19/02/2012 - The Junior Red Harrows get in on the act

As the team were a bit dispersed this weekend, Mark and Kate decided to take the kids to the top of Mow Cop - something they had never done before. Aged 5 and 8, about 4 miles on fairly flat ground has previously been the limit so a 4.5 mile round trip with a 200m ascent was going to prove challenging.

The kids race ahead with their new Camelbak's

It was also a chance for the kids to try out their new Camelbak's in an attempt to stop them mithering Dad for his all the time.

Holding 1.5 litres of water, the added weight didn't seem to bother them and they  seemed happier to keep going than needing an excuse for a rest and a drink.


Mark was also trying out zinc oxide tape to his feet to see if it would make any difference.

So where's the dragon you promised us Dad?

Once at the top we ventured right up to the Folly where Mark tried to work out if it was possible to imprison the kids in the tower but alas no, it seems they've though tof that.

A quick snack of KitKats for the kids and a test of energy bars by Mark and Kate. A banana and a raspberry Torq bar bought from GoOutdoors were tasted for the first time. Both bars have a chewy, sweet almost molasses like consistency. 

A very edible and welcome burst of energy for the descent but not a patch on Kate's flapjacks (I have to say that) 

The view across Cheshire to the North

The view from the top today was probably the best we've had  for a long time. 

To the North we could see across the Cheshire plains beyond Jodrell Bank to Fiddlers Ferry power station near Warrington and across to the snow capped Clwydian Range in the West. 

To the south we could see across Staffordshire to the Potteries.



A fairly short 7.4km walk with the kids at reduced pace given their little legs but the Junior Red Harrows are both showing early promise for future Trailwalker events to come.

Once returning home and removing my socks, I was surprised to see the zinc oxide tape remained well in place around the heel and toes and seemed to have almost moulded itself to my feet. Where previously I've managed to avoid any blisters but have had some skin soreness, there was no tenderness whatsoever. Perhaps a longer walk is needed for a better test but I'm impressed with the result so far.

Todays walk stats can be found here.