Short Isle Of Man Trip

Blue Bells in Glen Maye

Just been over to the Isle Of  man to join Helen who was already out there for 10 days. Went with Flybe from Manchester on Friday evening.  Saturday took us on a walk that we done many times from Port Erin to the Calf and back round to Port Erin. This we done in July but made a change to do it in a different season. The weather  was dry but with a cool wind and few walkers were out on the path. In July we will do this as a trail run.  Back in Port Erin we went to the Bay hotel for a pint of Bushy Beer.



Sunday took us doing a 10km run out to Scarlett and back before heading to Douglas for a  Sunday roast dinner at the Best Western Hotel.  Little full when we came out.

Glen Maye Waterfall

Bank Holiday Monday we went over to Glen Maye and walked down though the Glen. As we were in May the Blue Bells were out in full bloom.  Plus the Glen was lit up with the sunlight as the tress still had not many leaves on. Later in the year it can be very dark with the leaf cover.  Then we drove over to Peel to do Peel Hill before having a Davidson Ice cream.

Liverpool Half Marathon

After  the ups and down of a goin injury the Liverpool Half Marathon arrived.  Full coach of Chorlton Runners headed down the M62 to Liverpool where we had to jump of little early due to roads closing. Quick run to the starting area and find the loos which were on the other side of the starting area.

Then we were were off on our 13 miles.  The crowds were great at pushing you along and everything was ok untill we turned for the final 3 miles back. Full head wind all the way to the finish that just drained me of energy. But the final 200m the Chorlton Cheer leaders did a great job.
Time Colin  2hrs 2 min
Helen 2hrs 17mis

Finished

London Weekend

We spent a weekend in London with the walking group. We stayed at the YHA hostel couple miles from Tower Bridge. We took the virgin Train on Friday evening and then couple of tubes rides to the hostel.

Southwark Parkrun

Saturday we woke to a early false fire alarm, which then got us ready to do Southwark Parkrun that we planned to do.  Very small parkrun in numbers but friendly bunch or park runners. From there it was quick race back to the hostel for a shower before embarking on a walking tour around London taking in the main sites.

Borough Food Market

Borough Food Market

Borough Food Market

Borough Food Market

St Pauls

On the Sunday we took the Thames path from the Hostel down river to Greenwich. Then it was quick tour around the old Navel Base buildings before getting the tube back to Euston. We did stop of at Canary Wharf to look around the tall buildings.

New Year weekend

Little late at writing what we got up to at New Year. Well we were in Grasmere with the walking group staying at the Yha hostel. The weather was not best but we got out on the first day to climb Fairfeild with some fine views.  We encounter a strong cold wind on the top that made us head back down to the warm of the pub.

The next day  we kept low and headed to Ambleside, but we encounter loads of flooded paths and roads. By time we got to Ambleside the feet were very wet from the floods. Another pub to warm up before walking back.  That evening we enjoyed a cracking meal at Tweedies bar in the center of Grasmere.

The next days walk we headed over to Elterwater and did a loop around in the area before returning to Grasmere. Where we enjoyed a cracking singer Pete Lashley in Tweedies bar to let the New Year in.

New Years day saw us doing another run around the Grasmere lake before heading back home.

Tatton Yule Run

Our 2nd 10km run of the year took us to the Tatton Yule Race. This was a race around Tatton Park in Cheshire in Fancy dress. This we ran with Chorlton runners who got dressed up in many Fancy dress outfits. The best i think was the nine renideers all rope up together.

The course was a mix of road and muddy trail paths. We ran in our Invo8 Trail shoes for this one. It was a little up and down and little harder in fancy dress. There was a good crowd at the end and a good goody bag. Medal, a loaf, teacakes, water cakes. Plus the medal was very good one. Chorlton runner came in third.

Helen Time
Gun Time   1.05.45       Chip Time 1.05.26 position 759

Colin time
Gun time 1.03.33         Chip time 1.05.26 position 688



www.tattonyuleyomp.co.uk/


More Photos Here. Care of Mick Hall Photos

Windmill 10km

Helen been running now with me for well over  a year. During this year we took a step away from our Duke Of Edinburgh leader role. Which was sad as we had enjoyed few years doing this, but staff changes made it bit unsafe or a not wanted role. So this left a gap to fill and we joined Chorlton Runners.
This made us enter Helens first 10km run and mine first since the 80s.  We picked Windmill10km due the date and a flat course.

700 runners lined up at the start 11.05. Just before every paid their respect  as it was remembrance Sunday.

The course was flat along the prom road of Lytham St Annes. It did a small loop before winding back though small park to the finish

Helen Time
Gun Time  1.01.31   Chip Time 1.00.43  positon 530  female 180

Colin Time
Gun Time  51.04  Chip Time 50.18  position 264  male 216

At the end your goody bag was a Medal, Wagon wheel banana and water.

Details of all runs in that area   fyldecoastrunning

Poole to Manchester

Day 15 Saturday 14/09/2013

Pool to Manchester

Kilometres run – 5

We were up early today to a clear sunny day. We had an early breakfast in the hotel, and then ran to the nearby park to do the Poole Parkrun. We were there early, but others soon arrived, here were a lot of other runners there. The run itself was very flat compared to our usual Heatonpark Parkrun, with two laps round a lake and then round a cricket pitch. I got a PB at 29.34.

 We then went back to the hotel for a quick shower and packed up. We walked to the train station at Poole, got a train to Bournemouth, and then a direct train from there to Manchester. From there we got a local train to Romiley then walked home, arriving about 6.30.  

     

 

   

Poole

Day 14 Friday 13/09/2013

Poole

We spent today looking round Poole. It was very wet first thing, then cleared up during the day. We went back to the shopping centre and I bought a top in Next. We then walked along the front, went in the old lifeboat museum, went to the lifeboat training centre, had a nice lunch, went to the museum and then had a beer. By evening it was very wet. We went back to the same pub as last night to eat and have a few beers, and we then got a taxi back to the hotel as it was so wet.

Swanage to South Haven Point

Day 13 Thursday 12/09/2013

Swanage to South Haven Point

Miles walked – 8

The weather was much better again today. It was a bit cooler and overcast first thing, but it soon cleared up and became warm and sunny. Because we hadn’t had chance to see Swanage the previous night in the rain, we first had a walk along the front, and then paid 80p each to have a walk along the pier.

We then had a gentle climb up onto cliffs leaving Swanage, followed by easy walking along the tops before arriving at a headland where large white rocks jutted out into the sea below, including Old Harry. It was busy round here, with a number of school parties out. After taking photos, it was an easy walk down to Studland bay. We had lunch at a café on the beachfront and then it was a long walk along the beach (the last stretch a naturist beach) before reaching the end of the South West coast path at South Haven Point. After photos at the statue at the end, we got the car ferry to Sandbanks.

We’d aimed for a celebratory beer here, but as there was only one smart looking hotel, and there wasn’t a bus for over an hour, we set off walking towards Poole. However once we left Sandbanks and could see across the bay area to Poole, we could see how far away it was, and so we ordered a taxi to take us to the hotel. We checked in and left our rucksacks before setting off to buy some new clothes. However the nearby Sainsbury’s had very little, and we got to the shopping centre 15 minutes before it closed. Colin bought jeans and a shirt at Primark but I didn’t find anything. We then found a Wetherspoons, and finally had our celebration beer. In the evening we went to the harbour front and found a very nice pub serving fish. We had fish steamed in a parcel with ginger, chillies etc. and cous cous which was very nice. We then had a wander round Poole, found another pub with some music on where we had a whisk, and then headed back to the hotel.

Pub – Wetherspoons and Poole Arms

Beer -          


 

Kimmeridge to Swanage

Day 12 Wednesday 11/09/2013

Kimmeridge to Swanage

Miles walked – 13

It was a bit cooler and breezier today with more cloud, but we were still in shorts and T-shirts for much of the day until about 4, when it started drizzling. It then turned progressively wetter, so we put waterproof jackets on. There wee four other people staying at the B&B and we all sat round one table for breakfast so we had a good chat with them and it was getting on for 10 before we finished breakfast. After packing up quickly, we picked up the sandwiches we’d ordered the previous night from the café, and were on our way by about 10.30. A couple staying in the B&B said they’d heard the first part of the coastal path was shut, and the B&B owner confirmed this and pointed out an alternative route. 

 
 
 


 We set off uphill to follow this and soon picked up a signposted diversion, although it wasn’t in the guidebooks or on the map. This diversion took us up onto low hills overlooking the sea and was easy walking with good views, and there were quite a few people walking round here. Eventually we dropped down to a small village, Kingston, and from there we headed downhill and picked up the main coastal path again. We had to climb up again to get on top of the cliffs.

We found a small remembrance garden with a table and chairs so we had our lunch there, then carried on along the cliff tops towards a headland. Unfortunately there was then a steep drop down numerous stairs, after which we went immediately back up stairs on the other side. I counted 218 steps, so that tired us out a bit. We had a look in the look out post on the headland.

After that it was easy undulating walking along the cliff tops, passing above Dancing Ledge, and on to Durlston. Unfortunately by now it had started raining and it got progressively wetter.

We rounder Durlston Head and started the descent to Swanage, initially though woods and then along roads. By now it was gone 6 and we were quite tired and wet. We found a Co-op to buy breakfast things then headed for the YHA hostel, arriving about 6.45. There was a large school group in the hostel, but we were on the top floor away from them. After a quick shower we headed down the road to the nearest pub, which the hostel had recommended. We had good fish and chips there and a few beers, before heading back up the hill in the rain to the hostel.          

Pub – The White Swan

Beer – Piss