Sunday 1 April 2012

Allendale Challenge, pintails and a crane

YC was back for another crack at the Allendale Challenge yesterday. It's a 25 mile event around the moors of Allendale. After the recent dry spell, the Pennine bogs were a shadow of their usual selves and the running was fast. At least it should have been, but YC did not feel on "top form" and gradually wilted as the race went on. He finished in just over 4 hours (equalling last year's time) but ruing what "might have been". Still readers will be relieved to hear that he managed to slake the raging fellrunner's thirst with a half of Cold Fell IPA from Brampton Brewery in the Golden Lion afterwards, followed by a couple of Deuchars when he was back in Tynemouth - so he musn't grumble.

Today YC relaxed with some birdwatching on the Northumberland coast. He added a couple of ticks to his bird list - a pair of pintail ducks were at Druridge ponds, whilst a common crane was in the fields amongst some whooper swans at Warkworth Lane near Cresswell pond. And now the RBWT needs slaking...