I met Chris at Hebden station and we drove up to the New Delight pub at Colden. Such a very Thomas Hardy name for a pub. I can just picture John Durbeyfield rolling out.
Before long, Cath turned up with H and B. We did some intros and health and safety standing in the road! Then some map symbols and setting the map.
We set off ticking off points along the way. Then taking legs gradually building up skills. We went to Scotland (farm) and then off onto Access Land. Showed a bit about contours where there was a re-entrant. We counted off some field boundaries and then took a long straight track to Four Lane Ends where there were helpfully five to confuse matters. Next we did some pacing and discussed timing as well.
By this time, the weather had finally come in and we were starting to get cold. That’s the only trouble as inevitably there is quite a bit of standing around explaining things on a training day.
We headed back to the pub where there was a roaring coal fire and tea for the Manchester party, beer for Chris and water for me!
A great day with good company.
Relocation, relocation, relocation!Just loved that they bothered to do this on old farm gateway.Horses get ready!Stoodley Pike on the top layerChris’ latest friend!
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.
Chris and I first tried to go to the Hawks Stones above Todmorden. It’s a very short walk from what used to be the Sportsman’s pub but although there had been a BMC notice at the start of the footpath telling us to be good, there wasn’t one saying there was restricted access to the Access Land that the Hawks Stones are on until we got to them.
We then opted for the Bride Stones which are just a short hop on the other side of the road. It took me a while but I got the anchor, myself the belayer and Chris the climber all roped up correctly and I belayed her up the slope. I can see I still need to practise this but it is getting a little bit easier.
Then we looked for a place for me to try an abseil. I deliberately kept the slopes very small for this practise session. I eventually managed to get a classic abseil sorted out and I think I got a version of a South African one as well but this was quite hard.
I definitely need to keep on practising these and hope that I can have another refresher prior to doing the assessment.
It was a lovely warm afternoon and Chris has offered to help me practise this as Carol is currently out of the running with her hernia.
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.
Cath and I led a walk for Pennine Prospects’ Walk and Ride Festival. We met the group, who had all arrived by public transport at Hebden Bridge railway station. Quite a few of those who had booked in didn’t turn up which was a shame as I’d had to turn several away. One was ill and had let us know.
Good old Stoodley Pike, a very helpful landmark
After introductions, we did a bit of map setting and map symbols and then set off. We went up to the mobile phone mast and then brought in a bit of the terminology – handrails, attack points, tick off points. We did some observational legs and talked about measuring distance on the map. Then we looked into measuring distance on the ground and practised a bit of pacing along a 100m stretch. It was quite a short walk along Pinnacle Lane and across to Kilnshaw Farm, then up to Erringden Moor, skirting the edge of Broadhead Clough Nature Reserve and then back to the station via Wood Top.
When I’d prepped the walk on Thursday evening, admittedly I did go quite fast and it took me 2 hours and 20 minutes, but with stopping for input and breaks and setting off quite late from the station, it took us 6 and a half hours! I’d allowed for it to be double time but this is a learning curve for us too and now we know to triple it or to make the distance a bit shorter in order to get the teaching points in.
I also know now that we need small prizes of sweets or energy bars and must remember to get some of these, also some spare compasses. We used laminated printed maps from Memory Map which were ok, but harder to see all the detail so I need to look into that, it may be just that we need the “real” map out a bit more. The route was ok but we did cross the moor and that was quite hard underfoot so I’ll try to avoid that in future unless that’s what people specifically want. We are also going to revisit how we teach the compass skills bit but this was very much a beginner’s day and it’s not possible to do everything. A lot of the skills are practice, practice, practice. Must ask the participants if they are ok about having their photos online too.
Our group was lovely and they all said they would like to do some more so Cath and I are thinking about how to do that and when and what. I’ve got an idea for a route and just need to go and walk it to see if it’s suitable. The ages ranged from 9 to 64.
We were very lucky with the weather, it had promised to be horrid but ended up being fine all day although a bit chilly up on the moor.
Thanks to all the group, and Cath of course!
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.
Bit late writing this but have been preoccupied with kidneys and life.
Chris and I started at her house using the canal path to get to Littleborough. It’s a well made path so a pleasure to ride on. Chris then guided me through Eelees woods which was a footpath so we walked across to Hollingworth Lake visitor centre via multiple kissing gates which was quite a challenge.
Got onto the bridleway to commence the big ascent we sensibly planned for a very hot day! This was a bit of pushing so we stopped for lunch and to gird our loins for what was to come.
A short flat stretch then we were at the base of the big hill going up to Blackstone Edge. We wanted to stay off the road but this meant footpath and Roman Road. A stiff climb indeed which was all push with frequent stops. Totally lathered when we got to the top.
Across to the White House pub which we’d held out as a carrot to reach the top. Imagine our disappointment to find it shut! Just like the last time when we were frozen and needed hot choc. They are missing a trick that’s for sure.
So onwards passing 3 reservoirs along the bridleway, destination Gaddings Dam. To reach it there is a paving stone footpath which we only sometimes managed to stay on. Extreme cyclists we are not! See video. Once at the dam Chris parked me in a quiet spot, got into her swimsuit and into the water. She only did a short swim but said it was lovely. I thought I was filming her but had pressed the wrong button so just a still.
After Chris had changed we got back on the bikes to some quite hard paths but then soon to the road and a lovely whizz down to Chris’ house.
She came over later to our house and we had barbecued chicken and mini burgers with salad We sat out by the new shed!
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.
Bit late writing this but have been preoccupied with kidneys and life.
Chris and I started at her house using the canal path to get to Littleborough. It’s a well made path so a pleasure to ride on. Chris then guided me through Eelees woods which was a footpath so we walked across to Hollingworth Lake visitor centre via multiple kissing gates which was quite a challenge.
Got onto the bridleway to commence the big ascent we sensibly planned for a very hot day! This was a bit of pushing so we stopped for lunch and to gird our loins for what was to come.
A short flat stretch then we were at the base of the big hill going up to Blackstone Edge. We wanted to stay off the road but this meant footpath and Roman Road. A stiff climb indeed which was all push with frequent stops. Totally lathered when we got to the top.
Across to the White House pub which we’d held out as a carrot to reach the top. Imagine our disappointment to find it shut! Just like the last time when we were frozen and needed hot choc. They are missing a trick that’s for sure.
So onwards passing 3 reservoirs along the bridleway, destination Gaddings Dam. To reach it there is a paving stone footpath which we only sometimes managed to stay on. Extreme cyclists we are not! See video. Once at the dam Chris parked me in a quiet spot, got into her swimsuit and into the water. She only did a short swim but said it was lovely. I thought I was filming her but had pressed the wrong button so just a still.
After Chris had changed we got back on the bikes to some quite hard paths but then soon to the road and a lovely whizz down to Chris’ house.
She came over later to our house and we had barbecued chicken and mini burgers with salad We sat out by the new shed!
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.
