Although only 13.5 miles today's walk was much more tiring than yesterday's. Starting off crossing sections of deep bushy heather, then a rocky strewn incline followed by expanse of deep peat groughs certainly gives the calf muscles a good work out. I really noticed the difference of not having been to the gym this past fortnight and on the way back resolved to make sure no more excuses conjured for not going next week.

I'd previously decided to head over to Chew Reservoir and having reached the edge of Arnfield Moor stopped to take a bearing. Whilst perched on a stone, map in hand, I noticed a sheep edging forwards - aww cute I thought, sheep being skittish things that usually bolt at the slightest thing. Next moment another one, then another - then quite a few too many looking rather expectantly.

The Hills Have Eyes !!

Maybe Farmer Giles was a bit late with their food but they'd got a bit too close for comfort now. Waving my map and shouting "Shoo" didn't seem to be of much help only made them break out in a trot in my direction, not quite the effect I had in mind. Before I knew it there were twenty or so three feet away staring me out big time. Up off my rock like Jack Flash, fastening my bag while on the move I felt like the Pied Piper (except he wanted to be followed).

These lot seemed to have got their own ring leader - a mean looking one with rather large pointy horns and although I know they don't butt like goats I wasn't taking any chances when they found they weren't getting any food from me. Nothing for it but to to use the sheepfold as an escape route!

All that expanse of moorland what are they up to following me?

Dish Stone Rocks

Chew Reservoir

Chew reservoir - built in 1912. At 1600 ft above sea level is claimed to be the highest constructed reservoir in England.

By the water's edge - a peaceful spot to stop for lunch

Trig Point - Featherbed Moss

View from Trig Point - Don't you just wish you were there !!

Well at least its stopped raining

Hadfield to Winscar Reservoir - 22 Miles

The aim of today's walk was a) to stay out of the black messy stuff and b) come rain or shine stay out for about 8 hours. My 9 year old nephew, Joseph, was also going to be doing a 12 mile fund raising bike ride to Woodhead Tunnel with his cub & scout group, so I wanted to set off along the Longdendale to hopefully see him at some point.

The weather wasn't the greatest, although mild it drizzled with rain on and off and the hill tops were virtually invisible due to the mist. Fortunately it picked up later in the day so shouldn't have spoiled their cycle challenge. Half an hour after setting off I came across a very mud splattered Joseph and his scout group who were taking a "pit stop".

Joseph (first on the left) with Fellow Cubs

Not a great morning for taking photographs.
This is St James' Church, Longdendale - the mist has come down to the base of the hill !

The information board at Woodhead Tunnel - Joseph's cycling destination

The Woodhead Tunnel (Western Portal)

The Woodhead tunnel was started in 1839 to connect Manchester and Sheffield. At the time of opening in 1845 it was the world's longest railway tunnel at 4,840 m. The eastern portal is at Dunford Bridge.

At the Woodhead tunnel I decided to carry on to Dunford Bridge, this would mean I could do a fairly decent walk whilst staying on reasonably low ground (keeps the hubby happy - I have to promise not to go off on the hills on my own when its foggy).

Salter's Brook with Lady Shaw Bridge to the right (the remains of Salter's Brook Inn beyond the stone wall)

The information board tells us that the Salter's Brook House was an Inn from 1795 and would have provided refreshments and a resting place for the men and their packhorses as well as a meeting place for the local Shepherd's Society.

Plaque showing the route of the "Trans Pennine Trail" (Grid Ref SK141005)

Winscar Reservoir near Dunford Bridge, South Yorkshire

An appropriate spot to have lunch having walked the 11 miles to Winscar Reservoir with of course an 11 mile back again to home

Taken on Pikenaze Hill - getting nearer to home only another 6 miles to go

My current "WIP"

Following the day out at GMEX recently I was really itching to get started on my goldwork kit but on going through the contents I realised that I needed some couching thread as there wasn't any included in the kit. Although I've got every make and colour of thread going I didn't have one I felt would be good enough to blend in with the goldwork, so as impatient as I was I had to order it on the internet and just wait for it to arrive.

In the meantime I decided to dig out one of the kits in my stash. Ages ago, my hubby had bought a Rowandean kit for me as a surprise when he came back from one of his trips. At the time I was working on a large Rowandean panel so although it was admired at the time he gave it to me, it got promptly put away in my cupboard to do at a later date. Now, aeons later I decided it would be the perfect project (something easy on the eye to work on when I was feeling a bit jaded in the evening) while waiting for my package to arrive.

The embroidery is called "Grazing Sheep" and measures 400 mm x 325 mm. It consists of the central picture which is on cream wool and is worked in silk, stranded cotton and wool. Then there is a slightly deeper coloured cream mount to be embroidered to go over the top.

I've thoroughly enjoyed doing this and have promised myself I'll definitely finish it before starting my Goldwork kit.

So far I've done most of the central picture - there's still the leaves to be worked in a reddish brown on the tree, some fluffiness to add to the grasses at the base of the wall and then the motif on the mount itself.

"Happy Birthday to My Hubby !!!"

Thanks for being patient these past few months whilst I keep disappearing every weekend.

This was taken last July in front of our family home - Hah, I wish.

We visited Inverary Castle, Scotland when we had a week's break up there last Summer. It was the first time I'd been to the castle and thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely recommend visiting if ever you are on holiday in that area.

My other half has been very patient these past weeks putting up with me going out every weekend, so I thought it was time I got back from my walk early in the afternoon so we could maybe have a 'bit' of a normal Sunday for once. So with this in mind I set off up the Longdendale to Torside Clough for a quickie 12 miler.

It turned out to be quite a pleasant and sunny day. As usual there were quite a lot of families strolling/cycling along the Longdendale and then later on there were a fair few walkers dotted about on Bleaklow. I've taken tons of photos of this area in the past but here's one or two different shots from today.

From Reaps Bent

Someone must have come across this boot whilst on their travels. Obviously it had been claimed by the bog at some point and then later resurfaced and someone seeing the funny side has put it on display!! It looked like a fairly newish boot despite the metal lace eyelets having been rotted away - I bet someone had a tale to tell in the pub after that, I wouldn't have liked to have made it home from there without my footwear that's for sure!!

Look who I found sunbathing - a gorgeous Arctic Hare (I kept my distance as no doubt sounding like a clod hopper whilst wearing my bright red jumper would most definitely have frightened him off)

You can just about see the 'dot' of a person on the other side of the rim (right hand side)

Dowstone Clough

What Are We Letting Ourselves In For ?? The "Challenge" Team Finally Finds Out !

Instead of the usual routine of walking to start the weekend it was a trip to the Victoria & Albert Hotel in Manchester for a meet and greet session together with a presentation from Global Adventure on the Challenge in April.

Everyone arrived before the due time so it meant we got to "break the ice" over a cup of coffee and a bit of a chat with each other beforehand. There were 8 of us altogether, another person from the hospital couldn't make it as she was on call and we were told there would be a few others who would be joining us as "independents" so although we don't know exactly how many of us there are it seems like we will be a fairly small group.

We were introduced to Brian Jackson, our Expedition Leader and as not one us has done anything remotely like this before we were extremely eager to hear his words of wisdom ! Brian gave us a quick Bio and run through all the fantastic challenges he's been involved with, pretty much in nearly every part of the globe so we feel we're in very safe hands.

We were also introduced to the two "Mikes" who are Mushers (sounds like the start of a limerick) to give us a talk on the dogs. They live here in the UK and have their own huskies which they race. From their talk it is so apparent they absolutely love what they do and live, sleep, breathe huskies, their enthusiasm is truly infectious.

I'd asked the guy from the hotel to take this photo for me of everyone together, unfortunately I think there was a bit of camera shake as the first one was totally blurred and this one's a bit indistinct. The pic shows Brian Jackson, Exped Leader on the left (white shirt), Mike the Musher next to him in the Grey top with Mike the other Musher stood the right of him (black cap), and far right is Dawn the organiser from the Hospital's Appeal team and the five of us left are those participating in the Challenge.

The two Mikes have done the same trip that we'll be doing. They talked through the itinerary day by day to give us an idea what we will be doing. There was lots of practical advice ranging from how to treat the dogs, camping out in super cold conditions , vital clothing/equipment etc. We all seemed to have the same concerns so of course there were lots of questions constantly flying about and when it was time for lunch we begrudgingly left our seats only to resume our barrage of questions in between mouthfuls!!

A slide in the presentation shown what a typical home away would look like

Our 'mushers' were full of anecdotal info which was enough to raise our eyebrows on more than one occasion - particulary when it came to the delicate subject of the "loo" (or lack of in this case). Of course we knew when we signed up for this event that it was something we would have to 'get over' but when you're talking about temperatures possibly dipping to -34 due to the wind chill factor being thrown into the equation the thought of bearing your all suddenly seems like the biggest challenge of all !!!

Happy Birthday to my Dad !!!

A few of the sweeties he got for his birthday.

Picture proof that I don't stand a chance - I inherited the chocoholic gene !!!

Weekend Walking

This weekend started off pretty miserable weather wise - a fair bit of mist hanging around the hilltops very early on so I put off going out until mid morning by which time it seemed most of it had blown over. The grey cold looking sky was very surprisingly deceptive as it turned out to be quite mild.

My original plan for Saturday was to go across Arnfield/Ormes Moor over to Dovestones but because I'd left it a bit late for going due to the earlier mist thought I'd do a shorter walk of Hadfield/Arnfield/Higher Swineshaw Reservoir/Slate pit moor overlooking Buckton Vale/Swineshaw Moor/Ogden Clough/Arnfield which by the time I got back home to Hadfield would be a little over 12 miles.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my little walking buddy, Leo, at home as he's been limping a bit; we think he cut his paw on some glass on the road. Limp or no limp he was not impressed at being left behind !

Footbridge - Ogden Clough

Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

Slate Pit Moor - Buckton Vale Quarry on the distant hill

One of the many streams running into Ogden Brook

Arnfield Flats

Was fortunate to be able to get out again and do the walk originally planned for Saturday. Hadfield, Tintwistle, Arnfield Top of Ogden Clough, Ormes Moor, Chew Hurdles, Along the rim overlooking Dovestones Reservoir, Descend Wimberry Stones Brow to Dovestone Reservoir, Return through Mossley, Heyrod, Stalybridge back to Hadfield = 16 miles.

Weather was mild once again, mist kept off the moors until I got to Chew so all in all started out very well, that is until I stepped into a particulary deep boggy section. Due to the recent snowfall it was only to be expected it would be extra squelchy now the snow had melted so I had been picking my way carefully to avoid anything more than ankle deep. The stile I was heading for was in sight and only a very short distance away when I noticed some walking poles. It was in that fleeting second on catching sight of them thinking it was strange somebody would leave them there rather than take them with them (serious walkers do not leave their rubbish behind unlike the idiots that leave broken glass and litter lying about the village) that I went down like a lead balloon thigh deep in the thickest black morass ever. I must admit it is a very "hairy" moment when you think oh s@@@ until you realise you've stopped sinking and need to get yourself out of that one. In hindsight I am sure the poles were left as a warning I only wish I'd spotted them sooner would have saved me being well and truly christened bog style!!!

Left Walking Poles Mark the Spot

Unfortunately they mark a spot about 30 yards from where I got my christening

Despite getting the heeby jeebies from my wee mishap, the rest of the walk was enjoyable. It was only a short distance to Chew Hurdles. This is a pic overlooking Chew Brook with a patch of Dovestone Reservoir showing in the distance

Overlooking Dovestone Reservoir

Looking back along the rim path




Weathered rocks overlooking Dovestone Reservoir