Monday = Isabella Day (37)

No 'Little Scholar' trip today. Tram rides instead.

That was after a hearty snack (bread freshly made), and a few of Thomas's housebuilding adventures.

"Where's the mouse in this squeaky drawer?"

Teddy wanted to come on the tram today.

After riding to Altrincham, we went to Brooklands, then back to Navigation Road, and home to Timperley via Brooklands again, where Isabella is fascinated by the giant ice cream. Before we could stop her, she suddenly decided to give the cone a good lick, clearly curious about its taste!

Soon it was lunchtime - chicken curry and naan bread. The curry was dismissed out of hand until she was tempted to try a small morsel. After that, Thomas wanted some as well.

Just as much fun as eating lunch, is wiping the mats etc afterwards!

Then, after feeding the birds and enjoying an hour and a half nap, it was time to play with trains before going home, singing endlessly about 'the wheels on the bus'.

Thank you for being so well behaved, Isabella.

Saturday 14 January 2023 - Wythenshawe parkrun #506 - and another soaking

We had bragged so often about the lovely weather for running towards the end of 2022, I suppose things just had to even out. We seem to spend Saturday mornings running in rain. Today Sue and I walked in the rain, just for a change.

Andy H is pictured above on the far left, briefing the first timers - they were out in force - New Year's resolutions? Though many regulars were absent, today's 157 participants being the lowest turnout since 8 January 2022. You can maybe see why from the state of the ground.

Sue and I started just ahead of the tail walker, and we remained there as we walked around the course. There were numerous puddles on the first loop before passing Oliver Cromwell.

The field was soon strung out, with any effort to avoid the ankle deep water being entirely futile.

The route beside the football pitches was really squelchy. Here's Andy H again, this time lapping me and Sue before going on to surge past a couple of youngsters and finish second on the day. He's a legend!

Full results are here. In the absence of any of our regular cafe mates, Sue and I adjourned to the friendly interior of Di Martinos cafe in Timperley for coffee and tea cakes, and a swopping of recipes with random folk.

Friday 13 January 2023 - A Danebridge Circuit

I chose this popular destination for the first of a new 2023 series of Friday morning walks. We've been here many times before - some reports are here, with full historic details and much better photos than today's.

A new sign (above) welcomes visitors to Wincle, but just up the road the Ship Inn has shut up shop. That's a shame.

Anyway, today the weather was very dull, but the expected rain held off until after we had finished.

Wincle Brewery is still going strong, and we looked back to that as we crossed the bridge from Cheshire into Staffordshire.

A steep little ginnel leads up to a path that pops out onto a field in view of our first objective, the Hanging Stone.

Soon we were on top of the stone, admiring views to Shutlingsloe, and across Cheshire in the other direction.

Jenny and I went to the top of the stone whilst Richard and Sue looked on.

We then took the high path that leads to the Roaches. Looking back you can see the Hanging Stone, and Shutlingsloe.

Ahead, Tittesworth Reservoir, with the Roaches to the left of the prominent trees.

After a while we reached the road, beyond which the Roaches lie, and beside which there's often an ice cream van. But not today, although there were quite a few walkers out and about. It's a popular spot.

Elevenses, with lots of shortbread, were taken in the depths of Back Forest, beside the path to Lud's Church.

We missed the turn that leads to the top of the chasm, but today we were quite happy to enter from the bottom. It was muddy. Below the carefully positioned branch on which Jenny is manoeuvreing, the water is knee deep. Another visitor demonstrated that - mud up to his thighs! 

Here, Sue took the opportunity to identify some fungi. She spotted two 'new ones'.

Mossy Maze Polypore

Jelly Spot Fungus

A turn towards Gradbach took us down to the River Dane, for a pleasant meander back to Danebridge.

If you follow the link to previous visits, you can see how the view of this landslip has changed over the years.

The muddy field just before reaching the bridge didn't seem as muddy as usual, despite our having had lots of rain in recent days.

Here's our route - over 10km, with around 300 metres ascent, taking us a little over 3 hours.

What an excellent way to spend a morning. And if you fancy joining me on a future stroll, the current list is here:

27 January - Longridge Fell - a 12km circuit from Hurst Green village hall (SD 685 381). Meet at 10:00.

3 February - Shutlingsloe - a 10km circuit from the Leather's Smithy. Park beside Ridgegate Reservoir in the marked spaces, SJ 953 715. Start at 10:00.

10 February - The Wells of Silverdale - a 10km circuit from Leighton Moss Bird Reserve Visitor Centre - SD 476 750. Meet at cafe 10:00. Bring lunch.

17 February - A 10km circuit from Bollington via White Nancy and the Saddle of Kerridge. Meet at Adlington Road Car Park in Bollington (SJ 930 780), at 10:00.

24 February - Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag - a classic 9km circuit starting from the end of the Walna Scar Road (SD 288 970) at 10:30.

Wednesday 11 January 2023 - East Lancs LDWA 'In My Own Backyard' with Norman Thomas

This was Norman's return to the fray after a few setbacks, and 23 people turned up for a walk in his own backyard.  Norman addressed the masses then disappeared off to a clinic, leaving June with route instructions. How the LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) has changed. Not long ago the 'Plodder' walkslike this one were frowned upon as not being appropriate for 'long distance walkers'. Norman was one who turned up and tried to speed up/extend the walks. Now in his mid 80's and having endured some medical conditions, I think he now realises the benefit of short walks in maintaining the friendship and camaraderie of older members of the club.

JJ and I provided the Timperley contingent on a day that was supposed to be rainy, but wasn't until we'd finished.

June ably led the group up past Pilkington quarry. Apparently there is a much better route, but Norman had declared it too dangerously steep!

JJ and I soon became back markers. Even in their 80's some of these walkers are 'pretty damn quick'.

By the time we reached Holden's Plantation, Norman had reappeared, batteries suitably recharged or replaced.

So we all strode off to Two Lads, two giant cairns near the summit of Winter Hill.

Here, at our high point by one of the cairns, 'elevenses' was declared despite 'a bit of wind'. Well, Norman is usually full of wind! Some spare cupcakes from Sue's 250th parkrun found good homes and lightened my load.

Down the hill we went. Norman likes to provide informative interludes, this time advocating psa blood tests for picking up prostate cancer. His friend had discovered he had the cancer by doing just that.

A little further on, and Norman was up again, telling us about Rockhaven Castle, a mansion built by a wealthy recluse who suffered from elephantiasis.

Here's what the mansion looked like. Norman thought the castle had been identified by the Germans as the marker for bombing a nearby factory. The castle was demolished, then the Germans couldn't find their 'marker', they went elsewhere to drop their bombs and the factory survived intact. That's the story, anyway.

Here's the path through what was once the front garden of the castle, in Wilderswood.

There's an extensive view - rather dull today.

Back in Horwich, Norman on his pedestal again. This time beside a fairly new build of a small estate of houses where quarrymen's homes had previously stood. The new build had to comply with some stringent requirements to maintain original features of the old houses, such as small windows.

Luckily for him, the stocks were locked!

Back at the Rockhaven that is now Norman and Betty's home, there's a communal room where our entire party could enjoy tea and pasties whilst winding down from their energetic walk. Norman made another speech, his batteries were still on full power!

Here's our route, 11km in a well timed 3 hours. On paths with which I wasn't familiar as they were to the south east of our usual Rivington routes.

Thanks Norman, for organising an excellent outing.