20 to 23 November 2025 - Diary update

Thursday 20 November

The Aspire restaurant at South Trafford College. Another delicious meal with Paul and Jeanette.

We always seem to start with a cocktail

The paté starter followed some delicious bread that preceded the

gazpacho and bruschetta that we finished before my camera came out

 

Fish course - Cornish plaice, etc (all these courses look smaller than they appeared to be at the time

- we never go home hungry!)

Duo of lamb, etc

Duo of desserts, with double cream, then included in the £24.50 price is coffee and chocolates

We look forward to our next visit to this superb college restaurant.

Friday 21 November

Sue and Jenny went to lie in a sauna and swim in the sea at Criccieth.

They say they also did some yoga!

Saturday 22 November

While Sue was still playing at yoga, I enjoyed a 5km walk around Wythenshawe Park. It was their parkrun number 641 and it took place during a dry spell between showers. Full results are here. My time of 47:32 saw me in position 252 out of 264 - a nice gentle walk in full waterproofs.

Later - Jenny and Tim's (optional) black tie (I don't have one that fits) party at Hallé St Peters. A memorable occasion where we met a number of folk we'd not seen for some time. Many thanks for the invitation to this prestigious event.

With Natalie and Jim, a legend in the kayaking world

Sunday 23 November

Sue and I met up with Phil and Sue for the Wilmslow 10km race. The Barbers were also there. A picture was taken before the start on a cool, showery morning.

I started from the back, with this rather long caterpillar.

With over 4000 starters, it took me about 8 minutes to reach the start once the race was under way. Not to worry, the 'chip' time is the one to go by. We finished with a couple more medals for Isabella to play with.

Our results are shown above. Paul and Laura had long gone by the time I finished, but the others kindly waited for me at the finish, where I jogged in just as the rain started. My first 5 km was about 35 minutes, the second 5km being 32 minutes. I was going quite well by the end!

Congratulations to Paul, who scraped home first in his age category.

Later:

After lunch, Sue and I went along to Sale Conservative Club to see Hootin' Annies Big Band, in which my son Mike is the resident guitarist. It was a great afternoon, with prestigious guest trumpeter, composer and arranger Mark Armstrong, together with singers Jenny Capstick and Dave Bredley completing the line up. They are next on at Sale on Sunday 7 December. All welcome.

Thursday 20 November 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 1 (repeated) - St Peter's Square to Dane Road Metrolink via Sale Water Park

When we started walking this trail on 13 February this year, Sue was otherwise occupied, so in order to complete her attendance register she needed to go back to Stage 1. It was a lovely sunny day, so we set off in good spirits on the morning's walk.

St Peter's Square seemed to be preparing for Christmas, but the numerous policemen who were milling around were  being coy about the reason for their laid back presence.

The trail appears to lack a sign indicating its start and finish, and trail markers appear either well concealed or sparse at the start of the walk. However, for those familiar with their surroundings it's a simple stroll along Lower Mosley Street to the Bridgewater Hall and the 'pebble' next to which steps lead down to a fountain near the canal.

This section of the canal through the centre of Manchester links the Bridgewater Canal with the Rochdale Canal, via the Castlefield Basin.

We are now on part of the 98 mile Cheshire Ring, this section being prone to closure for one reason or another, but today it was clearly navigable.

After a few ups and downs, and narrow paths under bridges, the towpath arrives at Throstle Nest Bridge, where it switches to the north side of the canal for the rest of its journey to Runcorn.

Manchester United's stadium is passed. Full of orchids in spring - that seems a long way off. But there's a curious plaque of a frog, with a GM Ringway marker...

By the time we reached Stretford Marina, we'd spent 6 km, nearly half of today's walk, on the towpath.

Time to leave the canal and pass over a distinctive metal bridge on the way to Longford Park.

We spent a while in the excellent café, where the chocolate croissants are first rate.

Our route then passed the Walled Garden and the tennis courts before crossing Edge Lane and heading for Chorlton Ees.

Soon we were beside the River Mersey, with Jackson's Boat Bridge visible in the background.

Jackson' Boat pub is pretty ancient - I remember my father saying that when he inspected the brickwork and found fingerprints in the bricks.

The bridge is much newer, having been refurbished fairly recently.

A path from the bridge leads gently to nearby Sale Water Park Metrolink station - the end of stage 1. Last time we finished there and got the tram home via Trafford Bar.

In today's fine weather, we chose to head to Sale Water Park and a footbridge over the ten lanes of the M60 motorway.

This took us through Sale Ees in lovely light, and on to the conclusion of our walk at Dane Road Metrolink station.

Here's our route - 13½ km with about 60 metres ascent, mainly over bridges. It had taken us a little over 3 hours.

That was a very pleasant return to Stage 1. Next, Stage 17, from Leigh to Irlam. Tomorrow.

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