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Riding the West Highland Way in a day

Buachaille Etive Mòr

You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the slow road

The seed

As with all these personal goals you set yourself, it’s generally easy to recall the seed that gradually germinates into some yearning, then, over time, into a plan. This one was fairly fast-growing. It started in February.

We went on what’s probably best described as an attempted Ski mini break to Glencoe in February half term. I say attempted because this February was pretty much the warmest on record. By coincidence, the little cottage we’d booked was in Tyndrum, and right on the path of the West Highland Way.

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Three Peaks Cyclocross 2018 – The “twenty” edition

As you may know, I’m a glass half full type. But we all have our limits.  Yesterday was a tough day. The Three Peaks Cyclocross is always tough. If it wasn’t, we’d just ride / run / walk faster until it becomes tough. It’s a flipping race. But then, yesterday had its own special place in my memory for extra toughness, but, significantly, extra satisfaction.  Continue reading “Three Peaks Cyclocross 2018 – The “twenty” edition”

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A return to the summits, with a score settled.

The Bob Graham Round initially beat me, then I beat it back.

I thought I’d put it to bed when I completed it back in June.  It certainly felt that way.  In one very big sense, I had indeed put it to bed.

One of my helpers on that fantastic day was Dave Ward. A fellow Rossendale Harrier, Dave was one of the people who immediately offered his services to come to my help even if, truth be told, we hardly knew each other. Those type of things are normal of course when it comes to the Bob Graham – helpers come out and help. Continue reading “A return to the summits, with a score settled.”

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Careful on your holiday – our Kefalonia holiday

Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia  (don’t ask – we’re just going with the first one). Chosen as our destination following a little bit of grumbling about the three France caravan holidays 2015, 2016, 2017 – and their associated journeys (it’s about the journey, not the destination, right?).Continue reading “Careful on your holiday – our Kefalonia holiday”
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30 years – somehow a vital connection is made.

Probably in my top three Britpop era tunes is Connection by Elastica.  (Riff?  Oh yes sir.  Here’s your riff…)
Although I’ve never really thought too long and hard about the lyrics, I just assumed it to be a bit of a song about taking a gamble in Love and grabbing at the chance when it comes, in case it’s the right one.   Maybe it’s not about that at all, but it happened to come on the radio yesterday and hearing the lyrics “… but somehow a vital connection is made” went right through me and made my spine tingle.   Here’s why…  Continue reading “30 years – somehow a vital connection is made.”

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The Bob Graham Round

It’s been a long path to here. When I first heard about the Bob Graham Round in my teens, it was the type of thing that was simply something that other people did. Special kinds of rare people. An immense, fantasy-level tour of the most beautiful hills in the country. I started to do a bit of fell racing in my late teens and occasionally I met someone who knew someone who’d done it. Wow.  That’s all I could say. It was just incredible

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Sauze D’Oulx family ski holiday 2018

Sauze D'Oulx

Another family holiday definitely of note. These things define and mark important times in childhood and I am happy to build up the year’s work around affording great memories for the children.   Skiing is not cheap – especially skiing overseas in half term, but each time we do it seems incredibly good value for money in terms of unforgettably good memories Continue reading “Sauze D’Oulx family ski holiday 2018”

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2017 Three Peaks Cyclocross – a family affair

A stellar year for the Haygarths

It’s a fixed date in my diary. My 20th start in the 3 Peaks Cyclocross was, like other years, just another year of ‘of course I’m doing the 3 Peaks‘.  But this year’s 3 Peaks stands out in a lovely way in that it not only saw the return to the race of my brother Phil after a 5 year absence, but the next generation of Haygarths took to the race. My nephew Matt was what I think was possibly the youngest of the 650 entrants and I was gushing uncle-pride when he’d entered … never mind actually competed. A real landmark for me. Continue reading “2017 Three Peaks Cyclocross – a family affair”