First Outing of the Year

A big turnout for our first run of the year.  Resolutions made (some broken already!) saw the Squad out in force in a bid to gain fitness for 2010 goals.   Lovely to welcome MrK aboard for his first outing with the SS, looking for a short 8-miler but not wanting to miss out on the fun in the blizzard on Great Hill meant that he carried on for the full 11.88 miles and 1700ft climbed.  Not bad for the conditions, but with everyone committed to the Amble in Feb upping the ante over the next few weeks will need to be the order of the day.  Still this won’t be a problem for Nic’O and MrK as the Two Crosses beckons in a couple of weeks time providing a very good opportunity for a longer run.

Hordern Stoops – where TF generously shared her winnings

    Looking back to Winter Hill over Spitlers Edge

The stile below Great Hill

Great Hill in the blizzard

Running off on the Brinscall Triangle we encountered a falconer with a Harris Hawk (Parabuteo Unicinctus) of which Nic’O, MrK and myself had never heard of.  Not sure about our other members.  Research completed I can tell you that this rather splendid beast is recognised by its dark brown feathers with rust-coloured patches and a white-tipped tail.  As you can see below.

Although natives of Central America they are now bred in captivity over here largely because of the Harris Hawk's unusually agreeable nature towards humans.  Apparently this makes them relatively easy to train for falconry.

You just never know who you’re going to bump into on the hill.

NLN