Christmas bells on the High Peak

 More often than not we are so lucky with the weather for our monthly work days. This one was no exception either, for despite the temperature never getting very much above freezing we had mostly blue sunny skies.

Our task for this festive work day was to undertake a barrier audit along the entire length of NCR54 - the High Peak Trail. It is almost 20 kms from Parsley Hay to Middleton Top and I didn't really think that we could get it completed in the time available. How wrong I was!!

With a covering of snow across the track and some in the fields as well it was not a day to be standing around for too long. We had a fantastic turnout of ranger volunteers again this year; its amazing what effect Catherine's baking has on attendances!

So, we split into two teams with Maldwyn the App supremo for Team A and me fumbling on the key pad with my cold fingers for Team B. David & Catherine together with Clare assisted Maldwyn, whilst I had able support from David S, Andrew and Peter. The idea was that each team would work independently and leapfrog past the other to the next barrier on the track. The trail was alive to the thwang of retractable tape measures whizzing between gate posts and across multiple bollard gaps! It was a great system and we made extremely good progress. The barrier auditing app is quite easy to use, although up on the High Peak GPS reception is not always as good as it might be to precisely locate where the barrier actually is on the electronic map. 

After our coffee stop we had a long section without barriers and we were all able to ride and chat together. Clare and I were lucky to be passing a spot as a large Kite swooped along the trail towards us in pursuit of a crow. There are not many kites sighted up in the Peaks, although I have seen a few more this year than last, and to see one that close to, really is quite unusual. 

Eventually we did have victims falling foul of the weather. Maldwyn on his Brompton had a lot of difficulty with snow clogging up the gears and he had to be helped back to Parsley Hay. Meanwhile David S had a tyre problem; not a puncture exactly but a complete fracturing of the valve. It was no wonder the pumpp wasn't managing to blow it up. 

Knock, knock

Who's there?

How many men does it take to change a tyre?

It took us quite a while to get it sorted but even so we arrived bang on time at The Waterloo, Biggin for our well deserved Christmas lunch. The pub wasn't quite the warm, atmospheric place I had hoped for, but  the food was hot and the beer pretty good. 

Final mention to the most intrepid members of our group. Whilst David and Catherine had the not so enviable prospect of riding back down into Hartington and then back hope to Warslow, Clare had an even more daunting prospect of riding back up to NCR54, then along to Earl Sterndale, over Staker Hill and on into Buxton to catch a train home. Even in good conditions that is quite a ride, but setting off at 3:45 on a Friday afternoon, with the gloom descending, temperatures falling and a headwind growing stronger it was an incredible act of dedication to the cause. To her immense credit she made it (easily??) with two minutes to spare and then went on to enjoy a party night out in Manchester. Wow!!

Thanks to all for making it such a successful day. Looking back we have had another successful year. Look forward to seeing you all in January, if you can make it. Shall we say Friday 6 January?