07/08/2018

Roseberry topping.

A walk in the Cleveland hills today with my old mate Keith, not seen him for a few months so it was good to catch up and have a walk. The old boys not been very well so we are not going far, we decided to walk up to Roseberry topping [ a hill] from Gribdale gate..Keiths a pretty fit bloke being part of Redcar running club...having run marathons and half marathons for years but has been a bit run down the last couple of months after illness,so this short walk was going to help him slowly build up his fitness level and get him back on track...Gribdale gate is a good spot to start a walk, there were already 30 or so cars parked up...never mind.

Gribdale gate certainly is a popular spot, a mile out of the village of Great Ayton which was where a young Captain Cook spent his boyhood..Behind us to the South up on Easby moor stands Captain Cooks monument, we are not visiting it today, but are heading north along the Cleveland way heading for Roseberry topping..Our hill of choice soon came into view, a most distinctive hill, only 1050ft high..its a hill that grabs the attention.

The heather on Newton moor was looking grand today..there is no where quite like the North York moors when it comes to Heather. Spoke to a bloke along here walking a chihuahua..only 9 months and about the size of a large Rat..never been a fan of little dogs, but this little fella made me think again. he gave us a right warm welcome..The man said he was looking after it for a neighbour while he was away on holiday..these dogs are not big walkers and I reckon it will snuff it on a tough moorland walk..i can see him falling out with his neighbour....The Topping got closer and closer..looking quite steep...A spur from the Cleveland way branches off to reach the summit...zig zaging and zag zigging its way upwards.

Several people about now but then this is such a popular hill, families out picnicking.. seasoned walkers[ like me and Keith].. Joggers...kids balling...Grandma's puffing...Dogs marauding...Girls in high heels...designer jeans...Grandads hobbling...White trainers...naughty kids getting rather closer to the edge...Shouting and screaming...selfies to the left...selfies to the right...kids getting shouted at...throwing of Banana skins...Reebok rucksacks...the smell of aftershave..Im sure I saw someone looking at a road atlas.....…..me and Keith found a spot[ relatively quiet ] to empty our snap boxes and flasks..looking out across to Middlesborough, keith pointed out the River Tees, the Transporter bridge and the Riverside stadium, with the help of binoculars..This is his home town..a proud smoggie….we finished our sandwiches turned to look at the crowds and said "lets get the hell off this hill".....away from these imbeciles...Did I just hear a party popper?

Even the Trig pillar had been violated.

We soon returned to quieter paths..some great views and no doubt I will return again someday....possibly a wet Tuesday in February, when the brats are back at school..we returned to Gribdale gate, it had been ok...good to get out...Keith said he was feeling so much better just for getting out...the power of the countryside and walking never fails.