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Monday 18 April 2016

Seeing things.....

      My old legs churned out a total of 21 miles last week but, to be honest, in only 16 of them was I actually running. On three mornings, long before sunrise, I ran a 4 mile circuit over and around Castle Hill. Maybe I was hallucinating, or not quite awake, but I'd a funny experience on Friday.
Friday's dawn run - along the ghost path    (Click pictures to enlarge)
As I struggled steeply upwards a few yards from the perimeter path I glanced up and saw a man in a long grey coat walking along in the breaking light. Seconds later he'd completely vanished!
Some of my dawn friends
Sunday was glorious. We awoke to a cloudless sky that pleased my wonderful partner as she was on Yorkshire Dales National Park duty patrolling an area around Mossdale and Capplestone Gate.
I discovered a little lochan.....
        I'd considered going for a short run before lunch, then a bumbly walk in the afternoon. Instead I stuck a Brunch Bar in my bumbag and set off for five hours of walking, running and sunbathing, mainly out of sight, high on Grassington Moor.  
....ran past this shake-hole where rabbits live - with flowers by their door
Deviating from main tracks I discovered little lochans and remains of old buildings I'd never seen before, and didn't know existed.
through wheatear country
What I was really looking for was somewhere sheltered from the arctic wind, somewhere I could strip down to shorts and vest to expose a little more flesh to that healing sunshine. I found a grassy hollow and spent a couple of hours wallowing in ultra violet warmth.  But only my face changed colour, a not very nice shade of red with white rings round both eyes where my sunglasses had rested!
On the way home
      Occasional voices broke my reverie, and a couple went by on horseback, but I was well hidden and unlikely to suffer any human intrusion. Above me the wind rustled through the heather. Curlews were calling in the distance, a startled grouse went kekking across the skyline and a meadow pipit paid me a visit. Maybe I was laid too close to her nest?
past a wee cave - a secret way to sneak under the road
Time to go, but as I stepped from my cosy hollow it was like being plunged into a freezer. I retreated from the icy blast to don tracksters and a jacket before beginning my run for home.
and across the stepping stones bound for home
From 1,500ft it was nearly all downhill, keeping in the shelter of a long wall to drop into the ghyll - where bright wheatears have nearly all returned to their summer homes - and back to the car lined village street. A good day to end a rather good week.
Now then, roll on tomorrow and let me get back to that ghost.....
Lastly, for anyone interested in my 'Examiner' interview, here's the link

6 comments:

  1. Great pictures on your run. That sunrise is so pretty. One reason I like being up early and walking. : )

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    1. Beautiful sunrises inspire me to get out of bed in the morning Karen, but they're getting a bit too early now. I'd to be out by 5.30 today.

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  2. At least it's him who vanished and not you!

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    1. I'm pleased about that Coach but, rather disappointingly, there was no sign of him this morning.....
      Cheers!

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  3. Stunning pics, as always, Gordon - and love the article too!

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  4. Lovely post to read and look at, that sunrise looks glorious.
    Enjoyed the video clip too, thank you.

    Hope you've had a good week, I'm looking forward to watching the London Marathon tomorrow ...

    All the best Jan

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