Back in the Groove!

Date: 3rd November 2016

Route: 11 Arches - Hunwick -  Willington - Brancepeth - Willington - Hunwick - 11 Arches

Distance: - ~13.2 miles

Weather: - Dry & overcast

Well with work commitments and various other excuses it's been a while since we did an "official walk" but here we are back on track again.

So as usual for this time of year we decided on a walk along the old railway track as it's always easy going underfoot after rain. Bob drove up to pick me and the Hell Hounds and we drove over to 11 Arches to park up. Strictly speaking we didn't actually park at 11 Arches as the car park now belongs to the Kynren event organisation (Google it, well worth a visit!) but a couple of hundred yards further up the road. Loaded up with our gear and the Hell Hounds in tow we set off at 9.45am for an 8 mile walk, taking things easy after such a long absence (if only we had known!!).

Autumn leaves

It was good walking weather, dry, overcast and not too cold and the Autumnal colours were still in evidence making for pleasant scenery. We very quickly reached Willington and decided we would keep walking until lunchtime before turning round and heading back. As usual our conversation started with a review of the latest rumours concerning Hull FC who had just had their greatest season in years finishing 3rd in the league and finally  winning the Challenge Cup at Wembley. It was also a busy period for us on the work front so as we headed to Brancepeth the we discussed lesson plans for our upcoming workshops (thus allowing me to claim the mileage as a business expense!!).

Bang on 12pm we stopped for lunch to realise we had already walked nearly 7 miles so our "take it easy, 8 mile walk" was out the window. Surprisingly for Bob he allowed me a good 30+ minutes for lunch (reckon his legs were feeling it!) which was fraught with the battle to keep the Hell Hounds away from our butties!

Bob the dog whisperer

Suitably refreshed and beginning to stiffen up we set off for the return leg back to the car. A short 20 minute shower did nothing to dampen our spirits as we put the world to rights, particularly on the political and religious front!

We arrived back at the car at 2.45pm suitably tired but feeling surprisingly fit considering the distance we had covered.  Commitments have now been made to ensure we keep our walking regime up and build back up to the 20 milers we used to do.

Walking backwards

Date: 19th November 2014

Route: Stanley Crook - Waterhouses - Ushermoor - Bear Park - Ushermoor - Waterhouses - Stanley Crook

Distance: - 16 miles

Weather: - Overcast, showers, sun

Another 10am start and drive (with the hounds) to Stanley Crook to start our walk where we normally end it. It felt a bit odd walking the route backwards and daft as it sounds you see the same sights differently - it certainly messed with my OCD mind!!

The conversation as always began with rugby and our hopes for a new season, the good thing being the announcement of the Magic Weekend in Newcastle.
We also had a gig at a business conference in Newcastle where we had agreed to do a talk on Business Improvement. Unfortunately in some fit of madness we had decided to make it an interactive session and do some role play / acting so our minds were working overtime trying to sort out how that would work!

What was surprising was the lack of wildlife observed on this walk, normally we see the usual birds and the odd surprise but we struggled this time to see anything.

We stopped for lunch for half an hour at the picnic tables at Bear Park before beginning the walk back, conversation must have been good as I never actually got round to taking any photo's on this walk!

We arrived back at the car for 3.30pm, a most pleasant if what uneventful walk.

Butterflies and caterpillars

Date: 16th July 2014

Route: Bishop Auckland - Hunwick - Willington - Brancepeth - River Wear - Hunwick - Bishop Auckland

Distance: - 15 miles

Weather: - Warm, Humid & Sunny

What a glorious Summer we have been having and yet another fantastic day for a walk. Bob drove over to mine and we loaded the dogs into my car and drove the short distance to the viaduct car park. From here we headed along the railway track to Hunwick and eventually Willington, dogs in tow. 

The main topic of conversation as always was Hull FC’s performances. Another season the had promised sooooo much and again failed to deliver. Still, being the optimists we FC fans are we focused on the excellent development of our young players and convinced ourselves that next season would be “The One”!

Bob was also happy as his daughter had fixed a date for her wedding so I took great delight in reminding old Ebineezer of the extortionate costs of weddings!

Despite my winding him up I still had an invite to his brother-in-laws BBQ which was billed as “The not-to-be-missed Event of the Year”. Beer was free so I was sold from that point onwards!

We soon found ourselves at Brancepeth and Bob graciously allowed us a 10 minute pitstop to water the dogs and grab a banana. Then it was back up along the railway track before branching off towards the river Wear.

With all the good weather, sprinkled with a bit of rain, the local flora had really benefitted. We were blessed with a plethora of gorgeous flowers which in turn attracted the butterflies. We hit one field where the thistles had really took off and the surrounding air was alive with numerous species of butterflies - I’d never seen so many.

We found a nice spot by the river and stopped for lunch. The dogs were well knackered by now, little knowing how much further we still had left to go!

After a pleasant 30 minute break we resumed our walk along the river noticing how some particular plants were alive with caterpillars - that explained all the butterflies!

As the riverside path ran out we climbed up and away and re-joined the railway track at Hunwick and 20 minutes later arrived back at the car.

This was without doubt the best walk we’d had this year.

(NOTE: Once home the dogs never moved all afternoon / evening and had to be forced to go out for their evening walk!)

Breaking in the Boots!

Date: 21st March 2014
Route: Willington - Brancepeth - Brandon - Broom Park - Brandon - Brancepeth - Willington
Distance: - 13 miles
Weather: - Dry and bright

Was it really nearly 6 months since we were last out for a walk? The great British weather had produced a seriously wet Winter and as such had not really availed itself to us fair weather walkers! So eager to try out my newly purchased walking boots (bought in Ambleside during a 3 day walking break during Feb half term with the missus) Bob picked me up and drove the short distance to Willington to park near the Co Op where we picked up the old railway line.

We set off from Willington at 10am and must have looked a sight hobbling away, kitted up with rucksacks & waterproofs -  Bob was carrying a leg injury and I had pulled my calf muscle the day before so this was going to be a long walk!

On the rugby front we once again had the highs of a Bradford victory followed by a poor performance against Cas where FC did a great job of losing the game! Who'd be an FC fan........oh us!
With the good weather I thought I would get a few snaps but as this was our first jaunt in a while I had forgotten the full kit list and left the camera at home - muppet!

Despite only having 2 good legs between us we made good time and practically ran on auto-pilot having done this walk so often.

On the work front we had a pending Training course in Cardiff which was actually a good gig as we were getting paid for 2 days but actually only delivering for a couple of hours each day - result! We were also doing our bit for the local community and were working with Penny's tea room in Barney - the result of them winning a raffle prize of a day with the Lean Team.

With our usual non-stop review of rugby and work we were surprised at how quickly we arrived at Broom Park. A decent stop for lunch, Bob obviously forgetting his reputation for 15 minute breaks!, and we were on our way back.

Everywhere was starting to look greener and Spring was definitely here. It always surprises me how a bit of sunshine and some greenery around you can make you feel so much better.

Anyway our non-stop talking and putting the world to rights not only made us feel better (and believe  me we would make great Prime ministers!) but meant we were back at the car before we knew it. So at 3pm we gratefully sat in the car, massaged our sore legs and headed back home - a good run out.

Spring is in the air

Date: 11th April 2013
Route: Croxdale - Durham - Croxdale
Distance: - ~9 miles
Weather: - Dry, cloudy with sunny spells

Was it really January the last time we were out! A combination of work (damn, does tend to get in the way a bit) and poor weather meant the Airlie Ramblers were chomping at the bit to get out for a bit of fresh air. As luck would have it Mr Garton had need to reconnoitre a route in preparation for an upcoming footy team reunion and so with a pleasant change in weather conditions we had our opportunity.
Bob picked me up and we headed to the Honest Lawyer (is that an oxymoron?!) pub to park up and begin our walk. 10.00am and we headed up through fields and woodland, intemitently walking alongside the river Wear. It wasn't the greatest of starts as within 20 mins our navigation skills had let us down and we headed off in the wrong direction adding an extra 30 mins onto our time as we retraced our steps. As always we got the rugby conversations out of the way, always best to get the miserable stuff over and done with! Our top 4 aspirations and the strap line of "Believe" were well and truly pie in the sky stuff. However, 3 victories on the trot had tempered our anger towards coach and players and perhaps there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Old Chapel

Outbuildings

 














Our walk took us past an old chapel and some unusual outbuildings, following the edge of a forest before eventually bringing us out at Shincliffe garden centre. From here we headed on towards Durham, picking up the river Wear and enjoying a very scenic stroll into Durham centre.

University rowers

Around 12.30pm, just before we hit the town centre, we found a bench and with cracking views of the Cathedral and Castle we sat down for lunch.

Durham Castle & Cathedral

Durham Cathedral & Castle

Conversation had now turned to an upcoming teambuild event I was running later in June in Shanghai for around 20 Chinese staff. An interesting challenge given the significant cultural differences. Still us Yorkshiremen are used to dealing with different cultures such as those from Lancashire or the South!
After a whole 24 mins for lunch (this could be a record for the longest break!) we headed off into Durham, along Elvett Bridge and headed up towards the heart of student land. There we picked up a track past the Botanical Gardens and once again headed off across fields to pick up the river Wear.

 After a minor detour and retracing of steps (map reading skills were very rusty) thanks to the help of a dog walker we finished the final part of the walk along the river and back to the Honest Lawyer pub. At 2.15pm it wasnt the longest walk we'd ever done but it was just nice to get out in some decent weather. That and a nice pint helped!

Wicker woman art