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October 30 Chris and Wendy’s Weekend at Grinton Lodge.Grinton Lodge in Swaledale provided an interesting and comfortable venue for the 17 hardy souls who braved the elements this weekend. Most people arrived in time for a good evening at the Bridge Inn, where SWOG 1 and SWOG2 acquitted themselves honorable in the pub quiz. It was a tough slog up the steep hill back to the hostel afterwards, apart from those who had the good sense to go by car!
Thick mist obscured the hills on Saturday so we settled for an easy low level walk following the river up Swaledale. By midday it turned very wet and we sought sanctuary in the Black Bull in Reeth for a couple of hours -longer for some !!- before the sun came out. A lazy evening with good food, wine and beer in the hostel.
Sunday was a wild day with fleeting clouds, burst of brilliant sunshine, dramatic rainbows and heavy showers. Chris and Wendy led us steeply up onto Fremington Edge above Arkengarth Dale where we were lashed by rain and hail. We arrived back in Reeth by 2.30 enabling everyone to drive home in the “hour reduced” daylight.
Despite the weather it had been a great weekend with a very compatible and sociable group. Many thanks to Chris and Wendy for organizing it. October 16 Thursday 15th OctoberWe unfortunately picked the only wet day of the week to embark on one of our occasional short walk/lunchtime meal events. Twelve of us including one new member set out from Marple via Marple Lakes and up to Mellor church where unfortunately we were not treated to much of a view. We then proceeded down to Mill Brow and on to Lane Ends above Marple Bridge. Here we went into the Lane Ends pub and indulged ourselves in the £1 menu. Ian and Rosmary joined us for the meal.We were thoroughly entertained by the landlord who is quite a comedian. Afterwards the party split into two with half walking straight back to Marple and the others continuing through Linnets Clough to complete the walk.
Jack
October 15 There's no such thing as a free lunch.......so say the sceptics.
But Jack's midweek walk around Mellor and Marple Bridge came pretty close! Of which more later.
A misty, moisty morning saw ten of us gathered in Marple, ready to set off at our traditional leisurely pace; just easing ourselves into it you understand.
Just as well we started along the Strines Road as, after less than a hundred yards, we spotted Ken and Richard approaching us from the other direction, having overshot the starting point!
So, down we went past Roman Lakes and then up onto the trimmed acres of Mellor & Townscliffe Golf Club, where a number of hardy souls were braving the drizzle to whack little white balls around.
The damp conditions didn't detract from the autumn colours in the trees around Mellor village, or the views from the hilltop at Mellor church. There we paused to examine part of the now completed archaeological dig, which has been left on view from a specially constructed platform.
A "Roman" style garden has also been created there, and we narrowly avoided inadvertently playing the part of the Vandals, when we assumed that a plank placed across some newly laid bricks was there to be stood on. We were then informed that it was actually there to be stepped over! Fortunately no damage was done.
The footpath sign then pointed us to Hollywood, and sure enough, there was holly, with impressive great clumps of red berries, almost glowing in the quite murky weather. By now stomachs were rumbling, so we stepped out through Mill Brow, and on to the Lane Ends pub, which boasted a menu of seven or eight lunches, not free (see above), but at a barely credible £1 each when bought with a drink! One of our party was worried this might mean small portions, but all agreed that if so, at that price, have two!
As it turned out the portions were perfectly ample for lunch...but Ken had two anyway! Excellent value!
After lunch, half our number chose to take the direct route back to Marple, but the rest of us braved the deteriorating weather and went for the picturesque option via Linnet Clough and a reprise of Roman Lakes.
An excellent day with good conversation, good laughs and good food.
And as for the weather?
Well after all, it's still "the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness."
Geoff (with a bit of help from John Keats)
October 13 Chee Dale walk with ChrisStarting at Miller's Dale Station the 9 of us trudged through the mud and over the slippery rocks of Chee Dale, before enjoying the level surface of the old railway track. But only so far!! The tunnel, which Chris had thought would be open wasn't and so down into the delights of Chee Dale again where we retraced our steps before climbing thankfully out onto higher land with a welcome wider views. The miserable drizzly morning changed into a much brighter afternoon of fleeting clouds, blue sky and sunshine.We enjoyed good views of Ravenstor YH and Tideswell beyond before descending into Millers Dale and a pint at the Angler's Rest.It was good to have Jackie back again on her second walk with us and to welcome her boyfriend Glynn, who promises to come again.
Thank you Chris for organising and leading this walk. Your reporter today is John G. October 06 Tintwistle walk with EricTen of us enjoyed Eric's walk today which started at Tintwistle. A steady climb took us onto wide open moorland and over rather boggy peat, where Joyce and John fell together down a grass covered hole! No real injuries, though they were both aching more than usual by the end of the walk.Lunch was taken overlooking Chew Reservoir.
We carried on to Laddow Rocks and followed the Pennine Way down into the Woodhead valley where the last few miles were pleasantly flat through the wooded fringes of the reservoirs.A clear fresh day with only one short shower, a fair amount of sunshine and some good views. We were pleased to have the company of Joyce on this her first walk with us and to welcome a new recruit, Gary, a keen walker whom we hope to see again. Thank you Eric for organising and leading this enjoyable walk. your ace reporter John October 04 A FANTASTIC NIGHT !!!Rather skeptically I joined Les, Glenys and Campbell at Porkies to hear “The Churchfitters” .I had no idea what to expect, but I was bowled over by this sensational group. Their music almost defies categorization-“Irish folk rock” perhaps?!
This group of four, with lead singer/instrumentalist Rosie, played an amazing selection of inventive and stimulating pieces. Their eclectic range of instruments-violin, guitar, banjo, ukulele, clarinet, flute, lute, tin whistle, triangle, drums, cymbal and maracas with things of their own invention- a suitcase drum, a cigar box 4 note bass, spoons, truncated bass utilizing kitchen utensils, and a hauntingly melodious saw, not to mention their own vocal chords- allowed these accomplished musicians to demonstrate their remarkable talents. For me, a dedicated classics buff, it was a thrilling and at times moving experience- an great alternative to the usual pub night and incomparably better than a night in front of the box. THANK YOU LES !! report supplied by John G |
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