TGO Challenge Planning, Cycling...more TGO Challenge Planning!

With the news last Friday that I'd been promoted from the standby list to gaining an entry to the TGO Challenge. It's been a long wait since the disappointment when I found I hadn't made the initial draw, of course some poor soul has had to withdraw...so the news is tinged with sadness.

Planning tools!!
Check out the age of that Glen Carron map...tight old git!!

I'd planned a route last year before the bad news, so today really was only tweaking, filling in the requisite forms and booking accommodation. So that's all done and the paperwork is away in the ether to "Chez Manning"

As the weather had improved  I decided to get a ride in on the bike.
A quick ride to the coast at Arnside, the sun even shone...but my word the wind was strong!!

The Langdale Pikes

Not quite the weather that was promised in the Central Lakes today unfortunately. But I enjoyed the day all the same, the tops were covered by low cloud/mist at various times whilst I was out. The wind was bitingly cold, not a day for hanging around! There are rather a lot of photos in this post......sorry about that!

There was very few cars in the New Dungeon Ghyll car park, (it is midweek I suppose). I walked beside Stickle Ghyll, pausing here on the bridge to admire the view up towards Stickle Tarn

Once above the plantation the path in the picture above leaves the main track. There's no cairn, nor should there be! I will remove a cairn if one appears!!
This is the connoisseur's route to Stickle Tarn.

Once at Stickle Tarn, Pavey Ark fills the scene to the North, Sergeant Man peeping over it's East ridge.

Harrison Stickle.

The cold night had caught Stickle Tarn, there was a slight skim of ice as I walked round to reach the foot of Pavey Ark

The weather was starting to change now, there would be very little blue sky after this.
Anyway here we look back across Stickle Tarn to Harrison Stickle

Here from the summit of Pavey Ark we look across to Sergeant Man, just catching some sun.

There was quite a bit of snow as I contoured round to Harrison Stickle. It had a lovely thick crust on it though,  nice easy going.

Not a day to linger as I said earlier, back to the col before descending to cross the head of Dungeon Ghyll.
Loft Crag on the left and the cone of Pike O'Stickle on the right.

The sun was trying its best as I crossed  above the gully containing the "Stone Axe Factory".
For those interested in such trivia, this was the venue for an early extreme sport....the freestyle skier Jess Stock skied this gully in the mid seventies...in Summer, NO snow!!

The last few metres to the summit of Pike O'Stickle required a bit of care the hard frozen snow a little tricky.
This view was the reward, looking back to Harrison Stickle on the left, and my final  "Pike" today Loft Crag on the right.

Looking back to Pike O'Stickle, from Loft Crag. The peak in the distance with the sunlight on is Great Gable.

Back in the valley all was green, and overcast.

The footwear choice of the day, an old pair of Scarpa's no Goretex lining in these fella's. And all the better for it.
Dry warm feet all day, great edge grip, and when I want gaiter's, my Yeti's fit these.
I think there about 20 years old, they only get used when I think fellshoes would be inappropriate.
They do look like they would appreciate some Nikwax!

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride to Fox's Pulpit

It's been quite a while since I've been out with the Rough Stuff Fellowship. Today's ride started in Kirkby Lonsdale, there was 7 of us out for the ride a good turnout. Especially so considering the driech morning! We headed off in a generally Northwards direction, our destination....Fox's Pulpit.

The first bridleway  brought us to Mansergh, and John a puncture. Here we see a classic image of  5 of us giving the unfortunate afflicted with "well meaning advice"!

We followed the Old Scotch Road, Turning to the East once past Firbank Fell to reach Fox's Pulpit. Here we had lunch, and in my opinion it was bloody perishing!

Fastened to the crag commemorating the spot where George Fox preached.  As I understand it this place was chosen to avoid persecution, and of course George Fox went on to help found the Quaker movement.

Having retrased our steps a little we descended into the Lune valley on a steep bridleway to Oakbank. Then minoe roads and wet lanes brought us to Rigmaden and the bridge over the River Lune. Her we're looking North to The Howgills still shrouded in cloud.

Here we see an example of the glutinous mud on Nicks bike. This was only a short lane....I chose to go round, my feet were wet and cold enough already.

After a brew in the cafe/shop in Barbon we made our way back to the cars at Kirkby Lonsdale. The sun made an appearance between the showers, the low light showing off these twisted old Oaks.

Priory Point and Conishead Priory

Its been a while since we've been down on the Furness peninsula, so today we parked near Bardsea and explored the coast and Priory towards Ulverston. There was a stiff wind blowing on the shore, not a day for hanging around. Although the amazing woodland round the priory was nicely sheltered!

The path has been destroyed in several places, signs of the recent storms and high tides. The power of the sea all to evident on this stretch, the large lump of concrete and stone almost 2 metres square.

Conishead Priory, its had a chequered history. But now in the caring hands of the Buddhist community, it has an air of tranquillity about it...well worth a visit when the Lakes are wet and miserable.

This is the Buddist Temple built in the old kitchen garden, it has within it the largest bronze Buddha in the West. Again well worth a visit.....in my humble opinion!

The woodland between the priory and the coast has a  peaceful air to it, and today offered shelter from the biting wind.  The copious rain we've experienced over the past few weeks meant that several areas were flooded with superb reflections.

Once back on the coast the tide had receded, the views across the bay were extensive. A short walk from here and we were back at the car....a great day.

Farleton Knott

After the cycle ride this morning and a spot of lunch I had a quick walk up my local hill, Farleton Knott. The wind had got up and was bitter, sadly the usually excellent views to the Dales, Howgills and Lakes were blotted out by the distant low cloud.

Once out on the fell proper, you're exposed to the wind...no guesses which way the prevailing wind blows.

There are a number of Limestone pinnicle's below the low limestone crags hereabouts. 

This is the upper path, not at all as precipitous as it looks!

One of the many gnarled old Hawthorn trees below the main crag.

Manflu Gone?...First cycle ride of 2014.

With the roadbike sold I've modified my old Cannondale M2000 MTB for use on the road until the new steed arrives in mid/late Feb. So this morning unsure of my breathing and over 3 weeks since I last rode a bike I decided on a trip to the seaside!

Having ridden round the lanes through Burton-in-Kendal, Priest Hutton and Warton I rode down to Jenny Browns Point near Silverdale. Nice and quiet down this cul-de-sac.....lots of signs tho!

From Jenny Browns point there's a cracking view back across the marshes to Warton Crag

All was serene at Arnside, compared to the recent stormy visits I've made lately. The cloud was building up over the lakes as the morning went on.

No raging bore today....the tide will creep in quietly.

The Arnside Bore!

Today's short walk was the first time out (other than work) this year. I've had a healthy (or should that be unhealthy) dose of manflu over the past week so this was enough today! Anyway the main reason to be in Arnside was to witness the tidal bore. The high tide combined with the Rivers Kent and Bela running high with floodwater meant we should see the bore at its most impressive.

The Railway viaduct at Arnside, the tide out ...and what a dull old day it was.

The tide rushing in...no wind involved here, purely tide v river.
The power of the incoming tide is very difficult to convey in a photo.....you'll have to take my word for it!

The water rises by approx 4 metres in half an hour, the shore path floods, so we had to make a detour through Grubbins Wood to New Barns Bay. This was far enough for me today, and with the promised rain arriving we walked back along Redhills Road to the village and the car.