A 14 strong turn out seemed to indicate that the Slow Warts are still around, though there were a few “juniors” strengthening them, perhaps they were embarking on their apprenticeship. Nevertheless, a good crowd was able to join in Andy’s birthday Warts’ outing from Strines, which was suitably stringent for him at an estimated and bracing temperature of about -5⁰C which did cause some sliding around the car park both by cars and Warts.
Traditions remained. The Slow Warts split into a couple of groups after only a few minutes from starting as favourite lines were taken to the Foulstone Road and past the gamekeeper’s house; the more westerly line seemed to be faster with possibly less heather to fight through. From then on, an apparently random line (Tom’s) was taken over a series of burnt patches over snowy Brogging Moss, where we were delighted to see an all white hare, and then on to the Cartledge path. From heather bashing to dashing along the flagstones to the fence for a crossing to Low Tor. From here, it is inevitable that we should sign in at Berristers Tor, so a tricky and slippery descent into Abbey Brook took us to a magical scene of running water and icicles. Clearly, it was very cold!
Warmth was restored up the steep climb to the Tor where we paused on the cliff edge, hardly relaxing, but useful for bracing ourselves for another descent and climb out of Abbey Brook. The bravado of youth and lost youth tempted Andy and I to follow Tom’s lead on what he described as an enjoyable descent and climb. Well, it may have been for him, as he disappeared rapidly into the darkness, but the over ambitious septuagenarians pressed on slowly over the drumlins or, to quote another a Wart, the dumplings, to the prospect of unlit and vague hill profiles. Fortunately, a couple of lights were spotted and after a few wanderings amongst the drumlins, order (?) was restored on the Sheepfold Clough track. It seemed a long way to Lost Lad though lights were seen previously and on Back Tor. Once there, our pragmatic decision was to omit Cakes of Bread where we saw a group of lights, to return directly across the Foulstone track and then to the pub. We didn’t even manage to catch up with the other group who were, by now, changed and off to the Strines Inn.
We joined them and the DP swimmers, for a warm up by the welcoming coal (!) fire. Such were our fantasies of warmth, the talk was of the tropical Limpopo valley which, of course, reminded us of our own local version of it, the Ughill Brook which was renamed by the previous RO, Alan Y, of the Dungworth race, mainly because of the height of summer vegetation. Such nostalgia encouraged the suggestion for a night run there from Dungworth. Watch for the DPFR calender!
A truly cold winter outing, splendid!
Graham