Start Of The Summer School

Today's plan was to go for a run at Manchester, then pootle on down to Warwick for the Summer School.

Everything started well when I asked for a late checkout at the Holiday Inn Express where I was staying, and they were able to give me that.  I had a lovely breakfast, then packed for an hour.  I then went out for my run.

Muddy Path

The Holiday Inn Express is beside a pair of reservoirs called the Gorton Reservoirs, and my plan was to run round them.

The plan started out okay, as I went round the "lower" Gorton Reservoir.  It was when I got to the "upper" reservoir that things started to go bad.  The path was overgrown, and pretty muddy.

When I eventually did mess up and put one foot into a puddle on the way round, I realised quite how deep and muddy the puddles were!

Muddy Legs

I continued on to for a while, but eventually had to give up.  I turned back, and then tried to run the rest of the way round the lower Gorton Reservoir.  If I ever try to run this route again, I shall be wearing long sleeves and full-length running tights.  Let me make it clear that a vest and short race-day shorts do not go well with shoulder-high stinging nettles overgrowing onto the path...

So I ended up with a pretty lousy run.  I did a further lap of the lower reservoir, but this time did not try to stay on the reservoir once I got back into Debdale Park - instead I ran through the park.  I only managed a little over three miles; something of a shambles really.

However, by the time I had showered and packed up all my stuff, it was time to go.

I got in the car and started driving towards Warwick.  On the way, I stopped off at Knutsford, at the Cranford Café, for lunch.  I had a very pleasant meal in what appears to be a very pleasant town before getting back on the road and continuing on towards the University of Warwick.

Knutsford Town Centre

As I travelled south, I came to the turn-off for the M6 Toll Road.  This is a section of motorway that parallels the original M6, but is - as the name implies - a toll road.

Well, I certainly did not want to take a toll road.  So I stayed on the road I was on, and did not take the turn-off.

That was a major fail.  Bizarrely, the "straight on" route takes you onto the toll road!  If you want to stay on the public road, you have to turn off.  That's £4.80 I shall never see again - and a mistake I hope never to make again, either!

Accommodation 1

Eventually, I arrived at the Summer School.  I had forgotten how many people I would recognise when I got here - it was lovely!  And the accommodation is an amazing standard - every bit as good as my Holiday Inn Express.

And as for the food?  Amazing.  The ham served carvery style, perfectly boiled vegetables (nice and crunchy), and the dessert... just fantastic!

Accommodation 2

After dinner we went for our first rehearsal.  We did some vocal warm ups and started setting one of the songs for Friday.  Thence to the bar for a while before coming to bed.

This is going to be a great week!