The Birthday Bash (Winter Hill Recce)...

...proved to be a most worthwhile midweek outing. TF doesn't really need to recce anything around Winter Hill but regular training on the course should ensure accurate navigation in even the thickest clag. (Why does my spellchecker not recognise the word clag? {EtU says "add it to your dictionary}) We concentrated on the first and last bits, foregoing the boggy delights of the two sections nearest the Horden Stoops road, clocking up 10.78 miles in 2hr 53min (16.05 mins per mile).

Having in the past tried different routes from the checkpoint at the junction of the two streams (second time round) it was interesting to see TF's straight line to the plantation on the knoll using a stile and a gate to emerge on Georges Lane spot on for the descent to the school. I'm still unclear about the last bit through the gardens but if I get that far there's bound to be someone to follow.

YJ