Christmas Coach Ramble 2011

We always used to go on the Coach Rambles but they got more expensive and Peter got three slipped discs and we got a major dose of CBA where these were concerned so we got out of the habit.

However Isobel has been nattering at me to join in again so I got my (very late) finger out and booked to co on the Christmas walk. Last Friday I almost wished I hadn't as it was snowing and sleeting and hailing all day and Saturday it rained, a lot!

Sunday morning I had got everything sorted and off we went. There were several people who got on the coach in Bradford and we were warmly welcomed back after an absence of err 11 months!

Isobel decided she was going to do the A walk which was about 10 miles but I wasn't confident about walking so far at the moment so opted for the B walk of 6 miles especially as when we pulled into Giggleswick Station car park it was raining cats and dogs. The A walk set off from there and we were dropped in Settle car park. It was still precipitating it down when we set off and boy was it wet and muddy underfoot!

When we got to the weir we were amazed at the amount of water coming over it and the force of it. I was glad I was NOT canoeing over that one.



The river coming down from the top of the picture is normally just a small beck.

The walk was pleasant but uneventful. I got to talk to lots of different people about lots of different things. I caught up with peoples lives in the last year and as we plodded back to Settle I was glad we had done the walk.

I got changed at the side of the coach as I am not shy that way! We then went to the Falcon Crest Hotel to start the festivities. We usually have a meal and a dance but this year was a new venue and we didn't have dancing facilities. Oh well never mind.

The meal was nothing special but nothing awful either. The we had a multiple faceted quiz. This descended into much chaos as we were supposed to swap the picture quiz with a neighbouring table and we ended up with it going all wrong! One of the tables didn't swap correctly. What a scream. Then we ran out of time as the coach driver had to be back for a certain time.

Oh well in terms of exercise I walked 6 miles so it's all good. We booked to go on the January walk. No idea where we are going but who cares.

Training Starts Again 27th November

Okay so I am signed up to another charity bike ride to Hamm in Germany and back again.

Sunday 27th November was the first actual training ride and a special occasion as both the Leisure group and the Sports Group were meeting up at Guiseley station. We had had a social get together a few days before when we went to an Indian restaurant but when everyone turns up in Lycra, waterproofs, helmets and glasses you can't recognise who they all are.

When the excuses had come in (Deano you know who you are) for those who couldn't make it. We all mounted our steeds and the Sports group disappeared into the mist (proverbially).

I set off at the front of the pack but as soon as an incline appeared the pack slowly overtook me until Richard and I were at the back. Richard is the support rider so at the back by choice.

I've got to say that the weather was not the best. It was blowing a hoolie and was hard going so I was at a disadvantage as I am a big lass so there is more to blow about!

Up the first steepish hill Sean had bike trouble so I was no longer at the back. We had a rest at the top and waited until they caught up. Then we all trucked off again towards Bolton Abbey and the Cavendish Pavilion. A nice hot cuppa and a scone or a cake and then we set off for the return journey.

All was going well when we started the steepish climb up a hill that always creases me. Sean again had a problem with his bike and I wasn't therefore last to the top of the hill.

We waited around for a while but then Mike told us to go on as we were getting cold. We set off again without Mike and Richard and eventually bumped into some of the Sports group who had returned without the rest of the group. Someone had bike trouble hence they were stopped. Again I took the decision to carry on but I noticed there weren't many people following me. When I got to the bridge over the river I waited and most them caught up with me there. We then pedalled off in the direction of Burley in Wharfdale where we started the long climb up to Menston. Ok I was at the back again but I didn't need to stop so that was a bonus.

Back to Guiseley and everyone seemed in good spirits.

Ogden Walk

Monday I went aquarunning. Just thought I'd mention it as I can't add pictures of it.

Today I was going to go for a bike ride but couldn't find my cycling pants ANYWHERE.

So a walk was in order. I didn't fancy the usual trek so I got the dogs in the car and drove for about 20 minutes to Halifax - Ogden Water to be precise. This is a reservoir surrounded on three sides by a woodland.

Bear was wearing his muzzle and on the lead but Evie was off the lead. Bear started mutedly barking at a spaniel quite soon but we got past without mishap. When we crossed over the little bridge we started climbing away from the reservoir and there are very few people around here so this is where Bear got let off to run around for a while. This is where we saw the first wood carving of a fox made from a tree trunk.



It was sunny when I set off but it went cloudy and I thought I was going to get wet but it stayed dry thankfully.

After one complete circuit I decided to go round again but this time not climbing high into the woods. I was over halfway round when I stopped to take some photos. Bear was on his lead right in front of me and Evie was on the grass verge minding her own business. This man walked past and said 'put that dog on a lead as well' I said she was alright as she is around 13 years old and never bothered anyone or anything. He said 'I didn't ask that. I said put it on a lead. There are notices all around asking you to do this. Thank you. Bye bye' and walked off. What a despicable man! He really took the edge of my lovely walk. The signs ARE there but it is to stop your dog jumping in the water and causing problems for yourself or them. So he was right in what he said but it also says 'Cold Water Kills' but it didn't jump out and murder me so I ignored the man and carried on with my walk. She was on a lead at the appropriate times.

Anyway we did about 4 miles of walking including some quite steep climbs.






A rather clever idea that they use at Ogden is that they ask people to bring down their old real Christmas Trees in the New Year. They then weave them into the hedgerow to strengthen the existing fence and for various wildflowers to use as a scaffold.






These last two photos are a woodland story telling place. The story teller sits on the oak 'throne' while the children sit on the logs placed around the area with carved toadstools to add interest.

A walk and Saltaire Festival

I was up early this morning but by the time I had decided to take the dogs out for their walk it was 8am. It was a little overcast but the sun was trying to break through. After a bit of ball throwing and retrieving I spotted someone coming on to the moor so went and caught Bear so I could put his muzzle on.

Bear is wearing a muzzle in public now because he is a little snappy with some dogs and obviously some of the owners get a bit huffy about it. If another dog turns on him he runs a mile!



Anyway muzzle in place I noticed it is an older gentleman that I know, Geoff and his Yorkshire Terrier Tom that have arrived so I went over for a chat. We walked down the moor together and talked about apples, blackberries, plums, festivals and David Hockney. He is always so positive and pleasant. He isn't a moaner at all.


Little Tom


We parted company between the moors and I walked down the second moor, crossed over the road and walked down the lane. Just past the farm I spotted a pony foal hiding in the bushes. Unfortunately, Bear startled him and then got round the back of him, so the foal kicked Bear, twas his own fault!




As I had my new with me I took photos of ponies, cows, donkeys, balsam and blackberries before heading back round for the return journey.









This afternoon, Isobel, James and I went to the Saltaire Festival. It has been on a few days so wasn't sure what to expect exactly. There was a continental street market and there were several street entertainers around, In the park there were lots of stalls and a Polish Beer Garden! A classic and collectors car collection were lined up in ranks and included some 'bubble cars'. I was most annoyed with myself as I had left my purse at home so only had £2 on me.

We came across a bunch of oddly dressed people all attired in black, gold and red and carrying mostly brass instrustments. They waited until a neighbouring act finished and then they started playing some tunes. They were fun and very talented and known as The Peace Artists.





When they finished we had a wander and then the heavens opened and down came the rain. Round to the little car park and there was a more normal band playing on the big stage. We then headed across to the church. I visited this church a lot of years ago as part of my middle school curriculum (Saltaire is now a World Heritage Site). Today we just walked around the outside and I was delighted to see the church has it's own allotments.




We crossed back over the river and meandered back towards the car park taking in the sights and smells and sounds along the way.

Once again I have been a bit remiss.

I keep meaning to write this blog up regularly but I am essentially a lazy bugger! I enjoy writing it but I don't want to publish it without the photos and I can only add the photos from the desktop and not my PC!

Anyway I am starting again because I now have to start training again for Hamm 2012! Yes I am doing the bike to Germany again for Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure and Bradford Disabled Cycling Club.

Last week I went to aquafit on Wednesday followed by a half mile swim. Thursday I went aquarunning. Friday I actually went for a bike ride, 22.39 miles according to my Garmin. Friday night I did 90 minutes of canoeing but only in the pool. This week I was at work three days so couldn't do the aquafit and on Monday the aquarunning wasn't on. However I did go aquarunning on Thursday night. Friday we went out for a meal as my stepson has completed his apprenticeship so we went out to celebrate but that meant we missed canoeing.

Anyway enough of the waffle. Aquarunning - this is new to me but I am finding it really enjoyable. You wear a special buoyancy suit and go into the deep end of the pool. No need to tread water as the suit keep you bobbing along on the top of the water like a cork. There are ropes tied across the pool and there are tethers on the back of your suit which you clip onto one of the ropes. This means that, unlike aquafit, you are not hampered by others being slower than yourself or taking a breather etc. Imagine table football in water and you are just about there!

The instructor tells you the moves and it's a bit like circuit training as you do the moves for x amount of time and then she blows a whistle and you change to something different. It can be a little repetitive. The first time I did it I thought that wasn't difficult but certainly felt like I had exercised when I got out of the water.

Right I will try and keep this blog more up to date and I will try and capture a good amount of my training in pictures as well.

Charity Bike Ride

Somehow I got myself involved in going on this charity bike ride to raise money for the Disabled Cycling Club. Well I didn't need much persuading to be honest. It was 4 days of around 40 miles per day and we were taking two young lads with us who attend the cycling club.

Neil is 13 and is deaf. David is 17 and is autistic. Both of them have loads of courage and did really well on the ride.

Our first day was from Shipley Town Hall to York. Just after we started we had to go up a very long hill that is steep in parts. Oh god I was dreading it. I made it up with just one stop (ok I did put my foot down for a second time but don't tell anybody).

That night we stayed in the poshest hostel I have ever seen. We put our bikes in the cellar which had originally been the servants room. Each room had a placard outside saying what it had been used for. The room we girls were sleeping in said that the master had sat in this room with his dog when it took it's last breath so we simply called it the Dead Dog Room! An evening out at an Italian Restaurant rounded off the day nicely.

The second day we headed for Hull. I struggled a bit in the afternoon but both of the boys did well. That night we stayed in a Premier Inn just up from the Humber Bridge so once we had told them we had arrived we went and cycled across the bridge and back again. We eat in the hotel that night as they had a good deal on.

Saturday morning we set off on a return journey to York. Neil struggled from the start of the day and got in the van until after lunch. It's difficult to remember that he is only 13 and he had done exceptionally well up to then. This was my best day though. I powered on really well all day and felt brilliant when we arrived in York. Richard our support rider, had an accident along the way. and literally ended up wrapped around a tree. Thankfully he wasn't as badly hurt as he could have been.

This time we stopped in the YHA. Nice place but not as posh as the other hostel. We went out looking for somewhere to eat and ended up at a Pizza Hut.

After a good night's sleep, followed by a good breakfast we were off on the last leg back to Shipley. Boy was it hot. I drank 3.5 litres of fluid on the way back. Neil struggled a bit and had a short trip on the van and I refused to take the route that they decided to go on as I knew that Weeton hill would ruin my legs for the climb out of Otley. Mike, our leader, and I took the longer but flatter route to an agreed rendezvous point and beat the others by half an hour.

On the climb out of Otley we had to keep Neil turning those wheels so I kept telling him not to let the fat lass pass him! He managed it. Then after a bit more climbing we went down the hill I had dreaded on day 1.......wheeeeeeeeeeee!

DERBYSHIRE WEEKEND WITH DISABLED CYCLING CLUB

I did a nice wordy blog and was going to add photos from the weekend in June when we went away with the Disabled Cycling Club. I spent ages getting the details right and then it all disappeared and I lost the will to live. Hence I haven't been on here since. However I have numerous photos that I would like to share from that weekend so I will try again but with few words.



Richard trying to make sure all the bikes fit in and on the trailer...not an easy task



Getting ready... the two guys in the hi viz jackets are David and Neil who were to do the charity cycle with us the weekend after this one.







Tracey looking like she would rather sleep than cycle


I'll take a photo of you.... this is Jan our absolutely priceless support driver and organiser of weekends away.

Trying out the wheels before we set off

Mick, his daughter Annie and Richard while we were waiting for food in the Pizza Express

Why are we waiting....

Oh why are we waiting...

It was Annie's birthday so we had to have a cake...the soft focus is due to Annie having got hold of my and getting her fingers all over the lens


Mel wasn't happy because it wasn't her birthday

Mel's sister Tia who was also pretending to sulk




Mel and Annie still friends

The bunkhouse where we stayed next to The Royal Oak


Packed and ready to leave

We were rained off on the Sunday so couldn't cycle so we went into Matlock Bath for a wonder around for a bit.


Mick and Linda, Annie's mum and Dad, in Matlock Bath

Richard and Jan, no they hadn't fallen out, just wondering which way to go


Annie with Caspar

Sunday 12th June

Was up early this morning again. Peter and Isobel were going whitewater rafting again and I was going on a training ride.

As Peter needed the car I had sent a text to a friend who is our support rider, asking for a lift. Richard and his partner Jan and Richard's daughter turned up spot on time. Jan is our support driver. Becky was along for the ride.

It was a lovely sunny morning and I was looking forward to the ride. Only four of us turned out despite the fact that it was supposed to be the last 'dress rehearsal' before the actual ride. There was Richard and myself and the two boys we are supporting, Neil and David. Mike our long suffering leader was suffering from a dislocated toe which he tells us he did on the beach on holiday!

However the first hill we came to I felt like my legs were empty. Don't know if it was the aftermath of the shock of yesterday or what but I struggled up and then my chain fell off (for the second time today).

We got to Bolton Abbey in really good time and met up with Mike, Jan and Becky. A cup of coffee, a scone and a chat and we were off back again. By this time the sky had clouded over. I set off leading the group so that we kept the pace down to a reasonable level.

When we got to a fairly protracted hill I told the lads to overtake me as it was evident that I was going to be slower than them. I started losing ground after that and knew my muscles weren't playing ball with me. When we met up with the support crew again it was pouring with rain. I decided to bail out of the ride then, one, for myself and two, so that I didn't hold them up in the rain. Twenty miles done.

The lads did well and got back safely.

I got home and had a bath and felt better for it.

11th June - Whitewater rafting

Can't believe I haven't blogged for a week but a quick synopsis goes like this:

Sunday, came down with a cold and felt horrible. Took the dogs out for about 4 mile walk. Monday, very snotty and sneezy. I was working but I had a three hour walk around a caravan park that was set on a steep hill. So by the time I had done I could really feel the pull in my calves. Tuesday I did little other than work.
Wednesday, it was dawgie walking again. Thursday, I cycled 22 miles and felt lots better than I had earlier in the week. Friday it was a lovely longer dog walk early on and I was going to go cycling again but just after I got home with the dogs it absolutely poured it down. I don't mind being out in it but I don't like setting off in it. As I was just getting over the cold it didn't seem like a good idea.

Today though, we went whitewater rafting. We had a good day but a bit dramatic in parts.


Briefing before heading down the river



Some pictures of the river from further down the course


The top of the weir




First time down the river on the raft this morning we flipped it at the top of a weir and we all fell out. I came to the surface with the boat on top of me and when I got to the surface again I couldn't get a breath (suspect it was the shock of the cold water) I didn't feel frightened thatI was in fast water just that I kept going under and couldn't get a breath properly. Our leader, Heath, grabbed me and took the brunt of the rocks and did his bad knee in again. He was brilliant! He held onto me until I was safe.

Some people we know were on the bank and had witnessed it and eventually fished me out of an eddy, where I was now standing reasonably safely. They were going to get me a lift back but I said I was going back in the raft or I might not do it again. So we set off again (my partner Peter and daughter Isobel, were in the raft too) with a shortage of paddles (other paddlers had recovered them further down) and we finished the course.

I went back down again a little later just to make sure I was okay with it.

Then I got talking to a woman who I didn't know and ended up walking her spaniel, Milly (for 'walking' see next paragraph).

Milly's 'mum' on the river



Then Peter went down the course in his own kayak and capsized but set off again. He got to the weir, came down the first part, capsized and came out of the boat down the next part of the weir. He got out alright but his boat and paddle carried on. I ran/walked down the course with Milly, the spaniel, to see what happened to the boat and by the time I got to the end it had been recovered. I loaded it on the van, then r/w the 1.5 miles back to the top of the course.




Peter on the left, near the top of the river
Peter, paddling on down quite happily
At the top of the weir
Ooops, got that wrong

Meanwhile Isobel managed numerous trips down the course with friends (the guy who was our leader, the first time down, Heath and his son, Josh, that is) and she ended up 'swimming' four times and loved every minute.

Heath is at the back of the boat guiding it. Isobel is the one with the black helmet and pink shorts. They were having fun surfing one of the little weirs




We are all a bit battered and bruised but we've had a great day and those two are going back tomorrow for more. I'm cycling!