All over the place. January-December 2023.
So much tourism this year I have broken this post into three chapters:
October to December Tourism:
- Silloth Promenade [Solfest]
- Hassenheide [German Unity Day]
- Havelkanal [German Unity Day]
- Whitehaven
- Cockermouth Greenway.
- St. Andrew [St. Andrew's Day]
- Bower Park [Bassenthwaite Lake Station]
- Troon (Mary)
Silloth Promenade 24/08/2024 31:41 [16 / 27].
Silloth Promenade parkun could only be described as 50% brutal. Mind you, what did we expect with a double out-and-back on a North West coast promenade, in the wake of Storm Lillian? However there were great views, friendly volunteers and crowd, and a lovely cafe for afterwards.
Volunteers are still smiling, only the tailwalker after Mary then time for coffee!
Mary and "Big Fella": The sculpture entitled “Big Fella” is of a man and his dog taking in the beautiful sea views at the end of the day and shielding his eyes from the sun. This fabulous “Big Fella”, sculptured by Ray Lonsdale, is a bequest to the town of Silloth from a true gentleman, Peter Richardson. Apparently Peter would say to visitors, "Will you look at that view", hence the plaque on the seat!.
And this is the view!
The advantage of out-and-back courses is that you can’t get lost and minimal marshals are need - normally just one at the turnaround traffic cone.
Hasenheide 03/10/2024 29:04 [114 / 209].
We took the opportunity of German Unity Day to visit Berlin and a do parkrun double header at Hasenheide parkrun in central Berlin and Havelkanal parkrun, Hennigsdorf on the outskirts. Full story at City Break - Berlin.
We were very grateful to all the many volunteers, turning out on a public holiday. During his briefing in English and German, the RD, tongue firmly in cheek, asked if there were any tourists here. However they were obviously expecting us as they had organised two first timers briefings in English and one in German.
There were tourists from all over UK and further afield. We talked to a visitor from Australia who we thought would win the furthest tourist but, as she predicted, there was someone from NZ! Chatted, compared events lists and plans with many other tourists.
Hasenheide had asked for help with refreshments so Mary made mini-muffins which we transported from Italy i.e. "Cakes on a Plane". All 48 were devoured and many compliments received.
Lovely course, two laps (with an extra loop on the second lap) on tree-lined paths. So much fun (apart from the loop up the hill).
No cafe in the park so it was back to the cafe nearest to our apartment for a huge brunch and great music that could have come from our own playlist!
Havelkanal 05/10/2024 28:26 [16 / 46].
The second of the Berlin double: lovely Havelkanal parkrun, Hennigsdorf on the Saturday.
One of Mary's fastest times lately, perhaps the beer and currywurst we ate the night before was the answer! Alongside the canal which is home to beavers.
There was cake!
Beautiful and flat course, out and back along the side of the canal on a tarmac path.
Whitehaven 09/11/2024 30:22 [34 / 51].
Next was Whitehaven parkrun as part of gradually ticking off all the parkruns in Cumbria. A slightly early start but an easy run along the A66.
Nice out and back on a cycle trail that apparently once was a railway line.
Gently sloping uphill on the way out which made for faster times on the way back and a good time overall.
Cockermouth Greenway 16/11/2024 30:14 [104 / 178].
Improving our Wilson index at Cockermouth Greenway parkrun's 2nd event. On our way we spotted an embellishment to a road sign to make a Rudolph.
The obligatory name tent photo.
Lots of tourists including a bunch from Blackburn Road Runners who were completing all the parkruns in the North West for the second time - they thought they had completed them all the week before!
Double out and back so can get a little congested in places but a nice course along a cycle path which we assume was once a railway line.
The Garmin was a bit confused as it registered all the way to the Rugby Club where we enjoyed the bacon sarnies provided by the local WI.
St Andrew 30/11/2024 28:37 [108 / 218].
I had planned to complete my 250th parkrun at my home parkrun of Penrith but it was cancelled due to ice. Friends had come to visit especially to celebrate this milestone and Mary had baked nearly two hundred mini-muffins so we were a little disappointed. Still our friends rallied round and helped out with the cakes!
As part of our UK Road Trip, November 2024 my 250th happened a week later:
- at St. Andrews parkrun on St. Andrew’s Day.
- first outing for my birthday present: Brooks parkrun edition road shoes.
- sporting my orange 250th baseball cap, a present from parkrun friends Tim and Sue
- very happy with my time especially with a grumbling Achille’s heel. 28:37.
- 1st in my age category VM70-74 and there were 7 in my age category!
- I achieved an age-graded score of 63.19%. Not bad for an old man.
Mary walked round with a lady from Swindon and talked to others from Perth, Aberdeen and Buckinghamshire.
My limited edition birthday present shoes got their first outing.
It’s official: 250 parkruns. It seems like forever since the previous official milestone at 100. Well three years obviously. The next milestone at 500 will be five years away which why it is good to celebrate the unofficial interim milestones at the hundreds.
Three laps round the lovely Craigtoun Country Park with a variety of views, lots of jolly tourists and locals, many dressed appropriately in tartan.
The Dutch Village a bizarre island with ornate buildings in the middle of the boating lake, read more at canmore.org.uk.
Great cafe just at the finish for post parkrun coffee.
Bower Park 07/12/2024 30:53 [34 / 36].
Continuing our mission to do all the parkruns in Cumbria.
We were at Bassenthwaite for a wine tasting [Festive Flavours, December 2024] and stayed at The Pheasant Inn for an extra night so only had a short journey to Bower Park in the morning.
It turned out this was an excellent choice - one of the few parkruns that was on that day! It was windy but not as bad as predicted.
Five laps round the rugby ground, a bit hard work in places on small loose gravel.
Troon 21/12/2024 30:43 [64 / 106].
Blustery day at Troon parkrun for their 300th event. The team asked us to wear milestone vests but you could not see them under all the layers we had to wear! Tourists from as far away as Melbourne, prompting the question WHY? Great welcome and briefing from Rachel ("no fun in her funnel"), lovely bunch of volunteers, friendly crowd and super cafe just across the road.
Over 100 mad / brave souls turned out, including Mary's fellow walker at the end who was a local doing only her third ever parkrun.
The powerful squall that came in just as Mary was at the most exposed turnaround point was particularly unpleasant. The horizontal windsock below gives an indication of the wind speed.
A double out and back along the promenade.
My 2024 parkrun roundup:
- 50 parkruns in total.
- 15 volunteer credits (30 for Mary).
- 27 different events in total.
- 21 new events for me (23 for Mary).
- Fastest: Salento 28:22
- Most visited: Salento 17.
- 4 foreign countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, Scotland.
In 2024 we have definitely moved to mostly deliberate tourism mixed in with a couple of opportunistic "since we are here" occasions. Mary already has a spreadsheet planning for 2025.
