Saturday 18 December 2021 - Wythenshawe parkrun #453

We arrived at the park just as the sun was rising behind Oliver.

Christmas dress was in evidence, with some Lambs pretending to be reindeer, though the usual fairy was dressed in sober red and black this year, and my tree was left at home for logistical reasons involving Sue volunteering at the run then dashing off to ring church bells.

Before the start, Jeanette took some nice pictures of the low mist in the park. Thanks for the use of these, Jeanette.

Father Christmas got involved in a race to the start!

223 folk assembled for Run Director Dan's briefing, then we were off, with no more pictures until the end.

Here's Jeanette at the finish, in a very satisfactory time. Full results are here.

A few of us adjourned to the courtyard cafe, but we are no longer welcomed there, with dogs not allowed, requests for tap water refused, and their attitude capped by a refusal to allow the laptop used to process the results to be plugged in. It's a shame, as they are missing out on lots of business by being so unfriendly.

Friday 17 December 2021 - An Evening walk up Shutlingsloe

My nephew Toby was the only person to join me and Sue on our annual evening stroll up Shutlingsloe. We enjoyed a good 'catch-up' and some of the best weather we've had on this outing, though sadly the summit was engulfed in mist. The full moon shone through, and torches were needed only for the sharp descent from the windless summit, where we had enjoyed mint tea and chocolate caramel shortbread, but sadly no sing song.

That's it really. We saw one other person and none of us fell over. We adjourned for beers and a further hour's chat at the Leather's Smithy, during which Toby enquired as to the history of this annual tradition.

Here's what I wrote in 2013, and I've updated it for subsequent years:

This was what has become a ‘traditional’ pre Christmas romp up to the summit of Shutlingsloe, which is usually a bit breezy on top, but not sufficient to deter us from supping some hot drinks and handing round some cake before heading back down to Trentabank, and thence to the Leathers Smithy for a beer.

Tonight was one of the best we have had, both turnout and weather wise. Thirteen of us on a lovely moonlit night, so torches were completely superfluous.  Views from the summit extended over the whole of Greater Manchester to Winter Hill.  Children who used to whinge a little sprinted ahead, separating the group on descent as only the fittest could keep up with them. Well done, Andrew, Kate and Joe, and it was good to see my nephew Toby turn up from near Nantwich, and Graham B’s granddaughter was also most welcome.  I hope she enjoyed it.

Altogether a very enjoyable and sociable little excursion, and there’s not much more to say, but below the photos which follow, by popular request, I’ve added a summary of the walks which have led to this minor event becoming a ‘tradition’ amongst a small group of family and friends. It’s interesting to see that people have only started to turn up in good numbers since I upset them by changing a venue that they had got used to seeing on the programme but until then hadn’t bothered to come along. The first of these evening walks up Shutlingsloe was in 2006, when Sue and I were joined by Andrew and Sheila. Only Andrew and I have attended all eight of the walks, and I’m amazed by the short period of time required to create a so-called ‘tradition’.

15 and 18/12/2020 - 11 attendees over two visits; warm but breezy on top.

20/12/2019 - 16 attendees, clear and cool - starlit but no moon.

21/12/2018 - 18 attendees, many from Wythenshawe parkrun, on a drizzly night

15/12/2017 - 8 attendees, frosty and slippery after early snow.

16/12/2016 - 18 attendees, misty and chilly.

18/12/2015 - 14 attendees, many from Wythenshawe parkrun, on a cool, misty evening.

18/12/2014 - 11 attendees on a calm, dry warm evening in between periods of rain.

17/12/2013 – 13 attendees, clear, calm and cool at Trentabank, ground frost higher up making the rocks and grass a little slithery.

18/12/2012 – 12 attendees, calm, misty on the summit.

20/12/2011 – 17 attendees, calm, cool and misty on the summit.  I’d tried to break tradition by changing the venue to White Nancy, on 9/12/2011, when only three of us had attended, and a rebellious element had insisted on going up Shutlingsloe ‘as usual’.  I was chastised for breaking with tradition, but it did give me a chance to write about the history of White Nancy.

20/12/2010 – 3 attendees, calm, moonlit, cold and snowy.  We also went up on New Year’s Day.

3/12/2009 – 2 attendees, cold, icy on top. Just Andrew and me; no blog entry. North face plastered with snow; slippery on top. Lots of night cyclists.

10/12/2008 – 3 attendees, calm, clear and cold.

19/12/2007 – 3 attendees, calm, clear and icy.

5/12/2006 – 4 attendees, moonlit, calm.

[Hover mouse over the type in black, and click, for the links to reports, or from 2013 click on the date for the link.]

Sunday 12 December 2021 - A Christmas Walk from Tideswell

                                     Click on any image to access a slideshow

Having had to cancel this walk last year, and with clouds of further Covid Omicron doom rapidly descending, it was a pleasure to host this walk for 20 participants, plus Andrew at the pub awaiting the installation of a new knee, but sadly minus Paul with a stomach upset.

The route was familiar, albeit I made a couple of small navigational errors. From the car park south of Tideswell, we set off more or less on time at 10:30, and were soon rising above Tideswell Dale on the path to Tansley Dale.

The weather was fine and we were all in good spirits. Gatherings such as this one have been few and far between for the last couple of years, and thankfully everyone had registered negative Covid lateral flow tests before joining us today.

Tansley Dale was showing signs of recent high rainfall as the weather brightened.

Don managed a couple of long slides on the descent, and whilst the rest of us enjoyed an elevenses break supplemented by Sue's chocolate caramel shortbread, he appears from the next picture to be practicing his forward roll technique!

We were soon ascending towards Wardlow, meeting a lone runner taking part in the Litton fell race who had been misdirected by a marshall, as a result of which his lead had been increased by over a mile..

Then I climbed a stile that the fell runner should have used but that wasn't on our route. Some deja vu, as I'd made the same mistake in the past. This resulted in a rare picture of our professional back marker, who accidentally found himself stalking along in an unfamiliar position.

The sun came out as we continued towards Crossdale Head. The stiles are a bit tight here; Julie got stuck for a while, but we were making good progress and we arrived at the Crispin in plenty of time for our one o'clock lunch booking.

Jenny and I, between us, took a few snaps of the assembled gathering. I think all 21 of us feature in the next few pictures. Well done, Jenny.

Nobody complained about the absence of a quiz, and the food was excellent, as ever.

A couple of hours later, we bade farewell to Andrew and set off towards the Monsal Trail, our customary afternoon route, suitable for chatting and for walking on through dusk into the darkness of a December afternoon.

An advance party waited on the Monsal Trail whilst nearby cyclists sped back towards Hassop in the last remnants of daylight.

The Monsal Head viaduct afforded the chance for a final couple of snaps before light levels descended towards night time levels.

Eventually, torches were deployed, the pace slowed, and we ambled on happily towards the car park and dispersal to various parts of the country, some folk having made long journeys to join us today.

Here's the route - 15 km with 400 metres ascent, taking quite a while at a leisurely pace.

Thanks everyone for coming along; that was a most enjoyable day out. The Crispin excelled itself and I think everyone is happy to re-book it for next year. I'd like to do it on Sunday 18 December 2022, a week later than this year, so that those who want to take part in the Tatton Yule Yomp 10km race can do so on 11 December. Let me know if you would prefer 11 December and if most people want that, we'll forgo the Yomp.

Friday 10 December 2021 - Around Burtonwood

Today's Friday morning walk in sunny intervals saw six of us, Sue, Graeme, Carol, Keith, Jenny and me, setting off on a short circuit of Burtonwood, from the Mucky Mountains Nature Reserve car park. The walk was based on one in Jen Darling's 'More Pub Walks in Cheshire and Wirral' book, but we started from a different point than the one Jen describes - a good move, as you will see later.

This spot is on a favourite bike ride from home via Pennington Flash and continuing down the Sankey Valley to the Trans Pennine Trail and back home. I'm not so familiar with the footpaths though, and after scrutinising the information board (click on the image below to see it better), we crossed Sankey Brook and headed up an incline, away from the bike route.

Recent wind and rain has brought the remaining leaves down. This means the birds are easier to observe. A Jay failed to hide from us in the tree below, and in our garden in Timperley I've noticed Goldcrests for the first time.

A lane took us past Bradlegh Old Hall. Last time I was here, on 3 November 2017, we walked right past, but today we paused to admire the ancient gatehouse and the moat that surrounds the Old Hall. I wrote more about all this, and other points of interest, in my report on the slightly longer 2017 walk, here.

Moving on, a shower appeared imminent.

Some donned waterproofs, but they weren't really needed. All we got was a few drops of rain, as we left Jen's route and took a path to the south of the village.

A small circular wood sported a path just inside its perimeter. This provided a spot for elevenses, and a chat (Sue was whispering) with a curious horse.

After skirting the edge of the village, we continued past fields where winter greens seemed to stretch way into the distance. We shouldn't go hungry this winter....

Field paths, thankfully pretty dry despite recent flooding, took us to Jen's start and finish point, the Fiddle i' th' Bag, an old inn whose name refers to a seed fiddle, used by farmers to sow corn. Apparently there's a seed fiddle in the bar, and it's depicted on the pub sign. I do hope that a future picture may show the place in a better light, but currently it's not a suitable starting point and Jen needs to adjust that to a suitable hostelry in Burtonwood village.

A short way down the road towards Winwick, some steep steps led down to a familiar cycleway near Sankey Brook.

Soon we were next to the remnants of the St Helens Canal, which was opened in 1757, England's first still-water canal, carrying coal from St Helens to Warrington. Now the canal is a series of intermittent ponds, home to Swans, Coots, Mallards and Moorhens, watched by anglers hoping to catch perch, tench, bream or roach.

We strolled on, pausing at a good place for lunch, but moving quickly onwards due to mild precipitation at the time. Then the sun came out.

Back at the Mucky Mountains swing bridge, an innovation at the time of construction of the canal, lunch was eventually served for those who had it with them. Others went home.

Here's the route - a shade over 9 km that took us a couple of hours. A very pleasant little outing.

Whilst we plan to go up Shutlingsloe next Friday evening, this was the last Friday morning walk for some time for me and Sue, as we will be borrowing Isabella (1) on Fridays for a while. You'll hear all about that here...

Monday 6 December 2021 - The Tame Valley Stompers at Eagley Jazz Club

This was unmistakenly a Christmas party, though probably less party-like than last year's fun and games in Downing Street. The Tame Valley Stompers, on whom I've previously reported here and here, and perhaps elsewhere, provided the traditional entertainment. The club (Eagley Jazz Club) is thriving under the stewardship of a committed team of organisers, with over 100 members attending this function at Dunscar Conservative Club near Bolton. A 'bookmark' handout ensured that we could all put the next six months' dates in our diaries.

Here are a few pictures from the night. Our first Christmas party of the season. Reg told me it was his fourth!

A lovely evening, performed and attended by the 'triple jabbed' more elderly folk who are currently feeling reasonably protected from the Covid virus.

Saturday 4 December 2021 - Wythenshawe parkrun number 451

Here are Sue and Alastair, closely followed by Mark, at the finish. Assuming that I took the picture, that can only mean one thing: I finished ahead of them; I'm on the road to recovery from Plantar fasciitis.

My foot is still sore, but short runs like this one on soft ground don't seem to bother it.

Full results are here.