Coincidence, camaraderie and conflicting emotions....

This weekend has been a learning curve in more ways than one. I rather think that I suffered my first DNF, I've had a few DNS's in my running life, where I've decided for various reasons not to start but I feel that this is my first DNF and it hurts like hell, more of that later and I promise there isn't a whine or moan in sight. (On re-reading there might be one or two).

The Lakeland 50 has been part of my life now for 3 years and before this year's event I said this would be the last, now I'm not so sure LOL. Actual running training hasn't been going so well but walking and hill training has been as per schedule so I wasn't worried on that part. So off we went, very organised this year, lovely B & B for Billy to have comfort. Bag packed to perfection with all the mandatory requirements, didn't manage due to work commitments to get down in time to see the 100's off but did see the kids start their mile, wow so many kids with big big smiles. Got registered, meet the girls and guys I've become friendly with over the three years. Coincidence number 1, the guy who kit checked me was Andrew whom I'd sat next to on the bus to the start last year. Then coincidence number two came when walking to the B & B Billy says to me, that woman there passing us couldn't keep her eyes off you. Well I am used to this at these events as I'm not built like a person who does this sort of thing LOL. Anyway saw her later through a cafe' window and thought mmmm she's familiar. Next morning we are sat in the breakfast room reminiscing about the Nav event last year, yes we had been in the same B & B then and had walked to the Nav event together - small world. (She went on to do very well this year at Lakeland btw).

Start of event to start of trudge round to Mardale Head.
After a hearty breakfast of porridge and toast it was down for the briefing and onto to the coach for the journey to Dalemain. Spent the next half hour in the toilet queue, yattering to various people. In no time we were in the start pen, initial dib done and away. The race as always starts with a trawl round Dalemain for 4 miles, mostly done through the fields. I hate this bit but it does give you a chance to get the limbs and lungs moving. Ran down through the fields towards Pooley Bridge but got caught in a single file of walkers. I had initially had an idea I could run the downs and walk the ups (so much for plans in the end). Was caught by the event photographer, I might buy it, it's actually a good photo and I look happy and relaxed in it - which reflects how I felt at the start of the event. Caught up with internet friend Kim on the downhill into Howtown, we stayed together after that. She picked me up when I fell whilst simultaneously trying to take a drink from my bottle and read a sign at the side of the track. Lovely bruise on elbow for my trouble. It was extremely hot and I was drinking because I felt thirsty but feeling too bagged up with fluid not a nice feeling. Pulled into the checkpoint in Howtown and perhaps not such a co-incidence my other internet friend Jessica was there squealing my name.... she's been off the radar lately so we had a bit of a catch up. It was here we met Peter who was gutted to be pulling out as he had a chest infection thing going on and had found Fusedale was killing him. Kim thought she might just sack it here but I bullied her into getting up (not really but you know what I mean) we needed each other to get up, excuse my french "the Bastard" yes Fusedale, we both hate it with a passion. So she left first but somehow ended up behind me until the climb. It look us quite a while, we huffed and puffed and swore all the way to about three quarters of the way up. It was here that we met Angela who was on her way back down, we persuaded her to go on and quit at Mardale Head rather than Howtown. We thought she would perhaps get to the end once the worst bit was out of the way - little did we know what was to come.

To Mardale Head.
We were all feeling brilliant at the bottom of the hill and were just through the deer fence gate when the sky almost instantly went dark and the heavens opened, we thought the first downpour was hail, later we learned it was! So on went the waterproofs top and bottoms. No sooner had I done this when the first rumble of thunder came followed by lightening, into the bag went to poles. So started the trudge to Mardale Head, torrential rain, thunder, forked and sheet lightening which I don't care what anyone says is scary, it terrifies me. The path disappeared and became a stream, the streams which normally cross the paths were beginning to get rather gurgly. Then nearing the turn we watched the mountain rescue helicopter land near the car park and just knew this was for a competitor. By this time it was obvious Angela was not going any further she was knackered. Kim and I were fine just getting more and more worried about the underfoot conditions. Much debate ensued as to what to do. In my heart I knew (especially after putting my foot through the edge of the path and nearly ending up in Haweswater) we really should pull out. Kim was talking sense but I have a certain mind set which makes me want to go on. She made the point that we couldn't see, hear or keep our feet in the light, what would the dark be like. So like teenagers we all made a pinky swear to end it at the checkpoint. Which we did.

At Mardale Head.
Once we had finally dibbed out and ate our soup and changed into our spare kit ( yes Marc you are vindicated). Both Kim and I were bouncing about trying to be cheerful and helpful. Angela was not really in a good way she couldn't get warm and ended up in a bivvy bag, shivering. I don't think we did the right thing for her by getting her to come on with us, but she said was pleased to have conquered the hardest bit and been almost forced to quit rather than just give up. It was very soon dark and as we waited to leave in the sweeper mini bus (the previous bus took away 35 runners, unprecedented in history of the checkpoint) we watched the beam of a headtorch coming along the other side of the water, then it suddenly turned and started going in the opposite direction. We knew it was a 100 runner because of the excellent system of tracking the event, we even knew who it was. This was very worrying for the checkpoint staff (The Delamere Spartans) so they sent out two runners to find out what was heppening. Bus driver drove along the road with Kim shining a high powered torch to the other side of the water. It took over an hour for them to locate the gentleman and turn in and bring him in. He had become disoriented and just turned round. Apart from that he was generally fine, but had timed out. So he was loaded into the mini bus and off we went to fill it up with stragglers at Kentmere.
Billy came to collect me and take me back to the B & B.

Conflicting Emotions.
Back at the B & B I couldn't sleep. Mostly I just wanted to cry but couldn't. I knew in my heart we'd made the right decision. I was gutted, completely gutted and couldn't focus at the time, all I saw was failure. However a good nights rest, listening to the pouring rain started to put it into some sort of perspective. I was pleased to go to the presentation and was very emotional when the young couple who had been in front of me until Howtown came in at the very end, they were elated and she was in floods of tears. I spoke to them, they were shattered but happy, he said it hadn't let up the whole night. That couple had real guts. I could cry now thinking about that. We have discussed it Kim and I and know we could of ran the risk of injury or worse and having completed it twice we felt it wasn't worth the risk to either us or anyone else to carry on. Angela said she slept in her car inside her bivvy bag and sleeping bag. She feels she may go back to being a marshal again next year, but this event gets into your blood. Still feeling conflicted but Billy was very happy that someone had sense and could help me see some for a change. He is however getting well used to my ever spiraling sense of adventure. I have been on facebook and so many of the stalwarts of this event pulled out either voluntarily or on a non voluntary basis and I think all are similarly gutted. The airlifted chap was injured but was recovering well after treatment. Lessons learned- not the least of which was humility and how much we are at the mercy of the awesome power of the natural world. It's much bigger us puny humans. Also carry that kit, people and never underestimate how it feels to be completely cold and miserable. I saw at first hand the debilitating affect it had on Angela's morale.

So to the future - I have an entry into Glen Ogle, so will train and give that my best shot. I have also been thinking of marshaling at an event n December. As for next year,I plan to enter the GL3D cafe' class, Kim and I may do the first day together and then decide if she wants to up the ante on her own for the other two. I'll take it as it comes and I have been offered the chance to think about marshaling at Lakeland, which I will seriously think about. I won't enter, I have asked Billy to hide my cards, when I say I won't enter I don't mean ever again but .......

Sorry if this has been a long blog but if you've made it to the end I thank you for listening to my head spill, I'm still way to emotional................................ Thanks to all the brilliant people on this journey, each and everyone who wished me well, helped me along... I didn't want to let anyone down, perhaps that's the bit that hurts the most.

Down, but not defeated LOL

Bye for now  

What I've been up to lately....

Well what exactly have I been up to lately, mmmm.  Okay perhaps not a great deal of actual running, but I am glad to report that I have now recovered from whatever it was that was affecting my legs.  The pins and needles have gone and so has the constant ache when attempting to run.  Not sure if thas anything to do with my new liking for lemon and ginger tea. ginger is apparantly meant to be good for your circulation.  I am also back on the vitamins and cod liver oil.

Kona and I have been out adventuring with map and compass, basically exploring the area where we live in greater detail than ever we've done before.  Kona is becoming an excellent map reader LOL.

Here are a selection of photos from our days out.  Terrain training, mainly off road and up and over hills.

I love Drumlanrig Woods, for some reason I always feel that I am in some sort of fairy tale while there. I was half expecting the big bad wolf and the woodsman to appear along this track.







I have this wee problem that means for some reason I can never just
stick to the path, I've got to go see what's round the next bend, or
I'll see a path meandering off the main path and I've just got to
check it out.  Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't but it nearly
always  results in me getting wet,muddy and attacked by the
undergrowth in some way.  On this day it was brambles and
even now weeks later my legs can still testify to the awesome
destructiveness of the mighty bramble bush.






My next day off saw Kona and I heading for a little village called Tynron,  I missed the turn off I originally meant to take onto the hill because believe it or not I was concentrating on running, yes running up a hilly trail and missed the little arrow on a post.  This proved lucky as this route took me onto the hill past a lovely house with a beautiful garden which I would never have seen otherwise and I'm nothing if not nosy.

 Kona managed to bag another trig point for her Album,

This deer was completely oblivious to our presence, unfortunately her companion in the bushes was not and soon alerted her.  They both bounded away within seconds and were gone from sight, but I did manage to get a quick snap.  I was really pleased to have been able just to watch them for a few moments.
I rather think that may have been summer though, the weather changed next day and has not been as nice since.

Not quite so much  "The Mountains are calling me and I must Go"  more of time to get some hills in the legs again and these are the closest and most easily accessible.  Plus I rather love them.

 Had rather a good afternoon out exploring what should be a fairly straightforward route up through the Glen to the tops and over, but hey this is me and I never seem to end up taking the easy way.

My chosen route was very overgrown,

and after attempting a scramble up some wet rocks, 

I opted for the safer option of going straight upwards instead.

Black Hill's trig point shrouded in cloud.  Kona "bagged" that one last year.  

So I'm not really sure If I've done enough for Lakeland, time will tell.  It's been a funny year, somethings have not gone according to plan, but on the whole I've done a lot of terrain, and I feel strong in myself, my legs have improved and my ability to go uphill is getting better.  It still takes a while but I'm not quite so knackered at the end of it, and once up I'm raring to go.

Here's one or two pictures taken on one of my favourite days of the week "Dog Walk Sunday"

Powillimont

Mabie Forest

Swan Family at Dalwsinton

I am making plans for next year and the year after, there are several things I need to and want to do which although are goals themselves will all hopefully prepare me for what I now feel may be my end goal.  Not completely sure yet, will make up my mind later on in this year, and once my mind is made up I will commit myself body and soul.

A little gentle ramble in the hills.

No, not a cryptic, sarcastic or ironic title, just a truthful one.  A little gentle ramble in the hills, the hills in question being the smaller siblings to the mighty Lowthers at Wanlockhead.

This is the second year I have taken part in the Moffat Mountain Rescue Charity Challenge to help raise funds for MMRT.  Unlike last year I had company all the way round, daughter and Laura (surrogate daughter) didn't pull out within the first mile and I managed to bully husband into coming too.  I deliberately chose this walk (10 Miles) because it was a medium ability level walk which was suitable for daughter and OH.  I'd also been to Green Lowther and fancied seeing different scenery.

Wanlockhead is a strange place, there are days like the day of the challenge where it is lovely and quite quaint but I've also been there on days when it felt like the ass end of the universe, bleak desolate and forbidding.  A place where you would just like to crawl into your house and hide under the duvet.  I've been going there for years as it was on the list of activities for the holiday kids at the stables, once a week I'd drive a mini bus full of them up to the Lead mining Museum, we went that often that my son could recite the guide's spiel off by heart.  How hard  life must of been for the lead miners and their families.

However Sunday started well with a burst of glorious sunshine, and we set off along the road which took us past a lot of the interesting industrial historical bits and pieces which one day I must go back and photograph properly.

The first four miles are flat along the valley floor, but soon the ground starts to slowly rise and once over the bridge you start heading upwards, not a huge incline but enough to know you are climbing, the next mile takes you though a forested area, this is being felled at the moment so next time I go up there it could look completely different.  Check point one came and went and soon it was time to have a spot of lunch.  The girls and I had our paltry picnic stuffed in our backpacks but Billy had a flask and a packed lunch box full of goodies (can you tell who takes a "piece" to work).  I even thought for a minute he might whip a table cloth from his backpack too.

The next few miles were delightful, Laura and I ran all the way down through the forest much to the amusement of the marshal who was hidden behind a gate, we didn't see him until we got to the gate. Chatted to him and some ladies for a while until the other pair caught up.

We were swiftly approaching the hardest part of the day, the bit I glossed over when daughter agreed to sign up.  Laura loved it, daughter however didn't and gave me "daggers" all the way up the long slog to the top of the hill.  The weather by this point was beginning to turn colder and duller and once down the hill we hit the valley floor at the same point as we started to climb earlier, and we followed the same route back in to the HQ.   It was about three in the afternoon but it felt and looked like about nine o clock.   The lovely people from the MRT had laid on burgers, biscuits, cake, tea etc  I was treated to one of the best burgers I've had for years, I'm not a great lover of burgers but this was a really tasty one.   Laura even had two!

I would really like to go back and do this route as a run, it has a bit of everything, dirt track, forest track, open hillside, a long slog up and swift canter down, and I would definitely  recommend it to anyone as a very do-able walk.  I would also recommend joining in with one of these events, they are very friendly and for a fantastic cause, as you never know when you may just be grateful to the Mountain Rescue Organization.

Lakes Mis-Adventuring.

My previous blog on Fetch was entitled Adventuring, so it is fitting to call this one Mis-Adventuring.  Whilst no-one was seriously injured or harmed in any way during the formation of this blog some lovely  people were put under a bit of stress.  More of that later.

Background.
At some point way in the dim and distant past while trawling through things to get my teeth into, things that would involve me getting away into the Lake District for a weekend I came across The Great Lakeland Three Day Event.  I read the information and saw that it was also open to walkers as the cut-offs were generous enough to accommodate them too.  So credit card in hand I duly signed up.  Now I didn't take this lightly I knew I had to learn to navigate so booked one course and then another with Nav4.  I also spent countless hours pouring over my maps, I downloaded old mountain marathon courses from the net and plotted the checkpoints, I got myself out and about with map and compass practising.  I felt I could cope with the terrain and manage at least two days.   So after my Oz trip I purchased the necessary equipment, tent, inflatable mat, dry bag  new sleeping bag, and gathered together everything else I would need.

Friday - spent the day getting ready for the off, dry bag packed and unpacked a dozen times until I was sure it weighed the correct amount.  Decided to travel down during the early hours as it was extremely wet and I wanted to start fresh and not bedraggled from packing up a wet camp.  Arrived at 0600hrs and the event centre was already buzzing, booked in, got my dibber thing and deposited my baggage for transport.  I explained that if I felt I couldn't do it I would withdraw.  Must admit to being scared at this point, everyone looked expert except me but I was determined to give it a go.  

Saturday - spent some time marking the checkpoints and figuring the possible routes for me, I understood that I didn't need to visit all the checkpoints I would do what I could.  Set off up the hill, it was soaking wet, my feet were wet within seconds, I trudged upwards for what seemed ages being passed by loads of people, nothing unusual there at the top of the rise came the first real direction decision which I made and was obviously correct.  The weather wasn't too good but it could have been worse, visibility wasn't great and it's a;ways worse for someone who wears glasses.

Carried on through a right misty part and came out looking down towards Glenridding. I decided at this point to press on for Helvellyn, missing out the first checkpoint, so I headed up to Red Tarn and then up towards Striding Edge (HUGE MISTAKE).

I got right on to the start of the Edge and couldn't do it.  I just couldn't go forward, all I could see was me crashing downwards and being killed on an event, how would I ever live that one down.  So I headed straight down and up over Swirral Edge instead, I looked at it and thought what the hell have I let myself in for, but there was no going back this time, one failure is quite enough thank you.  So I gritted my teeth and went for it.  A lady stopped me just before the top and said "it's so worth it you know" and she was right in just a few seconds I'd topped and the view was magnificent so unfortunately was the wind.  Tried to find the checkpoint dibbery thing, even had a couple of chaps helping me but somehow managed to miss it completely.  Time to press on I knew I was way behind time now so my only thought was to get to the checkpoint at Mill Bridge and bib so they knew I was still moving.  Dropped down and dipped and gave the event centre a phone to say as I was behind time I would miss out Helm Crag and head up the Coast to Coast route which leads straight to Stonethwaite.  This was absolutely beautiful and brilliant walk, I will be going back.   I was making not too bad time, late but Stonethwaite was doable by about 1830 in my estimation, so at the top of valley I tried to phone the event centre again, no luck, no connection. so I pressed on.  Unfortunately this is where the wheels came off big time, I took a wrong turn and headed down the wrong way, I've tried to decided exactly where and I rather think I was headed back towards Thirlmere, I was following a quite wide stream downwards and it was obvious I shouldn't be. Anyway I just had a feeling it wasn't right, so I turned back the way I'd come and found the right route.  Thank goodness I thought, then I realised that I had quite a distance still to travel.  I was in a panic - not actually for me - more for the organisers who I knew would be pressing all sorts of alarm bells by now.  I knew I was OK but they didn't.  So all the way down I kept trying to phone no luck.    As the light started to really fade I saw the and heard the campsites at Stonethwaite and before I knew it I was in the village. A very nice lady asked her husband where the check point was and stayed with me when I phone the organisers from the phone box, she then showed me the checkpoint.  The very lovely marshals came and collected me, I was expecting a bollocking really but they were so nice to me, made me eat pasta and two of the chaps even erected my tent.

Shane the Director had phoned my family so he got them on the phone so I could re-assure them I was OK, which I was.  I've since seen the vid, that Shane made on the second day where he mentions the stressful situation and I am truly apologetic for causing him that stress.

Obviously I pulled out of the event, although I was told I could go on and do a much shortened course. but there was no way I would do that to them again, I couldn't take the chance. So next morning I packed up and headed into Keswick where I booked into a B & B.  Spent most of the day watching the Half Marathon finishers and then went for a lovely meal in The Oddfellows.

Monday - had originally organised with one of the marshals Caroline for her to pick me up in Keswick but she had to go to Wilfs in Stavely for supplies, so I caught a bus to Troutbeck and started walking back to Dowthwaitehead Farm for my car.  Was picked up by Andrew from Inov8 who brought me up to speed with the rest of the event.  I don't think I was the only late one, looking at the results a couple on Sunday were also late and it looks like quite a few people didn't finish either.  In fact Andrew said they shortened the course quite a lot for Monday.   Spent a short time at the event centre catching up and apologising. Spoke to Stuart the Navigation instructor, I hope he wasn't too embarrassed by my failure, because when all's said and done it wasn't really the navigation that was the problem it was my judgement in thinking I could do Striding Edge in the first place.   (I will someday).

So in conclusion - I did have a great weekend, I've met some truly lovely people and I've learnt such a lot about navigation, judgement and self reliance.  I also realise that entering in the first place was perhaps over ambitious, but I also know that if I hadn't lost so much time at Striding Edge I should have finished around the cut off time and given the next day a go. I never felt in any danger at any point, even when I took the wrong turn I was fine, it just added ages onto my time as I had to climb back up again.  So what would I do differently, well for a start I wouldn't try for a three day event, perhaps a two and I would definitely have better contingency plans made.  I need to hone the navigation skills, Jean (sort of chief marshal) suggested that I try some orienteering events which I will probably look into.

Look they even gave me this, I personally didn't think I deserved it but they insisted so what's a girl to do.


I don't regret entering but what I do regret is causing Shane and his team any problems because they really are top people who ran a brilliant event which I would recommend, but not for me next year.  Just don't tell them this but who knows what the future will bring

So it's a case of filing what I've gained from the experience and trying not to be too embarrassed it my failure.    Just to end on a comical note, Kona would not have anything to do with me when I came home, she hid in her cage and turned her face every time I spoke to her and when I brought my back pack in she snorted at it and walked away.  It took several hours and many biscuits before she would come near me.

On the roof of England, all 3209 feet of it.

This year's birthday walk.

Last year my daughter decided that for her birthday she wanted to get to the top of  Ben Nevis, so that's what we did.  This year we thought about a trip to Skye but the logistics of that proved to much for the limited time available so we plumped for Scafell Pike, highest spot in England.  Daughter, friend Laura and I were joined by another of her friends Jax and off we went to Eskdale to stay a couple of nights in the YHA there.   I had forgotten just how far away and slightly awkward Eskdale was to get to so we arrived rather late and in the dark which meant that the girls didn't get to see any of the amazing scenery, which may have been a good thing because when we got up on Saturday morning the sun was shining and Eskdale was there in all her glory for them to be amazed by.  

After a very sturdy breakfast of porridge and bananas we set of for Wasdale.  I deliberately chose the "easy - tourist" route, not wanting to be responsible for asking the girls to do anything too out of the ordinary or anything which may be risky.  As it turned out, who exactly said this was the easy way up?    I had done my homework, read all about Scafell Pike in my Wainwright's guide, checked out the various websites, printed out the maps, checked that we all had the right stuff in the backpacks, first aid kits, waterproofs, spare warm clothing all the usual stuff.  When I head out it's like I'm off on holidays, we were passed by people who had nothing at all, which in my opinion is ok when the weather is lovely like it was on Saturday but why take the chance.  Before I say anything I know fell runners are out there, but hopefully when training they at least take some of their light weight gear with them. Each to their own I suppose but I would hate to be caught out without and heaven forbid need to call out the Mountain Rescue and face the embarrassment of having been ill prepared.

Anyway here are some pictures charting the walk.  I won't give a blow by blow account as I think they speak for themselves.  It was hard, much more of a slog than the Ben, but WOW was it worth it.
Laura has now been christened Nanny Goat Smith, as her ability to skip up hills regardless of the terrain is quite phenomenal considering her inability to walk from my house to hers when there is a car available to transport her LOL.   Jax did very well on her very first ever hill of any kind.  Marissa struggled due to being less fit than last year and also suffering the after effects of a cold, but she made it albeit in a bit of a mood but she still made it.  

We stopped for lunch at the Y junction where the route splits into two, we choose the straightforward way as opposed to the scramble over Mickeldore (that is definitely one for future) we watched several other walkers start to head up that way and I remembered that I'd read about his first ascent of Scafell by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in the book "Mountains of the Mind" by Robert McFarlane, it's funny that you can read something but it's like it's in black and white and then when you are actually there all the colour floods in. 

The jounrey back down was quite interesting as Marissa and Laura were not speaking, Laura went down first with me following and the other two coming very slowly behind.  When we got to the Lingmell Crossing I felt Laura would be fine on her own and waited for the other two.  Jax was struggling a bit with sore feet, once I'd made sure they were fine I went ahead and joined Laura at the bottom, by this time she had worked it out in her head and was back to being happy.   Once the others came down I offered to show them St. Olaf's but they just wanted to sit in the car, good grief, youngsters eh.  I did my wee visit to the church alone and sat for a few minutes in contemplation, silently giving a sort of thanks.   

I've always managed to find a chappie wherever I go to yap to, and this trip was no exception on the way up I met an older bloke who had been one of the founder members of the Wainwright Society, I met him again as I left the church we had a great chat about Wasdale, Jos Naylor and walking in general.  When I got back to the car, all the girls were back to being friends again.  Woop Woop.

We had a lovely meal that evening in the Hardknott Inn and were all back in bed at the YHA and asleep by eleven. 

We had been very lucky with the weather because on Sunday dawned dull and very wet.  I don't think I would have set out if the weather had been like that on Saturday, not much point really.  

This trip however has made me even more determined to stretch myself further by learning the basics of climbing, so I'm looking into climbing walls so that I can give it a go.  Not sure if I could do it but I want to at least try,

This trip has been useful as training for my Lakeland 50 event, other training is picking up slowly after my month off in Australia.  I have a new road bike, of which I am extremely proud and have entered an event later in the year, so need to get out an practice.  The running is proving to be slow going, I think I just need to stop stressing about it and go with the flow.  I have also been toying with the idea of track work, but it's finding the time to get there..

Right I'm off to check out what hill I can go up next.
#

Baby Steps - learning to navigate

Being sensible enough to realise that it's not particularly wise to venture out into the hills with no navigation skills at all I decided to do something about it.  So I booked myself on the navigation course which was being held the day after the Lakeland50 recce in Ambleside at the beginning of November.  Now being me I also decided to take the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in a B & B so that I could combine the course with a day of Christmas shopping.  Booked a B & B online, always a bit of a gamble, but it turned out to be perfect, just a stone's throw away from the venue and very well appointed.  I was even given an upgrade to a double room woop woop.    

I travelled down immediately after our village craft fair at which I was helping.  Settled in to new home and went out looking for sustenance which I found in a lovely Fish and Chip cafe'.  Didn't think I'd feel out of place as it was quite quiet and seemed to be populated by locals which was in contrast to the more up market eateries which looked like they will full of couples or groups.  Anyway food was lovely and I headed back to B & B armed with some wine and had a nice relaxed shower, drinkie and read of my book bliss.

Next morning up bright and early, lovely breakfast which I couldn't do justice as I was extremely nervous about the day to come ( I know not like me to not be able to eat).  One of the other guests was also on the course so we walked up to the hall together.  I was terrified I wouldn't be able to keep up, cope etc on the course, but no worries as they say in Oz.  The leaders had it all sussed out and we were very neatly slotted into groups according to ability and ability plus pace.  On of my former clubmates was one of the instructors, he led the very good, very fast group.   My group was taken by the very lovely Stuart Smith who's jokes and laid back teaching manner made the whole day a joy. 

The whole day was very hands on , learning from doing rather than sitting being taught.  Almost immediately we were out onto Loughrigg Fell getting stuck into orienting the map, learning the symbols and how to apply what we were seeing with our eyes to what was on the paper in front of us.   As you can see it was a beautiful day which certainly helped. 

Bottom photo shows Stuart demonstrating the correct way to steady your compass.  We had just had lunch at this point, and found out more about each other.  One of the chaps was another Lakeland 50 guy, he was accompanied by his wife who was a keen walker.  One of the girls was a fell runner and Keith in white was also a keen long distance walker who had never learned any navigation as he normally went on guided walks, but was now wanting the spread his wings a bit, so you can see we were all fairly clueless.  However apparently (according to Stuart who could have been using psychology on us) we were doing so well that we progressed past what he thought he'd be teaching us and were branching out taking  and walking on bearings and all sorts LOL.

Walking on our bearing brought us to the top of the hill, now, there's a view.  By this time it was getting on in the afternoon and time to start making our way back down to Ambleside.  Practicing our new navigation skills as we went.  Once back in the hall we made ourselves some coffee and waited for the others to get back in.  I caught up with Jessica who is another 50 person and we had a chat about the recce the day before which I hadn't been able to go to.  She is giving serious thought to what Mark said in his lecture and is planning a re-organisation of her training programme.  Me I'm staying with what I do I'm a tortoise, plodder call it what you will and will probably always be that.  

Really chuffed with my day I decided to treat myself to a nice pub dinner and headed to The Unicorn for a hearty steak pie and chips.    Then back to the B & B for another nice relaxing night.  I did my next day breakfast justice by the way.  Unfortunately the lovely weather of Sunday did not carry on into Monday and it rained and rained and rained which made Christmas shopping a bit of a soggy adventure.  Cut the day short and headed home.  All in all a brilliant weekend.  Thanks to Nav4 Advenutre and Stuart in particular.

On the training front I have just been kicking back and taking it easy.  Heading to running on Monday nights and doing between 3 and 3.5 miles>  Walking with the dogs on Sundays is still going on, we've had some cracking walks of about 5 miles each time.  Managed to get up to Glenkiln a couple of Sunday's ago, somewhere Ive not been in years, but somewhere I'll be back again to very shortly.  I can see navigation practice taking place up as it's not an area I know well so plenty of map and compass practice to be had.

So that's about it.  Very Very busy at work, and also trying to get my SVQ finished to so that can concentrate on plans for next year.

If I don't blog again before Christmas, have a good one.

Not quite that time of year yet.....

Gosh it seems a lifetime away since my last post here.  Time to take a mini stock of things.   I will be doing the whole new plan thing just after Christmas as usual so hence the title- not quite that time of year yet.

I am spending from now until Christmas just kicking back and enjoying things.  No pressure, just relaxing stuff.  I defered my place for Glen Ogle until next year as I just can't get my fitness up in time plus one or two other factors prompted the decision and honestly it's like a weight has been lifted.  I am getting down to finishing my SVQ for work it's all coming together nicely now.  Thank God.

Yesterday I took the mountain bike and the dog and let loose in Ae Forest which is very close to where I live.  It was brilliant, a lovely day, coldish when I started out, but halfway up the first climb I had to disrobe a layer LOL.

 

I headed off on the blue route but at the top of the climb I saw a post which said, escape route to car park, so not knowing how much further blue route when I opted for that.  I have since discover that there's not that much difference in length. (Downloaded 7Stanes map of Ae)so will be giving that a go next. Think I may have done about five miles or so.  Managing gears a bit better now, I suppose it's only practice really.   Kona had an absolute ball, she had plenty of undergrowth to root in and more than enough water for her to splash about in.  I must admit Ae is lovely, but huge, and proably a bit scary if you get lost.  I did have a proper map and compass with me and stuck to marked routes, but well I get a bit experimental at times.   Now one thing I did this time was leave a note of where I was going and how long I expected to be.  So brownie points for me.

 

Kona found a scabby old ball in the car park and was not leaving without it.   I managed to foil her plans though, after all how many scabby old balls does one dog need to litter my house with.   That's Margaret bike on the bike rack there.  A present from a friend and we've already had a couple of adventures.   We entered the Kielder RunBikeRun, bike and I.    It was a lovely day which showed off Kielder very well and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A lass from Newcastle area and I came in joint last but what does that matter.   It did however show me that I have a lot to learn about biking.

 

So  what's next.  I was about to say not much but I have booked myself on a Navigation course in the Lakes, Ambleside in fact.  Having two nights in a B & B down there and am really looking forward to it.  I have much to learn navigation wise.  Bring it on.   Hopefully will get some Christmas shopping done too.

 

So that's a quick catch up on things.  I have plans in my head for next year, just need to get them down on paper ready for the start of training, but as I said just relaxing now until after Christmas.   When I think about it, it's been a hectic year and as I am not getting any younger LOL I think it's taken quite a lot out of me, more mentally than physically perhaps.  Re-charge batteries methinks.