Friday 21 December 2018 – An Evening on Shutlingsloe

It’s a tradition. The record (perhaps, it seemed like it) turnout was achieved despite a rather poor weather forecast. For once, Sue and I arrived at the Trentabank Car Park 7.30 pm rendezvous point with a few minutes to spare, only to find the place seething with people.

Luckily it wasn’t raining and pleasantries were exchanged in the dark whilst we waited for my nephew Toby, and one of Wythenshawe’s parkrun directors, Charley. Of the 18 people in attendance at least 12 were serial runners at Wythenshawe, where most would be on display in Christmas regalia on the morrow. But that’s another story.

Once we got going – well, after about 100 metres, those of us who had left our waterproofs in our cars were regretting it. As we rose gently through the forest the light drizzle slowly intensified. By the time we reached the summit nearly an hour later, there was no view and the rain was … well, just how you’d imagine it to be at the top of a high hill in the middle of winter.

My attempt to take a group photo failed abysmally (see above), but I did manage a cute picture of Toby and Sue.

Andrew, Kate and Alice also offered nice smiles, even if Andrew does appear to be resting his eyes. (No red-eye adjustment needed there, then.)

After mulled wine, tea, mince pies, brownies and a sing song on the summit, the weather got the better of us and we dashed back down in about 30 minutes.

Most of us adjourned to the Leather Smithy, where Andrew appeared to be keeping the pub open single handedly. A pleasant time was had by all, as we dried off in front of the roaring fire.

Thanks for coming, everyone – that was a brilliant turn out on a slightly inclement evening.

For the record:
Graham, Gwynneth and Claire
Andy and Kate
Alastair, Hazel, Andrew, Kate and Alice
Me, Sue and Paul
Richard, Diana and Joe
Charley
Toby
Andrew in the pub (one wise man!)

Martin’s Xmas Walk Quiz - 2018

Sorry Dot, I know I’ve missed the last couple of days. You wouldn’t have wanted a picture of me trying to deal with a broken router and a printer in which a cassette of black ink exploded, or a picture of me consigning said items to the ‘small appliances’ bin at Altrincham recycling plant.

And now you need a very powerful magnifying glass for this quiz. It was completed by six teams during our Christmas lunch last Sunday, with scores ranging from 17 to two teams on 23 points. The questions, which run left to right in lines downwards, were as follows:

1. Which mountain?
2. Which village?
3. What is this?
4. Who is this?
5. What is this?
6. Name the bird?
7. Where is this?
8. Where is this?
9. Where is this?
10. Where is this?
11. Where is this?
12. Where is this?
13. Where is this?
14. Who is this?
15. The view from which hill?
16. Where is this?
17. Where is this?
18. Where is this?
19. Where is this?
20. Where is this?
21. Which dale is this?
22. What is this?
23. What is this?
24. What is this?
25. Where is this?
26. Which National Trail?
27. Martin’s old car. What model?
28. Where is this?
29. Where is this?
30. Name both hills?

If you send your answers to me at quiz@topwalks.com, I’ll mark your effort and send you the answers – I’ll probably post the answers here in the New Year anyway.

Have fun!

Some Pictures from Yesterday's Bike Ride

I've now worked out how to insert multiple pictures using the 'Send Reduced' app.

The first two pictures were taken in the same place - at the end of Sale Water Park soon after sunrise.

The third picture is of Jackson's Bridge, at a multiple path junction, where many years ago this was one of few crossing points over the River Mersey.

The bottom picture was taken beside the Ashton Canal after our lengthy elevenses break at the velodrome, whilst I was waiting for Jeanette to negotiate some cobbles. I have numerous pictures from here - look out Jeanette, you may be next!

Monday 17 December 2018 - Sale Water Park and The Fallowfield Loop

I'm back to mobile blogging as our Virgin Media 'Super Hub' has been declared 'deceased'. A bit frustrating as we were about to send our Christmas greetings by email.

I've tried to use the 'Send Reduced' app as suggested by AlanR, and I've managed to apply the app to some photos, but they then appear in separate messages, so it's back to the drawing board, with one picture per posting in the meantime.

This morning I was joined by Paul and Jeanette for a near repeat of last Monday's 40+ km bike ride. It was sunny but cold - minus 1°C according to Jeanette's thermometer (and her hands and feet).

We took an anti clockwise route around Sale Water Park, and it's a picture from there that I've chosen for today.

We reached the velodrome café after 26 km and an hour and three quarters. The coffee and carrot cake went down well.

From there it's an easy (if you can cope with cobbles) 16 km ride home. Today we were back in good time for lunch, given our 8 am start.

Sunday 16 December 2018 – Tideswell and Great Longstone

Also known as ‘A Christmas Bimble’, today’s walk is a long standing tradition that I’ve been responsible for since the 1970’s. Detailed research could identify the exact date, but I haven’t time for that now. Back in those days I was lucky to get four people along, and we used it as a planning session for the year ahead.

Today I was expecting 33 people from far and wide, and two dogs, one (Kate) from Bath, the other (Rowan) from Long Preston. They all turned up. A credit to the health of the nation?!

My son Mike was in particularly good form, having gone in the flash of a gymslip from the last person to be picked in any team, to the recipient of a magnificent trophy at his local gym. (The trophy is in his left hand!)

It even has an engraved plate. It felt to me about the weight of a brick, but to strongman Mike it might seem a bit lighter.

We set off from the car park to the south of Tideswell soon after 10.30; a crocodile of 32 people and two dogs, Andrew having elected to take a shorter route. Footpaths led us past the village of Litton, near where the top picture was taken. We took the same route as on 11 December 2016, the report on which is here.

There were very few pictures taken today. They are something of an unwanted distraction when you have 33 people and two dogs to keep in order.

We wandered down Tansley Dale and stopped in the sunshine in Cressbrook Dale, where Sue distributed an entire batch of caramel shortbread during our elevenses break.

The crocodile then ambled gently upwards, with good views to Cressbrook Dale and beyond.

Fieldfares and redwings accompanied us on the path to Wardlow. Earlier we had been surprised to see a flock of parrots outside Mike’s house in Northern Moor!

The Crispin was reached in good time for our one o’clock Christmas lunch. We knew they had another group in so the kitchen would be stretched. We were in no hurry, as people needed lots of time to complete my (traditional) picture quiz. I made it easier than previously and the six teams got remarkably close scores, with the joint winners on 23/30. I’ll upload it as a separate posting in due course – it generated fewer complaints than usual.

The service and food were excellent. We will be booking again for next year. I took a few rather pathetic snaps.

Next year I’ll co-opt someone to run riot with my camera.

One team got bored with the quiz and started on TGO Challenge vetting… whilst Carmen got up to date with her homework.

After quite a while, we set off again.

It got dark fairly soon, but this was expected (it’s that time of year). Andrew left us to recover his car from Upperdale, and the rest of us proceeded through three tunnels then up Tideswell Dale, to reach the car park at 5 pm.

Here’s our route – 15 km with 400 metres ascent. I walked the same route last Wednesday, so I was pleased not to get displaced with such a large group!

Thank you everyone, that was a most enjoyable day out. Long may they continue.

Saturday 15 December 2018 – Wythenshawe parkrun Number 369

On a bitterly cold morning , just 184 runners and walkers turned up for event number 369. Jan, pictured above standing to the left of Rebekah, Sue and Paul, has participated in some 239 of those events, and today was his 250th parkrun at all venues.

Well done Jan, and well done run director Tris for reeling off a whole catalogue of Jan’s statistics. Impressively, he ran a personal best time in September, some three years after his previous PB, and on his 229th run around the Wythenshawe course.

Today a lot of us were taking it easy after Friday evening indulgencies – Sue and mine having been at our Quizzers’ Christmas Meal at Thyme and Plaice in Chorley. It was very good. Sue drove; I had the headache.

That meant Sue was raring to go in her brand new Saucony Peregrin shoes.

She won’t be slithering through the wet grass any more with those soles. Conditions today were dry and fast, hampered only by the cold weather and a cold wind, so Sue was pleased to run her fastest time this year.

Full results are here.

The fire damaged hall is slowly returning to life. A lot of the scaffolding has been removed. Here’s today’s view, shortly before the rain arrived.

PS Thanks go to Syd for the doughnuts. Yum!

Friday 14 December 2018 – Around Grappenhall

This was the last of the current programme of Friday morning strolls. Sue and I scraped the frost off the car and took a short drive to Grappenhall, where we parked behind the Ram’s Head as per instructions (albeit my own instructions).

Soon after setting off on the walk, a phone call was received. A plaintive message from Paul, Pete and Kate the dog. They had gone to a different car park. It was a surprise to see Pete at all, as he lives in Bath and isn’t on the circulation list for these walks. He had picked up the details from topwalks.com – I usually put details of such walks there. Must plan some for 2019!

So after the false start, we set off again past the Parr Arms, on an adaptation of a route suggested by Jen Darling in her ‘Walks in North Cheshire’ book.

St Wilfred’s church is known for many interesting features, including a black cat sprawled along the tower’s outside wall. It is reputed to have been Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for the Cheshire Cat. Can you spot it here?

Try again!

The village stocks. If only they could talk…

It’s a fine looking church.

We were soon marching across fields to Broad Lane, where Andrew made a brief appearance, dressed up as an old tree stump. He wasn’t as chatty as usual, and actually seemed rooted to the spot!

It was a pleasant enough route to join the Bridgewater Canal towpath by the London Bridge hostelry, albeit I failed to find the path through the Dingle, so there was more tarmac than intended. The mapping software for my new phone is harder to use than that on the old phone. A familiar problem, it’s really just that I haven’t mastered the new software – I’m struggling in particular to apply a route line that’s wide enough to see without a magnifying glass.

As you can see from the previous picture, it was a lovely morning for a stroll along the towpath in decidedly wintry surroundings. There are very few leaves remaining on the trees.

The Ram’s Head provided the slowest coffee we’ve had for a while, but it was pretty good coffee when it eventually arrived, garnished with a mince pie.

Here’s the route – 10 km with minimal ascent. It took a shade over two hours. You are welcome to follow it, but you might like to try the ‘Dingle’ path as an alternative  - if you can find it.

I’ll be back.

New Trainers

Yesterday I took the opportunity to pop in to Running Bear in Alderley Edge, thanks to their 20% off voucher in the Tatton Yule Yomp goodie bag.

My old Asics trainers have lasted well and haven't come adrift in the usual places such as the heel fabric. The soles are somewhat lacking in tread though. The shoes were duly declared ‘dead’ and have been relegated to a dark corner. My records indicate that they have done around 1100 miles, which I believe is pretty good for this type of shoe. Their predecessors lasted  to about the same mileage. So the obvious choice of replacement was a third pair of Asics shoes, this time their ‘Nimbus 9’ offering. The design does appear to have changed in the 2-3 years since my last ones were bought.

Whilst the uppers and heel and internal fabric of the old shoes are still in excellent condition, the soles have become rather worn, despite being exposed mainly to the grass of Wythenshawe Park.

I hope the new Nimbus 9 shoes match up to their predecessors.

Whilst I was at it I got Sue some Saucony Peregrin shoes that have big lumps (lugs?) on the soles so that she can speed through the slippery grass of the park. I’ll picture them when she uses them – maybe on Saturday.

Wednesday 12 December 2018 – A Grey Day in the Peak District

I enjoyed a breath of fresh but rather ‘dull’ air in the Peak District today.

Starting near Tideswell, I headed up to Litton on the grey but fairly warm day.

Tansley Dale drops the walker down to Cressbrook Dale after the climb up to Litton.

After coffee and soup in Great Longstone, a good path led me to the Monsal Trail.

Today’s route saw me heading through three tunnels, the first being Headstone Tunnel – from which you emerge at Monsal Head.

Cressbrook and Litton Tunnels are soon reached, but not before this view towards Cressbrook.

The old railway line is left near Litton Mill, from where a gentle stroll up Tideswell Dale takes you back to the car park, and Tideswell…

Mission accomplished. I won’t get 33 people lost when I follow this route on Sunday. I hope. 15 km with about 400 metres ascent. Map to follow on Sunday.

Burnt Orchid (Orchis ustulata)

Nothing much other than domestic duties went on in Timperley today, so here’s a reminder of summer – a picture taken in the Austrian Alps on 23 July. These flowers are quite ‘petite’ and easy to miss, but when you do spot them – and they are very easy to identify - you can admire the wonderful colouring.

Monday 10 December 2018 – A Piece of Cake

Richard, Paul and Jeanette went without me last week, on another ‘Phoenix Park’ ride. It rained. They got muddy. Paul went out and bought a mudguard.

Today our ride was delayed by my need to take Polly for her annual health check (she passed with flying colours), so with a 10 am start, we chose a shorter route than usual. Just 43 km. Described previously on NYE 2016, here.

Paul and Jeanette joined me at Timperley Bridge, where parkrunner Dan made his customary appearance. He usually passes at about 8.30 on his way to work. Some sort of domestic crisis involving keys meant that he was coming past again at 10 am today.

On an overcast but warm morning, we pedalled off to join the Trans Pennine Trail in Stretford. Instead of following our usual route along that all the way to Hyde, we turned left at Jackson’s Bridge, pottered around Chorltonville to inspect my old house, then joined the Fallowfield Loopline. This took us all the way to join the Ashton Canal in Droylsden.

As we passed through Levenshulme, I noticed that ahead was a building perched on a bridge.

After struggling to keep up with Jeanette, on her ‘gravel’ bike on the old railway line, I was able to pull ahead on the towpath. “Cobbles!” swore Jeanette in the rain that had swept over us.

The rain stopped as we reached the velodrome; we were ready for a coffee after 26 km in the saddles. I was lucky to get in – with no mudguards I was rather covered in brown gunge. Jeanette and Paul were rather “ooh we have mudguards…” smug.

“That cake looks nice” was uttered in chorus.

Sadly for Jeanette, the only GF cake was carrot cake. Normally she’d have been delighted to find anything that was GF, but today her slice seemed rather petite compared with the giant portions that Paul and I were tucking in to…

No lunch was needed after that.

Familiar cobbles and towpaths led down the lock system and back home along the Bridgewater Canal. It was good to see that the empty sections of the Ashton Canal have been replenished and the debris removed. The worst of the litter hereabouts has been cleared. There were even some fishermen about. A little optimistic, I thought.

Here’s today’s route - 43 km with 100 metres ascent, taking 3 hours riding time.

Thanks for your company, folks. We can discuss options for next week on Saturday; meanwhile suggestions are welcome.