Rutland Water Challenge Round

Rutland Water Round

Hello again dear reader,

 I am trying to keep up the training, so decided to complete the Rutland Water challenge whilst at Karen's Dad for the Easter Weekend. This was down on paper as being 26 miles if you complete the circuit of the lake and the Hambleton Peninsula.

Karen was insistent this would only take me 7 hours maximum, which I couldn't work out. That would mean keeping an average 4 miles per hour (jogging pace) without any stops. I know this is all on the flat with solid ground, but that would be pushing it.

I was dropped off at a very late 09.30 in my estimation, and off I set with Rufus in tow. I have done this walk before, but not managed the Peninsula as well. It is bloody awful at the start. You have to walk alongside the A606 for about 1½ miles before you can get onto the lakeside path. There is still a lot of snow left from last week. I was surprised to see how much they got over here in the east. It seems to have drfited a lot.

When it wasn't snow cover across the path, it was very muddy, so Rufus was going to get coated!

Once down by the lake, it was very nice going

My very own Loch Ness Monster!

See the blizzard making its way over to me

I soon got caught in a nasty blizzard, but nothing like the Derbyshire walk last weekend. This walk is very featureless so not much to show that is different and of interest.

Just before I made it around to the Eastern edge dam you come to an interesting sculpture. Well, interesting in the sense that it is different from the other bland scenery. I must say, I prefer mountains to flat landscape.

Makes it more interesting if at an angle!

Now I walked along the dam edge. I noticed that my feet were getting sore, and I had only done 5 miles. This is becase a) I am wearing my Brasher boots whcih are lighter weight for distance walking and b) the ground underfoot is very hard. Either tarmac or compacted stones. Does not bode well for the entire route.

I managed to rush ahead of a gaggle of screaming kids on tricycles to make it look like I was all on my own!

Now I am around to the southern side of the lake heading for Normanton Church, whcih is at least something to look forward to. You really do get the impression this lake is a sea with vistas as far as the eye can see.

The land in middle distance is the peninsula I will be walking later.

Rufus was very obl;iging and posed for some shots as well!

Looking thoroughly miserable. Join the club!

Look at that tongue!

We soon came to Normanton church, perched out in the lake. This was in theory the quarter distance at 7 miles whcih was worrying as it had taken me 2½ hours to do whcih surprised me. It must have been negotiating the snow, but I am well under the 4 miles per hour rate Karen set me. By my reckoning another 19 miles will take me to about 7pm. When does it go dark at this time of year?

Normanton church is owned by National trust, but I couldn't go down due to a bloody wedding. Soppy buggers!

At least I could see we were heading for a wooded area of the walk whcih would offer me some variety in scenery!

Here it comes. Some variety!

Hmm, could have been more interesting! Where are the snow drops or blue bells!

Soon after this, we have to come away from the lake due to some fascist farmer who does not want tourists tramping over his land. We now have to walk along the A road to Manton for over a mile. Even more dreary misery. I took the earliest opportunity to break off this busy road and negotiated my way down a still snow laden path to get to the railway track and another A road before dropping down to Egleton.

As it happens, Egleton was a really pretty village. Even though I had done 13 miles by now, this was the point I decided to stop for 10 minutes to have my bacon butty. Note, this was my only stop the entire day. So in the end, I walked for 25 miles with only a 10 minutes stop. Thanks Karen!

From here, I took a small B road to the top of the peninsula and completed the circuit of the Lake, as stage one of the challenge.

Oh dear! Rufus needs a bath!

The end of stage 1 in sight.

As I reached the road into Hambleton, I saw the sign indicating the Hambleton Peninsula circuit is 7 miles. I had done 17 miles by now and my God, my feet were sore. I knew I had a blister forming on the sole of my left foot, but I had to crack on. This is a challenge after all.

I had planned to do an anti-clockwise circuit of the peninsula, but unfortunately, all paths off to the right were closed off. I therefore had to climb up to the village and dive off left to commence a clockwise circuit instead. This was probably a blessing as later, the sun came out and I was treated to beautiful sun reflective views to the west.

The views from the peninsula are much better than the lake edge.

View just before I got to the head of the peninsula. 5 miles to go!

Once I got to the head of the peninsula, it was effectively 3½ miles to go. I had done over 20 miles now, so was feeling very weary and my left foot was agony.

View of Normanton church from peninsula, passed all those hours ago.

It is lambing season. Ahhh!

Now I was treated to the sun coming out. gave me some lovely views to end what was a tough day's walking.

I soon came through a small woodded area and for the first time I truely felt like I was having a spring-time walk on a beautiful evening.

My last view of the peninsula before ending thew walk was the spectacular Hambleton Hall.

When I climbed the final hill, or should I say limped, I came upon a Grade II listed post office for sale. Karen and I had looked at this.  Wouldn't it be lovely to live somewhere like this in an idyllic setting?

Well, dream on!

I now limped over to the pub, but was not allowed in with dirty Rufus, so sat shovering in the garden for 20 minutes waiting for Karen, my chauffeur to arrive and whisk me off to a delightful and well earned meal at a fantastic pub in Exton. They were so friendly and accommodating. The waitress thought it was funny I ordered a soup "to warm myself up" and ended with a ice cream.

Well, I achieved the challenge and hope to do more over 20 mile treks as the weeks progress. We have the Lakes holiday in 2 weeks, and I plan to do the Yorkshire 3 peaks in May just in case I fail on the 6 Peak challenge and only can do the 3 National Peaks. At least you will know I have done all 6.

See you next time folks!

Derbyshire Peaks Training Holiday

Hello Dear Reader,

It is time to step up the training, and this long weekend sees an opportunity to put some miles in. Karen, Rufus and I have managed to blag 3 of my 17 remaining days A/L to actually use rather than lose, so we are off to Winster in the Derbyshire Peaks for 5 days to relive a previous glorious holiday 5 years ago when Rufus was only 4 months old! We did some fantastic walsk back then, and Karen was in remission back then, so we felt all was rosy on that front, and Karen was well.

How wrong could we be that this was a good opportunity for some long walks.Winter is back in Winster with avengence, with probably the worst March on record. We managed to arrive on Thursday, before the weather closed in. I was planning to do a walk from the cottage in Winster over to Tissington disused railway trail and up DoveDale to return back to Winster - about 20 miles in all. However, we have had over 6 inchs of snow over night, so I scaled down my ambitions.

Today I changed the plans to a 12 mile walk to Elton, along Gratton Dale and up to Middleton and Youlgrave and then connect up to the Limestone Way via Robin Hoods Stride dropping back down to Winster. Believe me, in the conditions I experienced, this was way more hard work for both me and especially Rufus than the routine 20 mile walk originally planned.

We got up at usual work time, and after a hearty breakfast, we were ready to leave at 8.30 in the morning. It was bloody cold, and the snow was still falling, but I had all the gear.



Ready for the Arctic!

I may be gone for some time!

We set off through the church graveyard and then struck out across the fields on what was supposed to be a path!

This would be last time we saw a path

Spot the path

Luckily I had my trekking sat nav so just followed that to each marker. Once I was across the fields, I got onto the Limestone Way and things were a little easier to visualise. At this stage it was reasonably easy underfoot.

The problems started as I got through Elton and up to Dale Farm at the start of Gratton Dale. What on the map looked like a lovely path through a green valley was simply a river through a gorge.

This is supposed to be my path.

It was at this stage I noticed Rufus was picking up snow balls on his legs and under carriage. This often happens with Springers in snow, but they just grow and grow until he can't move anymore. This was a pain, as I had to stop every 100 yards to bash his snowballs off.

Rufus looking miserable with bunch of snowballs on front paws.

Look closely. That is a snowball as big as a football on Rufus' right paw. He literally couldn't move at this point.

Video of Rufus struggling with his snow balls

The path through the dale was lovely, but bloody hard work. You couldn't tell where your foot was going to land. Either in a river or in a massive hole. The snow was quite deep along here.

 We had to turn right after about 2 miles in the middle of nowhere. It was so remote and isolated, but beautiful.

After another 2 miles, I had to start the climb out of the valley to the tops to make my way to Middleton. Unfortunately, once out of the valley, the wind picked up, and the snow was drifting. In parts, I was up to my waist in snow as we crossed walls. At these points, I literally had to dig Rufus out and pick him up using his carry harness to lug him over the styles. It was really cold now.

Once through Middleton, we dropped down to Youlgrave where e picked up the Limestone Way along the River Bradford. This was a truely lovely stretch of the walk. The river had been dammed in sections, to produce a series of stepped lakes enveloped in trees.

Once out of the seclusion of the valley things returned to bleak, cold moorland with no paths to be had in any way. Not even friendly and reassuring footprints. I was heading for Robin Hoods Stride where I had walked 5 years before with Rufus as a puppy. Eventually we made it to the familiar rocks. In better weather, I was climbing all over these, but not today. I needed to crack on!

5 years previous, I had a photo of me looking pensively to the horizon from the top of here with Rufus on a tight lead to stop him jumping over.

The snow was really deep here, with the going tough. In places, up to 2 feet deep.

The views were stunning in the snow. However, very remote and disorientating. Thank God for the sat nav.

By now, I'll be frank, Rufus was getting on my nerves with his bloody snowballs. I was knackered from wading through the deep snow, and had to keep stopping to bash his lumps of ice off his legs. It was solid, and I had to use my sat nav to break them up. In utter frustration, I decided to carry him on my ruck sack wrapped around my neck, with legs either side of me! He weights 18kgs or 3 stone. I carried him like this for 2 miles until the snow thinned out a little. He felt really stupid, but it was better than stopping all the time. No pictures of this folks, for obvious reasons.

In fact no more pictures at all from this day. I was cold and tired by now. We dropped back to Elton where I decided to go the road way back to avoid the deep snow I had already covered on way out.

In total we did 12 miles, but in the conditions, more like 20, and a good workout.

Saturday 23rd March

I decided to go over to Birchover see if the pub would be open for lunch, and then back to Winster to pick up Karen, to go back via the road.

Overnight it was snowed constantly. The snow is now twice as deep. it is unbelievable, and totally impossible for Rufus. I decide to leave him and pick him up later when I am sure it is OK for him on the road route.

This is what greeted me as I opened the front door.

The car is on right with roof box. Doesn't look like I will be getting back for work on Tuesday!

I set off across the fields on a compass reading, and am literally up to my waist in snow, as this is a very steep climb, and the snow has drifted badly.

 When I get to the top of the fell, I see the signpost pointing in 2 directions, neither of which seem to point to anywhere I can make out!

Where?

The snow drifts here were literally 4 feet deep.

Snow drifts 4 feet high here.

I couldn't help it, I just had to dive right in!!!

Rufus thinks I am mad. He is right!

The above was on return journey to Birchover with Karen if you are wondering why Rufus is in shot and wondering who took the picture.

Nice picture of Karen as we set off again.

Rufus was so pleased to see Karen making it up the steep hill to Birchover, he went to greet her for a special tail wagging session!

Well done Mummy!

Monday 25th March

Today I wanted to make up for lost time and opportunities for training for the challenge. I had always wanted to walk from Monsal head into the valley, but was not sure until Sunday if we could even get through. Since we had got to Bakewell the day before, I asked Karen to drop me near Bakewell on the Monsal  trail. I would then walk down the old rail line to Monsal head and over the viaduct and head off over the fell tops. This turned out to be another 12 mile walk in really tough conditions, so worth at least another 20 miles.

Rufus ready for the off

The first 2 miles to Monsal Head was lovely with about 12 inches of snow, and whilst tough walking, was relatively easy once you got into a rhythm.

Nice easy start to walk

We came to a manor house on the rail route. I recall this on the Julia Bradbury railway walks programme. The guy was so filthy rich, he built his own station on his doorstep to take him to Derby and to his factory to crack the whip.

Eventually we came to the tunnel through the mountain leading to Monsal head. I was surprised this tunnel was now open to the public. it was closed off for years. We trudged on through the tunnel, and I soon realised Rufus was scared of the dark! He kept very close to me all the way through.

See the sign? Lights off at dusk and horses to keep to the left! Doesn't mention dogs, so Rufus went straight down the middle.

You come out at Monsal Head viaduct, and are greeted by magnificent views in all directions.

The snow was getting deeper now as the high valley walls allow the snow to drift.

Getting deeper!

I now found all the tunnels were open on the route which saved having to go down into the valley and back up the other side which is what i had to do 5 years ago.

There were hundreds of huge icicles hanging precariously from the tunnel roof with ominous signs of broken ice where they had come crashing down.

Like another world. It was weird waiting to see if any one of these hundreds of icicles would crash down and split your head open at any moment.

The views on the other side were even more spectacular than Monsal Head. They remind me of Symonds Yat where we go to loads for holidays.

Soon after and through yet another tunnel, we came to the point I needed to break away from the relatively easy terrain to strike on up the fellside to reach the tops. I had no idea what the conditions would be like up top, but experience from the other day with the steep climb to Birchover creating deep drifts was on my mind.

These are supposed to be steps!

Rufus wondering what lies beyond. If only he knew, he would never have jumped over.

I got halfway up the fell and looked back to a familiar view from 5 years ago. Then it was May, but look at the difference in the conditions!!

View March 2013

View May 2008!

This was the last of the easy going folks. Rufus waits for me to catch up oblivious of the drifts ahead!

Then the going got really tough. I suddenly came up to drifts 3 foot deep and no way around them. I couldn't deviate from my compass direction as there was no paths and had to ensure I hit the styles at the right points. there were no features I could distinguish on a map. I took a video of me trying to walk through the first drifts.

By now it was getting alarming, but fun all the same!

The snow drifts here were at least 3 foot deep.

I took another video of us trying to get over a style backed up with deep snow. As you will see, Rufus has no problems, but me on the other hand.....

We were near the top now, and I was looking for a track that would lead me along the ridge to the point of my descent back down to the valley bottom for a walk along the river back to Monsal Head. This is what greeted me! Due to the fact the track was enclosed by 2 dry stone walls, and trees, they had acted like a funnel, and the snow was now 5 foot deep and should have appeared impassable to a normal person...

This is a path!

I on the other hand am not normal. So I said, well if this is the path, this is the way I have to go. I set about trying to cut steps to get on top, but just kept sinking up to my chin. Poor Rufus was following in my wake. I ended up lying on top of the drifts and trying to surf my way along until I came to my senses and tried another route.

Here I am trying to walk through these drifts. The telling point is when I say "this is madness, I can't go through here, can I?"

Once around the monster drifts, things got a little easier. I came to this sign near a farm in the middle of nowhere. I always love these signs indicating a path where there is no sign of one anywhere.

Keep to track! Which one?

 The trick now was to get to the bottom without falling down a cliff. there were no paths to help me. Luckily, someone else has made the trip earlier that day, so I followed the tracks, hoping the previous person was not like me, hopeless. I had a compass reading, but no idea where the actual path was. I imagined seeing the tracks tail off into nothing as the previous person had fallen to their death. Or they just ended with no sign where to go next.

Lucky tracks to follow

I soon got to the bottom and had a lovely walk along the river back to Monsal Head

Even though it was only a 1.5 miles back to Monsal Head, it still took a while trudging through the snow. I got this gorgeous picture of Rufus. Again this reminded me of another picture i took of Rufus in almost exactly teh same spot 5 years previous when he was only 4 months old.

We soon got back to the viaduct and a short stroll around to the foot bridge over the river to make it all the way up to the top to enjoy the spectacular views.

Here are some of the views from the top.

Another enjoyable walk and good training for the challenge ahead. The next one will be the Rutland challenge walk, 25 miles around the reservoir and the peninsula. This will be done next week, over Easter.