A Cheesy Tour

Today we head off to Cropwell Bishop for a tour of the local cheese production area, namely the villages of Colston Bassett, Long Clawson and of course Cropwell Bishop itself. This is the Stilton Stumble in the home of Stilton Cheese and it comes in both a 10k and a 24k variety.

I would like to give the 24 a shot one day but with the Leicester Half Marathon next weekend, and the Derby Half still in my legs from last weekend, it’s just the 10 for me today. As it is for L.

It’s a somewhat soggy start at the Memorial Hall in Cropwell Bishop and nobody really wants to get stripped off too early. Perhaps the weather will improve once we get started? 

It doesn’t, it gets worse and a torrential downpour a few miles in is refreshing to say the least. The sun does finally come out, when we’ve finished.

By then I’ve been handed my block of Stilton, which is much much better than a medal, and I'm giving Doggo a leg up over a wall to get him in a good supporting position to bark L over the line.

Then it's time to dry out and to head to the Tennis Centre for a shower because obviously we don’t have one at home.

In the evening it’s the Horse and Jockey in Stapleford for dark ale number No 95 - Full Mash’s Northern Lights.

(Sunday 16^th October)

Four Legged Encumbrance

If I stay injured L may have accumulate the Christmas puddings on her own, usually we acquire them together through races.

Next week’s Heanor Christmas Pudding run surely hands out one but hopefully this weeks Stilton Stumble doesn’t. Surely it’s got to be a block of cheese.

The second running of the event starts at Cropwell Bishop Memorial Hall and there is a 10k race and a rather intriguing 24k one. Now that would have been right up my street had I been fit.

The two races start ten minutes apart and each have a couple of girls with the start banner who have to jump out of the way and avoid the onrushing runners as well as a yapping dog whose owner needs to get him under better control. It’s not that easy when my other four legged encumbrance attempts to join in with both races.

Overall it’s an enjoyable event and I can vouch for the bacon butties and the hot drinks being sold in the hall. Very good.

In the evening we head to Falcon and try one of their Sunday lunches, which are well worth the trip and the Tuck is on. We also have a beer in the Borlase and two in the Hand & Heart.

(Sunday 16^th November)