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| Ready for the off. |
Sue’s knee just about gave out on the drop down from Minton, probably caused by a slippery descent of Corndon earlier in the night. She managed to stagger the final two miles from the top of Ragleth, including some stretches going backwards as that was the only way to get down; going up wasn’t a problem and it was one of the few occasions when we would have liked more uphill than downhill!
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| Heading for the start line. |
The event started off well and we were once again thankful for a dry forecast which turned out to be pretty accurate. We met fellow Madeira Walker David and his colleague Jane at the start and caught sight of a few other familiar faces.
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| Junior Staff Winner 2013! |
Francis stayed with us just for the first hill and then he was off. We next saw him as he was coming off the top of The Lawley (2.12pm) as he started to get into jogging stride.
Sue and I were keeping a few minutes ahead of last year’s pace when we got to High Park for our first brief food stop (3.18pm). The checkpoint was like a big party with hordes of wellwishers there to urge their loved ones on.
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| New life among the Long Mynd ponies. |
As we climbed up onto the Mynd we wondered where the ponies were until we caught sight of a group just off the path, including a very cute young foal which never left its mother’s side. Brief photo stop and then onward to Pole Bank. We kept pace with most of the groups going up the Mynd and arrived there at 4.15pm, again just a bit ahead of last year, and just behind David and Jane.
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| From Stiperstones towards Shepherd's Rock. |
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| Sun setting from Stiperstones. |
Habberley was the next brief stop to get re-watered at the pub’s handy outside tap as well as a toilet stop. We were a bit concerned about how muddy the path down the farm lane would be. Last year it had been covered with several inches of goo, but it wasn’t anything like as bad this time. While walking up the lane we heard a motorbike behind us. At first I thought ‘what on earth is someone doing scrambling while the track is full of hikers?’ In fact the rider was using his bike to round up some cows who had strayed onto the path ahead of us.
On the final approaches to the woods at Earl’s Hill we caught our first sight of Francis since The Lawley. He had been adopted by a group including Ann, Claire and Rob and seemed in pretty good shape. We had been a bit concerned because although he had done some recces with us, he probably wouldn’t have all of the route’s finer points in his head, and we were delighted he was with some experienced Hikers.
As we started the climb up to Earl’s Hill itself, Fran was finding the pace a bit tough and urged us to go on. There were plenty of people round at this stage, and although we felt a bit guilty leaving him, he wasn’t going to get lost and really needed to go at a steadier pace. We saw him again as were descending (8.05pm) and did everything we could to urge him on, saying we expected to see him at breakfast. (Checking the finisher’s list he did complete the Hike.)
When we arrived at Bank House Farm checkpoint (8.45pm) we met David and Jane again and agreed to group up with them. Neil, who had been waiting for a group, also joined us although he was obviously having a rough time and had to pull out at the next checkpoint at Shelve.
The walk to Shelve involves a fair bit on the road but it didn’t seem too bad and the starry night was really appreciated by Jane who doesn’t see quite as many stars at home in Richmond. When we took the path across fields from Tankerville, David had the first opportunity to demonstrate his careful preparation of compass bearings. He lead the way expertly to the road to Shelve, and we dutifully followed, along with two or three groups behind us.
Shelve checkpoint (10.55pm) was once again a great sight with a very warm welcome from the band of volunteers running it. Having lost Neil we set off as a foursome through the woodland path and then followed a group down to the road for White Grit. David had recce’d a different route along to Grit Farm, which may well be better - we’ll have to investigate that another time. The very generous residents of a bungalow at White Grit had left a box of mints out again for Hikers which was very welcome as we walked up the lane to Corndon. This hill always seems to be the toughest one; it’s the middle of the night and the climb is pretty steep and goes on for ages. It was also pretty slippery as the footholds were pure mud but we got to the top without too much difficulty (12.05am).
The descent was also very slippery as there was a strong dew by now. It is here that Sue felt the first twinge in her knee which was later to become a real problem. My headtorch battery also decided to give out on the descent. I had known that it keeps going out when it is dying and will come back on but not for very long, so I had to negotiate my way down with a few seconds of light every so often to check where the path was going. By the time I got near the bottom it had given up the ghost completely so I just stepped and hoped, and fortunately avoided going down any holes.
I did manage to fall as we left the next field however as I couldn’t see the step at all, but just a graze and nothing serious. We reached Woodgate Farm at 12.45pm and just after the checkpoint decided it was time for another layer; I had managed in a T shirt till then.
The path from Little Cefn Farm was as muddy as expected with the pig trough stile providing its usual fun. This was followed by the trek up the road past Nind, always a tough one but David and I managed to build up some speed to overtake a group in front, more to pass the time quicker than anything else as it helps to have a target on these long road sections.
Up and down Black Rhadley (2.23am) quickly and on to Stiperstones. Sue was feeling a bit jaded at this point, having turned up her nose at our vegetable pasty at the last checkpoint, but some emergency flapjack rations kept her going. David took us on his route round Nipstone which involved an impassable stile covered by a fallen tree but we got through it all ok.
Stiperstones car park (3.15am) is meant to be the checkpoint of death as people look longingly at the minibus outside which can speed them home to bed. Jane was suffering quite a bit by now with very sore feet, no blisters, but a lot of pain. She bravely agreed to continue and we headed off downhill to Bridges.
The section up to Coates and Medlicott is always my least favourite bit. It is a tough and seemingly endless climb up the track and road to Medlicott Cottage. I was lagging at this stage, but the final climb up through the heather is somehow better because at least you have to think more about where you are going. Once again David’s compass came to the fore as he guided us all to the trees at Pole Cottage with only a couple of brief heather-soaked interludes.
At Pole Cottage (5.15am), Jane decided she really could not continue. We had urged her to think about taking a break and possibly joining a later group instead of dropping our altogether. Pete, who was helping to run the checkpoint, gave her the same advice and was really encouraging so in the end, Jane agreed to take half an hour break first and see how she felt.
And now there were three.
We set off at a good pace towards Minton and almost missed the path because we got there so quick. All was well until we got over the top of the hill and started descending which is when Sue’s knee really began to hurt (6.20am). Exactly the same thing had happened to me, at precisely the same spot, three weeks before on a recce. I had in fact carried a knee brace with me on the Hike, but bizarrely neither Sue or I remembered we had this until we were almost finished, a pity because it might well have helped her along the last few miles.
We managed to make slowish progress on the lane down to Little Stretton and then on to the final hill, Ragleth when David got a text message from Jane saying she was ‘on the move again’ which was great news.
Sue was ok on the uphill bits so the hill itself was fine . At this point last year I had almost crawled up Ragleth but, whilst tired, I was in much better shape this year - those miles of fell running over the past year have certainly helped me on the uphill bits.
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| Dawn breaking over Wenlock Edge with a sea of mist in the valley below. |
Sue somehow managed to get down the hill, sometimes in reverse, and we got back to the school just in time to see David leave after his breakfast with Francis. What a relief to get back and enjoy the fantastic breakfast. We were really delighted to see Jane arrive about half an hour later to join us for breakfast.
The overriding memory of this year is once again the fantastic support that the Hikers get from all the volunteers at the checkpoints and the well-wishers along the way, as well as the camaraderie of fellow walkers. We had great company all along the route and special thanks to David and Jane for their companionship.
So what about next year? The words ‘never again’ have been uttered but maybe she will relent in time ...
