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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-10 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Thursday 18 February 2010

Moel y Parc and Penycloddiau 18th February 2010.

On the top of Moel y Parc, but I wasn't ready, neither was Dave! Photo taken by Fran.
A beautiful tree decked in snow, but was it worth of a lost glove!
Catkins in the snow.
Heading for the lunch spot. How can you you can tell their hungry?
Walk stats: Distance:9.3 miles; Climb:1754'.
Time:5 hours 6 minutes. On the move walking average:2.2 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Richard, Gordon, Annie H., Sue Pelissier, Sylvia and Dave J., Sue and Dave P., Fran and Tito.
After Richard's local weather report we decided to start the walk from Aberwheeeler, rather than the original start point at the Llangwyfan forest car park. This proved to be a good choice despite meeting anther group or wrinkly walkers who had started at the Llangwyfan start, some said the road up the car park was OK, but others in the group said it wasn't very good!
We were joined today by a few of our "worker" friends, lowering the average age of the group at the same time too!
We set off on the snow-free western side of Moel y Parc, but as soon as we had gone above the last house we were soon trekking through snow with visibility less than 50 yards.
Views today left much to the imagination! We'll have to repeat the walk on a lovely Summer day to appreciate the views from the Northern flanks of Moel y Parc and Penycloddiau!
Richard on home ground kept us on track, partiularly on the section on the snow covered slopes on the Northern approach to Pencloddiau and back to Aberwheeler.
The final insult of the day was that of a local who greeted us with the comment "Are you the last?" Apparently her dog didn't like people with walking sticks! Thankfully other dogs that met us on route greeted us like long lost friends!
A good walk despite the somewhat unfriendly conditions, at least it wasn't windy and didn't rain.
Birds seen or heard today were few and far between, but included:Great tit, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Robin, Wren, Raven and Treecreeper.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn in Pentre Halkyn. The Lees bitter went down well and we had to move away from the fire which after being near for a few minutes soon became too hot for some of us!
For the second walk running Michel's injured knee prevented him from joining the group, but we trust it didn't prevent him from getting the dinner ready for Sue's return.
Have a good trip to France Michel, hopefully the knee will be OK for you do a bit of snowshoe walks in your homeland!

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