A busy month
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| Ray of Sunshine. Sunday May 8th 2011. 28 persons. 21 miles. Ldr : Norman Thomas Norman’s annual sponsored from the Blundell Arms at Horwich to its sister pub the Malt House at Chorley and back was another great success. Hopefully around £2,000 will be raised for the two charities, Bolton Hospice and Days Out for Kids. 28 people took part this year, including star athletes, 10 year old James Keating and 12 year old Josh. Serious moorland fires due to the very dry weather saw Norman have to change the route at the last minute after advice from the Fire Brigade. So after Winter Hill an alternative to the smouldering Great Hill was found, and the party made it to White Coppice and on to the Malt House by 12:45am. “Bang on schedule,” brags Norman. The management had laid on a wonderful spread as their contribution to the event. Norman says, “We can’t thank them enough for the food as it was great. It was the fastest our lot moved all day when those plates of chips came out! I bet the plates didn’t need washing after they had wiped them clean!” The route back took in Botany Bay on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, Healey Nab and round the reservoirs to the Blundell. The landlady of the pub, Jenny, did brilliantly to complete the full 21 miles. However she paid the price – rumour has it she went into the office the following day walking like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz!!!! Well done Jenny, John, James, Norman and everyone else!!! Norman has agreed to put this route on for the club on Bank Holiday Monday January 2nd 2012 so we can all walk that Christmas pudding off! Tues May 10th. Three Peaks of Bolton. 5 mile evening stroll. 30 people and several dogs. 5 miles. Ldr : Norman Thomas Perhaps the bad forecast put a few people off but the first evening stroll of the “summer” for the club was still a success. Norman changed the route from last year (so what’s new?) which caught a few people out but if anything this new course was even better and everyone enjoyed the evening. The visibility was superb with views of the setting sun shining off the sea at Liverpool Bay with the Clwydian Mountains visible in the distance. The route took in Two Lads, Winter Hill TV masts and then the not-often-walked direct trek across the moor to Rivington Pike and back in to Wilderswood. P.S. If anyone knows Jackie, the lady who felt unwell not long into the walk please can they pass on my regards and I hope she was OK. I must have taken her mobile number down incorrectly as I have been unable to reach her. John Bullen Sun May 15th. Yorkshire Three Peaks. 25 miles from Horton in Ribblesdale. 14 walkers. WET! WET! WET! (not the pop group) & windy. That sums up the walk! 14 of us die hards set off from the calm of Horton-In Ribblesdale. "You`re brave in shorts" I said to John Bullen. Soon we got to the top of Pen-y Ghent when Alma had a turn for the worse. She had to unfortunately retire at the bottom (we all wish we had followed). Then the weather turned, mist, wind & rain. But we all remained cheerful, Andy from West Yorkshire did a quick change into waterproofs (he came very well equipped, put us all to shame eh John). We worked our way across the boggy moors luckily avoiding Normans bog. Quick cup of tea at Whernside before the next ascent. Then a long steady climb up Whernside, meanwhile the wind & rain were increasing. We nearly got blown off the top, we had a lovely view of the clouds! The farm cafe was a haven after a cold descent, John's legs had turned pink & his language blue!! We all decided to carry on up Ingleborough. Finally we all survived the day. John was offered a rub down at the end. Well done to everyone for remaining so cheerful; the warm beds & hot baths were much appreciated that night. Maybe we`ll do it in July next year. |
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