The Serious Warts had decided that this week’s venue was to be Strines at 5pm but, in the meantime, we were told that DPFR were reviving the Way Out West race as part of the DPFR 50th Anniversary celebrations, starting at 6,45pm at the West End lay-by. Roger W and I decided to go to West End at 5pm (the normal Warts start time) and relive our racing youthfulness which Roger certainly did. We were on our own, no other Warts had appeared, yet,
So, we set off amid a trio of lumberjacks, a pair of lively fierce looking dogs which despite their looks, were very friendly, and with various danger warning signs, all combined with some intimidating tracked machinery. Just to complete the ambience, there was the heady mixture of diesel mixed with the scent of pine from the freshly sawn logs piled precariously on the track sides. Our first attempt to set off through this confusion on the traditional course was met with a stern rebuff, so despite Roger’s earlier chat up with the lumberjacks, we had to sheepishly follow the enforced diversion.
Spring chicken Roger positively bounced up through the forest, now with fresh tracks to ease the climb to the wall and open country where we felt the power of the south westerly wind. There is a narrow sheep track which is on the line used by we fell runners and is slowly widening with the use for the race. It was here that there was a squally shower of significant rain and possibly hail which almost stopped me in my tracks. The forecast predicted this and a feels like temperature of 2 degrees. I can confirm this! It prompted me to put on my anorak. Struggling in the wind and fighting against it, is not easy to extract the anorak from the rucsac whilst hanging on to both anorak and sac and then to put on the anorak. It’s at times like this when the thought comes into my head, “Why am I doing this?”. Because it’s good sport, mmmm……………………..perhaps?
Leaving the sheep track and crossing the Westend Moor, the track from the Alport trig came into view at the same time as the sun appeared, the wind , however, was still at full strength so it wasn’t quite perfection. Relief came when turning on to the track past Ditch Clough and to the forest and to the lay-by dodging all the forestry paraphernalia. In so doing, Serious Warts Tom and Roy were both cheerfully setting off and other Dark Peakers were warming up for the 6.45 start.
It was at this point that Roger returned after completing the course in the same time it had taken me to just go the Alport valley edge and back. Well done Roger!
Addendum
Two other Serious Warts, Chris and Moz, did turn up, at Strines but nobody was there, so they moved camp to Ouzelden for a circuit of the Ouzelden watershed, via a desert of fully grown tussocks for their delectation. On their return to the cars, they assumed the other Serious Warts would have gone to the YBI but there, none appeared. Roger and I were at Strines talking and drinking with the DP swimmers who were tucking into a full scale pub meal!
Two pubs, two venues, two routes, much weather, at least three or four groups of well-coordinated (?) Dark Peakers and plethora of timings all made for a confusing evening, thus confirming, even after 50 years, our continuing ability to make a group bid for the Pertex Award. Here’s to the next fifty years!
Graham
