A little further....

My plan for last Sunday was to run a little further, to get strength back into my legs, but we'd been celebrating Burn's Night so things got a bit out of hand.  A horrible pain in my nether regions caused something of a delay at the start of our six mile jaunt to Appletreewick but after a brief stop we were soon on our way. 

Well wrapped up against a cold wind by Hebden Suspension Bridge. 
(Click to enlarge)

It's nearly six months since we ran this route and I was really looking forward to running the riverbank again. 

River Wharfe near Loup Scar

A dipper bobbed around on a stone at Loup Scar but by the time I got the camera out, it had gone,

Passing the Red Lion at Burnsall Bridge

It was early morning and I can only remember passing four people and none of them had dogs.  Quite an unusual occurrence!

On the bridge at Woodhouse Farm

We pressed on, following the river past the Red Lion in Burnsall  (it was shut, not that I'm ever allowed in such places) and through Daggett's car parking field to Woodhouse Farm.

Running the short road loop

Here, we normally leave the river for a short loop onto the road, hence the name - the Appletreewick lollipop.

Passing the campsite

In half a mile or so we cut back to rejoin the river at the campsite.

Flat, easy running

We'd run three miles and were now at the half way mark and turning for home with a cool wind in our faces.  

Peering into the River Dibb at Woodhouse Farm

There were no hills until the last ¼ mile, it was all delightful running, through Burnsall, over the River Dibb that flows into the Wharfe, past Loup Scar again and on to the Suspension Bridge.

Passing Loup Scar again

After another mile we'd got into our stride.  Breakfast was calling.

A cormorant drying his wings

We'd never seen a cormorant on the river before so were surprised to see one perched on a rock mid stream, wings outstretched.

Full steam ahead

We tried to take a decent picture of him but he flew away. We ran on.

Towards the Suspension Bridge seen in the distance

It's a lovely stretch of river to the Suspension Bridge and we never tire of running this, especially when we have it to ourselves!

Crossing the bridge again 

Pretty soon we reached the Suspension Bridge and out onto the tarmac again. It was steep tarmac and shhhh,, never let it be said, we walked up it....   It was only 150 yards or so.  Pretty soon we were home enjoying porridge and coffee, crumpets and honey.
Well, I was.....

A good weekend...

The forecast was good for our neck of the woods so we were determined to make the most of it.  On Saturday we went walking over Hebden Crag, past Mossy Mere and back via Hebden Ghyll.
I needed some hard uphill work and some faster running to get the old body operating as near to optimum as possible. for my age

Hebden beck   (click to enlarge)

Approaching the Crag path gate

The Crag path

Crag path

At Mossy Mere

Back into the ghyll

Hebden Ghyll

Dwarf ferns growing from a mossy wall

On Sunday we got out of bed in the darkness, had a quick coffee and were driving up the road to Grimwith, scattering pheasants as we went., prelude to a glorious run.

Breaking dawn.  Running frequently stopped for photographs

Dawn colours and ice on the track

Avoiding the ice

More ice

Running into the sunrise

Feeling a bit of warmth in the sun

Back o' Grimwith

Sun rising on a frozen landscape, back o' Grimwith

Reservoir like a mill pond

Back into the shadows under the hill

Almost finished

Time for porridge - almost - just a short drive home now.
Hope the car hasn't frozen up again!

When you can't sleep...

A full moon was lighting up the bedroom when I awoke at 6.30 last Friday morning.  After injections to both eyes on Thursday that almost blinded me I'd gone to bed early.  Now, I could see again and was rarin' to go for a run to erase nasty memories of the previous day.

Friday's full moon...   (Click to enlarge)

I stepped out under a clear sky into a silent world.  Grass was brittle and glittering in the moonlight as I made my way through frozen fields towards Castle Hill.  

Two masts at breaking dawn

At breaking dawn the local poacher materialized from the gloom with his two whippets and asked the inevitable two questions,  "Have you seen anything of Geoff lately (a mutual friend who is quite ill)" and "how is your prostate now?"  I answered  "No" to the first question and "It's manageable" to the second before tackling the final steep slope to the summit.

The ghost runner

The sky had lightened to pale orange as I circled the rim of the hill for a couple of circuits, waiting for the sun to peep over the horizon. 

Sunrise

I didn't have to wait long.  Pretty soon the whole landscape was awash with the sun's fiery rays and for the first time that morning I began to feel warm.  I jogged home in search of further warmth, hot porridge and a mug of reviving coffee.

It's two months since my last radiotherapy treatment and I haven't yet found the eagerness to run.  The Oncologist told me it would take time to recover but I didn't expect it to take this long!  Perhaps my 87 years has something to do with it?

Sunrise on the cricket field

But I'm trying.  Early morning reps on a local cricket field, stopping and jogging home when the sun comes up, is a current favourite.  I don't like folk seeing how much I've slowed!

Round Grimwith

And, together with my wonderful partner I've been on dawn runs round Grimwith reservoir.

Come on, slow coach...

She sometimes has to wait for me, which rankles a bit, but she is a tiny bit younger than me.... 

...which is better than thinking the radiotherapy hasn't worked.

Winter Solstice......

Maybe there's a bit of Druid blood in me for I just had to get out today on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice.  I struggled a wee bit up Castle Hill (read walked!) but got into some sort of flow again once I reached my old running track on the flatter top. 

My running track  (Click to enlarge pictures)

 I just had to stop and take a photograph, it felt so good to be back again, running on top of my little world, even in cloud and a nithering wind.  I could hear music playing and drums beating and I felt they were playing just for me, a welcoming back from that dark world I'd been living in for the past few months. 

Approaching the tower

 A little thrill was rippling through me as I approached Victoria Tower.  The folk group, Thieving Magpie, were going through their exuberant paces on the grass in time to the music of half a dozen darkly dressed instrumentalists. 

Thieving Magpie performing

There was shouting and clacking of sticks as they went about their merry dance. It'a shame the sun didn't join in the celebration. peeping over the horizon to light up the fun and proclaim that we were hopefully going to see a lot more of it in 2020

I jogged home through muddy fields, shouting 'hello you lot' to the horses I mentioned in yesterday's post.

This animal was happy,

very happy.

I'n not done yet.....

I went for a run today, or rather I jogged across waterlogged fields, along a lane that resembled a muddy river before saying hello to a posse of mainly skewbald horses on the steep part of Castle Hill.  

Oh, and it was raining.  

 It was my first run for 88 days and in spite of inclement weather it felt so good to don my studs in the early morning and to feel wind and rain on my face again.  After the big C and drastic treatment, it had seemed doubtful whether I'd ever run again.

Friendly horses on Castle Hill  (Click to enlarge picture)

 I'd set my mind on December 21st because at each Solstice a Folk Group, Thieving Magpie, dance on Castle Hill to greet the sun on the longest or shortest day.  But they weren't there today, I assume because Winter Solstice this year occurs on the 22nd!  

I'll probably go again tomorrow.

Besides all the rain we've had some mixed weather in the Dales.

We've had mist, making it feel quite atmospheric,

a blanket of snow 

and occasionally a beautiful sunrise,

but unfortunately I've felt too knackered to enjoy it.  

Perhaps that will change over Christmas and New Year when Old Runningfox will attempt to acquaint himself with local trails again.

Dreams...

Running is currently out of the question, which is hard to take.  It's what I enjoy most, the only thing I'm any good at.  It gives me a time from the world, from Brexit, a time to float along, a free spirit, to forget my age, escape reality, to run for sheer enjoyment with no thought of time nor distance or training schedules. 

 To 'just do it'.

Reduced to walking - temporarily, I hope    (click to enlarge)

An inspirational  C. S. Lewis quote says "You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream" and I wondered just how old he was when he said it?   Well, he died when he was 64 so I don't know whether he'd still say that if he'd lived to 87?

Which just happens to be my age.

I still have dreams, especially after a glass or two of wine,  but at my time of life it's increasingly unlikely they'll  become reality.   Nevertheless, I remain optimistic, always believing that fate, or God, still has something good in store for me, but what it can possibly be will remain a mystery until it happens.  

I like surprises....

Back to magnificent Menorca......

We've just had another glorious holiday in one of our favourite corners of the planet, the beautiful island of Menorca, but we almost didn't make it. The week before we were due to fly I'd gone into hospital for a biopsy and the bl--dy doctors wouldn't let me out.  They wanted to cut a hole in my side and stick a cathether through, presumably with a tap on it, to enable me to pass water from my bunged up kidney.  I refused to let them.  A 'bag' was mentioned too.  They could get lost!  I'd look well running or swimming with such impedimenta trailing beside me.    After four sleepless nights, due to constant noise and glaring lights, I was knackered.

"If you don't let me out tomorrow, I'll discharge myself" I told them.

Reluctantly, they allowed me home next morning, four days before our holiday was due to begin.

Our hotel with its feet in the sea    (Click to enlarge pictures)

Check-ins and flights both in and out were OK but we'd the usual long wait for our baggage at Manchester on return.

Sunrise run to the Tower

As on previous occasions we stayed at 'The Xuroy', a wonderfully situated hotel that sits with its feet in the water and gives access to the Cami de Cavalls (the way of horses), a well marked trail that goes all round the island.

The festival begins

After a pre-breakfast run to the Tower and back on our second day we took the bus to Sant Louis to watch the festival of horses.

Clever lady

Tons of sand are spread on the street where the action takes place to make it safer for the rearing horses.

A dangerous game

In the limited space in front of the band-stand, where all the dignitaries sit, crowds of people gather, some of them to tap the wheeling steeds as they rear into the air.

I gave that a miss...

It's a dangerous game and we heard one or two ambulances tearing through the streets.  I wasn't trying to 'prove' myself but still got a knock from one of the horses, but nothing serious.

One of the many cooling swims

We returned to our hotel for lunch before going down to the pool for a gentle swim to cool off from the scorching 86º heat.

Feral cats

We ran to Rafalet Vell in search of wild tortoises but saw nary a one.  What we did see was the group of feral cats which were a little tamer this year than last time we came across them.

Two of the 7 or 8 feral cats

Some kind person feeds them every day and they all look in tip top condition.

Swimming at sunrise, Cala Rafalet

On another day we embarked on a five mile run incorporating a wild swim at Cala Rafalet.

Sunlight on the rocks, Cala Rafalet

It's a rocky inlet of deep water between high cliffs and we got there just as the sun was rising at the entrance between the rocks.  Magic.

S'Algar

We ran back to our hotel via S'Algar where sunbathers were just beginning to emerge.  Our breakfast wasn't untill 8.30

Enjoying a coffee at the bakery.

After breakfast we got into the habit of visiting the bakery at S'Algar, mainly for bread, but also to enjoy a cappuccino before walking the mile back to our hotel.

A sunrise view as we ran North to Son Vidal

All our runs were pre-breakfast so we were treated to some dramatic skies as we ran West or North along the Cami de Cavalls.

No place for road runners..

Wherever we ran, it was rough going and we'd to be extremely careful not to trip up..

...but OK for hardened fell runners

Remarkably, with my failing eyesight, I never had a fall.

Inside the 'Oliver House'

 My wonderful partner visited Mahon alone one day, mainly to look around the 'Oliver House' which was open to the public.

View over the rooftops in Mahon

The Inter Island ferry was in the harbour

So was a three masted sailing ship.

A 'long thing' to sit on -  at Es Grau

We'd a walk round the nature reserve at Es Grau one day but all the natural phenomena seemed to be hiding, or sheltering from the heat.

No tortoise or raptors, but some big fish in the lake and a heron on the lookout for smaller ones.

RIP Happy Hour

 We were rather upset to find that 'Happy Hour' on the terrace, which always began at the beginning of September has been moved to October!  Who the hell goes in October?

Still happy - in spite of no Happy Hour

But we still went down at the appointed hour to enjoy the view and the ambience.

Waiting for a last meal before flying home

Traditionally, on our last day we'd a relaxed lunch at the fine Piccolo Mundo restaurant to round off our holiday.  Hours later we were flying home
It was another wonderful holiday.  Doctors can cut and zap me as much as they want now - so long as they get me running again.
But it could be a while.