10 and 11 May 1980 - Martin's Meander

                            Goathland (click on any image for a slideshow)

Continuing the scanning of my 1980 slides, I've reached a solo two-day backpack on the Yorkshire Moors, en route from Lincoln to Manchester. By now my parents had moved from Guisborough to Lincoln, and I may have spent a week's holiday studying for insolvency exams in Lincoln, before making my way back home via this favourite area.

My diary, again typed out by Nick, is at the bottom of this posting, which I'll describe mainly by way of captions.

I based my route on part of the Crosses Walk, an annual 53 mile challenge walk across the Yorkshire Moors, taking in numerous ancient crosses that litter these moors. The walk was conceived in 1971. I'd moved to Manchester by then, otherwise I may well have participated. Malcolm Boyes wrote about the walk in  a Dalesman book published in 1974. A fascinating read. The walk has continued to be organised as an ultra marathon event, but the June 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid, and I can't find any information about a 2021 event, though self-guided options are available. 

Approaching Beck Hole

The view from Beck Hole bridge

Julian Park Farm

Pike Hill Moss, with Fylingdales

High Gill Beck

Daffodils at Glaisdale Head

At the head of Glaisdale

Botton Cross

White Cross, aka Fat Betty, situated at the meeting of three parish boundaries - 

Westerdale, Danby and Rosedale

Ralphs Cross East, aka 'Old Ralph', where there was (and still may be) a tradition of placing money on the top of the cross for needy travellers

Ralphs Cross West, aka 'Young Ralph', though it is the older of the two crosses

Dusk outside Blakey House - Lion Inn, formerly an ale house used by pannier traffic - processions of up to 40 ponies with panniers laden with moor coal for use at the lime works in Hutton-le-Hole

Breakfast at the head of Rosedale

Camping at the head of Rosedale

The old iron ore mines at Bank Top, Rosedale, that operated until 1885

Ana Cross (Ain Howe Cross) is a 19th century replacement, 

the top of the original cross being in Lastingham crypt

Leaving Lastingham

A cross at Spaunton, perhaps a memorial to Queen Victoria's Jubilee

The view through Low Cross at Appleton-le-Moors

The Oddfellows Arms at Appleton-le-Moors (a short diversion)

A view near Cropton

A view towards Farndale from near Cropton

Wheeldale Moor Roman Road

This is part of a road connecting the Roman fort at Malton with the coast at Whitby, It was probably used in late Roman times as a link with the signal stations on that coast. The large stones now visible formed the raised central foundation and were originally covered by a finer road surface, probably of gravel. (Or so the sign says.)

Wheeldale Moor Roman Road - the view south

I know this place well. In the middle distance is a spot where the Lyke Wake Walk crosses the minor road - a welcome support point before crossing the moor to Eller Beck and Fylingdales.

Wheeldale Lodge from the south

Returning to the outskirts of Goathland

Goathland beckons

Here's my approximate route - about 60 km (36 miles), with 1300 metres ascent.

Here's my relatively short contemporaneous diary entry:

Saturday 14 August 2021 - Parkrun Number 250, and a Wedding Day

Wythenshawe Park was the venue for my 250th parkrun, but more importantly it was an occasion on which to celebrate Paul Muldoon's imminent marriage to Kirsty - a saga more like a hurdle race than a parkrun, if truth be known. Paul was largely responsible for setting up the Wythenshawe parkrun ten years ago.

The 'management' took the above snap for their Facebook page at some point - thanks for that. The next six of my snapshots were taken as we milled around, socially distanced as best we could, in the large field next to the sart of the 'Dino' course - three laps around the football pitches.

Ruby takes centre stage

Then we ran around the 5 km course, finishing with a sprint across the field. Andy Wright is usually ahead of me, but today he got lost on the way to the start!

The wedding party arrived soon after I'd finished in 26:04 - a good time for me on the slowish course, and happily first home in my age group (out of 2).

The groom receives his token - "OK, I can go and get married now, via the dry cleaner!"

There were more 'family' pictures, once everyone had got their breath back (or not).

Then a large group of 'regulars' adjourned to the Courtyard Cafe for a rehydration chat, before the 'management' arrived and plonked 231 finish tokens on our table for us to willingly sort into numerical order in preparation for next week's run. Unbelievably, there were no missing tokens - is this the first time in living memory that they have all been handed back after scanning?

Full results (Sue finished just behind me in 26:57) are here.

Friday 13 August 2021 - Oscar Walkers

Today's (not)parkrun was a walk, (until an emergency dental appointment was arranged for me), as Oscar is getting on a bit and not too keen on running these days. He still gets lots of admirers though.

 

Wednesday 11 August 2021 - A Sizzler, and some new gates

The final Sizzler of the year was held in support of St Ann's Hospice, with an emphasis on care for those with terminal lung cancer.

Rain dampened us before the start, but eased off pretty quickly after I decided to run wearing an anorak. The same thing happened at Burnley parkrun last Saturday.

I started about ten seconds behind Sue, and despite trying quite hard I was unable to catch up with her. So my 'chip time' was the only recompense. She thought that her time of 25:19 was a PB by one second, but it was actually 59 seconds outside her best!

For Thursday's (today) exercise I took a 8 km route from home, including a section in Carrington Moss, where new fences and gates have been installed since I was last there. The next picture shows a gate near the locked access back road to the recycling plant, and where there used to be a 'cut through' there is no sign at all of that path, which is now concealed by tall vegetation.

I don't know what they are trying to keep out, as the fence is incomplete in places - such as where the route of the Trans Pennine Trail passes through the Moss.