9 November 2025 - A Postcard from Chile (3)

More from sunny San Pedro.

Coffee stop in Plaza de San Pedro

Hotel in San Pedro - view from first floor terrace

Hotel terrace

Church dating from 1750s

The oldest house in San Pedro, dating from 1540

More coffee, please?

Early November 2025 - A Postcard from Chile (and Wythenshawe Park)

                                                                               Click on any image for a slideshow.

Sue has already reported on a visit to some petroglyphs, etc, here. She never did learn to use her 'Nallo Lady' persona to post to this diary, but she has sent me a couple of batches of pictures from her travails in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Here they are - the first batch, including the image above, is a selection of pictures from 5 and 6 November. I'll add captions when Sue provides them. They include some more 3000 year old petroglyphs.

This second batch is from 7 and 8 November and covers sunrise over the altiplano, the El Tatio geysers (in an area of 10 sq km, where there are 500 geysers at around 4250 metres) and Puritama thermal pools. Also a walk up the Rio Grande valley from 3300 to 4000 metres, an area of wetland, Vicuna, donkeys and flamingos. And some flowers...

Meanwhile, back at Wythenshawe, there was a cracking turnout for Fechin's 'Auld Codgers' monthly get together.

L to R: Richard Bacon, John Archer, Keith Fletcher, Fechin McCormick, Keith Briggs, Mike Horwood and Mike Curley.

I feel very much an imposter in the company of these one-time elite runners who could all for one reason or another qualify for 'Legend in their own Lifetime' badges. Well done Fechin for organising.

Saturday morning was thankfully dry and calm for Wythenshawe parkrun number 639. 411 runners and walkers managed to run or walk 5km. There were lots of 'first timers at Wythenshawe' - they are being briefed on the right of the next picture. On the left of the picture is a graduation ceremony for some 'Couch to 5K' participants. They never leave anyone behind. Full results are here.

This chap comes with a dinosaur that has had to be replaced. I find that my pace these days is very similar to a dinosaur's...

This morning (Sunday 9 November) I was marshalling for Wythenshawe's Cumminity Run, beside a lovely tree that I couldn't resist capturing in the sunlight.

Monday 3 November 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 14a - Bromley Cross to Barrow Bridge

Descending to Eagley Brook

Sue and I walked this stage on 14 October with Rick and John, and Alan and Sheila. Paul and Jeanette were on holiday and now wanted to catch up (although Jeanette will have to wait until next year before doing some of the longer sections she missed due to injury). 

Anyway, we decided to split this fairly long stage into two easy days out, starting with just a 8km walk from Bromley Cross to Barrow Bridge. I wrote about our 14 October walk over the same ground here, so there's no need for repetition apart from a few of the annotated photos that I'll include with this diary entry. The colours have mellowed a little since our last visit.

We left home on a rainy morning, taking our time to get to Bromley Cross by soon after 11 o'clock, at which point the rain 'paused' until we got to Barrow Bridge. Very lucky!

Here are some pictures from the dull but dry day.

Soon after leaving Bromley Cross we passed the site of Birtenshaw Hall.
Click on the image for a better version and a detailed history

Building work on a steep slope by Birtenshaw Farm

Descending and crossing Eagley Brook

The path follows the course of Eagley Brook

En route to Eagley Mill on a dull day

Eagley Hall, and a restored Mill building

Fine gate posts at Dunscar

Friendly ponies

Pond near Dunscar

Small reservoir near Horrocks Fold, where I got navigationally confused for the second time!

There were numerous ginnels passing the edges of newish housing on the way to Smithills Hall

Starlings gathering in the trees by Smithills Open Farm

Pretty woodland in Smithills Country Park

Splitgill Mushroom - Schizophyllum commune
and there were many more - but Sue was absent...

Approaching Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall - luckily we had brought our own lunch

More autumn colours

Crossing Smithills Dean Road

The chimney at Barrow Bridge, near where we waited at a turnaround point
 for the 526 bus back to Bolton before 3pm

Here's our route - 8.4km with 120 metres ascent, taking rather less than 3 hours.

Stage 14b - Barrow Bridge to Blackrod, will be undertaken on Monday 10 November. Flier is below, together with the flier for stage 16. And stage 14b is here.

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 14 - Bromley Cross to Blackrod in two walks.
3/11 - meet at Bromley Cross at 11:12, - 10:43 from Victoria. Walk to Barrow Bridge, approx 3 hours. Return via frequent trains from Bolton.
10/11 meet in Bolton at 11:08, - 10:50 from Piccadilly. Walk to Blackrod via Winter Hill, approx 4 hours. Return by hourly train - probably 15:42.

Wednesday 19 November:
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh. Meet at Wigan Station at 11:07 for this sixteenth 17km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.

Arrive on the 10:27 from Victoria.
Return to Manchester by regular V1 bus service from Leigh.

Index