Edale to Chinley 16th April 2021

It was a very last minute decision to hit the hills: at 6.50am I jumped out of bed, 50 minutes later I was running for the train (my first time on public transport for over a year) to head to Edale.

The trains were very quiet, the few passengers on board were, apart from one, wearing facemasks.

By 10am I was heading south to climb up the the heady heights of Mam Tor and Rushup Edge. The sky was blue, the sun shone strongly, but it was chilly – I kept my Velez on for most of the rest of the day.

I initially mis-read this as 'Hardenough Clough'

 

Looking back to Mam Tor from Rushup Edge

 

Not part of the nice view

The views from Rushup Edge were good, apart from a couple of dog-poo bags on the footpath. There’s no excuse for this kind of couldn’t care-lessness, it’s just abdicating reponsibility to the non-existent Dog-Poo Bag Fairy. What sort of people do this?

At the west end of Rushup Edge I headed north up the Pennine Bridleway. I found a nice spot just south of Roych Clough for my lunch – this was the only time I took my Velez off.

For Judith

I followed the PBW to a point just west of South Head where I turned downhill to eventually arrive in Chinley. 15 minutes later my train arrived, I was back home in the late afternoon – just in time for tea.

It was good.

The trains south, beyond Manchester Airport, still aren’t running due to Covid-19, but when they do I’ve got a few routes on my to-do list, including a walk home from Holmes Chapel – I need to get some miles in my legs!

Where I went today: 

Around 9 miles with 1650’ of ascent.

 

Mobberley 8, Covid-19 Edition 2021

Good Friday came round again and it was time for a solitary and socially distanced ride to, and around the closed pubs of Mobberley.

The day had dawned dry, bright, and pretty damned cold – but there was no wind so the cycling was easy.

This ‘event’ is usually attended by 100 or so cyclists, but in these days of Covid-19 restrictions this just couldn’t be.

In spite of restrictions, other cyclists had a similar idea to me, by the time I’d arrived at the Plough & Flail at around 11.45am, I’d ‘collected’ Pat and Vanessa en-route. Other cyclists had beaten us to it.

The former Stag Inn

There was just enough time for a photo call and a beer when it was time to head out to the Stag at Warford. The Stag, a one time excellent pub, closed it’s doors for the last time some years ago. In spite of various promises to re-open, it looks like it’s being converted to offices.

Still, a quick beer was quaffed as a mark of respect.

The Frozen Mop was next, followed by the Bird in Hand – a Sam Smith’s pub that Humphrey Smith had closed a long time before Covid-19, for reasons best known to himself.

The Bird in Hand....anyone want a job?

A sign in the pub window advertised for someone to run the pub. I don’t think there’ll be many applicants, most folk I know want at least SOME job security.

The Bull’s Head & Roebuck were next, along with a couple of pints of Cheshire Cat. The Roebuck has become a village shop, selling lovely pies. And beer. No photos I'm afraid, I was too busy eating my butties.

The sun continued to shine brightly – and almost hotly. Not bad for an early spring day.

The Church Inn, preceded the once excellent Chapel House, now a private house, but still sporting the pub sign.

The former Chapel house, now a private house

 The last pub of the day was the Railway, a former Greenall’s house. This pub is unusual in that it has retained it’s bowling green – so many pubs have converted their greens to beer gardens – or car parks.

 The Railway rather unwillingly hosts a music and singing session at the end of the ‘Eight’, it’s proved popular with customers and M8ers alike, but for some reason this enthusiasm isn’t shared by the pub management. 

 With no pub to play in this year those remaining headed for the Manchester-bound platform of Mobberley station. A few tunes were knocked out, no singing though, before we all began our responsibly distanced journeys to our respective homes.

And we all lived happily ever after.

 

Lyme Park, sans Mountain Rescue

After my last, abortive, trip to Lyme Park, a re-match was in order.

I met up with Kay at Nelson Pit, Higher Poynton, on a lovely early spring morning: birds singing, sun shining – all that sort of thing.

 

We wandered into Lyme Park by the usual back door and, passing the location of the Mountain Rescue call-out a couple of weeks earlier, headed up to Bowstones.

Walkers and runners were out and about, taking advantage of the glorious weather, as we were - although Kay was keen to be out whatever the weather.

I’d arranged a radio sked with John, G6LCS, in Weaverham, a straight line distance of 22+ miles. I was using my Baofeng U5R handheld, John chopped and changed – switching from his Baofeng into a half-decent aerial, and his FT817. John also had linear amplifiers, allowing him to run 20 watts or so.

John was a decent signal, but he struggled to hear my 5 watts.  The GB3MN 2m repeater was poorly, although we managed to chat using GB3MR on 70cms. Both repeaters are located at Bowstones. An interesting exercise! 

The Bowstones, with the repeater aerials in the background.

Kay and I headed south over Sponds Hill where we sat down for lunch with a view, but the cold wind didn’t encourage and hanging about.

Kay at lunch

For Rob

Pott Shriggley is home to an artist (sculptist? sculpturist?) who produces most magnificent metal sculptures, it's always worth spending a little time looking at some of the exhibits:

We soon hit tarmac, and walked towards Pott Shrigley, to eventually gain the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal which delivered us safely back to Nelson Pit and our cars. 

So that was it, a lovely little walk in good company. Nice. Very, very nice. 

Where we went:

9 miles with 1300ft of ascent – according to Viewranger.

 

 

Sunrise this morning

Just prior to going out for my morning run:

Taken with my Samsung S6 phone.

 

A (failed) Championship Walk

 

It was a bloody freezing Saturday morning, but it was dry, and snow lay on the ground, only one thing for it – go for a walk!

The Plan (it’s always good to have A Plan) was to park up at Nelson Pit in Poynton, then walk into Lyme Park via the back door, and walk the Cheshire Hare & Hounds Tally-Ho! championship route, a short 6-7 miler.

I really was cold and very windy, we were later to discover that with wind-chill it was –14degC. I was wearing my Buffalo top for the first time in a long while – and was very grateful for it. Joules was well wrapped up with a Paramo top over multiple layers.

We entered the park by ‘Windgather’ and followed the tracks to the disused quarry by Knott, a little bump of a hill.

The track was frozen solid, compacted snow had been polished to a mirror finish by countless pairs of boots. Those braver than us, ie nearly everyone else out that day, walked without poles – there was much slipping and sliding. The track split at Hase Bank Wood, we took the uphill option towards Paddock Cottage. 

Enter YakTrax and MicroSpikes.

To describe that uphill track as being slippy was an understatement, but we were able to wander uphill safely. We’d have been stuffed without our aids to traction.  

A couple of hundred metres short of Paddock Cottage we came across Ian, sitting on the frozen ground, with one foot at a funny angle. He’d slipped and broken his R ankle – we were subsequently to discover, in 3 places. Ouch.

I was carrying winter kit so managed to help a little bit - thanks to Chrissie for flogging me the Bothy Bag a couple of years ago!

The cavalry, in the shape of Kinder MRT soon appeared and they took over in a very speedy and efficient manner.

By the time the MRT had done their stuff we’d been sat out in the icy blast for nearly 2 hours, rather than continue our walk we thought it prudent to turn back and go home.

 Not Hartlepool

Oh well, we got out although we damned near froze our wotsits off. I hope Ian’s broken ankle heals sooner rather than later – then he can get out (or in) doing his indoor cycling before long.

Thanks to Kinder MRT for their service – I know they’d been having such a wonderful day out playing in the frozen waters of the R Goyt on a training exercise. It must have been such a wrench to get out of the icy water ...

https://www.facebook.com/KinderMountainRescueTeam/posts/3858199857577756
 

More photos here.

Covid-19 and all that

A call from the GP’s surgery – ‘What are you doing on Thursday morning?’ marked the beginning of my journey to sunlit uplands…..no, not those ficticious ones.

Maybe the TGO Challenge and normal life will return this year – I hope so.

Just some of the things miss so much:

My friends and acquaintances, all of them (yes, even you!)

Going to the pub for good beer, stimulating conversation, singing & playing music – or just chilling in a convivial atmosphere.

Playing in the ceilidh band

Getting out for a decent walk

Cheshire Hare & Hounds Tally-Ho!

Backpacking

Camping

Taking my (new-ish to me) caravan out.

….and so much more

Anyroadup:

The jab was painless, after-effects minimal: a very slight feeling of bruising, and a couple of days of all-over body stiffness – a small price to pay.

England has paid a high price for the way the Covid-19 epidemic has been dealt with by the government, fingers crossed this improve now that vaccinations are under way – although this government’s record of dealing with significant challenges doesn’t fill me with confidence. If there’s just a chance of something going pear-shaped then this government will do it’s damnedest to ensure a total screw-up – that’s where their competence lies.

Talking of lies, well I suppose we’re world-beating at something.

My very grateful thanks to the researchers, the NHS and staff everywhere, the carers, those who wear face-masks and take the threat of Covid-19 seriously, my GP and all her wonderful staff,….and so many more.