A snowy adventure

Although it was snowing a bit at home it was also very windy and rainy and pretty yuck. Ali had a 6.5 mile run on her training plan (she's entered a marathon) so I suggested heading up to the edges to see if we could find snow. We all donned waterproofs and packed spare layers (the dogs go got me to carry theirs) and headed out along the river. It was pretty horrid weather but good to be out together. As we started climbing we started to find white stuff. George had a good woogle and we all got excited. Along the edges we were back into the wind and as soon as we started dropping down there was no more snow.

We finished the run at the pub, stripped off our wet layers and had pizza for tea before walking the last bit home. A fab 7 mile adventure from the front door.

First snow of the winter.

Although they had been talking about the possibility of snow this weekend when I went to bed last night the forecast was showing rain and it didn't look like it was likely to snow. But this morning there was a layer of the white stuff. It was crispy icy stuff as oppose to the nice white fluffy stuff, but it's still snow!

Ali had to go into work so she dropped me and boys off partway there to run home. Well I say run there was a lot of walking and mincing over the icy sections by me. Through Eyam I really could have done my yak traxs, but somehow I did stay upright!

Only 4.5miles but it was a stunning 4.5miles.

More Birthday Snow

This time the snow came for my birthday and there was a lot of it. Watching it fall last night cars were struggling up our road, a major road out of Bolton! This morning the road had obviously been ploughed but at least 8inches had fallen. Ali is down at her mum's so any adventure was on my own. I decided to run up to Affetside.

The first bit through the Golf Course and then Jumbles there were people about. But once I started up the hill I had virgin snow. Not that there was much running, deep snow and running is hard!

At the top I headed down the way I couldn't find going up the other week, soon the snow was knee deep. It was great fun trying to run!

7.5miles in total and out for over two hours! Hoping legs aren't too sore tomorrow as I have a ride planed.

A Sledging Adventure

The last day found us heading up into the hills again, first stop was to drop a travelbug off to start its travels, part of Ali's birthday presents. There was a travelbug hotel up there so lots of room in the cache and it seems well looked after. Now to see where it goes travelling.

After that is was to the last stop on the metro to hire sledges. The run goes from the top down to another station, following the old bobsleigh track apparently. First run down and I got the hang of steering, stopping not to much, Ali told me to use my feet! At the bottom you get the metro back up and repeat! As the day progressed I got better at crashing, a wall, various snow drifts and a tree all proving hard to avoid. Ali obviously had enough of crashing on the cross-country skiing day and just laughed at me.

Lots more I could do here but I'm off back to Englandshire on Wednesday, Ali gets an extra day before heading off on another adventure!

Biathlon

Last day of watching the biathlon today with the Mass Start. Both races were so exciting, the lead changed all the time after each shoot. The sprint finish in the women's for 2nd was amazing! I have a long way to go before I can get up a hill that steep no matter sprint past someone else, guess I need to move somewhere snowy to practice. The mens was equally exciting, the top two in the world going clear after the first shoot, then having to do penalty loops after the second shoot so slipping down the order.
I was really wrapped up against the cold with both my warmest snowboard jacket on and my down jacket, as well as two base layers and two long sleeve bike jersey/jackets. After my feet getting so cold I couldn't feel them yesterday I realised my boots are not really big enough so I wore my minxgirl merino socks, they are thin but warmer than most. It worked as although my feet were cold they were nowhere near as bad as yesterday.
It also snowed all day while we were watching the biathlon, ideal for playing in tomorrow. Since Ali is still sore from cross-country so we'll probably go snowboarding, especially if there is more snow overnight. Will have to wrap up warm again as chair lifts will be very cold!

Cross Country Skiing

It's something I've always fancied trying but never wanted to waste snow time. Ali also wanted to try it so we decided this was the ideal time to try it. We headed up to Oslo Vinter Park to find out about hiring equipement and a lesson. Next thing we know we're all kitted up and an instructor was putting us through our paces on a children's track. The first bit of downhill and we both crashed. Turns out it involves a bit of co-ordination and its not as simple as walking on skis. After a few laps I started to feel like I was gliding, in reality I probably still looked rubbish. The downhill still seemed too difficult, the instructor kindly blamed the skis.

All too soon our hour was up and we were left to our own devices. Lunch in the woods and some more laps on our baby track, this time going the opposite way round. This worked for me as no scary downhill (it was all of a metre long) but Ali found the uphill a little difficult, I herringboned my way up, she slid down the hill on her face. Still it was time to branch out so we went to find some real tracks. First attempt and we realised that we were off-piste, second attempt was lovely till we hit the snowpark. Third time and it started great, then it went downhill. Ali kept trying to snowplough down, crashing mainly to her left. I took the wimps option and sidestepped down. We got down to a metro (the underground although out in the hills its an overground) and Ali got on the train and I headed back up the hill. Turns out we had done a huge (we covered at least 3miles) circuit and the way back was a lot shorter, I recognised the track we had come down and headed up. Getting to the top there was no Ali so I assumed she was waiting for the bus so I got a lovely hot chocolate and waited and waited.... Eventually she bounded across the carpark with some snowboarders in tow. The bus had broken down so she had had to walk. Her easy way back was probably longer and harder than my ski up the hill.

Turns out cross-country skiing is loads of fun as long as you are not going downhill! Or I just need a lot of practice!

Another walk in the snow

I could have stayed in the house all day yesterday but Ali rightly pointed out that we shouldn't waste the snow. So we headed out for a short walk, it was lovely and we are lucky to have somewhere we can walk from our house. There is no sign of it melting, but no sign of any new stuff either.

A walk with the boys

I've been over to see my friend Ros and her twin boys a couple of times recently. They are now 10weeks old and completely adorable! Yesterday we took them out for a walk in the snow. I'm assuming they enjoyed it as the minute we left the house they went straight to sleep!

It was hard going in the snow with the extra weight.

But the boys got their first fresh tracks.

A snowy adventure

This year when the snow came Bolton missed out, we had a whole inch that just turned into ice. This made Ali every unhappy as everywhere else seemed to have snow. Things change though and I got home on Friday night with tales of fresh tracks and snow falling, an excited Ali crossed her fingers and went to bed, The next day and we had a good six inches of white fluffy stuff. So we had to go out and play. Nothing too tiring as Ali has been ill all week. So we decided to ride over to our friend Ros to see her and her babies.

We wrapped up warm and headed out over to Smithills. It was a winter wonderland and at this point we were mainly riding. Although forward motion was hard work!

Over to Barrow Bridge to head up the bridleway to Scout Road, I was expecting this to be a push. It turned out it was easier to carry, so we swapped bikes (mine being lighter) and headed up.

A rest stop partway up looking back towards Bolton and thinking how pretty everything is in the snow.

We (being Ali) also made the now obligatory snow angels - yes one face first one the usual way.

Then all that was left to do was slide our way down the hill to the twins house.

More snow!

Woke up again to more snow so I was glad I had taken Simon up on his idea of a mountain bike ride as the other two options had been road rides. I woke up silly early after a bad nights sleep to snow. Lots and lots of snow, although not as much as our tuesday powder day in the Bolton Alps. A plan was made and I set out a little later than planned to get to Pigeon Tower for 10:30, the first off-road climb involved some walking at my legs and lungs seemed to have made a pact not to let me push harder. So I sent Simon a text suggesting he rode along Georges Lane to meet me. This worked well and after some brief discussion we headed through the woods as a walker had said they were pretty. Stunning should have been the word.

Then it was time to climb, back up to Georges Lane before up onto Winter Hill, well it was bound to have the deepest snow! Halfway up we stopped for a snowball fight and to build a snowman. I think my snowman buliding skills need some work!

Last bit of the climb was on tarmac and strangely gritted down the middle, no use for cars but perfect for a tired singlespeeder! Top of Winter Hill and we stopped to admire the view, or lack of one there was no visability!

Setting out down Simon kindly went first and showed me the crash sites. It was hard to pick a line and there were some nice snow holes that were big enough to swallow a trio whole!

At Belmont we tried for chips in the pub but it was closed so I had chocolate from the shop. Up the road, which felt like being off-road since it was snow covered. Before getting back over to Pigeon Tower, here we were chatted up by the local oddity - I blame Simon!

Down the descent to the fishing cafe since Simon didn't know it and back over towards Wilderswood before splitting. I was lazy and went home via Barrow Bridge.

It all seems to be melting already but I will be getting the cross bike out for commuting tomorrow just in case.

Another snowy run

Plan today was for another run, I said I would go before lunch so just after 11am I was out.  Headed towards Affestside but didn't go the whole way it was very slow going!  Still lots and lots of snow!  Most of the paths are quite compacted and my shoes grip ok but still slide a bit.  Going up the hills it was more powdery and it was very slow going but great fun!  Out for an hour and left knee was making its presence known - fine now though.  So no ruuning for me tomorrow, I have training at the office anyway so will be riding.

A winter wonderland

After a bit of discussion about what to do with the day we decided on a walk up to the pub at Affetside, by this point it was 3pm, so I packed some essentials - head torches!  We headed over to the Golf course past the reservoir which was frozen with a layer of snow on top, still not strong enough to walk on though!

Then along a track we had once tried running on, here we had fresh tracks.

We could hear the sound of people sledging on a hill nearby but we were in our own winter wonderland.  Over the golf course and on towards Jumbles, Ali was getting worried about coming back in the dark, I assured her it would be fine and we would be able to see - oh and I had brought lights!

Soon it was time to head uphill as darkness fell but not before Ali drew a picture:

Once at the pub it took quite a while to decide which of the amazing dishes we wanted!  Stuffed it was time to walk home, layers and head torches on we set off.  Stopping for Ali to make a snow angel.

Then I was proved right, no need for torches, it was so bright coming down the hill, at the bottom ali wanted to go back up.  But it was through Jumbles and home. Once home the snow gave way to slush but I think its snowing again!

Woke up to snow this morning so Ali decided to ride to work, she had thought of driving but the traffic wasn't really moving.  Since her mountain bike still has a puncture I offered her rigger.  She set off all bundled up.  A few minutes later a knock on the door, front tyre flat.  So then she had to think about which bike to ride.

She decided on my trek, which is way too small for her, but she really didn't fancy the road bike, I am going to use my cross bike to ride into Manchester.  All other bikes have punctures - this week seems to be my week for them!

So once again she headed out, once I grabbed some lights off another bike and attached them.  No issues this time as she sailed into work, although I expect she found it slow going compared to the road bike!

Now the question is how many people didn't make it in?  Last time she got the mountain bike out due to snow people who lived loads closer didn't make it in at all, seeing as we are 2miles away from her work I do not understand why snow was an excuse.  They wouldn't have been that late if they had just walked!

More snow!!!

I failed miserably in my attempt to stay up and watch the super bowl with Ali last night but I was still woken up in the early hours of the morning to excited screams of "snow, snow, snow". In the morning she decided she wanted a snow ride - I apparently get all the fun! So she rang her Boss and booked a days holiday (thank you Ali's boss). We headed over to winter hill, via the track from Barrow Bridge across the golf course, it was really windy and there were huge snow drifts - Ali only went head first into one though! Then it was onto winter hill itself.Slipping and sliding we made our way down onto Georges Lane just as the sun came out so we headed up onto the Pike. It was a little windy up there but nothing like saturday!I decided that riding off the back had to be attempted, Ali went ahead to get pictures. At the top I tried going over the bars twice! But I got going and even stayed upright! After that we dropped to Chapel Cafe for a well deserved lunch, on the tiny bit of road we did to get there I managed to go flying on the ice, I think I managed to land on every part of me but my head!

After that it was home via Belmont Old Road and the cheeky trail down to Belmont. Here Ali managed to sink knee deep into a bog that was hidden with a layer of snow. Lots of pulling and her and her bike were free and flying down the rest of it!

Now the bikes are happily defrosting!

20.29 miles @ 6mph
726m of ascent