BB1116 : Extraordinary And Lesser Mortals

Wednesday 15th June 2011

One thing that separates the extraordinary from lesser mortals on the fells is their ability to complete the Bob Graham Round.  This was touched on in BB1115 and I am pleased to report that Stan's son, Martin, completed the 42 peak, 72 mile round last Saturday, thereby emulating the achievements of his father (and of Bryan).

Stan (you may remember that he and Bryan wanted an easy day out last week in anticipation) reports:

We both enjoyed the super conditions and views and it was great to be part of it.

Photos by tabarca32

Stan subsequently added:

There was a chap from Chesterfield who was effectively doing the round on his own, called Matt Beardshall, and he was adopted by all Martin's supporters and dragged round with Martin. In fact, he appears in the team photo on the last top, Robinson, to the left wearing a cap.  Similarly, see photo of him and his supporters nearing Robinson.  

It turns out that apart from being a fell runner he is also an author and Martin has read one of his books Coast to Coast.  In conversation he asked Martin if he had read his latest book, Run Like Hell and today Martin received a signed copy with a super inscription saying it was a pleasure and an honour to run with Martin and he was inspired by Martin's fitness and hopes they will keep in close contact.  Dallam have also had a super letter from Matt who says he has never known such support and the help and encouragement he received was overwhelming and he wants to become a member and run with the club.

Our expedition today pales into insignificance in comparison, even when one takes age and physical condition into account!  We all have had our physical problems recently (even Superstar Stan) and only this morning I woke early to a massive cramp in my left calf. Was it the product of the new pills on which I started two days ago and would it affect my performance?  Whatever, the outing planned was a modest round of the upper Kentmere valley to test out the progress of John PL's new(ish) knee.

It was not a nice morning.  Damp and drizzloid.  So-called Flaming June in its habitual guise.  Five of us travelled in John PL's car to park by the village hall in Kentmere. There was almost nowhere left to park.  Two minibusses had recently arrived; their identically dressed youths had dismounted and were being briefed in two groups about elementary map and compass work.  Were they borstal boys on a day out?

We set off up the western side of  upper Kentmere, passing the unusual cattle grid at Hartrigg, eventually reaching the mining buildings- Reservoir Cottages.  These had been recently renovated but there was no clue as to by whom or to what use they were being put.  All were tightly locked and shuttered.

 Kentmere Reservoir

At the reservoir, we split into two groups.  The two Johns and Roger made their way across the dam whilst Stan and I took the longer route around the reservoir.  This went well apart from us both getting wet feet when trying to cross the stream at the far end!

Roger, John and John cross the overflow

We regrouped at the quarry spoil site below the reservoir on the west side and here we had lunch and the team photo.  Across the valley was a larger spoil site and cave.

Across the valley

Thereafter it was a gentle stroll back down the valley to Kentmere and the car. JPL's knee seemed to bear up reasonably well.

Perusal of one of the minibusses suggested that the groups we had seen earlier were actually troops of either the Scots 1 or Prince of Wales 4.  New recruits, I hope, based on their unfamiliarity with maps!  I wouldn't like to think that the defence of the realm rested in their hands just yet!

Don, 15th June 2011

And now for a Big Josie item!

Before She Was Infamous?

Re your series on Big Josie, I am sure she, or her protégé, used to work as a barmaid in Manchester and particularly the Kersal Cell, which is in Salford.

She, or whoever, had exactly the same attributes during the late 60s. She was called Josie, too, and was generously proportioned.

Alan S, 15th June 2011

Was this Big Josie before she moved to Boot?
Is there more to this story yet?  
We are investigating!

STATISTICS:

BOOTboys routes ares now being put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading BB1116.

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see
Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights see: BB Log.

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Archive

2011 Outings

BB1101 :
Wasnfell Revisited
Tuseday 11th January

BB1102 :
Recuperation Scar!
Thursday 17th February

BB1103 :
A Promenade of Pensioners
Thursday 24th February

BB1104 :
The B Team
Thursday 3rd March

BB1105 :
A Little Bit Of Wind
Thursday 10th March

BB1106 :
A Linthwaite Round
Thursday 17th March

BB1107 :
Home From The Pulpit
Thursday 24th March

BB1108 :
Taking The Brunt
Thursday 31st March

BB1109 :
Up The Spout
Wednesday 6th April

BB1110 :
Not The Royal Wedding
Friday 29th April

BB1111 :
Kentmere Parts 1 & 2
Thurs 5th, Saturday 7th May

BB1112 :
Five Unknown Tarns
Wednesday 11th May

BB1113 :
Gurnal Dubbs Revisited
Thursday 19th May

BB1114 :
A March Through The Mist
Wednesday 1st June

BB1115 :
Brief Encounter
Wednesday 8th June

BB1116 :
Extraordinary and
Lesser Mortals
Wednesday 15th June

BB1117 :
Farewell David Daw
Wednesday 29th June

BB1118 :
West Side Story
Thursday 7th July 

 Click on the photos
for an enlargement
or related large picture.

 Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright
top was visited on which
BB outing see Which Wainwright When?.

To download a log of heights and miles and which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys
click on BB Log.