Saturday 8 February 2020 - Kanata parkrun number 119

Paul Barber, famous for his 'slowest ever' first finisher statistic at Wythenshawe parkrun, will be impressed with this. How about a time of 32.42 for a first finisher's time? That was my achievement today, with Sue coming in third in 34.10.

We've had some snow, which in places was tamped down to an icy veneer. Crampons, which we were wearing, handled this well. However, most of the 5 km route hadn't been tamped down and was really only fit for snow shoes, being about 30 cm deep in soft dry snow. We didn't have snow shoes. Nor did any of the other 'runners' so far as I could see.

Times weren't really helped by the Arctic wind that swept across the lake that we run around, turning the ambient temperature of minus 20°C into a wind chill adjusted, chilling experience, of somewhere between minus 30 and minus 40°C. Even then, Sue, who had decided that it wasn't really t-shirt weather, claimed to be sweaty under her five layers. My 'three layer' system worked perfectly apart from its failure to deal with the frozen snot that migrated to my mittens.

We are pictured (thanks Helen) in our kit after the 'run'.

I fear that in similar conditions our 'home' parkrun at Wythenshawe would have been cancelled, as was today's intended venue at Orleans, which is even more susceptible to windchill than Kanata.

It's actually the marshalls who suffer more than the runners, so a big thank you to all the volunteers who braved the conditions and enabled today's run to take place.

Meanwhile, Ken was out skiing. Brrr!

If we do anything else of note today, I'll report on it tomorrow. It's a brilliantly clear, sunny day in Ottawa, so we may be tempted by a walk by the river to the beach, but I for one am not going out without my down jacket!

Friday 7 February 2020 - Snowshoeing to Healey Cabin

After an overnight dump of snow, and with no fresh grooming of the ski trails, we decided to drive to a new venue - P15 (Cross Loop Road) on the way to Wakefield. 

There's no skiing from here, but a snowshoe trail leads in less than 5 km to Healey Cabin. This is route 70, and we took it on a cool morning with a biting wind and snow flurries. Once in the shelter of the forest, the four of us soon warmed up and enjoyed the walk through fresh snow to the cabin.

Ken's snowshoe straps encountered a mass failure, leaving him plodding for the rest of the day in his boots. Luckily the compacted snow was manageable, if not as pleasant without the proper footwear.

A large party of schoolchildren was leaving Healey as we arrived. Just as well - we needed their space. We lunched in front of the large windows, admiring the Juncos and Blue Jays attacking the feeder. A lone Cardinal bird added a small splash of bright red to the scene.

On the return journey, Helen retraced our steps along #70 - a 9 km 'there and back'. Sue, Ken and I took the #71 loop after a while. A thin trail with lots of undulations. We met two ladies at the bottom of a hill, but otherwise the path was deserted. En route we passed an emergency shelter that I recognised from last year's Fat Bike ride from Wakefield - so we've 'linked' those routes.

By the time we got back to the car at 2.30, the three of us had covered about 13 km, mostly in continuing snow flurries at around minus 10°C.

The large pot of tea back at home was most welcome.

Helen has been catering wonderfully, but last night she was given a break whilst Sue cooked moussaka, and tonight it'll be fish and chips at the pub around the corner. 

Thursday 6 February 2020 - Mooney's Bay

Snow flurries today left us choosing to enjoy our beach holiday mainly at home, where I'm pictured in the Waxing Room. But we also ventured out to the beach at Mooney's Bay, where Sue is pictured beside the life guard's chair.

A gentle hour's exercise achieved 5 km on the Garmin watch. Quite sufficient for this dull, cool day.

Wednesday 5 February 2020 - Fat Bikers at Larose Forest

Just for a change, Sue and I hired some bikes and joined Ken, David, Chris and Peter for a jaunt on two wheels around the 'single track' routes in this forest, about a 45 minute drive from home.

Great fun - 17.8 km of it, taking two hours. That is, once the hand warmers had kicked in as far as the fingertips on a sunny minus 9°C day. Just a couple of other mountain bikers on the trails, plus some dog sleds on trails wider than ours, on which we had to be careful as our wide handlebars only just fitted inside the trees. In fact, Peter bashed his shoulder on one of these trees and retired at half time.

Back home via a pub lunch at the Étienne Brûlé Micro Brewery in Embrun.

Tuesday 4 February 2020 - The Burma Road

Today's ski with Helen and Sue (Ken went hard core with another group) started up Fortune Parkway from P10. After a couple of kilometres we took the freshly groomed trail number 3, aka The Burma Road.

This is a lovely trail, one of our favourites, albeit we still lacked the usual sunshine. The weather was warm though, no lower than minus 2°C, so ordinary gloves were fine.

Sue is pictured above, heading along the trail under snow laden branches with Hairy Woodpeckers, Chickadees and Blue Jays singing and tapping as we sauntered past.

Visits to the Étienne-Brûlé and Champlain viewpoints preceded our lunch stop in Huron Cabin, where the fire struggled to toast our sandwiches. Viewpoint views were very clear today, but there's a barrier at Champlain due to 'collapsing infrastructure' (a phrase that could come in handy in the UK soon).

There were more people out than yesterday, but Gatineau Park still wasn't very busy. It costs $20 a day (£12) to ski here, unless you have a season's pass (mine cost £75 - and I'm happy with that) or a pass borrowed from a library; the default charge for late return thereof is $2 a day. Sue has one of those, plus several free day passes that come with the seasons passes that Ken, Helen and I have (two each).

The 5 km downhill back to P10 via Ridge Road (#1) and the Fortune Parkway takes just half an hour at an easy pace. The road signs such as the one in the lower picture always amuse me.

Here's our itinerary:

P10 > Fortune Parkway > #3 > Étienne Lookout > Champlain Lookout > #1 (Ridge Road) > Huron Cabin > #1 (Khyber Pass) > Fortune Parkway > P10 - 15km, 300 metres ascent, taking 2 hours 40 mins plus lunch stop.

The return journey home was punctuated by a visit to a small bridge near the Visitor Centre, where a beaver has been seen collecting tasty branches and dragging them into its under-surface lair. There was plenty of evidence of its presence, but it elected to stay at home whilst we were there.

Good news from home - Lisa reports the decorating is coming on apace.

Monday 3 February 2020 - Herridge Cabin from P11 (O'Brien)

The sun shone briefly on another warm day. Slippery skis made for slow progress despite the purple wax and the cinnamon buns. Switched to Kiwi Mike's Special Red (a sticky white product) whilst lunching in the cabin. That made little difference as we slid back to P11 after lunch.

Frank & Co were supposed to meet us (Ken, Sue and me - Helen had a rest) for lunch, but they didn't make it.

Outside Herridge, birds were active on the feeder, the Blue Jays being joined by Black-capped Chickadees and less common Slate Coloured Dark Eyed Junco birds (sparrows with a fancy name).

Our route today was P11 > #36 > #50 > Herridge > return by the same route - 20 km with 400 metres ascent - just over 3 hours plus lunch stop.

Back home (via the Visitor Centre to hand in a bunch of keys found on the trail - good deed for the day, someone had already reported them missing) by 3 pm for R&R - this is our 'Beach Holiday' after all.

Sunday 2 February 2020 - P19 and the Taylor Lake Loop

Snow flurries and warm conditions (minus 6°C) for another nice ski, with Ken joining us today after recovering from yesterday's exertions. 

P19 (Philippe) > #50 > #55 Taylor Lake Loop > Renaud Cabin > #55/50 > P19

14 km, starting 10am, finishing 1.30pm.

The cabin was surprisingly quiet inside, with a flock of Blue Jays outside, mobbing the feeder, Chickadees hardly getting a look in.

Quite a few skidoos about, presumably servicing the cabins and yurts hereabouts.

Must go now. Chopping (veg) duties to be done, or there will be trouble, and it's cold outside!

Saturday 1 February 2020 - Pink Lake from P6

With Ken tired out from the excesses of a winter triathlon (skate 6.2 km, run 5.2 km, ski 5.1 km - it took him 1 hour 14 mins), Sue, Helen and I headed off to parking lot number 6 (P6) - Mackenzie King on a relatively warm afternoon. Heated gloves weren't needed!

The 10 km ski to Pink Lake and back was fairly quiet apart from a few large groups of youngsters.

It was fairly overcast, so poor light for photos, nevertheless a pleasant, gentle, 1.5 hour outing with fresh snow on the branches making for a picturesque scene.

P6 > Champlain and Gatineau Parkways > Pink Lake (named after the Pink family who used to live there) > return the same way apart from the very last few hundred metres, where we went via #7.

PS Bright red Cardinal Birds were seen at this morning's parkrun.

Kanata parkrun number 118

We arrived here in Ottawa late last night, but we did manage to drag ourselves out for a 9 am burst of exercise.

Whilst Helen volunteered, Sue and I donned our crampons and set off along the narrow icy paths.

Had we thought about it, we may have aimed to mimic Gayle and Mick's parkrun podium achievement last week, but sadly Sue fell back into fourth place, despite just being dressed in a t-shirt and leggings, and it being minus 9°C.

I was delighted to be able to match Gayle's success, if not her time - my first ever 001 finish token!

I suspect that we both needed to go overseas for such successes - my time would certainly put me well down the field in any UK parkrun. 

What fun!

Bottled Water!

Philadelphia airport is so hot that you need plenty of liquid. We found ourselves sitting next to an advertisement for 'LIFE WTR', masquerading as an art installation - one of many that brightens up this airport. You might be able to magnify the picture and read the text. The picture on the right is intended to represent birds in an aviary.

I found that gazing at these images for a while during our 8 hour (yes, really!) stopover was quite calming.

Thursday 30 January 2020 - An Iris Day

 

A glance into our garden this morning gave us the first sight of irises, thanks I suppose to the warm January weather. A pleasure to see, as are the many garden birds that come to visit - notably blackcaps and goldcrests, as well as an unexpected visit from a little egret, which I've never before seen in the neighbourhood, let alone in our small garden.

 

Anyway, I was in a cheerful mood as I pottered along by Sinderland Brook, in the company of a lone redwing, to the recycling centre. Dead kettle and Xmas lights duly placed in the small appliances container, I set off to return home via Waitrose.

 

I was disappointed to see this load of rubbish, dumped (at SJ 752 902) about 30 metres from the recycling centre's entrance.

 

 

A stroll down the disused railway led to the path to Waitrose, where (at SJ 756 900) this was the scene.

 

 

There are some disgusting people about. I wonder whether anyone will try to identify the culprits from the rubbish they have dumped.

 

After visiting the supermarket, I took a route home that crosses the disused (the map incorrectly identifies it as 'dismantled') railway between Timperley and Glazebrook. This is a route where people are actively trying to get the five mile section of railway returned to use. The 'Stop, Look, Listen' signs are still there!

 

 

A few saplings may need to be removed, but happily there is no rubbish to collect just here, nor on the rest of my path to the Bridgewater Canal and onwards to home..

 

 

That's all from Timperley just now. The next few postings will be diary entries, more for my own and Sue's reference than any other purpose, and they will mainly duplicate scenes from previous years. We'll enjoy it all the same. (Apart from the long waits in airports.)

East of West, West of East - by Hamish Brown

 

Hamish Brown is well known as a Scottish hillwalker and backpacker, and inspirer of the TGO Challenge. He still turns up, at the age of 85, at the signing in desk in the Park Hotel, welcoming each year's batch of Challengers as they finish their adventure.

 

Last year I managed to get the last (display) copy of a book that he brought along that was published in 2018. I've finally got round to reading it, and very enjoyable it is too. It intersperses Hamish's ('Ham's') own recollections as a seven year old, and his notes about historical detail, with letters flowing east (his gran and elder brother writing from Scotland) and those flowing west from Japan and Malaya written mainly by his mother, but also by his father and himself.

 

The final chapters, which I am looking forward to reading, tell of his father's escape from Malaya, after Ham and his mother and young brother manage to reach the safety of a family reunion in South Africa.

 

Thanks, Hamish, for bringing these books along last May and providing such an interesting read.

The TGO Challenge - Vetting Days (14)

 

The map above (try clicking on it for a better version) shows some of the routes I've been vetting (not sure why the north coast route shows in green), and indicates that quite a few of my vettees will encounter each other, and may even bump into their vetter.

 

The Portavadie starters won't meet anyone I've vetted to date, and the north coast route could be a bit lonesome. However, there's a pleasing range of different routes, and I'm sure everyone will enjoy themselves. I hope my input has provided a reasonable balance between getting the Route Sheet completed properly on the one hand and trying to offer constructive comments on the other hand.

 

Sue and I will shortly be heading overseas, leaving our trusty decorator in situ, so I'm taking a three week rest from the fairly time consuming occupation of vetting.

 

I'll leave you with a picture of a bridge I had to cross in Glen Builg on my first TGOC crossing in 2007. My vetter (the wonderful Ian Shiel) didn't point out this particular obstacle, on which a workman bravely posed for me after I'd stumbled across!

 

 

The TGO Challenge - Vetting Days (13)

Perhaps I should have written about last night's Book Club Christmas meal, where book club members and partners who aren't members congregate annually at Shan's house with such tasty goodies as soup, curry, beef lasagne, cauliflower moussaka, beetroot pie, bilberry trifle, lemon roulade, and After Eight Mints.

Anyway, I didn't take any pictures, so enough of that....

Today's Challenge picture shows a group of us, replete from the pleasures of Charleton strawberry farm, making our way along Kinnaber Links to the Park Hotel in Montrose on 23 May 2019, after a joyous finish to our 200 mile (or so) walk. Included in the picture is one of this year's team leaders, who has the responsibility of nudging one of the event's sponsors across Scotland. She certainly won't struggle with the last day, as I know she took the same route last year.

Saturday 25 January 2020 - UK National Track Championships at the Velodrome

After a routine Saturday of parkrunning etc, Sue and I enjoyed our first visit to the Velodrome as spectators. We usually just use the café, and we've had a track taster session (great fun!).

Today we were joined by Paul and Jeanette (thanks a lot for the lift) for the evening session, and we enjoyed watching the men's sprint finals (won by Hamish Turnbull), the women's Keirin (Lauren Bell), the women's 10 km Scratch race - pictured above - (Ella Barnwell) and the very exciting men's points race over 30 km - 120 laps of the track - that was won by Rhys Britton in a tight finish.

A most enjoyable evening. We must go again.

Friday 24 January 2020 - Irlam and the Mosses

 

The last of my current series of Friday morning walks was due to start from Irlam Station, but Paul and I couldn't find any satisfactory parking there, and with nobody else expected on the walk we took the risk of driving round to the small car park at New Moss Wood (SJ 703 933).

 

The mizzle eased as we strolled up the lane by Cadishead Moss, along the route of the Salford Trail.

 

 

The fields looked lush with winter greens.

 

 

After crossing the M62, the path went past Ringing Pits Farm, then through woodland teeming with birds.

 

 

The peat beds of Great Woolden Moss and Little Woolden Moss were soon reached. The path around the mosses remains in good condition, but the willow arch seen in 2017 has been destroyed.

 

This frog dates from when the path was built a few years ago.

 

 

The mosses are being preserved, and form a nature reserve that's really close to the industrial sites of Greater Manchester. Lots of bird watching opportunities here.

 

 

Our path turned towards Moss Lodge Farm and Red House Farm, where discarded tractors litter the countryside.

 

 

 

 

Before reaching Glazebury, and the site of the first 'inter city' railway in 1830, we turned, still on the Salford Trail, to follow Glaze Brook in a southerly direction, enjoying a tea and cake break before passing Little Woolden Hall and reaching the Keeper's Cottage, in front of which is a carpet of budding snowdrops. This entire stretch is full of birds - we saw redwings, tits, a great spotted woodpecker, blackcap, and many more.

 

 

These places, through which the M62 motorway now carves, are full of history, with Great Woolden Hall soon being passed beyond the motorway.

 

 

We followed the Glazebrook Trail/Salford Trail routes, leaving them just after going under a railway. We then took a mildly incorrect turn down a pleasant stretch of dismantled railway as far as Liverpool Road, to which we descended through a hole in the fence.

 

Irlam station beckoned. In my haste to grab coffees and scones I forgot to take a photo, so here's one from 2017. The renovated station is a fine licensed café, with good food being served.

 

 

Outside, this old engine has been lovingly restored. The whole place is a museum piece. Worth a visit if you haven't been there.

 

 

Nearby, not everywhere is as prosperous.

 

 

An easy 2 km walk back to the car completed this 15 km circuit that took us three hours plus stops.

 

Here's the route:

 

 

Thanks for your company, Paul - I hope you enjoyed this 'new' location that is really close to home.

 

I've been here before, and indeed have reported in much greater detail that doesn't warrant being repeated today. Those reports can be found here:

 

Report from 20 September 2011.

Report from 6 October 2017

The TGO Challenge - Vetting Days (12)

The most southerly starting point for the Challenge used to be The Grey Gull Inn at Ardrishaig. Sue is pictured here before our 2012 start. She is carrying all her luggage - a bum bag - hence looking so cheerful.

Recently, an additional, even more southerly, start point has been added - Portavadie Marina. I'm currently vetting a route that utilises that start point and sets off along the route of the Cowal Way. It looks very good; perhaps we'll start from there next year.

The TGO Challenge - Vetting Days (11)

 

Today I've been vetting a route that follows the Rob Roy Way from Kenmore to Aberfeldy. That means the Challengers concerned will be able to enjoy the delights of the Birks of Aberfeldy, a series of small waterfalls in a beautiful wooded area above the town.

 

They are in for a treat!

The TGO Challenge - Vetting Days (10)

 

Here I am, on 17 May 2009, on the suspension bridge by Tarf Falls, which we found a little disappointing.

 

The trigger for this image is a route I'm currently vetting, on which the Challengers plan to cross Allt Garbh Buidhe here, en route from Tarf Water to Fealar Lodge. They may have to paddle across, just beyond the bridge. Sue and I must have done that in 2009, though my diary simply states "from the falls a pleasant path led over to Fealar Lodge".

Center Parcs - Sherwood Forest - 17 to 20 January 2020

 

Here are just a few pictures from our weekend sojourn at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest.

 

We had house/chalet number 889 again, reached by foot, bike or (in Louise's case) invalid carriage, down pretty pathways and past some relatively new buildings that have resulted in the golf range being turned into a family crazy golf course.

 

 

 

On Friday night, we assembled in the sauna, and adjourned (when the beer bottles got too hot) for Gerry and Chris's excellent 'spag bol', before a 'slide show' of last year's canal trip and other stuff.

 

 

Stuart, Lyn, Louise, Gerry, Chris, Robert and Sue.

 

On Saturday morning I went on a nearby 5 km parkrun, on which I've already reported. It was a lovely morning, as I took a finishing line picture before heading back to base.

 

 

The lake was glittering in the sunshine as I walked past.

 

 

 

There's a new 'ride' in the pool area - here it is, wisely positioned just above a building that houses the medical centre.

 

 

The afternoon was spent on a variety of different courts, of which only badminton is pictured below.

 

 

 

 

Whilst most of us adjourned to table tennis, Chris struggled up a climbing wall.

 

 

Captions please?

 

 

The exercises concluded with a marathon game of floodlit tennis, in which it took Sue and Robert the entire hour to beat me and Stuart (both cripples) by 10 games to 8. Then it was back to the sauna, and a chicken meal from Louise.

 

Sunday started with an hour and a half of squash, which five of us managed to enjoy without getting too shattered.

 

Nearby, Greylag and Egyptian Geese pottered about expectantly.

 

 

 

Later, the short tennis (indoors with a soft ball on a badminton court) was interrupted by a visit to some owls.

 

Did you know that a barn owl, without its feathers, is no bigger than a blackbird?

 

 

Owls from Africa and Mexico were passed around, then the barn owl, then the European Eagle Owl pictured below.

 

 

This fine fellow can live between 30 and 40 years in the wild, and 40 to 50 years in captivity. This one is about 18 years old. They are breeding successfully in the UK, in particular on the Yorkshire Moors and in the Yorkshire Dales, according to their 'dad'.

 

 

Goulash followed more sauna, then we enjoyed 'Lyn's Log' - a documentary about a canal crew in the Stratford area.

 

Monday morning saw more table tennis, swimming, etc, before everyone hobbled away for a bit of recovery time before their next bout of exercise.