When is the Crag not the Crag?

When the Weather Pixie gets it wrong, it gets it very wrong. Lots of snow and temperatures not really getting above zero. The consequence – the Crag was inaccessible, with even the food supply not able to get in. The Hon Sec went into panic mode and managed to get a run organised from the Boars Head at Higher Poynton, with Biker Eastwood providing a trail, ably assisted by Doggie Burston.
The Weather Pixie was obviously a bit grumpy, for after a cold but sunny week, it started to drizzle. This cleared the roads, but made the snow very damp. Still, the hardy members of the club set off with optimism to rendezvous at the aforementioned establishment, looking forward to changing facilities and a hot shower, for the early finishers anyway, instead of the bath. Upon arrival we were advised that the key to the hut had been misplaced but they were convinced it would be found before we finished.
With the drizzle continuing, and the temperature hovering about zero, we dressed to suit. All except Lesser Ruddock who, young and brave, set out with shorts and wouldn’t have taken a waterproof but for intervention by Greater Ruddock.
I had the pleasure to accompany the Ruddock family again, with Time Norman and The Murray setting off at the same time. The usual had already departed, with Pres Park trapped in his Vale Royal abode by the inclement weather.
The route went across the road, and up the road towards Lyme Park, before joining the canal and heading south. The canal was well covered with ice but the going was reasonable at our pace. A short distance along the canal, just past Hagg Farm, we left the towpath for the rough going across the fields. We headed for Green Farm, with the faster ones already having to wait for us laggards. Then we headed northish again, crossing the familiar territory of the Championship course and continuing to Platt Wood farm and on to Park Gate. We were spread out by this time, with Norman and the Murray leading, Lesser Ruddock and Colin, followed by Wells and Greater Ruddock who swapped the rearguard.. By the time the sharp right turn at park Gate was reached, the leading pairs had moved out of sight, wand Wells and Ruddock missed the signs and trotted on until finding the trail again further down. Interestingly, it went in two different directions. After heading this was and that, we headed back until we found the turning that we missed and trotted up through the woods.
It ran through the wood, then turned sharply uphill to the folly on Cage hill, where we were caught by the next starters, Fast Taylor, Blackshaw, Stanton and Riley. We were first caught by Stanton, who had raced ahead to slow us down so that he could leave Riley with us as he was struggling. When Riley eventually arrived he decided that we were progressing far too slowly and sped off into the distance.
We headed down the hill to meet the Gritstone Trail, which we then followed past Higher Disley before turning left and down to Park Gate and familiar territory to two of us. Here the fast pack, McHarry and Jacko raced past, seemingly unbothered by the slippery conditions. We headed down towards the canal, passing Early Taylor on his stately progress. However the hoped for progress towards the pun along the canal was interrupted by a run up a track, and then back down another, finally crossing the canal again in time to meet Early Taylor who had missed the trail and continued along the canal. Then down to the railway and finally to the pub.
Not good news awaited us, the changing room was still closed so we had to resort to the toilet and the car park for our changing facilities. Still, the pub was warm, the beer good and the meal excellent. The fire was popular as we discussed the days events and warmed up. A vote of thanks to Eastwood and Burston for stepping in on such short notice and producing such an interesting route.