Like most places on the Snake Road, there are only a few limited parking spaces but we were welcomed at Rowlee Bridge by Jim O, without a hi-viz jacket, directing us into a muddy space. He continued his duties for the other three cars neatly squeezing them in so effectively that there was still access to the gate but his car was blocked in. Nevertheless, he was appointed to the position of Slow Warts’ parking supremo.
Now safely established at the bridge, we tried to wake up our muscles by climbing to the rocky road for a leisurely saunter up to the crossing of Crookestone Out Moor where Jim was spotted in the distance coming over the Knoll on a recce of a Winter Series event. Our descent into Jaggers Clough was a reminder of our adventures in Abbey Brook last week, though fortunately without the head high heather. This week’s outing was designed by Andy to be less rigorous and shorter but nonetheless, an adventure to be savoured in the north westerly Arctic wind, a forecast feels like temperature of -3⁰C. We had a clear sky lit up by the moon, Venus, Jupiter and others, brilliant! Our astronomical skills were a bit lacking so clearly, we need to appoint a temporary Slow Warts’ astronomer to replace Chris who is sun bathing in Portugal, and, coincidentally, Tim also escaped (?) to the sun, in Barbados.
Having conquered the stream/wall clough, (we need to name it) the relative relief of the mown heather patch awaited. It’s still a tough climb finishing with Tom’s final flourish short cut through some unmown heather to Jaggers. The cold was emphasised by an old snow bank in the sheltered clough, bravely though, we continued up the diminishing clough, taking a bearing for Madwoman’s Stones.
Despite or because of the mist free visibility, our group of eight (including returnees Tom and Simon) split two ways, towards the left and the right to look for Madwoman’s Stones. It was inevitable that one group (the right group, of course) declared victory, the other one (the left) only accepting defeat when the technology was consulted. It nevertheless provoked a repeat discussion, which continued afterwards in the pub, of which stones were the correct ones. The placing of some distinguishing marker, was flatly discounted, because it would be too easy. They are, definitively, the middle ones of three sets of rocks; or are they?
The location of the conduit bridge is in no doubt, so a direct line was taken crossing two major tracks and mostly avoiding the small cloughs draining into the main valley. Whilst the terrain was mildly tussocky, it seemed a long descent, almost longer than our initial ascent to the tops. This way, we avoided most of the road and returned satisfied with a two hour-ish outing. The YBI was, as always, welcoming though we did drink them dry of Farmers’ Blonde and there was no Moonshine, just as last week, and no hint of when it might return. We mustn’t grumble! We’d had a splendid outing, invented a couple of official Slow Warts’ positions (honorary, of course) and developed into very amateur astronomers. Thanks to all.
Graham