It was a daylight and wintry evening for the second outing after the changing of the clocks. As is routine for a Wednesday evening, the eight Slow Warts set off in heavy drizzle and a coolish (cold) strong south westerly, from Strines at 4.53, seven minutes early. Other Slow Warts had given the absence notices, Tom on holiday, Clive in Australia and Roger W not ready for Harmerian action yet.
Not only was the drizzle very wetting but the record rainfall over the last few months had soaked the ground to maximum (?) capacity making dry feet a long-lost memory. Perhaps all this water would drain into our first check point, Blackhole, although such delusional thinking was brought back to reality by the absence of any visible hole. Never mind, we continued upwards into the mist enjoying, in retrospect, the soft comforting ground until we reached the slabs between Cakes of Bread and Back Tor. These slabs are dangerous. I’m not sure what the rock is, perhaps granite, but it’s slippery tand hard on the feet and bones, to be avoided by ageing Slow Warts. Fortunately, relief came in the boggy traverse from Back Tor to Howshaw Tor. By then, Moz and I had reached our limit so we said good bye to the hardier remaining Slow Warts as they made their way to Sheepfold Clough and Berresters Tor where the whisky stache was deemed unhealthy and therefore undrinkable (all the details are in Andy’s blog sent separately).
Moz and I returned via Back Tor and Foulstone Road (!) to Strines Dike, having had an encounter with the ghostly figure of Jim appearing out of the mist as he was going towards Howshaw Tor. We staggered in to Strines Inn car park which was overrun with bright young people all Dark Peakers setting off for their 6.45 outing. Moz had to dash off without a visit to the pub so I waited alone with my pint and crisps but enlivened by a chat with Lucy, until the Slow Warts returned.
By then, they had been joined by Chairman Tim T who may be practising (?) for when he gets to Slow Wart status, though, he assured us, not just yet. As usual, discussions ranged far and wide and included the question of where to park nowadays without charge, in the Dark Peak, There were a few places but only small ones. It’s recognised that the car parking charges go towards maintaining and improving the Peak Park. However, Dark Peak includes Slow Wart pensioners who inevitably watch their spending. Tim T gave us a detailed description of the charges and the annual tickets available (should you be able to afford one). Since the club’s finances seem to be in healthy state, it was suggested that some sort of help (group membership?) should be available to impoverished members. These ideas and others were put in abeyance until the club AGM in May.
Despite all this semi-serious stuff and the less than perfect weather, the outings were declared yet again a great success.
Thanks to all.
Graham