Half Term Adventure

Flyrocs old and new

Thought I would give a few of my impressions of the new Flyroc 310s now that I have been out in them a few times. The toe bumper and the rand are more substantial on the new version. The sole pattern is exactly the same but it does seem to be made out of a harder rubber compound. This may however be just because of the age of my old pair and with time the new ones may soften up.


On both edges of the ball of the foot there is some extra protection with is helpful for running on rocky ground. The same textured rubber coating is around the heel, which is slightly higher. As far as the weight goes they are supposed to be the same but I have not check as this would entail cleaning the mud off.


Apologies for the photos the front and back of the shoe are in fact in perfect proportion :)

Overall the new version feels like a more substantial shoe but still make a comfortable light off-road running shoe. I have mainly been running in the new ones but my impression is that they will be a better walking shoe than the old version.

Stickler plus a bit

The idea was to meet up in Shillingstone and do the Stickler route in reverse plus a bit because we all wanted to do more than the 10 mile. What is the definition of a bit? It turned out that a bit was another 9 miles.

We started up Hambledon Hill and had beautiful view down the River Stour. The conditions were freezing and the ground was rock hard with frost. Next was Hod Hill and down to Stourpaine.

We left the Stickler route at the top of Norton Lane and headed through Turnworth. Doubling back on ourselves from Oke Breacon we ran through Blandford Forest and back down to Durweston. Rather than run along the road we decided to cross over and run along the old railway track.

As is obvious to anyone who can read a map this was not a good move but to 4 tired runners the gap where the railway bridge was before Dr Beeching came as a bit of a surprise.



So we headed back towards Hod Hill and eventually Shillingstone. 19 miles in about 4 hours. Home for a fry up.

For the full route click on the map below.

Steeperton Tor

Last Saturday I made a quick dash down to Dartmoor before all the snow melted. It is probably still there now, I have not checked. I decided to go to Belstone as it is just off the A30 so hoped that it would be not too snowbound. The village looked beautiful under inches of snow.

I made my way up the valley and out on to Taw Marsh. Although it was late in the day there were a few people about, mostly on heading down the valley as I went out.

When I got to the end of the valley I decided to go straight up Steeperton Tor and crashed about in the snow past my knees. Should have remember my gaiters really.

I headed back along Oke Tor and Belstone Common before dropping and down to Belstone.


Click here for the route.

Snow at last

I have at last started building up some mile for the Grizzly. Last week 23 miles and the plan for this week is 26. We have been very lucky in South Dorset I suppose and have had very little snow until yesterday. I am a bit envious seeing other bloggers getting out walking and running in the snow. Today I could not run at lunchtime because the paths were too icy, which was a bit frustrating. Tonight I read that other people have found the solution. Tea and Cake is inspiring even when not running/biking/mountain marathoning (not sure that is a verb).

I am now ready for tomorrow.

Plans for 2010

After a very good 2009 an inactive Christmas holiday (in terms of of outdoor adventures) has got me thinking about plans for 2010.

Well already in the calendar are The Grizzly, The Stickler and supporting a friend doing the Devizes to Westminster canoe race.

What I would like to do more of this year are solo backpacking trips to North Wales and the Black Mountains, and hopefully the Across Wales walk.

My son is keen to do another Dartmoor trip and so am I. But this evening he was asking about the trips my Dad and I did on Offas dyke when I was his age. He thought it would be a good idea if we finished it. Dad and I got from Chepstow to Knighton, walking for a 2 or 3 days each Easter holiday.

I think Scotland is off the cards this year, even though when I am looking at books and websites and begin to plan my dream trip that is where I always end up.

Happy New Year

A Lifetime of Mountains - a short review

I have been up to very little on the outdoor front over the last few weeks. It is only 12 weeks until the Grizzly so I had better step things up soon.

I have been reading A Lifetime of Mountains a wonderful collection of pictures of the Lake District from 1951 to 2004 when A. Harry Giffin was the Country Diarist for The Guardian.

The columns cover his experiences climbing and walking, stories of rural life and the natural history of the Lakes. The book is edited by Martin Wainwright who ties together various parts of Harry's life and writing. What I enjoyed was the way the short and precise columns carry you on to the hills. Harry was a founder member of the Coniston Tigers from a time when you could tell who else was out on the hill from the nail pattern left by their boots.