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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Miscellaneous > A Dales Odyssey |
A Dales Odyssey(or Fetch Watto's Birthday Cake)It seems such a long time ago - perhaps that's because it was. 8th September 2002 saw the annual SOC Marathon and what a series of adventures it was. The route was designed to visit interesting parts of the local dales, Arkengarth, Swale and Wensley and provide legs suitable for keen runners and enthusiastic non-runners. For the statisticians, the route totalled 109km in twelve legs with a total height gain of 1960m. Before the story, a big, big thank you to John Crofton of The Reeth Bakery for supplying the baton birthday cake and the fantastic cakes for the Relay supper. No less of a thank you to Norman Bell for the supply of pies, peas and tatties to fill all those empty tums. Thank you too for all those that ran on the day. The first leg began at 5-20am at Reeth Bakery. I cannot recommend highly enough starting at a bakery. Breakfast and cookies set off myself and John's daughters, Chloe and Emma in a combined cycle and running team carrying the birthday cake specifically designed for the task of being a relay baton. We emerged from the darkness of the early morning to meet Dave Thompson and Keith Bell at Eskelet Bridge. A brief rendition of Happy Birthday and blowing out of candles set them on their way. The pair disappeared into the dark only to reappear, twice, each time in a new direction. Eventually the correct path was found and they set off for Tan Hill via Punchard Gill Bridge. Heavy mist called on their experience, which was not found wanting on the open moors. So enjoyable was the run that they joined Steve Hirst, Linda Turnbull and Paul Emson for the run to Thwaite via Keld. As they disappeared into the misty moors, I returned to the delights of the bakery, not knowing what trials the run would bestow upon them. As I ate delicious chocolate cake, drank tea and enjoyed pleasant early morning conversation, Linda's foot missed the path and she tumbled uncontrollably down the bank far from civilisation. A badly grazed knee was the heroic mark of this early morning relay runner. The fresher runners forged ahead of the earlier pair to maintain the relay timing. Suddenly Keith was alone. Dave had disappeared down a shake hole jarring his back. Years of climbing experience got Dave out of the waist deep hole and the pair battled on to Keld. Misunderstanding met us at Thwaite - no runners! A stand-in would be required for the toughest leg of the day. Cometh the day, cometh the man. With 13km already behind him, Paul stepped forward and I agreed to accompany him. Linda kindly volunteered return transport from Hardraw. My legs wobbled from a long birthday run the day before, but Paul kindly ignored the moaning that got me to the top of Shunner Fell. A glorious 10km of downhill running was our reward and we arrived in Hardraw ahead of schedule. Neil Reed and Jean are organised people. They had checked their route the previous week and had their misadventure early. A savage labrador had taken a dislike to the pair and then bit Jean through her tracksters and drew blood from her upper thigh. This time, Neil was prepared with a riding crop for the relay but was it for a) beating off Labradors, b) beating irresponsible dog owners, c) encouraging Jean to keep up. No wild dogs were encountered and the cake continued from Askrigg to Ivelet Bridge in the safe hands of Liz Sowter. Pat Watson took over and ran to Isles Bridge - an act of faith as the only person who knew of it reckoned it might have been washed away. Trevor Cousins and Kirstine Da had recovered from their sailing exploits earlier in the year and took the cake onwards to the Bolton Castle car park at Castle Bolton. Trevor and Kirstine met Paul Brooks and Alison Adams exactly to schedule- could it be that the Relay would finish to schedule for the first time ever! The route from Castle Bolton to Downholme had been the subject of much discussion. Tracks were shown for most of the way and reports of path closures remained unconfirmed. However, we were confident that these minor points would be no hindrance for the determined and resourceful pairing of Brooks and Adams. As expected, there was soon no path but there was chest high heather. What hadn't been anticipated during planning was a quarry across the footpath. 60 feet the pair descended risking all for the relay. 60 feet the pair ascended to clamber precariously from this man-made obstacle. Staggering from the quarry the pair were greeted by more chest high heather. The evening twilight gathered while we waited patiently at Downholme to commence the last leg to the Clubhouse. A dishevelled pair arrived 45 minutes behind schedule - thereby ensuring the tradition of the late Relay finish. Richard Wormald, Vic Parkinson and that man Paul (again!) took up the cake and made good time to Richmond. At the Clubhouse I was presently surprised by the presentation of a birthday cake, hand delivered by my friends at SOC. I was even more surprised that it was pretty much in the same condition as when it started despite so many sweaty Herberts grappling with it. Pies, tatties and peas (kindly supplied by Norman Bell) greeted the new arrivals and earlier runners. Exceptional birthday cake, carrot cake and vegan chocolate cake (courtesy of John of The Reeth Bakery) were consumed with great enthusiasm, while stories of great adventures were shared amongst the heroes of the day. Andy Watson |