In contrast to the previous few days, we were dressed in almost winter gear including Chris’s Bloomers, now modified to stop them inflating in the wind, such are the deep discussions before starting an outing. The weather forecasts were for showers, wind and a feels-like temperature of 5⁰C, confirmed by Read more
Yes, there were nine Serious (Slow) Warts including returnees Tom, Roger and Ian, who gathered at Cutthroat Bridge for what promised or threatened to be a hot evening. It was about 30⁰C with a bit of an easterly wind to relieve the heat. These were probably not the most suitable Read more
There were excuses, justified or not, Moz was in Prague, Roger was injured, Pete was on woodcock spotting duties, Chris was making music in Wales and Tom was cycling. To make up for these absences, we had the return of John W, Simon and Andy from holiday, a total of Read more
Was it the forecast that kept the Serious (Slow) Warts away from the outing? We were three, and about to set off early when Moz appeared over the horizon to Dennis Knoll to swell the numbers to a fine four. Before his arrival, we were grumbling about the charges for Read more
The Serious (Slow) Warts have always had an interest in the natural world and that was encouraged by the 100th birthday of David Attenborough. So, our spotting of four types of moorland birds and animals seemed very appropriate during our outing from Nether North Grain. However, there was a dismal Read more
After the confusion of last week, came the apparent coordination of this Wednesday’s outings. The eight Serious (Slow) Warts managed to meet at the same place, Strines, through location planning via John, who was cycling in Mallorca, and despite the continuing absence of Andy (dodgy ankle). A plan had been Read more
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 Read more
It was a 3pm start for seven Serious Warts including Jim O who was doing his own thing on the opposite side of the Derwent valley. The remaining six of us were bracing ourselves for a classic brutal start from King’s Tree. In contrast, the short stroll to the river Read more
On the approach to the change to summertime, we six Serious Warts (the fair-weather Warts were strangely absent) chose the Hagg hostel lay-by (unpleasantly littered) for our starting point. Any celebration of the arrival of summertime was very much curtailed: witness our full winter gear, waterproof leggings and tops, hats, Read more
Old men tend to tell tales of their youth, and the Serious Warts are no exception. For those who had been prepared to listen to us (not many, admittedly), we had recounted a recent experience in what we thought were Arctic conditions on the edge of Kinder. However, the Warts Read more