First Time Since!

Bit of a double post this week you lucky people! Nothing of note really to report last week so I shall swiftly move on.
This week was the start of my Parish Walk Training proper, it had been arranged last Friday with my brother to meet up at Eary Cushlin Car park where I would leave my vehicle and then we would get down to Castletown Harbour and leave the other vehicle.

As I woke up on Monday morning I could see that it was very cold outside and there was a touch of frost on the ground.  It had snowed over the weekend, not a massive amount but enough for the mountain road to be shut.  To be honest I came across the mountain road on Saturday evening just after it had been reopened and it was awful, was still very icy and slippy and other drivers don't help driving at the same speed as they would when its dry and sunny! I think shortly after the road was closed again.
When I arrived at Eary Cushlin it was showing -3 in the car, the wind was strong but it was bright. Following being picked up by my brother we drove to Castletown and parked opposite The Gluepot and donned our woolly hats and jackets and headed out onto the Southern 100 course in the direction of Port Erin, it was freezing cold and windy!
As we went along the sun came out, still cold but it wasn't bothering me at this stage and then we got to the bottom of Ballakillowey, its the first time either of us had walked up there since the Parish last year.  Half way up Ballakillowey there is the above, now for people who don't know it looks like a biker with no legs thumbing a lift but to those in the know its actually a cat inside the helmet and its a local residents idea of a traffic calming measure.  It certainly makes you take a second glance!
Reaching the picnic area I stopped very briefly to take in the wonderful view and obviously take a couple of pictures to share with you all, this certainly is a very special Island with the most amazing views and driving around you tend to miss them its only when your out on foot or on a bike that you can see them and appreciate how lucky you are living here!

Onward and Upward we went and eventually reached the bottom of the Sloc, up the first part no problem then there is a right hand bend and as soon as we turned the wind was whistling down in our faces and it was a really cold bitter wind, so heads down and legs pumping we climbed up and up stopping at the top to take a couple of shots(below).  Yes it looks sunny but in the distance you can see clouds a snow storm heading our way from the direction of Niarybyl!  It was now a race against the elements to get back to the car before this snow shower dumped on our head (if you pardon the pun!)

Eary Cushlin is just by the trees in the centre of the picture above, but as people will know the road is to the right for just over a mile before there is a left turn down towards this plantation.  Our average speed increased as 1. we were going downhill and 2.seeing the snow heading towards us and not wanting to get caught in it.  I couldn't feel my face it was that cold, totally numb and the backs of my legs were icy cold even though I was wrapped up!
Turning left towards the plantation and dropping
down into the valley I took the below pictures as the
snow reached us before we reached our final destination.

















From about this point on when the camera was put away there was a jog to the car park around 1/2 mile away, two reasons 1. to get in the warm and 2. neither of us could see anything with the snow blizzard in our faces.  This is no exaggeration I can assure you!  So this walk was 10 1/2 miles in 2hours 24mins not the fastest but mostly uphill and weather conditions we were both pleased with it.
So thats the first time this year that the Sloc has been taken on, I have also reached 20 miles in a week for the first time signifying that my Parish training has started.
I am due to pick up my new walking buddies from Up & Running tomorrow which I will unveil in next weeks blog.

Music this week is from Train - 50 ways to say goodbye a cracking little song.

There is two positive quotes today from the same person which are kind of apt if you are looking to finish the Parish especially for the first time!

If you can dream it, you can do it - Walt Disney
&
Its kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney

Im not even going to mention the Rugby either!!!!

Keep Right On Till The Next Time!!!!!