When miles matter

Saturday's outing was again limited to a small, but enthusiastic, group of EtU, TA and myself, having had a short warm up through Lever Park before the others turned up.

Already on the car park as I returned was JtE who was out for a walk training session with the Amble in mind. We parted in opposite directions.

Our route, intended to extend our usual mileage, was via the Top Barn, Ammunition Corner, Horden Stoops, Belmont and then through the dye works to eventually pick up the track via Dog Bucket Farm to the track below Catherine's Edge. By the time we reached the car park on the Tockholes road in high wind and driving rain EtU was feeling the strain of a strenuous week and some back pain and decided on a return to the Lower Barn by way of Spittlers Edge. TA and I accompanied with him till we had to turn off for Great Hill where the wind strength had further increased. From there we did the Brinscal triangle, White Coppice and back to Rivington Green in calmer weather.

We had already decided that we would again take on the bovine hordes in the field by the green but they had obviously had wind of our agressive intentions and the field was empty, except for the tell-tale cow pats that marked their dojo.

So we escaped to live another day, myself having covered 19.92 miles in 4hrs 23mins 2secs - an average of 13mins 54 secs per mile - with a total ascent of 2821 ft.