Fell run/Fathers' Day

I went out on the Barbon run, this morning, figuring that the path beneath Barbon Manor must be open by now. Running along the south side of Barbondale I passed a woman walking her dogs who thought it was still closed off but I decided I'd give it a try, regardless.

Crossing over the bridge, I started running back west and came to the first gate where a sign had evidently been pinned but come away. I found it, off to one side, on the ground. It said that the path was closed and showed an alternative route, which was an impractical solution involving a footpath passing far up the hill behind the manor. 

I pressed on and, after half a mile and a couple more gates, I encountered a couple walking their dogs. They confirmed that the path was closed; they'd walked along and come back. Oh well, I thought, it was worth a go, and I turned back towards the bridge. But as I reached the next gate, I saw a rough path leading uphill.

Now, I'm no fell runner. I'm too heavy for a start, plus I don't want to take the risks with my joints that I perceive would be all too likely to manifest themselves running downhill. Uphill, though, maybe that would be OK. I'm chuffed to report that I managed to run about two-thirds of the way up to the path; it was pretty steep! I walked the rest of the way up and then started running again once I was on the path. (I only realised quite how far I'd run uphill when I had to run down again.)

After all that effort I was delighted to pick up Dan and Abi for lunch at the Bridge Inn At Tatham; I was ravenous. They were both on fine form and had bought me some wonderful, thoughtful presents for Fathers' Day. But mostly it was about us having a good time and enjoying the food, which, at The Bridge Inn, is always good pub grub.

In the afternoon, I caught up with Milly (in Lincolnshire), and Izzy (in London, in transit between Rome and Sudan), which was lovely, too. And then, in my final Fathers' Day instalment, I went for dinner in Manchester with Charlie, Hannah, and the miniMinx, plus the Minx herself. We went to the Tiffin tearoom, where the food is fantastic, so I ended the day happy, feeling much-loved, and stuffed!

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-10.7 kgs
Reading: 'Pauline Boty: Pop Artist And Woman' by Sue Tate