Lindsay's Training Blog

29th September 2009

I had all the necessary vaccinations last week, ready for my trip,   and pleased to say, other than a bit of a headache for a couple of days, I had no ill effects.

Our next training trek was organised from the Cringle reservoir, Mark from the Children’s Centre was away so we were in the capable hands of Wayne .  There were only about 10 of us this time, but we had been warned to bring head lamps and wet weather gear as it was now getting colder at night, and dark earlier.

I had never been to Cringle before and, once again, was amazed at these lovely places around our small Island .

We headed up into the Cringle plantation; it went up and up, until we finally came out into daylight after about half an hour. We were then given the choice of carrying on further up, or going back down the way we had come. We all opted for carrying on as it was still only early. Little did we know what we had let ourselves in for, the “carrying on up” was up South Barrule .   Another first for me. We all started up in high spirits, over a style and onto a small trail through the heather,  but the talking soon tailed off as we found we needed our breath for climbing. It was now starting to get dark, but the path was not too bad, very rough and stoney but easy to follow, however,  there was a mist coming down which was making it difficult to see properly and making us feel damp.   We kept going up and up, with a pause every now and then for people to catch up with each other. Glenda and I stayed more or less together to support each other. It was bit like Peel hill, you think you must have reached the top, but when you get there you find there is another bit to do. It got steeper, and by this time, darker and I was wondering if I would be able to make it. Some had put their head lamps on, but I pulled the cover off mine getting it out of my back pack so had to follow the other lights instead. Suddenly we came upon a  circle of rocks about 3ft high, with a stone post in the middle, which I was told is some sort of measuring device. We all sat down gratefully out of the wind,  and had water and snacks we had brought with us. It was exhilarating knowing we had made it, as I was flagging towards the top. I decided to put my waterproof trousers on , and was also able to fix my lamp, so could see better where I was going. After a brief rest we headed down amongst all the heather and I was very glad I had my waterproofs on, as by this time it was dark and wet. We went down the part named the “whisky run” which a few seemed to know. How Wayne got us down in the dark I don’t know as it all looked the same to us. We eventually hit a path that took us back down to the car park where we had started from.  

It took 2 and a half hours altogether but it was a great feeling that we had done it, though I wouldn’t like to do a walk like that too often in the dark. !

On Monday 5^th October the weather was fabulous, a real  sunny autumn day, so I went back to Cringle reservoir and took some photo’s, as it had been too dark to take them last week. It was really beautiful and I sat in the sunshine for a little while just taking it all in.  Seeing where we had walked up South Barrule was amazing and I am definitely going to do it again one day, but next time it will be in the daylight. (Click on the thumbnail to enlarge - then backspace to return)

25^th August  2009 
About 12 of us met in Peel at the kipper factory, along with Mark from the Children’s Centre. 
We walked along the riverbank and the old railway lines, under the bridge, and cut through a little further along to the bridge over the river Nebb at the Raggatt, and headed to the main road entrance.  We picked up a public footpath which is accessed at the side of the row of terraced houses opposite the entrance to the Raggatt. We walked up hill along a path that I had no idea was there, and I was delighted to find it was another way up to Peel hill. We walked about half way up then took a rest at a crossroads where you can pick up the path to either the coastal walk to Glen Maye or around the back of Peel hill, up to the folly or back down again.

It was breezy but not raining and the climb had certainly warmed us all up.  We headed up to the folly for a photo call (see photo’s) then back down the front way, towards Fenella beach. We then all headed for the Peel chippy and a very welcome supper. This has really been my first big walk for about 2 months, and I felt it the next day, but glad to feel I am back in training and will up the pace the next few weeks. Can’t believe it is only about 10 weeks now before we go.

On Sunday it rained most of the day but around 6pm it cleared for a little while so I went for a walk to the Raggatt. If you have not been to the Raggatt it is worth a visit. There is car parking at the main entrance. The walk is flat and gentle with the river Nebb running past and it is all very quiet and peaceful. There is a big memorial garden with trees planted for loved ones.  Lots of wild flowers, and birds in spring and summer, and this time of the year, lots of colourful berries (see photo’s) Take a picnic on a nice day and just sit and enjoy the peace on one of the benches placed along the riverbank. The Nebb was very full and fast after all the rain and I took a couple of photo’s. I love the sound of the rushing water and as you may have noticed in a lot of my photo’s. I love taking pictures of water, streams, rivers, the sea etc. I must have been a water baby in a past life!  Here are the photos - Click on the tumbnail to enlarge.

 I have, for obvious reasons, not been able to carry on with my training the last month. However, during my trips back and forth to Liverpool , I managed to get in a few walks just to try to keep myself from ceasing up. My daughter Stephanie lives near Sefton Park in Liverpool, which is a lovely Park, and has  recently undergoing a facelift and is worth a visit if you go to Liverpool .

I stayed with Steph the first couple of days on my visits to be with Bernie, but it is quite a way from the hospital, and I wanted to be nearer, so on future visits I booked into the Hotel on the hospital complex, which made things a lot easier and I was more accessible if Bernie needed anything.

I took some pictures in Sefton Park so that I had something to put on my blog page, one of which is of the Grey Squirral, you see lots of these around the park and surrounding area gardens. They are lovely to watch and reasonably tame. 

Steph took me to the New Liverpool One area in the City Centre, which has been totally revamped for the Capital of Culture project and I was absolutely amazed at how modern and vibrant it all was. Well worth visiting. (See pictures below)

On 2^nd August I was home for the weekend and had my “Trek” fundraising Tombola at Peel Carnival.  I’d had lots of prizes donated and still need to raise money for my Trek. I did well under the circumstances, my stand wasn’t as nice as I would have liked as I ended up doing it on my own and in such a rush, but lots of people supported me and said hello and asked about Bernie.  It was a lovely day and it swelled the coffers a bit more.

Bernie is back home now, and well on the road to recovery. A few week’s convalescing in  Peel should soon see him much better and able to take up his spot on the radio once again. It has been a roller coaster few weeks, with a much better outcome than we originally thought it might be.

Thanks to all the fabulous people at The Walton Centre, The staff on the Steam – Packet’s Mannanan on the journey  home, who were so good, and of course all the many family and friends who sent prayers and good wishes. It was a great comfort to know you were all out there. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.   (Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

The walk starts at Glen Helen. I picked up the trail easily, though it was a bit wet underfoot because of the rain all Saturday evening and night. As I got higher into the plantation the track was badly churned up by tractors,  but thought I would carry on anyway, however, as I got further into the forest the track was really bad and I resorted to walking along side as best I could in the hope I would eventually get passed the area where the work was going on. Piles of logs confirmed that something was being done and tractor marks going off at various angles into the forest. I hit a better path but unfortunately must have taken a wrong turning somewhere as I could not pick up the path I was to follow up to the top of the plantation. Instead I opted to follow a path going down rather than attempt to go back along the churned up track, So a little disappointed at not being able to get to the Summit Cairn for the views I followed the path back down to the Glen Helen Car park. The path is actually long the top of Glen Helen, which I had never done before, it was interesting looking down into the Glen from that point, though a lot was hidden by the foliage and trees , I did get one picture of one of the waterfall from and angle I had not seen before. So I will leave that walk for a few weeks and try again when it is drier and I can maybe pick up the trail better. Just three pictures today.

I had to miss the training walk last Tuesday with others going on the Trek, so I decided to do one  of the wardens walks by myself on Sunday/. I picked the one for  Axnfell Plantation as had never heard of it and it looked interesting. It was in the “muscle builder” category, and they reckoned about 1½ hours.

The trail is picked up at Laxey Glen Gardens so I parked the car and walked through the Glen as instructed and over the wooden stile. The Glen goes straight on here, but to the left, fairly hidden by the trees and bushes, are some  steps, I walked up these, they are quite steep and narrow in places but it did warn me in the leaflet. On reaching the top you carry on up the track, I followed all the instructions, which are excellent, going up and up and through the plantation until I came out on a clearing into sunshine and the most amazing views. I was so delighted, it was beautiful. I sat and rested and had a drink and snack and just took in the scenery, and snapped a few photo’s.

I then followed a track down from here, over a stile, and onto the road to find another entrance to the plantation as instructed. This was through a lovely memorial garden set up on the edge of the plantation, and a bit tricky to find, but I picked up the track again, I was a bit worried here as to whether I had the right track a it was quite overgrown with ferns (I had my hiking stick thank goodness so managed OK) and then into the plantation itself which was so  quiet and not another soul around, I did wonder if I had gone the wrong way, but I found a sign telling me I was on the public footpath so knew I was right (sigh of relief) It went down and down eventually getting greener and I could hear the stream I was heading for according to the instructions. Sure enough at bottom was very narrow track along side the stream, leading to a bridge over the stream. It was very pretty. The next bit of the walk was over the stream and quite tough as I had to go up and up, it was very narrow with quite a drop to the side in places, but I managed it. Again, it was quite overgrown, but luckily, someone appeared to have been before me quite recently and I could follow where they had been.   I eventually I came out onto the road as instructed and walked back from there to the Laxey Glen car park to pick up my car. It really was an amazing walk and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I did it in about 1 hour 45 mins allowing for the occasional stops.  The following pics' were snapped on my mobile phone, click on the thumbnail to enlarge and then press the backspace key to return.

Tuesday May 26th
Inca Trail training at Tholt-y-Will  

About 12 of the Trekkers going on the challenge met up for our first “training “ hike last Tuesday evening at 6-30pm.  We all met in Tholt y Wilt by the old schoolhouse car park.  
Headed by 2 professional guides, with Mark the Adventure challenge co-ordinator from the IOMCC  to the rear, we set off along the Road heading away from the school house and picked up a track, off road, a short way down. Over a stream and then we started climbing up a reasonably easy track going up the hillside.  We all chatted and started to get to know each other, but  soon realised we needed to save our breath for the climb, we went up and up and the scenery was fabulous. (slide show link below) I had never realised that there was so much to that part of the Island as I had only ever walked around the lower area and around the Sulby reservoir further up. We went up the hills and over tracks. One curious bit (to me)  was up quite a way on the first part of the hike, we came across at least 6 or 7 derelict Tholtans in a little group as though at one time there had been a little community there. It was so strange being so far up. Maybe someone has some information on this they could let me have. I would be interested, and why was it abandonded ?  (my email address is lindsays@manx.net)

We carried on hiking up hill and down dale, (mountains ? ) as they say, across some very boggy places, at one point we were right next to Snaefell, some of us were amazed at how high we had climbed. The guides were very good humoured and funny and made us laugh, and although tough in places, we were enjoying the hike and the scenery. Every so often we would stop to give everyone time to catch up and have a brief rest.

We eventually came up and out on to the main road,  From here we  walked down the  road for a few minutes until we reached the top end gate into Tholt y Wilt Glen. Well, I have to say, I was absolutely stunned by the Glen. I never realised that there was so much to it. The steps, bridges and handrails down are very well maintained, but be warned it is very steep and can be slippy in places, but so worth the visit. As we got further down, the track / steps split in two and we took the lower path. As we descended the river rushed by to the side of us, over stones and boulders creating lovely little waterfalls and there were an abundance of wild flowers and lovely trees and shrubs,  It was so pretty. I really was enchanted by it and have to say so far it is my favourite Glen of the ones I have seen. I was told by one of the other girls that if you take the higher path where it divides,  it takes you to a bridge over an even bigger  waterfall, so that is definitely a “must do” for me next time.

We eventually came to the entrance at the bottom, and, weary but exhilarated that we had done such and amazing walk, we got back to our cars.  It took us three hours to do the walk, but it felt so good. It was home to a hot bath and a large brandy. click here to view  Slide Show

The last few weeks have been hectic with final rehearsals for “Noises Off” at the Gaiety and then the actual production for 3 nights. It was great fun and I have had loads of very good comments from people who enjoyed it. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get much Glen walking in with Bernie, but hope to rectify that over the next few months as I start the serious training for the Inca trail Trek to Macchu Picu. 
I have done a little walking in between rehearsals, to keep me from ceasing up J , but decided to make a good start today by taking the coastal route from Peel hill to Glen Maye. Luckily I started off at 9am and got the best of the weather as by 11 am the rain had started. 
I walked up Peel hill via the side path, which is picked up just over the bridge on the end where the entrance to the new Marina is situated, It’s pleasant walk through trees and shrubland, following the path to where there is a gap in the wall to the right of you.  The sun was warm but the wind was quite blustery. From the wall it is quite an easy and a gentle climb until you turn right to go up toward the top , with Corrins Folly to the right of you. 
I picked up the Road of the Gull from here to Glen Maye, it is the first time I have done this walk and was bowled over with the stunning coastline, the wild flowers, and at one place where I stopped and sat for a few minutes, lots of swifts started darting about. I was obviously encroaching on their patch. 
The path to Glen Maye was good,  though in places very narrow , right on the edge, but easily walked. Once I got to Glen Maye beach the rain had started in spits and spots. I had a good walk around the little beach and I took some photo’s of the rock formations, They are fascinating and show so clearly how the earth was pushed up by volcanic activity or moving plates  all those  millions of years ago, also some of the strata in other pieces.  It really is interesting to see.  I am no expert so please excuse me if I have not explained this correctly. 
I then walked through the Glen which was beautiful, the pathways edged by wild garlic and bluebells and other wild flower and the river rushing by on it’s way to the beach where it was meeting up with the sea. Bernie picked me up in the Car park at the top as by this time it was raining hard. I took some photo’s. It was so lovely and green and fresh, as things are at this time of the year. The photo’s show much better than I can explain. The Path is easy enough but fairly narrow and a bit muddy in places so take care, but well worth the visit and go to the beach and look at some of those rocks ( if the tide is out) To see a slide show of the pictures I took along the way: click here 

There is a sign on the pathway from Eary Cushlin to the "Hermit's Keeil" warning walkers that it is very steep but the views from there make it well worthwhile.  Above left, my fellow walker and above right, the picture he took of me at the Keeil.  pictured below left, looking toward the Calf of Man and the view north to Niarbyl  I would love to receive your suggestions for future training walks, click here to email me