Our Christmas Day walk took us on part of the Two Crosses route. It was quite cold eating our sandwiches!

A Christmas Cracker

Like EtU we were also enjoying the fantastic conditions on Christmas Day with a short tour of Winter Hill from the Quarries up to the Trig and back down, in between cooking the Turkey and visiting the family.  Loads of folk out and about on all the summits and paths as far as the eye could see.

NLN and FSS Approaching the metalled road from the direction of the quarries

 

And with perfect timing as we approached the trig a lone SKIER appeared who turned out to be Ros Murray with her cross county skis had come up from Noon Hill and was about to ski back down to Belmont via the ramp.

NLN with Ros enjoying her ski tour of Winter Hill

Finally trotting down the Mast Road we bumped into our window cleaner Chris having a stroll with his Labrador.  

Boxing Day saw us within spitting distance of Horridges Barn having walked with Steve and Eileen over  from Higher Whittaker in Belmont.   Only the pressure of time to get to the Chetham Arms for lunch stopped us from saying hello to Nic’O and David. 

Round the Resers

The thaw is on

Post-Lunch

Evening sun

More pics on:   http://justusandafewfriends.blogspot.com/

Why the ladder?

was the question asked by TF on the 18th. June.

 

To tag the osprey chicks was the answer I gave. Not entirely correct! The proper answer was given on the tele recently. Apparently the male bird brought in a fish with a large length of fishing line attached. The line had to be removed because of the obvious danger of entanglement and so the ladder was erected and afterwards left there for the tagging.

New Year's Eve

I have  a pass for Thursday morning, possibly an extended one.  Any takers/ideas? Chipping Trigs?

A Special Day

It's been a few years since I was up the Pike on Christmas Day and as I struggled up breathlessly this morning I wondered whether I might meet one or two old friends, sharing a mince pie and a sherry by the tower, as I had occasionally in the past.

But no, instead there was a young couple drinking champagne! Paul introduced himself and his young lady Natalie, who had, only moments before, become his fiance. I offered my congratulations and toasted them with the celebratory fiz that I was offered.

Congratulations to you both, perhaps see you up there next year as Mr and Mrs. If you want a copy of these photographs, email me by clicking "EtU" on the contributors list.

(Natalie doesn't always squint like this, the sun was in her eyes.)

The House on the Hill

That sky looks full of snow NicO. Hope it didn’t drop any more on you. Here’s a picture on a brighter day.

Horridge's this morning. So impressed with your photos I decided to have a go.

Saturday

Just to say well done to our photographers and to add my thanks to Nico and David for the splendid fayre that they put on for us. Definitely a lot more than I expected, and no doubt some will be thinking, a lot more than I deserved in view of my hasty departure. It seemed almost unworthy to rush off as I did and certainly it was not as I'd have wished. Apologies to Hazel for having to reverse so far down the slope in order that I could get out.

Anyway I paid for my sins because it was very c-c-cold at the garden centre.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you all on our next run.

Yesterday

A glorious winter wonderland greeted us for what has become our annual Gallop and Graze fixture, with all thanks going to Nic’O and David for a fantastic, festive feast.  A few more snaps to add to JtE’s which catch the changing light from the glorious hues of a winter sunrise to the rather more sombre tone towards the latter part of the morning as the sun disappeared from the sky.

 

FSS’s report and pictures of Mark Smith’s superb Mid-winter Bob Graham Round can be found here – awesome!

http://www.justusandafewfriends.blogspot.com/

Many thanks

Saturday mornings are always special and yesterday must rank as one of our best winter outings, followed by definitely the best inside training we have ever had. Full marks to Nico and Dave for their hospitality which was much appreciated.

It looks like we had a lucky escape from the weather as we made our ways back to our warm homes, supermarkets or snowbound cross-country.

The 10K course at Burnley took me 52min 37sec, a good minute faster than last year which could have been due to the morning run being shorter or to the frozen ground being faster than last year's mud. T'Yorkie turned out for the Harriers and was in sight for the first two laps but too far ahead to close the gap.

A Saturday with a Difference

Today (19 12 09) arrangements were in the hands of Nico. We started with a 9 mile run from her house taking in the area to the south of Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, crossing the Darwen Road and then via Cranshaws and Green Lowe to the southern end of Darwen Moor returning via Catherine Edge.

On arriving back at her home we were all treated to a splendid meal prepared by David and Nico. We started with some very strong and very good mulled wine followed by an array of very appetizing food that included jacket potatoes with a choice of fillings, a cheesecake, profiteroles made by David, mince pies and cake.

The group was Nico, NLN, TF, Hazel, YJ, EtU, Matt and me. Mary and Andy joined us for the meal. On behalf of all your visitors Nico, I would like to thank both you and David for opening your house to us and for providing such excellent hospitality.

Below are all the photos taken by me, good bad or indifferent.

Before the run:

 

During the run:

Afterwards:

Thank you to everyone who braved the icy drive to turn up today. Hope you all got back safely. We are officially snowed in now.
I do think I should be congratulated on managing to lead a run from my house and not getting lost. You see the FRA nav course did do NLN and myself good. I can now run a nine mile circle from home.
Happy Christmas and see you next year.

Saturday

Looking forward to UTDP on Saturday. See the piccies I should have had if the batteries on my camera hadn't failed!

http://justusandafewfriends.blogspot.com/2009/12/winter-sunshine.html

JtE/YJ if you click on the 'Home' link below this post on FSS's blog you will get the links to the Winter Hill Air Disaster.

NLN

Longridge 7

Before the "off", Matt with only his smiley bit and his running bits exposed; obviously going for the sympaphy vote with his bandage. Yours truly looking slightly rounded, even before getting my pudding.

YJ about to finish and checking his time already.

Photos courtesy of Christina.

Sorry TF...

...it may seem churlish and less chivalrous than you will have come to expect from a gentleman of my breeding, but if you refer to the (my) rules (see post dated 2nd Jan '09) you'll see that "relays don't count".

I'm keeping my tally secret until the fat lady has sung, this may take some time, as being runners we don't have a fat lady.

UTDP for me on Saturday

A question for EtU. Do I get to include my run on Sunday in the Calderdale Relay as part of the total for my yearly FRA miles? (Our A team managed to regain the title and the B team managed a respectable 55/117)

In the general scheme of things it 'probably' won't make a lot of difference anyway as I'm currently on 229.6m and 56860ft. Are you going to post your totals EtU?

My last race of the year will be Auld Lang Syne on the 31st Dec (now full) and just in case EtU is daft enough to challenge me again, I've got one pencilled in for the 1st Jan 2010!

TF

This Week

Thursday 17th not UTUPing, as no-one came last year, so I'm joining the rest of the RMI for the annual Hospital Run from Horwich Leisure Centre.  Slow folk start at 7:00 pm. Anyone interested?

Saturday 19th not UTUP but UTDP ~ usual time different place?

I Blame Erica

You see, if Erica hadn't gone out with her mates (as opposed to with Watters' mates) then Watters would have been taken home early and not been there to encourage me to drink a little more than was perhaps wise.  As it was, Watters and I were sat (slumpted?) in his front room at approaching midnight, making space in a bottle of rather palatable red wine.

Little more than six hours later, a glass of grapefruit juice, a mug each of coffee, peppermint infusion, green tea, regular tea, then at the Longridge 7 venue a further beaker of coffe and 500ml of Tesco sports drink failed to undue the damage.

But it can't all be blamed on the drink. YJ had an frighteningly good run, placing 110th overall out of 269 finishers in a time of 54:12, just 58 seconds behind his age group winner, Ted Orrell of CleM.

Matt passed me at about the 10k mark, skipping past with the encouraging words "Come on young Ed, you've got a target now", and then proceeded to take 40 seconds out of me in less that a mile. We both finished under 63 minutes, in my case getting dangerously close to 9 minute miling ~ good grief, I've finished the Bolton 40 miler at a faster pace than that!

I was about a minute slower than on the same course in the summer, which works out at just less than 4 seconds per unit of alcohol; and less than a second a mile.

Well done old men, will I be that wise when I'm as old as you?

Photos pending.

Howarth Hobble

Are you Mad Enough?

http://kcac.co.uk/events-we-organise/haworth-hobble/

Saturday night and Sunday morning

Do you think that would be a good title for a film? Perhaps a "kitchen sink" drama based in Nottingham.

Unless you're thinking of having a drink or two on Sunday before the race EtU, and it would be a foolish man who'd bet against it, I won't be able buy you drinkies to slow you down. As I think I mentioned, I can't make it to the T&T on Saturday as I'd already committed myself to the Lions dinner before the T&T arrangement was made. I'm quite disappointed because apart from it being our Xmas do, I missed the last T&T. Anyway I will be earning my Christmas Pud on Sunday, puffing away behind you EtU, a long way behind you on current form. So I'll see you there. Yet again I won't be out tomorrow, lots going on at the Staffies households(daughter's included), but I will be there for the meet at NicO's the following Sat.

Enjoy yourselves tomorrow night & make sure EtU has at least 4.546 litres to drink. Preferably Whisky. Wish I was there.

Saturday's T&T

I've been drafted into our 'B' team for the Calderdale Relays on Sunday. So as this means I'll be out for full days Sat and Sun it doesn't leave me much time this weekend for some work I needed to do. So I'm afraid I won't be able to make it to the T&T on Saturday. Sorry to be cancelling on such short notice.

TF

Bob On...

..YJ.  Not sure whether you used your photographic memory alone, or whether you had also taken on board my preference for lunching at the Newfield Inn on the way up to Santon.

Well done also to NLN.  You were spot on with regard to where the photographer was stood, but hedged your bets on which way the camera was pointing.

Sorry JtE, don't think that the Scafells are visible from the Boot.

Stand by for next weeks poser.

What fell?

Definitely Harter fell from the Newfield Inn

I will be at UTUP on Saturday.

Mid week run saw a time of 12min 45 secs for the Black Dog/Horden Stoop climb but felt a bit Kamikazi running down the tarmac in gathering gloom to the green. Must allow more time in future. The omens are not good as I feel I have peaked too soon for Sunday.

What Fell What Pub?

Is it:

a) Caw Fell from the Newfield Inn
b) Harter Fell from the Newfield Inn

Hopefully see everyone UTUP Sat. But will probably go and do a few reps on the Pike as I need to be back to car by 10-ish. Will be in attendance at TaT for drinks only in the evening.

NLN

What Fell, from What Pub?

 

Just a guess. Is it Scafell from The Boot Inn, Eskdale?

This Saturday

UTUP for me.

Utup

Catering and officiating for the XC on Saturday means I'll have to miss utups again this week.

Should be ok for the 19th though.

TF

What Fell, from What Pub?

Last Week/This Week

Not much to report from Santon, other than three runs up Irton Pike and a walk along the bottom of Wasdale Screes, which reminded me, seventeen years after I last did it, what an awful, bouldery path it is.  Another seventeen years on I'll be eighty, so perhaps won't bother next time.

UTUPing Thursday 10th and Saturday 12th then TaTing in the evening, followed by another of Matt and my head to heads at the Longridge Christmas Pudding 7 on Sunday morning.  If Matt wants to buy me the odd pint or two, in the hope of slowing me down, that's fine by me.

Ducting and weaving

Thanks NLN for the info on repairs to waterproofs. A heavy fall on the Amble some years ago left me with a rip in a newish cagoule (along with accompanying rips in my epidermis). The cag damage was repaired quickly and effectively with some new self adhesive puncture patches. While not entirely invisible the clear patches are not too noticeable and it was a cheap, quick repair. Damage to the skin took a little longer to mend.

Thanks to all for an enjoyable Saturday run in mixed conditions. We now expect Darwen Moor to be inhospitable, wet and windy and its always good to get back to the Tockholes road. The route between Redmonds Edge and the Belmont road was at its sloppiest. The nearest place names on the map are Bromiley Pastures and Adam's Delph so if we want to label the route we could choose one or the other. Another local name, though not directly on the route but very appropriate to half the Saturday Squad is Old Man's Hill, situated between the road and Catherine's Edge. Perhaps we should pay it a visit some tíme!

Darwin’s Tower?

Well, not quite a voyage of discovery yesterday although it was extremely wet under foot. The discovery was what must be the shortest return route  to the tower from the usual place. 14.6 miles.

The team was NLN, Nico, Hazel, YJ and me. The route was to Ammunition Corner, then via NLN’s  path to Spitlers and from the northern end of the wall on Spitlers, down to the Tockholes Road junction on Belmont Road. From there it was the normal route to the tower. Darwen Moor, in particular the tower area, was its usual wretched self: cold, wet and windy. On  our way to the tower we met Rupert Leggot who was on his bike. YJ and I stopped to speak to him whilst the girls carried on for the shelter of the tower. Rupert sends his best wishes to EtU.

This was, perhaps, Hazel’s longest run ever, but certainly her longest since she wasn’t well. Well done Hazel. (We must find a suitable pseudonym for her. Any ideas?).

Thanks NLN for the repair info and thanks to everyone for, what was for me, a very enjoyable outing in good company.

One for JtE

If and when the Duct Tape drops off you might try this:

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article.asp?UAN=6509&v=1

Spotted just after you told me you’d completed your repairs!

Excellent morning out – is someone doing a write up?

NLN

Saturday 5th

I also will be UTUPing tomorrow.

Tomorrow

UTUP for me.

Saturday

Notoutonsat. Avagudrun.

A couple of forthcoming races

Just a quick mention that The Prediction Race (what we would normally call the Uphill Race) takes place this Saturday with 1.30p.m. start. Venue is Curley's fisheries near to the Jolly Crofter's. £3 entry includes food - see Horwich site for more details.

Mention of the Amble reminds that there is another LDWA event suitable for running in the coming weeks. The Two Crosses (25 miles) is on Jan 17th. I shall be walking it quite slowly as I have volunteered to be one of the sweepers - also means I get to do a recce the previous week with the marshals walk. As it is the 25th anniversary it is likely to that the 250 limit will be reached fairly soon, so a good idea to get your entry in quickly - here is the link.

No sign of the Fielden Cup being held yet. Maybe I should have a word with PB and as I am the current holder, see if he would like help in organising it - I expect it should be raised at their next committee meeting which I presume is on Monday. Guests are allowed to compete but of course not allowed to win it which is I why I didn't realise I'd won the cup straightaway.

A Reight Duck Egg

That’s me. I had always thought that the tape used for repairing waterproofs was known as duck tape. It’s the waterproof connection you see. Anyhow, NLN puts me right in correctly referring to it as duct tape in her recent blog posting. They say that the older you get, the dafter you get, but they also say that you’re never too old to learn. Only the latter, of course, applies in my case as I am sure you know.

Last Week/This Week

And who would have thought that FSS was a sentimental old thing?  (Follow NLN's link to his "Just Us..." blog) I'd draw the line at that Ian, lets not get too mushy.

Not out Thursday 3rd (Boot Inn, Eskdale) or Saturday 5th (path alongside the lake at the bottom of Wastwater Screes). Suggest you all do Darwen Tower and get it out of your sytems.

Romancing the Stone?

Well I couldn’t resist the above and credit ‘Stuart’ for his comment on FSS’s blog of his Saturday run - http://justusandafewfriends.blogspot.com/2009/11/will-yo-come-o-sunday-morning.html  where you will find a delightful write-up of the story of the Trespass Stone.  Hope this goes some way to explaining my attraction to the place.  The photos make the morning look much more attractive than I remember it to be absolutely honest.

However, starting off in poor weather which did improve significantly gave us 12.3 miles some way below our target 15, mutterings were made about Darwen Tower in preparation for the Amble.  By the way my entry number arrived this morning No. 36 if you’re playing this year – SEF and further details here:
http://www.ldwa.org.uk/WestLancashire   

Well back to our run on Saturday - runners were EtU, Nic’O, JtE, Matt, NLN – usual suspects.   Weather clearing from setting off, a bit grey, damp and cold.   Our route took us up ‘the Diagonal’ and along George’s Lane, past Pike Cottage to the path to the Two Lads.  From there a bit of milling about in the mire before picking up the bridleways via the farms to the Trespass Stone.  No messing about with the good path to Winter Hill instead up and along the reservoir (good photo on link) and along the wall to the top of the ramp and then the Trig point, where even those with waterproof socks reported painfully frozen feet.  Off down the ramp where Nic’O indulged her delight in the downhill with Matt and JtE in full pursuit, whilst EtU and I jogged down dodging the waterfalls and loose stuff.  Unluckily JtE made full body contact with the deck with some pretty impressive gore-tex damage to show to Joan.  Sadly there were no witnesses to award points and his on-form running wasn’t hampered in the slightest post-fall (subsequent enquiries report no lasting damage – jacket patched up with Duct Tape – marvelous stuff).  Return via the allotments Back’O’Belmont and the deeply muddied path back to Horden’s, Dangerous Corner and Little Houses CP.

The lack of running for the last two weekends showed itself in my case with little appetite for speed but huge enjoyment in being back on the hills for the run and (for me, more importantly) the craic.

EtU was asking about plans for 2010 and it will be interesting to hear what folk are planning. 

Well maybe that’s one for next week.    

NLN