Wanderings, wonderings, Springsteen and The Chicks
Back on foot for this little section. Still very chilly in the dry east wind. The first part is through a built up area. But soon out onto the hills with the sheep.
It took an hour to walk to Lumb and then I turned round and went back. I knew Carol’s dad was from Rossendale but hadn’t realised he was from Lumb. Will see a bit more on the next stretch.
I'm walking the MTL clockwise and so the section entries are in the clockwise order not the date order.
Met up with my pal Babs and we did the car thing where we both drove to the end point, then one car to the start point which for some reason I find makes my head hurt to think about.
It was a gorgeous afternoon and the route was a delight, and made up for the 2 other days I’d had this long weekend on the MTL which were both hard slogs and not particularly nice.
I guess when Chris and I were thinking about doing the MTL on our bikes in 2 days, we were both a lot fitter, now it seems completely impossible.
We set off from Watergrove and took a route that kept the reservoir in sight for quite a long while. It was only 4 miles but seemed a lot longer, I blame Babs!! Only joking!!
After some time away from the MTL I wanted to crack on with the western side. I knew this section would not be madly exciting on foot because it involves a long lonely stretch across the moor along Rooley Lane which is an old road.
So in the true spirit of the Loop I got the bike out and into the car. This is the first time the bike has been in the Yeti and it fits phew (with the front wheel off). I thought it would but nice that it actually does.
The first section from Broadley goes through the end of Healey Dell across the river and then through a mix of littered woodland, des res hamlet, water board land, grubby old farms until it reaches the bottom of Rooley Lane.
The entire ride to Top of Leach was uphill which was quite tough for my first outing in a very long time plus the wind was against me. The surface on Rooley Lane was either big lumpy stones or stone setts. I pushed the bike on the truly awful bits and got an all over bone shake on the setts.
It would have been easier to walk but also I would probably have despaired even more on foot as it was so bleak. I stopped at Top of Leach which at 474m is the highest point of the lane and of the MTL.
The ride down was a breeze even with the shaking, almost half as long.
This was another back to front section. I parked up in Waterfoot and basically pushed the bike about 3/4 of the way to Top of Leach. It was less cold and less windy which was nice but it was very steep and very rough under wheel. I did ride the part on the flat through a large extinct quarry area. I felt a bit vulnerable there and there were a couple of dodgy looking men so I was worried about having to return the same way. At the moment it takes very little to make me anxious. I got to Top of Leach, ate my emergency supplies and then rolled back down. The quarry was fine and there were a few more people about with maps and rucksacks which made me feel more secure. I still had to walk the bike down the very steep parts but it took about a third of the time to get back down that it did to get up.
I’m glad most of this part is over as I haven’t really enjoyed it that much. Cycling the parts I’m not happy about is a good strategy as I always think I could put the speed on if I needed to, not entirely sure that is true as I was extremely slow on the ups today.
I trotted off to the Peak District yesterday and managed to arrive at Hope Sports Club before 9 a.m. There was a car boot sale on the playing field and it had some very nice coffee! I was very tired after my bike ride the day before and then yet another night not sleeping. I probably would be back to sleeping properly if I wasn’t so worried about my job situation.
Ian and Dave led the session, they are MIC and MIA instructors. This was the first run for this training and the idea is to look at coaching Mountain Leaders in how we train and how we assess people in navigation skills.
The how we train part was on the Saturday and I didn’t go to that day. The morning was looking at the what we are assessing in the classroom and the afternoon at how on the hill. All morning it was dry and sunny. We drove up the Snake Pass and parked up at the Snake Pass Inn. I got told off by a grumpy landlord but he allowed me to park after he talked to Ian and Dave. He seemed to think he was going to be swamped with customers because it was Easter Sunday, but perhaps his attitude went before him. The car park was almost empty and was the same when I got back there.
Needless to say, it rained all afternoon and with all the standing around it was cold. I’m so glad I have all the gear and it works. We split into assessors, assessed and observers. I kept forgetting what I was. The idea was that we were replicating an ML assessment and we looked for points where we could bring out learning points for students. Some good tips and strategies, e.g. forcing the use of the compass when it’s not needed because you can see where you are going, walking beyond the actual destination, not confirming or disagreeing with the suggestions of the candidates, getting candidates to put their maps away on a leg.
I found it very hard work on the hill and felt extremely unfit. I think it’s “just” stress. So debilitating. I feel angry with my employer for doing this to me.
We got back to the pub and had a short debrief. It was dark and gloomy inside and not very welcoming. No wonder he’s so short on customers!
Back home by 6 p.m. I always forget how near the Peak District is!
No photos, way too wet.
Snatched a few hours whilst C dialysing at LGI. I parked up by the Summit pub and rejoined the Mary Towneley Loop. Heading west now. Very pleasant route contouring through the hills in the warm sun. Down to my t shirt!
Felt a bit stressed and tense because of all the anxiety at work and my legs are sore now even though only a 5 mile walk.
All the dogs I met barked at me. Why? And why don’t their owners sort them out and why don’t they apologise?
Got to the reservoir, had a drink, no not direct! Set off back. A man on a motorbike was clearly hoping I would hold a gate open for him. I pointed to the No Motor Vehicles sign and told him he had no right of way and shut the gate on him. He came through so I hopped off the path so as not to be run over. I suppose I did what I needed to do and he was happy breaking the law on his unregistered bike. He tore off up onto the moor making a big racket and scaring the sheep. What a tosser.
I pretty much did this all back to front because didn’t have lots of time.
Finished off this section that I’d not done the week before.
I got up and out early. Gorgeous Spring day, warm and sunny. Parked in Mankinholes. Walked down through the Top Brink pub car park where Carol and I went for our first meal out together in months on Friday (mine was great, hers wasn’t). Then a couple of km along the busy busy single track road to the Shepherds Rest pub and up across the hill contouring round. It’s not a featureless moorland section and most enjoyable for that! Got to Bottomley, turned round and went back the same way.
I parked at Bottomley by the football pitch and walked the short steep bit to Summit. Good views along the valley. Walked back along the grubby main road.
The Pike
