Wednesday 20 July 2016
Like Father, Like Son -or not !
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Visit to Essex Part 2
After 2 days and 50 odd miles and still having a sore foot( from standing on the thorn) I had a day off running
My parents and I went for a pub lunch at the Hurdlemaker's Arms at Woodham Mortimer, a typical Essex country pub with low beams, a flagstone floor and open fires. It serves good real ale and excellent food.
My parents had had a meal at the same pub the week before and had left an umbrella behind . They realised their error as soon as they got home so phoned the pub to ask the staff to look for it. They were confident that the umbrella would be there because they had been the only people in the bar, however the barman could not find it.
Returning to the pub a week later with me they were presented with the brolly. Apparently it turned up in the evening at the same table that my parents had sat at and where the staff had searched.
Asking the barman for an explanation he said it was probably the pub's resident ghost! He then told us about various instances when the ghost had moved things and opened bolted cupboards. Whether you believe it or not it was an intriguing episode that gave us somethng to think about over our lunch.
On the Thursday I was back running and had a wonderful trot along the canal at Beeleigh . In some places the path is overshadowed by mature oak trees that overhang the water. The sunlight glitters through the leaves and there are deep shadows and wonderful reflections.Words don't do the scene justice, but here is a painting of it I did today.
My parents and I went for a pub lunch at the Hurdlemaker's Arms at Woodham Mortimer, a typical Essex country pub with low beams, a flagstone floor and open fires. It serves good real ale and excellent food.
My parents had had a meal at the same pub the week before and had left an umbrella behind . They realised their error as soon as they got home so phoned the pub to ask the staff to look for it. They were confident that the umbrella would be there because they had been the only people in the bar, however the barman could not find it.
Returning to the pub a week later with me they were presented with the brolly. Apparently it turned up in the evening at the same table that my parents had sat at and where the staff had searched.
Asking the barman for an explanation he said it was probably the pub's resident ghost! He then told us about various instances when the ghost had moved things and opened bolted cupboards. Whether you believe it or not it was an intriguing episode that gave us somethng to think about over our lunch.
Visit to Essex
I am just back from a trip to Essex and Norfolk to see family. I opted to get the bus down which was quite gruelling but cheap .
I arrived in Central London at 8am on Monday. After a night sitting up my first priority was coffee! Then I walked to Oxford Circus through the city . I don't know London well but of course all the names are very familiar through the news, culture and playing monopoly.
I passed Buckinham Palace ,went through Green Park ( beautiiful plane trees) passed the Ritz and went up Fleet Street. I like to imagine the landscape before London was a concrete jungle what would it have been like when there was a River Fleet running down towards the Thames?
From Oxford Circus I cheated and took the Underground My original plan was to run from Central London to my parent's house in Maldon Essex. However I realised that this would be a tall order given my current state of fitness and the amount I was carrying , So I took the tube to Epping which conveniently is where the Essex Way starts- a well marked footpath heading initially in the right direction.. The first part of my route took me through some lovely forest containing many ancient pollarded hornbeam trees. Then some equally beautiful farmland . The wheat and the barley was almost ripe; its pale gold complimenting the greens of the trees and the blueness of the sky .
It soon became clear that it was going to be a long day as the paths were very overgrown with tall grassess nettles and briars. Often navigation was a challenge too. It slows the running down if you have to check the map and look for hidden footpath signs every 100 metres or so.
At Greensted I stopped at the church which to me is a marvel. It is the oldest wooden church in the world and the oldest wooden building standing in Europe. That the original wooden walls have survived since Saxon times in our damp climate without rotting is incredible. To lay ones hand on a piece of oak and know that it was cut and fashioned by unknown hands nearly one thousand years ago is humbling.
At Chipping Ongar I switched from the Essex Way to the St Peter's Way and continued thrashing through overgrown paths. Listening to my litle pocket radio I learned that Theresa May was to be elected unapposed as the leader of the Conservative party and therefore to become Prime Minister of our country in 48 hours!
At Stock I was stung by a wasp and near Bicknacre I stood on a thorn which went straight through the sole of my running shoe and deep into my foot -Ouch! Here was me used to the wilds of Scottish mountains,being stung, scratched and impaled on a low level country run in Essex.
I limped on and soon reached familiar places; paths and lanes around Hazeleigh that I have known since I was a boy .I eventually arrived at. my parents in the evening.
On the second day I set out from Purleigh to complete the St Peter's Way. The route was clearer since I was now on home turf . Still I was confused once or twice with styles and footpath signs being hidden by foilage .
The seawall at Maylandsea was very overgrown but once that was passed I felt I was making progress.
Despite a poor weather forecast it was very hot and at Tillingham I gave in to temptation and had a deliciously cool beer at the old pub by the church .
Back on the route I was soon on the sea wall again . Beautiful open country with huge skies and views that go on forever .
My final destination was St Peter's on the Wall an ancient church built about 660AD on the ruins of a Roman Fort .
The church interior is sparsely furnished with bare stonework walls. It is a very spiritual place and a fitting end to a long distance footpath. I sat for a while and sketched the light streaming in through the open door.
I arrived in Central London at 8am on Monday. After a night sitting up my first priority was coffee! Then I walked to Oxford Circus through the city . I don't know London well but of course all the names are very familiar through the news, culture and playing monopoly.
I passed Buckinham Palace ,went through Green Park ( beautiiful plane trees) passed the Ritz and went up Fleet Street. I like to imagine the landscape before London was a concrete jungle what would it have been like when there was a River Fleet running down towards the Thames?
From Oxford Circus I cheated and took the Underground My original plan was to run from Central London to my parent's house in Maldon Essex. However I realised that this would be a tall order given my current state of fitness and the amount I was carrying , So I took the tube to Epping which conveniently is where the Essex Way starts- a well marked footpath heading initially in the right direction.. The first part of my route took me through some lovely forest containing many ancient pollarded hornbeam trees. Then some equally beautiful farmland . The wheat and the barley was almost ripe; its pale gold complimenting the greens of the trees and the blueness of the sky .
It soon became clear that it was going to be a long day as the paths were very overgrown with tall grassess nettles and briars. Often navigation was a challenge too. It slows the running down if you have to check the map and look for hidden footpath signs every 100 metres or so.
At Greensted I stopped at the church which to me is a marvel. It is the oldest wooden church in the world and the oldest wooden building standing in Europe. That the original wooden walls have survived since Saxon times in our damp climate without rotting is incredible. To lay ones hand on a piece of oak and know that it was cut and fashioned by unknown hands nearly one thousand years ago is humbling.
At Chipping Ongar I switched from the Essex Way to the St Peter's Way and continued thrashing through overgrown paths. Listening to my litle pocket radio I learned that Theresa May was to be elected unapposed as the leader of the Conservative party and therefore to become Prime Minister of our country in 48 hours!
At Stock I was stung by a wasp and near Bicknacre I stood on a thorn which went straight through the sole of my running shoe and deep into my foot -Ouch! Here was me used to the wilds of Scottish mountains,being stung, scratched and impaled on a low level country run in Essex.
I limped on and soon reached familiar places; paths and lanes around Hazeleigh that I have known since I was a boy .I eventually arrived at. my parents in the evening.
On the second day I set out from Purleigh to complete the St Peter's Way. The route was clearer since I was now on home turf . Still I was confused once or twice with styles and footpath signs being hidden by foilage .
The seawall at Maylandsea was very overgrown but once that was passed I felt I was making progress.
Despite a poor weather forecast it was very hot and at Tillingham I gave in to temptation and had a deliciously cool beer at the old pub by the church .
Back on the route I was soon on the sea wall again . Beautiful open country with huge skies and views that go on forever .
My final destination was St Peter's on the Wall an ancient church built about 660AD on the ruins of a Roman Fort .
Saturday 2 July 2016
Ramsay Round Attempt
A friend of mine attempted a Ramsay Round this week.
The last time I wrote about the Ramsay was last year when Jez Bragg broke the record of the round which consists of 24 Munros completing it in 18 ours 12 minutes. Then a month later John Ascroft beat that record by over an hour completing in 16.59.That in itself was remarkable but this year a lady, Jasmin Paris smashed both the male and female records completing in 16 hours 13 minutes. I cannot comprehend how anybody could run that fast over that sort of terrain. It is worth remembering that only 4 females have ever completed a Ramsay in under 24 hours.
My friend was not attempting anything so spectacular just wanting to get round even if it took more than 24 hours. My job was to pace her on the section from Loch Treig to Aonach Mor I spent most of last weekend doing a recce and depositing some water on the Grey Corries. The weather was showery and it was quite grim on Aonach Mor. However as I descended the sun started to shine through gaps in the gloom illuminating small wispy clouds floating in the valley- simply stunning.
On Tuesday morning my friend started her attempt. She was wearing a tracker so we could watch on the internet as she traversed the mountains which was very exciting.
Unfortunately it soon became clear that she was slower than planned .By mid afternoon she was several hours behind schedule. It turned out that she had some problems with her eyes and was struggling to see - not good when negociating steep slopes and ridges. Eventually with the weather deteriorating and night falling she was forced to pull out . However as she said the mountains will always be there for another go
. So I didn't get to run a step except to retrieve the water I had stashed.
The last time I wrote about the Ramsay was last year when Jez Bragg broke the record of the round which consists of 24 Munros completing it in 18 ours 12 minutes. Then a month later John Ascroft beat that record by over an hour completing in 16.59.That in itself was remarkable but this year a lady, Jasmin Paris smashed both the male and female records completing in 16 hours 13 minutes. I cannot comprehend how anybody could run that fast over that sort of terrain. It is worth remembering that only 4 females have ever completed a Ramsay in under 24 hours.
My friend was not attempting anything so spectacular just wanting to get round even if it took more than 24 hours. My job was to pace her on the section from Loch Treig to Aonach Mor I spent most of last weekend doing a recce and depositing some water on the Grey Corries. The weather was showery and it was quite grim on Aonach Mor. However as I descended the sun started to shine through gaps in the gloom illuminating small wispy clouds floating in the valley- simply stunning.
 |
| Descending Aonach Mor |
On Tuesday morning my friend started her attempt. She was wearing a tracker so we could watch on the internet as she traversed the mountains which was very exciting.
Unfortunately it soon became clear that she was slower than planned .By mid afternoon she was several hours behind schedule. It turned out that she had some problems with her eyes and was struggling to see - not good when negociating steep slopes and ridges. Eventually with the weather deteriorating and night falling she was forced to pull out . However as she said the mountains will always be there for another go
. So I didn't get to run a step except to retrieve the water I had stashed.
 |
| The Summit of Sgurr Choinnich Mor with Aonach Beag in the background |
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