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BB1942
: End of Year Report
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Saturday
28th December 2019
Another
year of keeping the relentless,
remorseless old foe at bay is
now almost complete. How
have we fared? Well, today’s
outing was a minor triumph.
The forecast of a few
days back proved wrong (again)
and it turned out to be dry
if somewhat atmospherically
gloomy. Not a day for
the high or boggy fells but
ideal for an end of year scamper
on limestone.
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Our
objective was The Derby Arms at Witherslack
but although we parked only a hundred yards
away, we had to earn the right to enter
and that meant walking first to Lord’s Seat
on Whitbarrow Scar, there to meet, we hoped,
with Martin C and Stuart who would approach
from the north end.
It
was good to have Ian back with us from the
deep south (well, Cheshire, actually) for
his seasonal outing, along with son George.
Martin S was also accompanied by his
son, Jamie. Mike, Philip, Terry and
I completed the southern team.
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We
managed to pass the front door of the pub
without cheating and made our way over to
the woods at the foot of the scar.
Here
we had a setback. The path shown on
the map didn’t seem to exist on the ground.
There were stern signs warning us
off. After a bit of consultation with
competing mapping apps that didn’t agree
on where we were, we climbed a steep, wooded
banking and over onto the huge slab that
is the old quarry floor.
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In
reality this was a more interesting way
to the top (and not as greasy as I feared)
but it did put us behind schedule for meeting
at the appointed time. At the top
of the quarry slope we joined the “proper”
path up and onto the scar. The distant
views were mistily atmospheric. We
might have been in anticyclonic gloom but
it didn’t feel gloomy.
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In
the distance we could see Martin and Stuart
waiting for us at the Lord’s Seat cairn.
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We
stopped there for a light bite. Martin
C tried to ply us with seasonal whisky.
Having
failed in his attempt to get us all drunk,
he waved us farewell and returned to the
north. We, now accompanied by Stuart,
descended by the somewhat slippery, steep
path down to the Witherslack naughty boys
school.
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Our
route to our final objective was via the
bridle path that leads over Yewbarrow and
down to the Derby Arms for the traditional
walk and year ending activity.
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So
that concludes the BOOTboys
year. How have we fared compared with
those previous? Well, at the
end of this report, the nerds amongst you
can examine the stats compiled by this nerd.
For the moment, suffice it to say
that it has been a very enjoyable year both
socially and in terms of activity but, if
those of us who have it in mind to achieve
the objective of completing our Wainwright
rounds, in 2020 we must try harder!
Let
me finish by thanking all the Comitibi for
their comradeship throughout 2019 and to
wish all our Followers a very Happy New
Year.
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And
to get it off to a jovial start,
here is a caption competition
for you.
Mike
managed to capture me in a rather
strange position.
A
modest prize awaits the person
who submits the most amusing
caption.
Entries
by Sunday 5th January 2020 please.
Don,
Saturday 28th December 2019
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Stats
for the Nerds:
The
total number of qualifying events was 42,
just above average, and the number of participants
was 24, which is at the upper end of the
scale, as was the average turnout per outing
(4.9). That’s the good news.
The
less impressive stat is that our total feet
climbed, 83,089, was rather poor (albeit
better than 2018) and the average (1,978)
represents the first drop below the 2,000
mark since 2013. However the average
distance (9.5 miles) was only a little behind
and the total mileage (397) a fraction ahead
of the long term figure.
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BOOTboys
If you want to follow
The
BOOTboys
let us know and
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automatic notification
of new BOOTboys reports
Click on
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BOOTboys
are
now on Facebook
For
the Index pages
of our various outings
click
on the relevant
link below:
If
you want to know which BOOTboys reports
refer to having visited any particular Wainwright or
certain other tops, see BOOTboys Hill Log
Warning- it might not be
fully up-to-date!
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