After last week’s bracken-fraught outing, it was a pleasure for ten of us to step out into clearer ground. However, we did encounter some bracken immediately above Rowley Bridge. We hesitated and some of us bravely plunged in, whilst others continued road running to do a large zig zag eventually joining the others on the stony track. We should have been braver.
We had not been brave in choosing the stony track over the direct line to Crookestone Knoll but no one objected to our choice so we were able to enjoy the fresh and sunny climb up to Crookestone Out Moor to the Knoll. The freshness had now become coldness so layers were added for the crossing towards Madwoman’s Stones in the blinding sun. We looked forward to returning with the sun behind us. On the way there, rock climbing prowess was demonstrated, so all that time at the climbing wall, was worth it, Tom!
It was a relief to see and feel the wet bog across the moor, no longer a dusty desert, hopefully it is recovering its soggy normality. Sheltering behind the Stones, was a lone camper, happy to talk, even to a rough looking group like us. We bade farewell and continued on our sunny way to the trig point with its hard flagged area, marginally better than the previous large bog swamp surrounding the pillar and threatening to swallow it up.
Despite the sunny and coolish conditions, we were mistakenly reminded of the Arctic explorer Nansen, as we approached the nose end of Ringing Roger, to the Hansen Stone, it seemed a suitable end for our westwards journey. The return via Druids Stone was a longish and enjoyable high contour, fast going for Serious (Slow) Warts. We continued our contour this time turning northish, so getting another dose of fresh sunshine to our second visit to MWS where John W (welcome back) kindly provided Cool Hands Clive with a pair of combined gloves and mittens, a useful idea!
To avoid a thrashing of bracken, we took the direct line descent past the shooting butts and the cabin to the road back to Rowley Bridge. There was unanimous joy at the outing which felt like it may be almost the last good weather one before winter comes to challenge us again.
Despite this thought, the YBI gave us a good welcome and it was also good see Roy after his solo dash up and down Win Hill. Whether we set some sort of record by squeezing all eleven of us round one table, I’m not sure but discussions were far and wide, including the Young Warts idea of running around the map grid squares or some such navigational challenge. We took note and decided to go Doctor’s Gate for next week’s outing.
A splendid reviving outing, thanks to all.
Graham
