RUMBLINGS…

John Manning

A project I’ve been working on closely in recent months is drawing closer to fruition – you can download a programme for the 2009 South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival here (note: download starts immediately).

The festival will take place from September 12 to 27, and features an incredible 108 events, ranging from short nature walks to yomping great strides over the South Pennines moors, from introductory mountainbiking courses to road cycling adventures and orienteering events of all levels to, for the first time for this particular festival, two horse riding events.

Most of the events are free of charge, and only a handful require pre-booking. Most are reachable by using the area’s excellent public transport network, both west and east of the Pennine watershed.

It’s the ideal opportunity to discover and explore the South Pennines, an area of deep valleys and expansive moorlands, rich in industrial and natural heritage, wedged between the more crowded Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks.

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This is Sierra Jane Manning, born on Monday, March 16. This is supposed to be a (rare, occasional) outdoor blog but I suppose her name is as good as an excuse as any!

The birth was perfect and very swift. As Sierra was two weeks overdue, Steph was due to be induced but there wasn’t even time for that; less than four hours after contractions began, Sierra was delivered in the induction suite before there’d even been chance to get to the labour room.

In fact, Sierra was very nearly born on the ward’s bathroom floor. Steph delivered with only the lightest gasp of gazanairre – there wasn’t time for anything such as proper pain killers. Thankfully she didn’t need stitches afterwards either. Mother and baby came home yesterday and are doing perfectly; Sierra’s feeding well. No doubt I’ll get a hunger for outdoorsy again soon but for now every thing’s family flavoured and it tastes great.

Sierra’s name, of course, refers to the Sierra Nevada in California, the “range of light”. Steph and I hiked there along the John Muir Trail a couple of years ago. It’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and a place that holds special memories. Sierra is a fairly popular name in the US – and it’s also a very beautiful name! Ron “Pathfinder” Strickland who I met on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2004 suggested it a few weeks ago during a Skype chat we had… to him we say a very grateful “thank you” for such a beautiful suggestion. We owe you a pork pie Ron – it’s on its way, also via Skype!

And congrats to the wags at TGO who correctly predicted that Sierra’s name might have a PCT connection – by the way, the fluffy rabbit’s great folks!

To everyone who’s sent messages and presents, Sierra says “thank you - see you at the bar!”

Many thanks to my good friends Robin and Paul in California, who alerted me to the on-line clip that now appears above.

Watching it made me feel just a bit dizzy at times and I have to say that, as I’m currently organising an outdoor festival in the South Pennines, I’m now going to check the liability cover is adequate!

Unfortunately I don’t know the video’s source, other than “dfi”, but thanks for the thrill, dfi.

Morning all, I hope I’ve solved the spam probs and have re-opened the facility to post comments again. The only difference is thast you now have to register -  apologies for that, but it’s better than having a site overloaded with links to gambling sites. You can register by clicking the comments button at the foot of each blog entry, or in the Meta index at the foot of the right hand column. You should then be sent a login password and all will be well in the world. Thanks to everyone who got in touch while the problems were overcome. Now, sign the wild camp petition! (link to the right).  

Sorry folks… had to do a quick fix on the comments as I was getting spammed. Bad news is you have to join up to comment now… good news is I know of dozens of on-line gambling sites!  I might win!      Call back soon,     John