Full moon

There's always a bit of a buzz I think among 'headtorchers' around the time of the full moon. Judging by comments on the FRA forums a lot of runners love to get out whether with friends, or solo under a big bright moon. Stef and I managed it twice this week!

On Tuesday we were going to meet friends at Bolton Abbey but Stef was late home so we did some hill -reps on the Beacon. The ground was awful (wet and heavily rutted by cattle) but we both ran well before calling at the Wharfe under the suspension bridge to wash our legs and shoes (in my case an old pair of resurrected Walsh PB's). On Wednesday night 15 of us ran a clock-wise loop from the White Lion. I enjoyed running with PetShopPete and Kev Hoppy because it's not often they run off-road with us. Afterwards we were treated to an amazing and vast 'left-overs' shepherds pie (and a couple of much-needed pints!). Two really memorable evenings out 

Compared to what

Sitting on the beach

This is ace. The sound quality is not good at the start but improves as it goes along

Lazy weekend in Wensleydale

We spent the weekend (including Friday) in Wensleydale; staying in Leyburn to be precise. By searching on the internet we got a good deal to stay at Dales Haven B&B and it was great. The owners looked after us really well and breakfast was lovely every morning

The weekend was planned as a break and not a training weekend so on Friday we had a wander round Leyburn, before driving up the dale to Hawes and Gayle to the Wensleydale Creamery then going over the Buttertubs Pass into Swalesdale. I'd been to the creamery and villages like Muker, Keld and Reeth but not for a very long time and Stef had never been to this area of the Dales before. Pasta and pizza were taken in the evening at Giovanni's 

We spent a good part of Saturday in Richmond including visiting the castle and in the evening we had a couple of drinks in the Bolton Arms then supper at Saffron On Sunday morning we went to Aysgarth Falls and then had a 'steady drive home' via Ribblehead (we spotted a huge flock of fieldfare not far from the viaduct) and Hellifield Flash (lots of ducks there now for the winter including widgeon, pochard, tufties and shoveler). I think this week we'd best get back to some running!

So Danco Samba

Jackie Wilson

Yorkshire Tea

I've been down in the West Country for a few days; initially seeing family with Stef and for the last couple of days seeing customers. We had a great weekend doing some of our usual 'Devon' things and it was good to catch up with a few business friends but nothing beats getting home, lighting the log-burner and relaxing with a mug or three of Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire tea just how I like it!

Big ship

The warmth of the sun

Three piece chicken and chips

Pinkies over

I've not done any what I call 'formal bird watching' (i.e.going out specifically to see birds) for a while but I'm always on the look out when we're out and about, say, walking or running. On Wednesday night as I was getting in the car to go to our club run I heard what I thought for a second was a tawny owl (common near us). However, it soon became clear it was a group of pink footed geese coming over. Try as I might I couldn't see them in the dark and mizzle but they passed right overhead. Yesterday I'd not been up long and I heard 'pinkies' again. I rushed to the living room window and there was a near-perfect skein of probably a hundred birds moving west. They weren't high up and I could hear them clearly chattering away to each other. I always try to imagine what they says, 'tuck in now mate, you've done your bit', 'hey; isn't it your turn on the front?', or simply a 'good effort!'

Five in five

Five runs in five days for me this week. Wednesday was our usual club headtorcher and I struggled like hell on a really warm evening. Last night we had a 'timed training run' up Nab End from Silsden. The cool clear night suited me much better and I ran well (for me!). Afterwards it was all back to the Kings Arms, where a lovely hour or so was spent catching up with Gill from Wharfedale (five championship medals this year in spite of missing the start of the season), Livi and Graham Breeze, who was on top form in spite of a minor detour near the end of the run 

Maiden Voyage

The White Stripes

Tuesday 'torcher

It was over to Bolton Abbey last night for a eight mile headtorcher with John, Chris, Andy and Johnny, plus John and Chris' dogs, Skye and Moss. We ran from the cricket ground up past the priory ruins and the Strid as far as the aquaduct at Barden and back. John showed us a steep path I'd never been on before, which I think would be brilliant for hill reps; not Bob Graham training reps but for short fell races

After the run it was all back to the Swan for much needed refreshment (it was a really mild night for mid-November). There was good news and bad - the Mary Jane ran out just before my pint was to be pulled but they also had Ilkley Black on, so Black it was! We had a lovely hour in the pub telling stories, pulling each other's legs and planning upcoming 50th birthday parties. All in all a splendid evening! 

Brother Jack McDuff

Back running at last

We got out for a three miler on the Dales Way this afternoon. It was the first time we've run for two and a half weeks and it was good to be back after finally getting shut of the flu bug that seems to have been hanging around for ever. There are still some leaves on the trees, the sun was shining and we were lucky enough to see a heron although not lucky enough to see any dippers. There's talk of a pre-work run in the morning and a Hope headtorch is charging up at the side of me as I type now, but what I'm looking forward to is a run out with the Wednesday night crew! 

Laurel Aitken

The Flamingos

Lounging in Langdale

Stef and I spent the weekend in Langdale at Mill Beck Farm. Neither of us is very well (although I think I'm over the worst of it now), so it was a weekend of sitting in front of the fire, watching a bit of TV, shopping in  Ambleside and planning what we're going to do next year

Saturday morning started off with wet snow falling but yesterday dawned beautifully and we managed a gentle three mile or so walk up into Mickleden to about as far as the bottom of Pike O' Stickle. We saw a buzzard being mobbed and chased away by a raven and called at the ODG for a pot of tea on the way back to collecting the car. The sun was out and we sat outside, which was great. Two large slices of fly pie were also purchased

The drive home yesterday afternoon was epic. We headed down the M6 towards Lancaster after deciding to go home via the Trough of Bowland and Dunslop Bridge. Several road closures and diversions meant eventually we went home through Clitheroe and what should have been an hour's drive was two hours plus