NEW LYKE WAKE CLUB

Saturday 27th June 2020 was a day we didn’t think would happen having planned our crossing back in February on the way to a cross country race in Thetford. The LLW has been on my bucket list for a couple of years now having played the role of support crew twice (once successful and once sadly not but that was a winter attempt) and then the apocalypse hit!! Luckily in the nick of time restrictions lifted and our group were scaled back to just three of us; myself Kate and running friends Kendra and Hannah. We all work for North Yorkshire Police as serving Police Officers and represent the Force for Cross Country running. Kendra is also an Ultra runner, a member of Cops and Plodders running group who regularly run events to raise money for CALM. Hannah and myself have been inspired by Kendras achievements and so have been furiously training to follow in her footsteps. So, in our folly we decided to run the LLW route which for myself and Hannah would be the longest distance we’ve ever attempted. The day dawned bright and clear and we set off from Sheepwash at 0439 with 5 very excited dogs in tow and the mantra from my other half (our amazing support crew too) ringing in my ears “If you think you’re going too slow, then slow down!!” as this was going to be a huge effort on my part. Beautiful views and perfect conditions made reaching check point 1 at Clay Bank pretty easy where we dropped the dogs off and to continue on over Urra and Greenhow Moor without them. Good ground was made on the railway track only to loose time again cutting over the moor north of the Lion Inn where the track petered out and with great timing the weather closed in with poor visibility and rain. A compass bearing got us safely to Rosedale Head with soggy feet and a small sense of humour loss on my part as this was the only section I hadn’t done a recce on so I was cross with myself. Next check point was on the Rosedale Road just after the Danby junction where we saw three lads also running the route who seemed to be making light work of it. OH Support Crew says he saw them throughout the rest of the day running seemingly unsupported so whoever you are well done. The next section I’d run a few nights previously to see how boggy it was and despite the recent heatwave there were still some sections that were ‘interesting’. With this in mind I’d asked OH Support Crew to meet us at the road crossing on the Egton road so we had the option of a sock/shoe change if needed. Here we also grabbed 2 of the 5 dogs to run the next section to Ellerbeck with us. Both were ecstatic to be back out despite having already done around 10 miles in the morning. The weather had cleared again by this point and it was positively tropical dropping down the valley to Wheeldale beck where the dogs had a welcome dip. Slightly longer stop at the Ellerbeck checkpoint to drop the dogs and for a shoe and sock change meant we set off refreshed up to Lilla Cross where mother nature decided we needed to get wet again! Not to worry though as the end was in sight. All 5 dogs were grabbed again at the end of the tank road on the A171 crossing so we could finish the run as we started and we reached the stone at the transmitter exactly 11 hours 41 minutes later (apparently moving time was 9 hours 43 minutes) in bright sunshine. Okay, so no great land speed records were broken but we finished, happy and well. Huge thanks goes to James, my OH Support Crew, for looking after us and dog sitting, we couldn’t have done it without him.



Kate ASPEY, Hannah McPEAK and Kendra WEDGWOOD Plus Ginny, Lola, Roe, Monty and Harry dogs!

Me (Sian) and my friend Katie decided to do this walk which we managed by love of my grandparents with bacon butties and pasta at checkpoints! We laughed MOST of the way through and loved the echo of the forest near the bog shouting random things and making weird noises (don’t ask me where ) I just know it was after the best pint of my life at the Lion Inn we also possibly veered across haha). We had a few watched wees by that I mean the sheep made effort to walk over to watch! My boots… I found out a little to late were not good enough and I got some whopper blisters, they have never been soaked more and its never felt so good to have my feet in warmish salty water, mmm lovely. We started at 4AM and finished pushing midnight we didn’t know the exact time cause 1 all our electronics died before the end this included our watches :'( and 2 we were too tired to pop the prosecco never mind look at a clock! All we know is we did it and are now witches wooo!

I have attached a halfway photo because the phones died not long after that but it shows how happy that pint made us!

Secretary’s Reply
Hi Sian,

Well done in making a few key discoveries about the Lyke Wake route !
1. The Lion Inn is the best place in the Universe ( OK, you said the best pint in your life but surely, this is the same thing? ).
2. Bacon Butties are the key to success ( In life, not just on Lyke Wake ).
3. Noticing the Strange echoes near Wheeldale plantation ( You are the first people to comment on this effect as most groups walk in total silence / misery by that point of their crossing – OK, I am aware cos I never shut up talking ………………even on solo crossings ).

I will just gloss over the bit about “peeping Tom sheep” as that is just weird and likely caused by the stress at that time of the day!
Well done in getting across and you can now call yourselves Witches! ( You are duly recorded ).
Oh, would you mind if I were to put this report ( and picture ) on the Club Website …………………… it is most unusual i ( I may even post my reply to you which I have never done before )
All the best,

Gerry