{"id":896824,"date":"2026-10-22T18:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/?p=896824"},"modified":"2026-10-22T18:21:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:21:21","slug":"thank-goodness-21-october-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/896824","title":{"rendered":"Thank goodness – 21 October 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wednesday Warts weather this summer has generally been kind to us, so much so that comments were even made about the lack of bad weather. We had fallen into a group mood of complacency about the weather, so we dressed accordingly, taking a cynical view of forecasts, including the Met office\u2019s mountain one which included a \u201cfeels like\u201d temperature of 1\u2070. Fortunately, we were shocked into brutal reality when we set off from Windle Edge to some more usual Wednesday weather. There was much panic searching in bags by the eight of us for suitable or even any, wet and windy winter gear. So clad, we set off into the gusty wind and rain of the first named storm (Austen) of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First though, there was a strategic plan to distribute car keys, there were only two cars, one key in each car, luckily according to our potential groups\u2019 relative speeds. The kit for the fast and slow were transferred also. Indeed, this turned out to be a very wise plan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The groups of four soon emerged as we crossed the stream and bog towards Round Hill whilst being blasted by the wind and rain. We were fortunate however, the terrain was gentle compared with recent Serious (Slow) Warts outings where heather, tussocks and bracken had been our constant enemies. So, at least, here we had something to enjoy, easier but very wet ground near Round Hill from where we headed south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, the fast group (Tom, Roger, Tim and Michael) had disappeared from view in the mist and rain. Visibility was limited and we were beginning to have doubts whether we slow Slows (Clive, Moz. Andy and I) were running out of time and we were also cold and wet through. A joint decision was made to return via the Watershed path to Lady Cross (remains of) and then back to Windle Edge.it was boggy and felt like a long drag. Eventually, out of the mist appeared a (new?) stone post, which I\u2019d not seen before, fitted into the \u201cremains of\u201d base. By this time, things were improving, we knew where we were, there was a much more distinct track and we could see the road and the articulated lorries on it. I have to admit, I\u2019ve never been so pleased to see lorries and other traffic, we\u2019ve always cursed them for spoiling the view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still in the wind and rain, we reached the cars for our next challenge, to find the right key for the right car, unlock it and open the boot, initially, we failed on the latter but from the inside we extracted our gear using stage one of our contortional abilities. The stage two was to remove wet clothes and put on dry ones whilst others were doing the same thing in the next seat. Fortunately, the windows had completely steam up so no one could see what was going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, we did manage to redress but continued to shiver whilst the car was being battered by yet more wind and rain, \u201cthe rain it doth rain and rain\u201d. The next chapter of events was to work out how to turn on the car\u2019s heater. Moz and Clive. in the front seats had the task of finding the manual which was gigantic and then the section on starting the car so that we could warm it up without running down the car\u2019s battery. In our mental state, it took a great deal of mental energy to start the car and then turn on the heater. We rested from these labours which had taken about an hour and were able to begin to warm up. But, where were the fast Slow Warts? Our mental energy was sapped and the thought of going out to look for them was not particularly attractive, and nobody volunteered. Should we call the Mountain Rescue, should we go to the pub (an attractive proposition) but the mental energy to drive the car was lacking, so we stayed put. We\u2019ll wait a bit longer. And then, over the horizon came a group of lights, four lights! Relief! We didn\u2019t have to go out searching for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All four heroes had completed the planned course, the 1894 stone (where there was an attack of the hallucinations there), see below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ornithologists at the 1894 Stone, with an unusual visitor, thanks to Michael for the image<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The fast Slow Warts also went the three sheeper, Barrow Stones, Round Hill and Windle Edge, mission completed, with no turning back! We did then suffer as the car doors were opened to let in the heroes and the wind and rain, especially when we were warm and dry! That was thankfully only a short interval before we set off to the pub (the Dog and Partridge, of course) where the rest of the changing into dry clothes was completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We brave souls were rewarded with a room to ourselves and the beer served to us at the Round Table, like knights after a mighty battle. We\u2019d all done well and many thanks to all, especially the drivers, it was a long way back. When I wrote this on Thursday I went and sat in the brilliant sunshine to warm up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graham<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The track of the fast Slow Warts, thanks to Michael<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The slow Slow Warts track, thanks to Clive<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wednesday Warts weather this summer has generally been kind to us, so much so that comments were even made about the lack of bad weather. We had fallen into a group mood of complacency about the weather, so we dressed accordingly, taking a cynical view of forecasts, including the Met […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-896824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-warts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896824"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":896828,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896824\/revisions\/896828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}