17 April 2019

Moorland

Gordon Gout has crept back in his hole. He is definitely "one of them". I hope I don't see him again for many weeks. He is not welcome in this neck of the woods.

On Monday morning I was no longer limping so I thought I would treat myself to a little walk on the moors just south of Sheffield. 

I parked in a lay-by by the side of the B6054 road that links Fox House with Owler Bar. With boots on I set off. No need for a map as I know the paths up there very well. There was a chilly wind blustering down from the north so I was glad that I had donned my warm Hull City manager's coat.

After twenty minutes, I cut away from the moorland track and headed instead through heather and rough grasses to the ruined site of an old sheepfold. Two gateposts endure like a memorial to the decades of sheep farming that once played out upon that windswept moor.
Fifty yards away there's an old triangulation pillar - now no longer required for mapping or survey work. All over the island of Britain you will find such concrete pillars. With each year that passes their credentials as historical artefacts increase. Whenever I encounter one I like to capture it with my camera, like a grouse shooter bagging birds.

And then it was on to the big cairn on top of Brown Edge with excellent views of Sheffield and the city's southern suburbs. Two other men were up there. They were the best of friends and one of them was an Olympic standard talker. We chattered for a while in the wind before they skedaddled. Then I sat upon the little bench that has been wedged into the north side of the cairn and ate my apple watching meadow pipits and skylarks dancing on the north wind.

Take that Gordon Gout! - I muttered to myself as I strolled back to Clint who was dozing in the lay-by. (American: "turnout"/ "pullout")

19 comments:

  1. Things are sure rockin' by the looks of it!

    I'm glad your unwelcome, uninvited visitor Gordon Gout has left the building! Take care. :)

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    1. If I had rolled some rocks from the cairn I'd either be into rock n' roll or The Rolling Stones. Sleep well Lee!

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  2. I suspect Gordon gout is quaking in his boots now that you've sent him packing.
    Just a random thought, do you name everything?

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    1. Yes. The microwave is called Martin, the fridge is called Olaf, the television is called Terry and the bed is called Sabrina.

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  3. I used to stand on top of every trig point, but now only try only if there's no one else around as it's a bit of a struggle. As regards knowing the paths up there very well - oh yes - I once got lost in the fog on Kinder Scout because I thought I knew it very well. Ended up on Seal Edge.

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    1. Is Seal Edge another name for your bottom?... It's best to walk along the edges of The Kinder Plateau because the interior with its countless groughs and hags is (as I am sure you know) like another planet.

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    2. Walked west along The Edge looking for Fair Brook but missed it and kept going along - that's Seal Edge. Went a long way before realising. I like the top of the plateau as well. A favourite walk used to be to cross from Fair Brook to Kinder Downfall (no Satnav allowed, just a compass). It's even more difficult in the reverse direction. Posted about it ("Kinder Scout") about a year ago if anyone is interested.

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    3. Sorry - meant walked East.

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    4. Dear Mr Dunham,
      For an example of my visits to Kinder, see:-
      https://beefgravy.blogspot.com/2012/09/plateau.html

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    5. I've found my Kinder visit blog post now, if I may be so presumptious as to mention it on your blog (please remove if not)
      https://www.taskerdunham.com/2018/01/kinder-scout.html

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  4. A good long walk or hike to enjoy without the pains of gout - a perfect way to spend a spring day in Yorkshire.

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    1. Yes I was just in Yorkshire Meike but really close to the Derbyshire border.

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  5. So glad to hear Gordon has gone and may he never find his way back! I enjoyed your walk, as you know I love the old stones and markers that you encounter in your travels. I often will attempt to locate your walks on Google Earth(my method of travel) and I did find B6054 and Owler Bar but did not find the stone markers. It is surprising what you can find on Google Earth though.

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    1. I love Google Earth too and Google Streetview is also marvellous. You can travel much of the world without leaving your own house!

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  6. What is an Olympic standard talker?

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    1. It's just another way of saying he was a chatterbox.

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  7. Replies
    1. On a clear day, rise and look around you...
      On that clear day
      You can see forever, and ever, and ever
      And ever more

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