there is only half a potato to divide between three since we ate out last night.

Decide that the Cuillins are not a good prospect today (meaning a whole week without a Munro) and opt for a walk to Beinn Edra (611 metres), starting from Uig. We park outside the 'tower', a latter-day brock, and cross the river to start up Gleann Conain - the idea (MB's) being to do the ridge from north to south since the wind was approximately northerly. This turned out to be a jolly good idea.

The geology of Balnaknock was interesting, looking as if it had contained a lake at some time. There were moraine bumps to the south. It is a space enclosed by steep walls and in fact probably a glacial feature, but curious and unusual.

Alternate showers and sunshine caused much overtrousering and deovertrousering on the way up. As we reached the view (above Bealach Uige) we stopped for a coffee break and enjoyed a pleasant interval between showers. These showers became hail on the way up to Beinn Edra, but fortunately the wind was behind us (good thinking MB) and the abrasive little blighters bounced harmlessly off our backs. Very cold and windy at the trig point - not a place to hang around.

 

 

Most of the snow has gone now, but some of the cornices survive along the north facing crags.

Down to Bealach Mhoramhain, where MB, MW and DS elect to continue along the ridge back to Uig, while JM prefers to take the 'path' down via Balnaknock.

Two very weary looking souls pass us going north against the wind. Between showers (of decreasing frequency) the views from the ridge are worthwhile and it's a good route though at some points the wind attacked viciously, from the side now.

After Beinn Fhuar the way becomes increasingly boggy, with eroded peat channels impeding progress. Fortunately not too wet and most of the ground fairly solid. We reach the patch of forest and have some coffee and admire the view of Uig and over the Hebrides, which can just be made out. Then down the southwest side of the forest* to return to the car, where JM has been waiting for 20 minutes. Back to 'Hut' (the words 'chalet' and hut' have been used consistently by the diarists on this trip, but the place was really a 'cottage' to which I've amended most references to avoid confusion - Ed)  (the word 'Hut' used by others this week hardly describes a rather comfortable little place with dishwasher and central heating) for cheese on toast followed by a big meal to use up our remaining food. A good walk which made the best of the day.

 

* Unusual dog or maybe fox skeleton (inc skull with canine teeth) seen here.

 

Here's our route - 18 km with 840 metres ascent.

 

 

Here's a 'map' of our week.

 

 

Saturday 26 March (MB)

Uneventful return to Manchester, leaving 7 am, arriving 4.30 pm, after stops at Fort William (breakfast), M74, M6 (tea stops). L623 HBA now well and truly run in. Beautiful calm, sunny day - the best of the year yet - but we had to drive 430 miles!

 

Cost of trip, including cottage (£155), food, fuel, etc = £503, split between the four of us.

 

Here's what Dave came up with concerning the demise of our old pal, JM:

 

 

John Mansell

MANSELL John, of Hurworth, passed away suddenly on December 3, aged 64 years. Much loved son of the late Tim and the late Betty, loving brother of Peter, sadly missed by his colleagues at Whessoe and friends at the Fox And Hounds. Would family and friends please meet for a service at Darlington Crematorium on Friday, December 16, at 9:00am.

Published in The Northern Echo on 14th December 2016

SamtheSpringersays…
 

John was a very clever person. After graduating, he carried out research at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology into how the weave of a material affected the retardation of a projectile i.e. bullet proof materials. He published scientific papers on this and was awarded a Ph.D. On leaving Manchester he joined Whessoe in Darlington - where he spent all his working life. During this time he specialised in developing software that ensured the safety of plant (mainly the high integrity pipework) where failure could potentially lead to a catastrophic loss of life. This work covered nuclear, chemical and power plants throughout the UK and abroad. The excellent safety record of these industries in the UK is in part down to John's efforts. Thanks for keeping us safe and may you rest in peace.

Saturday 18 March 2006 - On the track to Oeschinensee

 

Just a short entry today, from a random 'mouse click' on some unprocessed images.

 

March 2006 saw a few of us popping over to Kandersteg for a bit of skiing. There were several areas allotted to cross-country skiing, and the views were wonderful.

 

This random picture is of Anne D making her way along the trail to Oeschinensee.

 

I've now 'labelled' that day's images, but the rest of the week remains in pristine downloaded and never again viewed condition. I'm not sure whether or not I really want this Lockdown to last long enough for me to get around to 'processing' all these ancient downloads!

On Ya Bike!

 

I have a small library of some twenty or so Mountain Biking books. Here are the latest three.

 

Firstly, 'Wild Cycling' is exactly what it says on the cover - a guide to 50 great rides off the beaten track in Britain. Five of them are in the North West, with a further seventeen in the North and Midlands, so that's over 20, plus a few in Wales, that can easily be ridden on a day out from Timperley.

 

The routes are mainly between 20 and 40 km in length (some are shorter) so these can be regarded as leisurely half day rides. Just the thing. I'm raring to go.

 

And there are other worthy guides in the above-mentioned library.

 

Next, I've been (sort of) planning LEJOG by Mountain Bike for a while now. 'The Great North Trail' book recently published by Cycling UK has come to my aid here, with a good route from the Peak District to either Cape Wrath or John O'Groats. I still have to work out a route from Lands End to the Peak District, and I have a note of a route devised by a couple of lads in the early 2000s to use as a template, though my daily distance will be about half of what those fit individuals managed.

 

I'll be taking my time. April 2020 would have provided perfect conditions...

 

 

Finally, 'The Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive'.

 

 

This book is a photographic celebration of the activities of a fellowship of cyclists who love to wander off the beaten track. The photos that have been compiled from several archives that mainly pre-date the days of bespoke mountain bikes.

 

I was never a member of the fellowship, but I did work with Frank Brierley, who I think was Treasurer for a while, and who features briefly in this book. I shall write to him later. He sourced a bike for me from someone in the club who had become too elderly to use it. It served me well on an off road adventure across the Pyrenees, but 3rd and 4th gears failed early on, leaving me with a 'two speed' Sturmey Archer machine. That was fine, but when I took it to my local bike shop in Withington when I got back, they said it wasn't worth repairing, so it was scrapped. Frank was aghast when he found out, as apparently the bike had a classic frame and would probably still be going today had I not made the terrible mistake of scrapping it. I feel eternally guilty. Sorry, Frank.

 

The off-road pioneers got to places that many modern state of the art mountain bikes might shy away from. For example, this ridge track past the Faulhorn to Grosse Scheidegg in Switzerland, in 1980. Some readers (Nick, Ruaridh, Dave, for example) may recall that 1980 was a particularly snowy summer in the Alps!

 

 

This magnificent volume provides just a snapshot of life in the Rough-Stuff Fellowship, including the Journal that relates the story of their 1958 Iceland Expedition. There's another person, Mike, who might occasionally visit these pages, who might even remember supplying equipment for the venture, which I'm pleased to note was successful.

 

 

The book is quite 'rough and ready' as a coffee table item, but I love it and keep picking it up to browse both the pictures and the Journal.

 

Here's Amazon's preview:

 

Founded in 1955, the Rough-Stuff Fellowship is the world's oldest off-road cycling club. Its archive contains thousands of stunning images, hand-drawn maps and documents - an unexpected treasure trove of incredible value and beauty that is now being brought to a wider public by Isola Press.

The photos are evocative of a bygone age and a bygone style - a time when you might set off on a bike ride wearing a shirt and tie or a bobble hat, and no ride was complete without a stop to brew up some tea and smoke a pipe.

They are also a record of intrepid adventures. RSF riders explored the Lake District, the Cairngorms, the Alps and further afield, and their exploits were beautifully documented by amateur and professional photographers.

In their own very British way, these men and women were pioneers, pedalling and carrying their bikes where angels feared to tread. Mountain bikes, gravel bikes, adventure bikes all owe them a debt. This book celebrates their style and their spirit. It is a stunning visual resource of cycling heritage that will inspire new adventures.

Meals on Wheels under Lockdown

 

Lockdown is difficult for an elderly person with dodgy replaced hips. Especially when they live on their own and have been 'socially distancing' when they should have been having 95th birthday celebrations.

 

I took some frozen lasagne portions to Dot when I took her for her eye injection on 14 April (I've hardly been out since then), and I plan to take some more on the day of her next injection on 26 May.

 

Meanwhile, yesterday, my daughter Kate took more provisions, courtesy of her own and her mum's cooking. Thanks go to both of them for helping to restock Dot's freezer. I think she probably has more food provisions than we do in Timperley!

 

Kate had a good, socially distanced, chat with her grandma before taking the above photo through the living room window.

 

Stay safe, everyone...

Raistricks, and other hills over 1000 feet in the Yorkshire Dales

 

Conrad (aka Sir Hugh) put me on to this self published book, compiled as a labour of love by Bernard Peel as a retirement project.

For a tenner, you can't really go wrong, and Bernard was pleased to post me a copy.

It will be of interest to hillbaggers and to those who would like to seek out some of the less visited viewpoints in the Yorkshire Dales. There are, according to Bernard, some 242 hills of over 1000 feet, and they are assiduously listed in Annex 12 of this book.

The hills comprise:
23 Marilyns (minimum rise of 492 feet on all sides)
13 Hewitts (over 2000 feet with minimum rise of 98 feet on all sides)
8 Nuttalls (over 2000 feet with minimum rise of 49 feet on all sides)
72 Raistricks (between 1000 and 2000 feet with minimum rise of 100 feet on all sides)
126 Unclassified (over 1000 with minimum rise less than 100 feet on all sides)

The 'Raistricks' are Bernard's invention and are named after an inspirational Dalesman, Arthur Raistrick.

As well as the list of hills, the book contains numerous photos and various other information, including 'Minor Roads Offering Good Viewpoints' and a guide to 'Major Hills with Easiest Ascents'. That's just to get readers going I suppose; anyone wishing to tackle this list with vigour will need to work out their own routes - that's part of the fun.

This reminds me of the Lake District's 'Birketts' - Bill Birkett's excellent list of  541 Lakeland summits of over 1000 feet, but unlike Bill's publications it doesn't include much route information.

Once I'm allowed out, I may choose to start ticking off some of these hills, starting with the dozen or so Marilyns I haven't yet attempted. I suspect some of these may be suitable for 'socially distanced' solo walks when we are allowed out further than at present (I don't drive anywhere just now - week six of that - just get early morning suburban exercise for an hour or so from the front door).

If you'd like a copy of the book, you can obtain it by emailing Bernard at rosabernard.peel@btopenworld.com and paying by bank transfer.

Well done Bernard, I know it's very satisfying to self-publish a book.

Our Wood Pigeons

 

Many people seem to have a problem with Wood Pigeons, but I find their cooing quite soothing, and their antics around the feeder can be hilarious. They spend a lot of time sitting on the fence waiting for a 'food opportunity'.

 

I've also spotted them, from our bedroom window, enjoying next door's bird bath, which they sit in for ages, cleaning themselves meticulously.

 

 

 

It's nice to see these birds looking so happy.

 

Meanwhile, there is usually a Robin in the garden, as well as a Coal Tit and a Blackcap, but they move too quickly for my camera at present, and I'm hoping the Collared Doves that I see nearby may pay us a visit sometime.

Bogle Stroll - 4 and 5 March, 1994

 

Having recently published Nick's diatribe on the 1981 Bogle Stroll (here), I've now encountered photographic evidence of the same event held in 1994. The personnel are different, but the gist of it is similar.

 

By 1994, the tradition of convening in the Red Lion in Withington on the Sunday after the 55 mile walk was still apparent, with 20 to 30 from UMIST Hiking Club turning up for that.

 

I came across just six photos, which is five more than I have for 1981, starting with Glyn and Robert outside the Renold Building at UMIST, just before the finish.

 

Robert was accustomed to finishing a bit faster, so he found the slow approach to the finish quite enjoyable at the gentle pace set by Glyn, who at this point was 'absolutely knackered'.

 

Judging by the next two pictures, taken within 10 metres of the finishing desk, Glyn was just about at the end of his tether.

 

 

 

I took Robert and Glyn back to Blackrod, where Glyn is pictured in 'recovery' position.

 

 

Robert could have walked it all again... ?!

 

 

To be fair to Glyn, he did write his diary entry in Volume 23 that afternoon, closely followed by Robert's entry: 

Glyn's report 

This really is the last time without any training. 15 hours 13 minutes! including about 6 hours of hell. Brain did not want to speak to legs after Blackrod. Severe gut-rot - diarrhoea - most of the way round. Left ankle seized up afterwards (how did it get bruised?) It was a beautiful evening though - ideal Bogling weather, and until half way round I really enjoyed it. Heartfelt thanks to Robert for walking me in through Salford, no, let's be honest... from Blackrod.

Glyn 

Robert's report 

Repaired old Reebok trainers with uhu and a piece of Lyn's blue dress on Friday evening before the start. This was an excellent idea but blister on left heel before Monton (near the start - Ed) made me wish I had bought a new pair. The weather was excellent, with slight drizzle at Coppull, and later on a shower around Westhoughton.

 

A pile of fifty or so Ann Summers lingerie catalogues prove interesting reading (just a little way past the Hiking Club checkpoint). Glyn insisted I had a good look.

 

Disappointing lack of numbers - only 300 to 400 walkers and no 'Mad Ones' team! Took an unplanned detour (again) down to Leigh bus station so added another half mile to the route. Also followed the 'old route' out of Manchester, ignoring the Bogle signs. Glyn made several unplanned detours including sitting on his throne in the back of his campervan at Blackrod.

 

Made good progress to Blackrod (~40 miles - Ed) (9hrs 13mins) but Glyn's general illness and lack of training caught up with him and our pace slowed considerably.

 

This gave me a good excuse to slow down. Lyn and Gill just did the Blackrod checkpoint and the support included a weekend FT to read whilst Glyn was on his throne.

 

Martin's appearance just after the Westhoughton checkpoint provided a welcome sight. He walked with us for a couple of miles, then moved his car to Walkden, and later to Swinton. The conversation and drinks provided a welcome distraction from my general aches and pains.

 

(Glyn spotted lots of frogs/toads on the way round.)

 

The walk down Eccles New Road seemed to me to be a pleasant stroll for once, but Glyn would not agree with this description.

 

Arrived back at UMIST at 1.26 pm, Glyn completing the walk by crawling up the Union steps on all fours. We were 9th and 10th to finish. What are the students coming to?

 

Martin's support extended to a lift back to Blackrod, where Gill provided copious quantities of tea and crumpets.

 

Robert 5/3/94

Additional Points 

St John's Ambulance men seemed to nearly outnumber the walkers.

 

Bogle organisation poor.

 

Chorley Bogle checkpoint moved to the other side of Chorley, out of sight up a cul de sac. G & R gave it a miss.

R

Tradition dictated a Sunday visit to the Red Lion, where volume 23 of the diary can be seen in front of David Jones, who together with Tim Budd graced the volume with their entries. Gill and Glyn are also pictured below (Glyn looking a bit more human today) and Conan Harrod was there. He went on to break his leg near the summit of Everest, returning a few years later to climb to the summit in a rather uneventful manner.

 

 

Here are the rest of the entries from the diary:

 

Tim's report 

Weather better than usual, turnout low so quite a lonely stroll. Played leapfrog with Glyn and Rob from Wigan to Westhoughton, where they stopped for breakfast. I couldn't force any down.

 

Painful as usual from Walkden onwards - my mind wants to continue, my legs want me to eat worms and die. Still, I have forgotten all that by next year!

 

Tim B 6/3/94

 

David's report

 

Bought a new pair of trainers the Thursday before, and took a couple of hours' kip on Friday afternoon, and that constituted most of my Bogle preparation this year. I blame this partly on the arrival of baby Chloë in December, and mostly on disorganisation.

 

Started at 11 pm anticipating rain on Saturday morning (or I'd have started at midnight) and headed off into a (too) warm night in the company of two orienteers who were talking about intending to finish it in about 8 hours. I left them after Wigan and after that I was (to my amazement) just on my own. Missed out lots of support points but was ably supported by John Fuller on his "winter bike" (a little Japanese thing).

 

Got to the last checkpoint at 7.45 and trudged into UMIST at 8.47, to give a 9.47 time with the customary sprint for the steps.

 

Toodle-pip!

 

David  

 

Martin's report (in support)

 

Up at 7.00 after 5.30 alarm, for 7.50 departure and off to walk in Rob and Glyn.

 

Missed them at Blackrod - later discovered Glyn had been hiding on a potty in a van, behind which Rob was hiding. By Wigan, I realised I'd missed them and I eventually tracked them down to near the motel.

 

Three trips with the car - jogging to the walkers, and walking back to the car with them, took us to the East Lancs junction. I'd also encountered Tim Budd, on his ninth Bogle, a few minutes ahead of Glyn and Rob.

 

Walked in with them from the East Lancs Junction (approx 8 miles). Glyn absolutely Knackered, Rob ok. They took 15.13 and finished 9th and 10th - a sad reflection on the state of Bogle. MASS Rag apparently disintegrated this year for financial support reasons, and only UMIST was interested in continuing with Bogle - only 400 or so took part.

 

Dave Jones won convincingly in 9.47, Andy Martin took 13.09, and Tim Budd 14.37. Five out of 10, even though Mad Ones didn't have a designated team (for the first time since 1968). Talk of a 'Geriatric' Mad Ones team next year. Just 15 or 16 members of the Tech Domski Hiking and Hostelling Club (TDHHC) finished Bogle this year.

 

A taxi to Irlam to recover the car, then a drive to Blackrod for tea and crumpets - and to drop off Glyn and Robert off at Lyn's house.

 

Not a very demanding Bogle for me - try again next year...

 

Adjourn to Red Lion on Sunday lunchtime, with about a dozen current students and a similar number of 'geriatrics'. It's strange how you can get to vaguely know people encountered for just an hour or two - once a year.

 

Stories of horror from John Fuller - retired from walking due to bad knees but a major support effort on his motorbike then a motorway drive (nearly asleep) back to Huddersfield.

7 and 8 December 2002 - A Visit to Center Parcs

 

Another small folder near the start of the era of digital images has revealed a few photos from Center Parcs in 2002. This was probably the third or fourth time that Sue and I had joined some old friends on this annual event.

 

The event continues, most recently in January 2020.

 

My diary (Volume 42) skips from 27 October to 15 December 2002 in the space of a single line, so these images are all ("thankfully" I hear, and subject to further discoveries) I have to remind us of this particular trip.

 

Roger, our 'squash supremo' is shown above on court, and various members of our (currently a WhatsApp group that met by Skype only last night) Center Parcs team are depicted below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't we look young! And some haven't changed at all!

Shogun Trail Breaker 3 - 30 years old today

 

Thirty years ago today I left work early on a Saturday morning and spent a good hour with a chap called Graham in Harry Hall's shop near the Cathedral. I'd done some research and was aiming for a Trek 830 bike. I finished up with the Trail Breaker. It has had relatively light use, clocking up just around 12,000 miles in the 30 years of its existence. It has received more use in recent years - over 1,000 miles last year, and currently enjoys over 20 miles a week under Lockdown. My routine involves three rides a week, on the suburban route shown below in blue, alternating between this bike and the more modern Specialised Stumpjumper.

 

 

The Trail Breaker was a quality mountain bike in its day, but was soon to become outdated by way of the introduction of suspension and disc brakes. However, it was a perfect fit for me, and I didn't use it enough to justify upgrading, until Dave O offered me his five year old Stumpjumper for a good price in 2011.

 

Whilst the Trail Breaker was seen as an obsolete sort of bike, destined for the scrap heap, I found it lighter and more appropriate for much of our local off road routes - certainly those involving canal towpaths or the Trans Pennine Trail, so it got (and still gets) more use than the more sophisticated Stumpjumper, which is of course much better over some of the rough ground of the Peak District, etc.

 

However, more recently I've seen a resurgence of bikes very similar to my 30 year old one. They are called 'Gravel Bikes'. So my old mountain bike is no longer obsolete, it's more a sort of 'classic' gravel bike. I hope that both it and 'Stumpy' can give me a few more years of pleasure, before I resort to a battery powered model!

Fundraising for the Levana School Partnership

Yesterday I was supposed, like many others, to be taking part in the London Marathon. It has been postponed until 4 October, but who knows how it will deal with Social Distancing issues even then.

Thus my annual fundraising for the Levana School Partnership has failed to get off the mark. This is partly because I recognise that many charities that raise funds for needy causes in the UK are struggling at this time. So why should anyone want to donate to a charity that benefits township children in Cape Town?

I have raised this issue with the trustees, who are really concerned about the children that the charity supports. Here's their initial reaction:

"I think our main concern about Cape Town is the way the virus will affect the townships – the police won’t be so keen to break up groups in that context, whereas they will do with groups in the city. The virus will be rampant in the townships as they all live very close to each other and will have no funds for masks, food etc – it’s just laughable to think they would have any means of protecting themselves.

During their lockdown, the police have been quite forceful in breaking up groups gathering in the suburbs but it could end up in riots if they use the same tactics in the townships.

The gangs are supposed to be helping by giving food parcels out, so that could be a positive to encourage as gangs are really powerful in the townships over there. But food parcels might later be used to put pressure on kids to join gangs for what would seem to be innocuous and supportive acts, but that would lead to exploitation of the children later."

 

The funds raised this year will not be spent until whenever next year the trustees can get back to South Africa for their annual visit, so there is no immediate fundraising pressure. I didn't take part in yesterday's '2.6' efforts. I will however do a marathon in some way before the end of the year, even if I have to copy our friend Cary's remarkable effort using a complex but somewhat repetitive course in nearby Wythenshawe Park.

 

Potential and regular donors will have to make their own judgement. I would encourage donations to the Levana charity, and I'll get it off the mark later. But I would also encourage donations to other more local charities who may be struggling for funds. Everyone will have their personal preferences. Those of us who continue to receive our OAP and work-related pensions, as well as refunds of air fares, train fares, accommodation deposits, etc, may actually be able to afford rather more than usual, as well as being able to help family and friends who may be unable to generate their usual level of income in these difficult times. So perhaps a suitable sum could be directed towards Levana - it will make a difference.

 

That's about it really. I'll be sending links to this posting to numerous regular and potential donors over the next few months in the hope that I can yet again raise a significant sum for the charity.

 

Please feel free to contribute - here.

 

Note - the charity's website is here - it should soon be updated for the 2020 visit that thankfully took place just before the virus arrived.

7 July 2005 - A View from the Walkers Haute Route

 

Just filling in, with my first posting from 2005, I think, after a day of 'Zooming' and technical problems with a monitor that took a while to diagnose.

 

Here, David is snapping Gaynor as she appears from what appears to be 'nowhere', showing that the weather in the Alps isn't always perfect, this being somewhere on the walkers' route between Chamonix and Zermatt.

 

A fuller report may appear in due course...

 

Meanwhile...

By complete coincidence, I discovered that Barbara S, fellow TGO Challenge vetter, put a picture of the same bridge, in clearer weather, on Facebook on 23 April. I hope she doesn't mind me replicating that picture here:

 

 

Whilst amongst our party, Betty is recorded as being fazed by this bridge, my own recollection is that it was ok, but further along our route from above Zermatt to St Niklaus (we were going the opposite way to Barbara) there were some partially collapsed tunnels under the scree that caused a few rips to clothing, and a very annoyed leader (me) when some of the party thought it would be better to avoid the tunnels and attempt to go over the scree from which the tunnels were protecting them!

There was much shouting before they eventually obeyed instructions!

 

[We went from Zermatt to Grimenz in 2005, then in 2006 we went from Chamonix to Grimenz, meeting a number of TGO Challenge stalwarts, including Sue O and Skippy, along the way.]