Now that was tough, but what a glorious day AND night.

I could burst into poetry about the way the harvest moon lit up the scattered clouds and rugged hills, etc... but I won't... you know what I mean.

Did this with my mate Dave and spirits were high as we left up towards Bowstones and beyond...

Once warmed up, felt pretty good and we were making respectable if unspectacular progress... darkness fell and still good spirits... the dramatic peaks of Earl Sterndale behind us and we got upto the A53... but then the navigation fairy turned nasty (as well as the wind getting up) and despite making confident judgements about the best way to pick up the route again, had a sinking feeling that,

"Hang on... shouldn't be able to see the Cat and Fiddle from here....!"

"Well how the hell did we cover that rough ground so fast... and in the wrong direction??!!"

Now Dave had been suffering with shin splints since about mile 20, but they were bearable. Not now... all the ground we had gained on some other groups was gone... they had gone from A - B without going via the scenic (tussock and marshy plus about 3 miles of road to compensate) route, and so were well ahead. No amount of subtle, "Ready to try a trot along yet?" was going to make his legs feel better and so walking was the order of the night.

Very gradually, we made progress through the moonlit lanes and trails, and very pretty they were too... the never ending Middlewood Way to finish in 19.14... so it cost us less than a pound an hour to take part!!!

And Dave went to A&E on Monday with a suspected stress fracture in his foot...

I know where we went wrong and will have to recce this section again. The winner was another Macc Harrier, Julian Brown in 9.40... well done that man.

Another adventure and the longest expedition yet... back next year? Probably... and go for sub 17.

Thanks to all who make this institution happen... if it's a mammoth to participate, it must be something very large indeed to organise!!! And is it well organised!? I've never seen so much food! Great day.