Recycled and Shining Cliff Fell Race

Thorpe Cloud and the Stepping Stones

Four years ago, on the 23rd of April we picked  up a 10 month old, black and white whirlwind, from Just For Dogs . With him being an unwanted stray we decided to call the 'whirlwind' Billy, as in Billy no mates.

To celebrate his Billy-day all three of us headed up to Dovedale.

Bloody graffiti artists. Is nowhere safe from their etchings and lithographs? 

It turned out to be an open air art exhibition with pictures placed in the landscape that inspired them. 

Unimpressed by his brush with culture, Billy enjoyed himself all the same. A river and a stick, who needs art.



Sunday I managed to squeeze in a local race. The Shining Cliff Woods Fell Race. Organised by David Denton, this six and a half mile(10k) two lap race is unusual  in that it heads off downhill first.

The Bear Inn & Hotel(space for compass bearing/bear inn pun..........) at Alderwasley, kindly allowed us scruffy fell runners to use it as race HQ. A field to park in and a pub that serves good food and real ale, cool! I didn't have time for a pint but have eaten there before and can recommend the food and drink.

After a separate shorter race for the kids, we  headed off down the side of the Derwent Valley. All went well until near the finish. Three of us Bill, Steve and myself  were trotting along together when someone said "shall we make it a race? "The mad dash for 71st place was on.

If you have ever seen the film Chariots of Fire the one with slo mo shots and jangly, atmospheric Vangelis soundtrack. Well!.... it was nothing at all like that.  I made I right fool of myself with comedy running, gurning, and wheezing, I finally got to the finish,  started dry retching and almost hurled.

 Not the done thing when the winner Joshua Bull, had already finished 20 minutes earlier. Good fun though ;)

Many thanks to David Denton and all those who helped out.