Black Sail Hut

Away for a couple of nights at Black Sail Hut with friends.

Test post using Blogger for Android

This to see how Blogger for Android performs.

Sunset, one evening last week

I don't seem to be able to align text centrally - more research needed.

Bellowhead at the Bridgewater Hall

Challenge Training Raining Friday 3rd Feb 2023

Andy and Martin had travelled up from the flatlands of Cambridgeshire to get some hills in their legs.

The TGO Challenge is only a matter of 3 months away so hill training simply cannot be delayed.

Unfortunately their arrival in Edale was delayed by stupidly heavy traffic – as was mine….and Edale is, relatively speaking, on my doorstep.

Anyroadup at shortly after 11am we headed up to the Nags Head for a quick selfie before following the ‘old’ Pennine Way route up Grindsbrook and onto Kinder Scout.

That's me smiling.

The weather wasn’t as good as it might have been in fact a letter to the Peak District National Park folks may well be in order – all the photos I’ve seen show either glorious sunshine or beautiful snow covered hills, NOT persistent rain, muddy paths, and general grot. In their defence, they didn’t mention the excellent company I enjoyed today.

Whatever…

At the top of Grindsbrook we continued through the slutch to Crowdon Tower then to Pym Chair. The original Plan (always good to have A Plan) was to go over Brown Knoll, on to Rushup Edge then back down into Edale….but we weren’t expecting so much of the wet stuff….and it’s accompanying views.

Plan B was put into action: Edale Head > Jacob’s Ladder, then following the ‘new’ Pennine Way route, back into Edale for coffee and buns. The excellent Penny Pot Cafe provided said coffee and buns – both were excellent.

A good day out, if a little damp….okay, VERY damp. Thanks to Andy and Martin for inviting me out – it was just what I needed!

Where we went:

 

Around 8 – 9 miles with 1600’ ascent

Music and beer in Bollington

 

Thursday's music session at the Cotton Tree in Bollington:  good beer* (VERY good!), good company, and good music - nothing not to like.

 

*I spotted TT Landlord (which I sampled), Wainwright Gold, Cheshire Cat - others too.

Tally-Ho! from Rainow, 21st Jan 2023

 

I arrived at the Robin Hood quite early for a gentle cross-country trot, as usual, following a trail of clumps of sawdust.

The weather was ideal for trail running: cool (okay, cold!) but bright – appearing even brighter because of the lying snow……you just can’t trust that lying snow.

I missed trail within the first couple of hundred yards (see the attached map of where I actually went), but soon got back on track. Losing trail is one of my strengths…..a gift you might say.

The trail led us north, by Rainow Low, and soon another opportunity was taken to lose trail.
A runner was catching me up, runners ALWAYS catch me up….and then pass me. The catcher-up was Vinnie, turbo mode.

We stuck together for a while, enjoying the lovely views whilst comparing notes.

Soon we came by Harrop Fold Farm which has great memories for me. My mate Crockett used to be the farm manager, he ran some excellent music and dance camping weekends here. Beer may also have been consumed. In quantity.

(Mostly) running NE in the direction of, but not as far as, Kettleshulme, we crossed Macclesfield Road, the B5470, before turning south and up Charles Hill and then followed almost a mile of lovely ridge.

Vinny was in camera mode – he does take some lovely photos.

All too soon we left the ridge to descend to Summer Close….was it here we came across the goat that thought it was a dog? I can’t remember. The goat was brought up with dogs and behaved like a playful puppy!

Losing height also meant we lost the sunshine, it became noticeably colder.

Around Crabtree Farm other runners appeared behind me, catching me up. It’s what other runners do.

Trail now headed west, along a bit of tarmac of Ewrin Lane, and into the setting sun.

We were now on final approach and descent to Rainow…..the ‘we’ was Eastwood and Wilson who caught me up on the Gin Clough track.

We rejoined Macclesfield Road for the last couple of hundred yards back to the Robin Hood, a nice hot shower, beer, and a nosh.

For Dawn and AlanR

It was a good day out: great route in good conditions, great company, and I even found most of the trail!

Then I called into the chippy on the way home.

Where we, well, where I went:

 

Just under 8 miles with around 1500’ of ascent.