Day 348 Mile 348: Racing The Bus To The Moon

Day 348 Mile 348: Racing The Bus To The Moon. On this day in 1972 Eugene Cernan of the Apollo 17 mission became the last person to walk on the moon. I found this out at about 6:30 this morning, it was still dark and the moon was out, a crescent cat-claw, milk-saucer-rim against the black of space and the buffeting clouds. It is almost due south above the starless black of the mountains having risen at around 4 am, traversing a late arc which is just to tempting not to go out and see.

In contrast to last night’s nocturnal run, this morning’s is wonderful. It is dry and the moon and stars are out and visible through the clouds for the majority of the time. Its quite amazing to run along, with the moon at your shoulder and be able to think that there was someone up there, possibly in line of site exactly 42 years ago.

Like many people I have my doubts about the moon landings, I sincerely hope that they did happen, but in a sense it almost doesn’t matter. If they did happen today marks the anniversary of the end of a phenomenal chapter in the history of engineering and exploration, and if they didn’t happen it is the culmination of one of the greatest pieces of story-telling and theatre ever created! Both are massive achievements in my opinion, I would just like it to be true though.

In the midst of all this astronomical introspection I seem to have ended up in sync with the number 5 bus to Llandudno.  I ran past it as it stopped by the park, and then it drove past a few moments later having picked up its early commuters. By the time it stopped near the recording studio I had caught up with it again only to be subsequently leap-frogged. By the time it stopped in the village next to Spar I had caught it again and only finally lost sight as I came to my 1/2 mile turn around point next to the second hand bookshop. I think that this says more about the speed of rural bus services in Wales than it does about my own pace! It was none the less great fun though.

Returning was a more sedate affair with a bit of a headwind. None the less the moon was still out and the jackdaws in the tree halfway along the road are starting to wake up with their noisy chatter among the leafs; preparing, like the rest of us to face the day.

I’m running a mile each day everyday for 2017. If you feel you can sponsor me please do, as all the money raised will go to the Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) who provide services all across the UK to support people affected by it.

Distance: 2106.0 meters recorded

(1 mile = 1609.34 m.)
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Thanks as ever for all the support!

Ed

Day 285 Mile 285: Keeping It On the Straits & Narrows

Day 285 Mile 285: Keeping It On the Straits & Narrows. After the epic weather of the last few days the morning has come with a promise of a window of calm. I have woken up with no idea as to where to go for today’s run, after 285 days of mostly trying to do different things I can’t seem to find any inspiration; so I drove to work early with a view to seeing what I found on the way.

It is amazing what you can overlook. The Menai Straits run between the edge of mainland Wales/ Cymru and the Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn. They are roughly 16 miles long and at their widest point about 4 miles, narrowing to about 1/2 at the tightest point and described by Admiral Nelson as “one of the most treacherous stretches of sea in the world”. Today she is in a calm mood, and it is a wonderful opportunity to take the road that winds along the edge of the land at one of the narrowest points.

The sea is like plate glass with the turning of the tide, and the sharp eyed reader may be able to sea a heron fishing at the edge of the water in today’s photo. The air has a wonderful quality to it the morning, with the temperate lightness that comes from the sea breeze blending with the ice-like undertones with the atmosphere of the mountains; but without the stagnant clamminess that either is capable of.  Up above, the half-hunter clock face of the moon gazes down like the cream skimmed underside of a folded milk bottle top from a cobalt blue full-fat sky.

As the route runs along the road the trees crowd in, with ivy encrusted dry-stone walls to one side and on the other a short series of cliffs rising away into woodland. This makes for a wonderful combination of birdsong as the night rolls away its blanket and the slack tide prepares to elope with the moon. In the trees the calls of Blackbird, Sparrow and Song thrush ring out while away down at the water’s edge are the songs of the Oystercatcher and the retro-sci-fi sounding Curlew.

How could I have overlooked this little corner of the world for so long?

Probably because it is 1/2 mile uphill and then turn around, I guess 🙂

I’m running a mile each day everyday for 2017. If you feel you can sponsor me please do, as all the money raised will go to the Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) who provide services all across the UK to support people affected by it.

Distance: 1696.3 meters recorded

(1 mile = 1609.34 m.)
View more on Strava

Thanks as ever for all the support!

Ed