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BB1212
: A QuadErratic Equation
Thursday
28th March 2012
A
silly joke for those who remember their school mathematics:
Four
BOOTboys
found the wrong solution to the Norber problem.
It
was a QuadErratic Equation!
If
you have forgotten your maths lessons and need a reminder
of the root of the joke,
see Quadratic
Equation.
Does
that bring back any memories?
A
QuadErratic Equation, on the other hand, is just
plain wrong!
For
the benefit of those who have forgotten the meaning
of the geological term Erratic, it refers to piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests
Had
there been four of us (i.e. quad) to solve the location
of the Norber Erratics, something which the seven of
us failed to do on our last attempt (see BB1134),
the term "Quaderratic Equation" might have
made tenuous sense. But Stan dropped out, leaving just
three of us.
Hence
yet again, a QuadErratic Equation is just plain wrong.
Somehow
Trierratic doesn't quite work, does it ?? !!!
But
having written the opening before the event, it had
to be woven into the story!
Of
today's team ( or should I say class? ), I was the only
member of the previous Comitibus. Bryan and Tony were
untarnished by the failure.
It
was funny how Tony and I managed to persuade Bryan (today's
chauffeur) that the best parking place at Austwick was
outside the Game Cock Inn. Not that we had an
ulterior motive, you will understand, as we fully expected
it to be closed by the time we returned.
It
promised to be a fine spring day as we set off past
the old boy reading his paper in the sunshine. In
this lovely village, even the hay barns are superior
stone built buildings!
Robin
Proctor's Scar
Where
we went wrong last time on Robin Proctor's Scar, and
I regret that I was largely to blame, was that we went
too far west and too high too quickly and thereby completely
missed the Norber
Erratics.
This
time, no mistake was made and we found ourselves in
a field of large boulders.
Bryan
explained which of them were erratics, pointing out
that they are made of sandstone and were carried down
Crummock Dale as the ice age glacier retreated, bringing
them to rest in limestone country. Over the years,
the earth washed away leaving many erratics standing
on limestone pedestals.
Comitibus
: Norber
Erratics
After
a lengthy inspection of several specimens, we continued
up the hill, taking lunch (and in Tony's case, a snooze)
on Long Scar. It was such a nice day we festered
for the best part of an hour.
Ingleborough
across Long Scar
Comitibus
: Long
Scar
Rested
and replenished, we continued past the lower Moughton
Scar (along the top of which we had travelled last time)
and around the top of the upper scar, eventually turning
south to descend to the path down to the valley.
Moughton
Scar, Pen-y-Ghent behind, left
Moughton
Scar, Ingleborough behind
On
the way we passed some droppings from some remarkably
large animal. Or maybe a dinosaur? At the
other end of the scale was a tiny ladybird. A
dollybird?
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Dinosaur
dung?
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Dollybird?
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More
limestone pavement, this time with shooting hides on
Moughton Scar
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The
descent from Maughton Scar
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The
temple gateway guardian
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There
was a bizarre rock formation to be seen, reminiscent
of a deity carved out of rock outside some far eastern
jungle temple. Or perhaps the guardian of a pyramid?
Looking
across Moughton Scar
Tony's
renovation project
Shortly
before reaching the road, we discovered a small metal
plate in the ground with the inscription HAMBARKER
& Co LTD WESTMINSTER.
It seems to be some sort of stop tap cover.
Back
in the village, the old boy was still sat in his doorway,
newspaper finished and, he claimed, three books. Three
pints more likely! Talking of which, to our surprise,
the Game Cock was still open so it would have been discourteous
not to have paid our respects.
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Ham
Barker & Co Westminster
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The
dedicated friendly staff
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The
pub lived up to its promotional boast about "dedicated
friendly staff".
The
visit gave rise to a new mathematical puzzle. If
Tony can drink three pints in three minutes, how many
pints can three BOOTboys consume
in one hour?
The
answer remains a closely guarded secret but I am pleased
to report that we travelled home safely, in glorious
sunshine, having successfully solved all posed equations.
Don,
29th March 2012
Light
thrown on (and by) the Tank
It
shows my ignorance. I assumed that the reference
to canal
defence light tank in
BB1211
was
to a an armoured vehicle that did not weigh very
much!
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A
Canal Defence Light Tank
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John
L, however, was more enlightened (!) and
realised that it was a tank with a canal
defence light.
He
referred the Brougham Hall commorative plaque
which commemorated
"the
then top secret canal defence light tank
project"
to
a former colleague of ours, the remarkable
Dr Phil Judkins, amongst whose many talents
is an expert knowledge of World War II technologies.
Not
unexpectedly, Phil was able to throw much
light (!) on the project. To find
out more, see Canal
Defence Light Tank.
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STATISTICS:
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BB1212
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Thursday
28th March 2012
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| Distance
in miles:
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8.8
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| Height
climbed in feet:
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1,314
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| Wainwrights :
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-
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| Other
Features:
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Norber
Erratics
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| Comitibus:
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Bryan,
Don, Tony
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BOOTboys
routes ares put online in gpx format which
should work with most mapping software. You can follow
our route in detail by downloading BB1212.
To
see which Wainwright top (excluding Outlying Fells)
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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