Let There be Heat!

Just checked thermostat in hallway and we’re up to 7 degrees – Hurrah!  Another hour and it could be warm enough to risk a shower.  Went out yesterday to escape the ice house and get warm catching the sunset on Winter Hill, and as I said, you never know who or what you’re gonna come across.  Check out these guys having fun in the sun.

 

Apparently they had been airborne earlier, but the wind had dropped and they were having trouble finding the thermals – I did mention we had several pairs on the go at home but we seemed to be at cross purposes somewhat.

Looking towards Counting Hill

Sunshine on broken wall  -  Click on image above, light is amazing

Afterglow of setting sun

This look familiar Nic’O and JtE?

Hope you’re soon able to tunnel your way out Nic’O and MrK but that you’re snug and warm in the meantime. 

Some good suggestions JtE for Saturday.  Given the forecast for the next week may be safer to meet UP rather than risk trying to get to Belmont en masse.  Good idea about practising the route Back’O’ Belmont ‘though.  I’m sure we could incorporate that section without committing ourselves to the Tower of Terror!  15 minimum wouldn’t you say?

NLN

Amble Recce

Firstly, thanks for the photos NLN. A good record of a superb morning out. Also, I hope that the heating is now sorted.

Turning to the Amble, I always have difficulty in negotiating the heavily reeded area after the check point at GR 687167. Perhaps YJ or TF might have the right line. I would appreciate a recce of this area, perhaps incorporated into a long run. Other than that as many long runs as possible, ideally taking in sections of the Amble, would suit me. If appropriate, an occasional start could be made from the Black Dog at Belmont.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Fab photos NLN. My total miles for 2009 is 1222. Totally marooned here, no mail, no cars - hill is a sheet of ice. Water all frozen up outside. It's like living in the old days! Hope heating soon on NLN.

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

Happy New Year from t'Y

Challenging init? New Year and it's case of getting out and avoiding injury on the ice. I managed to get a reasonably long training run on Wednesday, up Austins Lane, past Montcliffe Quarries, onto the mast and down to Belmont via the Wrights Arms or whatever it's called now, returning along the Belmont Winter Hill route to the trig point and back home. It was just warm enough for the surface snow/ice to give some grip for the studs but there was a bit of a wild blizzard on Winter Hill. Nevertheless, nearly 11 miles but two hours 30. Set off to do the same yesterday but everything was iced over so contented myself with some reps up the hillside above Austins Farm. Just looked at the forecast for the next 10 days and can't see much respite.
I was looking forward to the Greater Manchester XC champs next Saturday but have found that is now on Sunday and as I've promised to go on the marshals walk for Two Crosses Circuit will have to give it a miss. Also just filled in the entry form for Noon Stone and about to post when I realise it is the same day as the National XC Champs at Roundhay Park which I would like to turn out for. Can't seem to win!
Just sent of entry for the Amble which means the Mid Lancs XC that day will have to be skipped!

Mileage

Total for 2009 was 2386.5 miles. Made a good start for this year with 12 miles today, which was easy cos there's no snow in Longton.

Will be out tomorrow UTUP with an extra layer and thicker gloves. I can't see us going any faster than yesterday if there's still snow on the ground so we can't expect any great distance.

Happy New Year Everyone!

My FRA miles are as of the 16th Dec 229.6m and 56860ft (no further races completed). I don't have a total mileage for the year but I'm guessing that I managed to average about 35m/week so somewhere between 1750 and 1850. I'll try and make an effort to record it for 2010, so starting today I did an hour running round Lancaster Uni looking for little boxes that beep, approx miles = 4.

Bad news about the heating NLN, hope Tony's ordered the right part for monday! Showers at the gym then for you both then, you could always do what the little'uns seem to do at my gym, take their PJs with them to change into after their shower ready for going to bed when they get home?

I should be out tomorrow having bagged my alternative parking spot on the estate, if the snow continues I may have to do as planned on thursday and run from Lever Park Ave.

TF

2009

The TF/EtU FRA Challenge ~ Miles: 41.85 Feet Climbed: 9,880. Can you beat that, TF? I also did the Two Lads race,but as it wasn't in the calendar, it doesn't count.

Total running miles for the year: 1,744. This is my highest mileage since 1994, my BG year, when I did 2,094.

NLN and FSS, hope Boney Tony finishes the job soon, in the meantime I suggest you zip your sleeping bags together.

Late News

No heating or HOT WATER ‘til MONDAY!  And guess what… it’s snowing. 

Well I say no heating we do actually have a gas fire in the lounge and a gas cooker so could be worse.  It’s the lack of hot water that’s the killer as both showers run from the central heating system.   Still where there’s a will etc…

Great start to 2010!

Monday 28th December

So where was I…   well YJ got quite a few, but TF was almost spot on.   The only wayward suggestion was the view of the quarry face  which was actually at SD619164 the disused quarry below Stone’s House.   It would be churlish not to award a prize!  Are you out tomorrow TF?

Sitting writing this in several layers looking at FSS in his fleecy hat, whilst waiting for Tony Hesketh to come and rescue us from the icy depths by fixing our central heating system.  Deep Joy!

NLN

Annual Mileage

Happy New Year to all of you.

My mileage for 2009 was bang on target at 1200. This compares with 1093 for 2008, 887 for 2007and 355 for 2006. It’s been a slow build-up from my nil mileage years and I am indebted to you, my friends, for driving me on.

My ambition for this year is an anagram, as it were, of 2010: 1200 again!

Miles for 2009?

Now that the last runs of the year are done what’s the mileage add up to?  I managed 1,283 miles running/walking.  Garmin users will have an automatic total if using Sportracks.

Happy New Year to everybody – whatever it is you are doing to bring in 2010 enjoy

NLN

Ok, 8.30am at lower barn for the final run of the year

TF

Last Run of 2009

Unless I get a phone call, I'll be at Saturday's UTUP tomorrow.

Saturday 02.01.10

I’m hoping to UTUP. Oh, and enough of that cheek EtU!

It's the Double "O" That You Have to Remember


Q ~ What three two legged creatures have in common a double "O" in the middle of their mames and are recognised by their bald patches?

A ~ 1. The rook, which is easily differentiated from the crow by the bald patch at the base of its beak (where its nose would be, if it had a nose instead of just nostrils).

      2. JtE.

      3. The coot, as in NLN's photo and familiar from the saying "as bald as a coot". Bird aficionados will know that the coot is not a duck, but a member of the rail family, although frequently found in the company of ducks. The brown bird in the background is a mallard duck, the drakes are more brightly coloured.

Cunningly Close… TF

Photo Comp

1) Looking up from aqueduct at White Coppice (SD621189)
2) ? Bridge near 2 Lads
3) ?Cliff Face of Black Coppice (Stronstrey Bank) (SD 618185)
4) Anglezark Res near High Bullough Res (SD 618166)
5) Healy Nab (SD 607180)
6) Drinkwaters (SD 636190)
7) Spitlers Edge (SD 655165)
8) On path just before High Bullough Res looking towards White Coppice direction (SD 616172)

How am I doing NLN?

Thurs Run

I think it would be wise to stick to soft stuff for the run, don't want welcome in the new year in A&E! So I was thinking if we were sticking to local for tomorrow's run, I could park the car on Lever Park Ave and run to the Lower Barn from there. I'll put my map in my bag just in case we decide to go off-piste.

With all this icy stuff still hanging about my decision to forgo ALS was based on the thought that there'd be a section on the Bridleway which would be pretty treacherous (as well as considering the freezing thigh deep river crossing x 2). It appears that some of the fast ones have been out recceing and reported back that a change of route will be required. I'm still not tempted as I'd have to park the car in Haworth with a mile trek to the start and no where to shelter to keep warm & dry before the off.

TF

Close YJ… But not close enough

Picture Parade

1. Waterfall above the Blue Lagoon.

2. Wooden bridge upstream from Blue Lagoon.

3. The quarry face above Anglezarke Reservoir.

4. Anglezarke Res taken 200 yds nearer to High Bullough Res than the last pic

5. Healey Nab

6. Drinkwaters Farm

7. Spittlers Edge viewed from Winter Hill trig

8. The footbridge before High Bullough Res on the Amble route.

And today… well a little something closer to home

Having located our local Trig Point as being just off the A6, close to Wingates Industrial Estate, we set off across the fields to find it.  Which we did.  It’s in fine condition as you can see, even if the other two aren’t.  Easy to find on a footpath in a field directly under a row of telephone wires.

 

Felt much colder to day than yesterday without the sun, and although much of the snow has disappeared, the lanes presented some challenging conditions, being just sheet ice underfoot.  Anyway we had a nice little trot locally giving us just over 7 miles for the day and that was enough.

Now here’s a question for our pigeon fanciers.  Lots of ducks padding about on the frozen pond as you can see below.  But only the two above with the distinctive black plumage and white faces (I’m sure that’s not the correct way of describing them, but you can see what I mean!)

  Well I’ve got to have one of our hills!

Looking forward to seeing All UTUP 2nd Jan.  

Happy New Year everybody

NLN

Where Was I Yesterday?

Another glorious day, but where did I go?  Too easy for you guys surely!

First posting of all correct answers will receive a small New Year’s gift.

Pictures 1-8

     

Last Run of the Year

As I indicated, I was fancying something further afield than Winter Hill, but having run to the Gardens this morning and found the steps through to Georges lane virtually impassable due to ice, it may be wise to re-think. It would be a shame to head off to a more distant venue and find that the going was so bad that we could only manage a few miles.

If the group is to be the two usual Swift Bros and TF, and TF has abandonned her SLK until the spring thaw, we could identify a rendezvous point halfway between the barn (or Grimeford Lane) and TF's pad and run there to meet and do a bit more and then separate again and retrace our earlier steps, or we could all meet UTUP (but not usual day) or UTTF'sPad or anywhere else.

Other ideas? Other folk? See if it thaws?

Suggest final decision time no later than 22:00 hours Wednesday 30th.

Flipping Big Holes

This is, in fact, one flipping great big hole TF. It is the Cutacre open cast mining site and it stretches from the A6 road in the north almost to the Tyldesley boundary in the south and from about half a mile east of Newbrook Road almost to the boundary of Little Hulton. Apart from the extraction of coal it is intended to remove the Cutacre tip which comprises waste material deposited from the coal mines over many years. Until this work started it was the biggest industrial waste tip in Europe! There are dumper trucks working there capable of carrying one hundred tons at a time. As you’ll imagine, they are huge. It is possible to arrange conducted tours of the workings. As you have found out, many footpaths have been diverted.

No piccies from me, I'm afraid...

as I didn't manage to venture too far on my Christmas Day outing, but I now have a circular off-road 12m route. It's something I've been meaning to sort out for a long time and involved using some of the local disused railway lines (now trails) in the area taking me via Walkden and Tyldesley.

A couple of sections need a bit of fine-tuning and I should have definitely consulted with a 'Local Expert' before I set off as some flipping great holes appeared at SD 693038 that weren't marked on my map! Having got back to the A6 by a rather circuitous route, I found a noticed saying that all the usual 'Rights of Way' had been suspended, no kidding! Any idea what they're digging for JtE?

Sunday's outing was the Peak 'O' Trial from Glossop. As the car was still marooned on the drive, I decided to have my first attempt to get to a race via public transport. I'd emailed the organiser and asked for a late start time and opted for the short course. So having set off at 7am, I arrived at 10:10am and it cost £7:30 (return, which I didn't think was too bad). But 50 mins of that 3hr + travelling time was running, mmmh, think I'll leave it for 'special occasions'.

I may be up for a long outing on Thursday and forgo ALS, a lot depends on the weather over the next 24hrs. The car is now off the drive and near the main road, the novelty of going to work on the train and having to leave at 6.45am finally wore off by the 24th Dec. Any further plans as to where you might be running from/to?

TF

White Christmas, Bah!

Having just returned from the balmy south, sunshine and sea breezes, I have been very envious of the white Christmas you all seem to have enjoyed.

Intrepidly setting off from home in four inches of snow on the Tuesday prior to Christmas we were soon on clear roads and met no trouble until we reached our destination six hours later, where the snowy conditions had returned and we got stuck half way up Sally's drive. Moving on to Hove the next day we experienced a temperature rise of 8 degs in two hours and found all the roads and footpaths clear.

This was not a bad thing as it enabled plenty of running, along the route of the Brighton marathon, along the coast and over the South Downs. Total for the week was 44 miles which could be a personal record for a Christmas week when I ate everything in sight and still managed to lose a pound in weight.

I am available for an outing on Thursday, the further the better and, will also be out on Saturday with no need to limit mileage as my entry for the Jan 3rd Catforth half marathon has been returned "Sorry entry full."

My next job is to rearrange event entries for January to include the Garstang 10k and That's Lyth.

So, wishing you all a happy New Year, I look forward to being back on the fells with you.

Another Brother

Robert, my big little brother and youngest of the four of us, obviously benefitted from the cessation of post-war rationing prior to his growing years.

Pictured here after the Ribble Valley 10k on Sunday 27th Dec, where he had comfortably succeeded in his aim of beating the hour, after one of his rare returns to racing since finishing the London Marathon 27 years ago.

I was fairly happy with my 51:02 being closer to 8 minute miling than I have managed recently.

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.