Day two, The Dales Way to Staveley

I've just worked the mileage out on bikehike.co.uk. 9 miles for yesterday, 11.68 for today, 14.42 for day three, and 8.46 for day four, giving a total of 43.54 for the trip. Not bad, I would have thought about ten miles a day for this terrain isn't too bad. It would have been more if I hadn't had to travel so far, 300 miles total, which cut down the time available on day one and four.

Anyway, the weather didn't look too promising when I got up on Tuesday morning, very heavy mist with intermittent rain. Visibility on the peaks was not going to be very good so I decided to do a low level walk. I delayed my start a little bit thinking it might brighten up, but no luck, I set off from the hostel at 10am.

Windermere Youth Hostel is just off a steep minor road off the A591 at Troutbeck Bridge. I headed northbound towards Troutbeck village then took a path to the right onto Windermere Way next to a stone cottage. I came down the embankment and crossed Trout Beck over two foot bridges.

I love the contrasting colours here, the bright greens mixed with the grey rocks, and a little bit of autumn browns. The fast flowing water was crystal clear, a lovely spot to spend a few minutes.

One of the footbridges, the beck forks here and there was a second identical bridge to the right of this one.

Just a bit further on I came to The Common Farm. It was a narrow tarmac road, and opposite March House I found a collection of lost wheel trims, presumably from boy racers who had taken the bends too fast. They made me smile, thinking about my re arrangement of wheel trims I found in the woods a few weeks back.

I skirted around the edge of Windermere, not wanting to do the touristy bit near the lake. Just after I crossed the railway line the path came out behind Gill Droomer Stile, that's the name of this house. It seemed perfect in every way. Beck Mill running through the grounds. Perfectly tended gardens laid with lawns and flower beds, and full of bushes waiting to burst into colour. There was a greenhouse and vegetable patch, I wanted to move in, ha ha.

A bit further on I joined the Dales Way. For those who have read my previous walking reports, I have done parts of this path in Yorkshire. It's a very pleasant walk, rolling hills over grassy moorland, and lots of sheep. Also a few farms to pass through, and photo opportunities to snap some animals

I reached the village of Stavely and decided to explore the possibility of a bus ride back. The weather hadn't improved, I even had to resort to using the brolly a few times. I looked at the train time tables outside the station, there was a train, but I could get back for nothing with my pass if there was a bus. I asked a young couple who was walking their dog about a bus service, showing them my map with the route marked out where I had just walked. They were amazed that I had walked from Windermere.

After they had pointed me in the direction of the bus stop, they asked if I knew a route off road where they could take their dog for a walk. I pointed out the Dales Way on the map and suggested they go up the road and take the path to the left just before the main road which would take them over the railway line, then turn left alongside the river. I'm sure they thought I knew the area, I didn't tell them I had never been there before in my life. Made me chuckle, a local asking me the way.

Found the bus stop and only had to wait five minutes for the bus. I got out at the bus station, but it was a bit too early to go back to the hostel, so I had a look around the town. The weather hadn't improved, I wanted to find some shelter to sit down and eat, but there wasn't any. So I had to resort to sitting on a park bench next to the library huddled undernath my brolly. I don't think they would have appreciated me asking if I could eat my sandwiches inside the library, ha ha.

It was about 5 oclock so I started to make my way back. There is a viewpoint on the map called Orrest Head, and I came across this sign next to a hotel. Oh well, might as well take a look at it while I am here. Notice it says 'unrivalled views'.

A lot of huffing and puffing up a very steep climb along twisty paths through the woods, brings you to this iron kissing gate. Almost there, should be a good view this high up.

At last, I'm at the top. What did I see, bugger all, ha ha. Yes, the weather is still crap.

11.68 miles today. I'm ready for a good hot meal. Tonight it's baked beans, marrowfat peas, and tuna fish, all half tins left over from yesterday, ha ha.

Day one - Clapham to Ingleborough

Good morning. I see you have all been blogging, that's good, I had a quick nosey round last night. What a surprise to see my mush on Lovely Grey's blog, and what a lovely write up. She has a wonderful way with words, I love the way she sculpures her posts, like a craftswoman with knife or a chisel, every post is a work of art. Not like my own, chuck a few words in a pot, mash them up and toss them onto the screen, ha ha. Check out her blog using the link on the side bar, haven't yet worked out how to put the linky in the post.

I'm back in my usual position, in front of the computer with Lilly cat on my knee. He is keeping me warm in this freezing cold house. I am fighting off the urge to put the central heating on, not easy when I have just enjoyed tropical temperatures in the hostel. I just had a thought, maybe I could live permanently in a hostel :0)

Anyway, back to the job in hand, what was I up to while I was away. First of all it was such a lovely morning when I set off, so I stopped off at a small pretty village called Clapham, a few miles past Settle on the A65. You may remember I walked to Settle when I hosteled at Malham, a few months back. I had it in mind to trek up to Ingleborough after I have read so much about it on http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/.
It is the second highest of the famous three Yorkshire peaks, at 2373 feet. There is some more information on the area with more pictures at
www.yorkshire-dales.com/clapham

Here I am standing on a decking area across the road from the New Inn, looking across at the stone bridge.

This is St James's church. Just as I was about to set off along came a group of school children all gabbling away excitedly, I decided to linger for a few minutes to let them get ahead of me.

Next to the church is where the waterfall comes down, which flows through the village.

There is a flatter walk alongside the Beck through Clapdale Woods to Ingleborough Cave, which the children took, I followed the wide steep track alongside.

Here I have a choice, climb the stile or stroll through the open gate. When you are out walking you must follow the country code of closing every gate you pass through, but in this instance the gate was already open and there was no livestock around so I decided to leave it as I found it. I love the many ways there are of building stiles, such a simple idea of combining the sleepers with the stone, though I think the bottom one could do with replacing.

Here I am at the entrance to the cave, the children are gathered on the grass waiting for their tour to begin. I haven't time to join them, I want to get to the top and back before we start losing daylight.

The next bit is through Trow Gill, a narrow gulley between the rockfaces.

Getting ready for the scramble up, there are a lot of loose rocks and stones to negotiate, best not to put a foot wrong, to fall would be a disaster.

A quick turn around to admire the view, beautiful.

The next interesting feature is Gaping Gill, a steep drop where all the water comes down off the hills and falls into a hole into the ground. This water then flows down through the caves, down the waterfall beside the church at Clapham, and under the bridge through the village.

The start as it comes down, I sat awhile and listened, almost silence except for the sound of rushing water....... pure heaven.

It gathers momentum....

Almost there as it tumbles over the rocks.......

And the final drop where it cascades down into the hole in the ground.

I'm watching the time now. As I was a bit late starting, I must not lose sight of my goal to get to the top. This bit is easy, the slabs are to protect the ground from millions of pairs of stomping feet. Thankfully there are only a few people about today, I would not like to be here at the weekend or holiday time.

Dunnit. Sadly the sun is not shining as brightly as it was when I set out, and I have had to put my jacket and wooly hat on (see pic on previous post). The mist has impaired the views, they are not good enough to take a photo, so you will have to imagine them. Perhaps refer to the web site I mentioned.

I must set off down, time is cracking on and I have another hour to drive to the hostel. I was hoping to descend by a different route, but I'd better not risk it, best to take the quickest way down and retrace my steps. Whew that was close, just got back to the car at 6.30pm as it started to get dark.

I haven't worked out any distances yet, I'll post them later, but for now that was a lovely walk.

The wanderer returns

Ooooh you have been busy commenting, something for me to read, glad you are still aound. I've had four smashing walks, met some smashing people, and the weather hasn't been too bad at all, only one rainy day.

A bit of a bonus, the Hostel was very quiet so I got a room to myself which was en suite so my own private bathroom, and I also had a double bed. That's the first time I have seen a double, but I think it was maybe for a disabled person because the bathroom was fitted out with all the extras that disabled people need. It looked as if it has been recently refurbished, the furniture looked clean and tidy, and the kitchen was well fitted out.

Anyway, I'm a bit tired now and my brain isn't working, so I'll just leave you with this picture. It was a bit blowy on the top of Ingleborough, ha ha. I stopped off in Yorkshire on the way.




Catch you tomorrow.

Just popping out

Now I'm feeling a bit guilty, I'm off to the Lakes tomorrow, and we have some new followers, they will be a bit miffed at me doing a disappearing act. Sorry.

I've been looking at my maps. If the weather is ok when I am going across the A65 past Skipton, I might stop off at Clapham and do a walk up to Ingleborough. If it's misty there won't be much point because I wouldn't be able to see anything, so I will carry on. It's quite a nice drive across that way, plenty of places to stop for a look around. I like Wetherby, Otley, Ilkley, Skipton, Settle, and Kirby Lonsdale, lovely Yorkshire towns and villages.

The hostel looks very nice, apparently it's in a spectacular location overlooking Lake Windermere, with panoramic views of the mountains. Sounds good eh!

My food for the next four days is packed as I shall be self catering to keep the costs down. £29.45 for the hostel, it will probably be as much if not more for the fuel to get there. Not to worry, can't wait to get back in them there hills again. Sees you later. Don't forget to switch the light off and lock up when you leave.

It is fair

'It's not fair', could often be heard spilling from me or my siblings lips when we were children, along with a few tears and tantrums to emphasis the unfairness of it all. Crying to mum made no difference at all, there was no sympathy there, because she had brought us up in a household where we were all equal.

Everything we had was shared out within our four walls. A rare box of Quality Street once a month was shared equally. When mum went to the shop and could afford a treat we all got the same, a tube of Smarties, or packet of Fruit Pastilles. All pudding portions had to be equal, and we could all choose one programme that we wanted to watch on the television. Friday night was my Ready Steady Go night.

Mum went to great pains at Christmas to get us presents of the same value so no one felt left out. We could choose our own big present, but there had to be three of everything else.

Then we started noticing that other kids seemed to have more than us, so we asked mum if we could have a new this and a new that. We always began the request with 'I want', and was immediately rebuked. 'You don't say, I want', she said, 'you say, please may I have'. We were taught manners from an early age.

But when you are young, you can't understand why some people have more than you do, it doesn't seem fair. We had some friends who lived across the road who seemed to have loads more toys than we did. It was great to be invited into their garden to play with their dinky toys. I loved dinky toys, think that's when I discovered my love of lorries, I should have been a boy, ha ha.

It was a Sunday, and they were called in for dinner, me and my brother were allowed to stay in the garden and continue playing. There was such a lot of dinky toys, we suddenly thought how unfair it was that they had so much, and maybe they wouldn't miss a few if we took some and hid them in our garden. We shared everything in our house, they should share with us.

Of course we knew that it was wrong, mum taught us not to steal what didn't belong to us. But we did it anyway. Later, when the theft was discovered all hell broke loose. Mum was horrified and rightly so. Me and my brother had a good slap across the bottom and sent to bed for the rest of the day. We both shed a lot of tears.

My little sister who had nothing to do with this, gloated. Oh how we hated her, the sweet little angel who never did anything wrong. We heard the chimes of the ice cream van as we lay in the darkened room, and the next minute she was parading around the bedroom licking the ice cream that mum had just bought her. It's not fair, we cried. A sibling slanging match broke out and mum had to come and intervene.

Of course, it was fair, she was rewarded for being a good girl, we were being punished for being naughty. A lesson that has stayed with me ever since.

Nowadays, when I look around me, it doesn't seem fair that some people have more than others. Greed can be an evil force. The media have a lot to do with greed, if you didn't know what other people had you wouldn't be bothered, and you would just get on with your own life, but because it is paraded every day in the press and television, it arouses feelings of resentment and envy. Why do people feel the need to drape themselves with designer labels, to clutch the latest gadget, and to jet off all over the place? Something must be lacking in their world, lacking in their personality, that they live their lives through what they own. Consequently, money is a prop for them, strip them naked and there is not a lot left.

Don't get me wrong, I am not totally anti money, I admire people who have worked hard in business, and had a vision to build something, because they have given work to millions of others. Some of these self made business millionaires have also given away a lot to charity, they have shared some of their spoils. All well and good.

Getting back down to the me and you types of this world, we may not have a lot, but we have got our self respect, our dignity, and our honesty. No one owns me, I don't have an agent demanding I go here and I go there. No one owns my body or my soul. So that's the trade off, you allow money to own you and it chips away at your self worth.

I don't cry, 'it's not fair', any more, because I know there is a price to pay if you desire all the trappings of a 'must have' lifestyle, and I am not willing to compromise. I don't need a television set, I don't need to switch the heating on, I don't need to buy new things, I don't need to eat out, I don't need to go down the pub and be part of a crowd.

And I certainly don't need any dinky toys any more, thanks mum.

More lovely fabric

Although I have quite a bit of fabric, I never seem to have just the right colour or weight, for the particular bag I want to make. I have been known to search in all my cupboards and wardrobes for the one piece that is perfect for the job. Often I am frustrated because I have a picture in my mind of what I want to make, but I can't start it because I dont have the right fabric.

My recent searches in the charity shops were proving fruitless, I need to look elsewhere. Of course, why didn't I think of it before, Hull Scrapstore. Ideally it would be more convenient to drive there, because if I bought quite a lot it would be too heavy to carry. But, it is £2.70 each way to cross the Humber Bridge, so it makes sense to save money by going on the bus, even though I will have to walk up a very long street.

Today we have the lovely Tracey, and the gorgeous Charles on duty.

I was like a kid in a sweetie shop, ooooh look at this, getting all excited as I plunged my hands into the boxes and pulled out some lovely colours. Most of what I bought were offcuts, some just enough to make one bag. I got Charles to cut me some metre lengths from some of the roles as well, but had to call a halt when I thought I had enough to fill my shopping bags. I had to keep stopping as I walked up the long street back to the bus stop, I'm sure my arms have stretched a few inches.

I've put it all away on my shelves in the spare room, here are a few pictures. All this for £11.25, including a pair of scissors as well.

The money from the bags will go towards looking after the rescue pussies. I went round to Sue's this afternoon to give her some more cat food, and to sit for an hour in the pens with the five cats we have in at the moment. Two of them are going to a new home on Monday, but we have more waiting to come in. This is our page on catchat if you want to look.

www.catchat.org/buscr/cgibin/prtoc.cgi

I shall be packing my rucksack tomorrow, I'm off walkabout on Monday, to the Lake District . The YHA have a special offer on, B2G1F, works out at £9.80 per night, too good a chance to miss. Methinks I ought to look into getting a laptop so I can blog as I walk. Will have to save up a bit for it. Catch you tomorrow.

Not a happy day today

I feel very sad tonight. For all the people who have lost their lives, lost their family, lost their homes, lost everything, in Japan. One can't imagine the horrors that they have gone through today, the pictures are heartbreaking. Sorry, I can't write any more.

Is this the start of my Summer Collection

I have taken note of the advice from the Arts Centre, as to the type and design of bags that might sell best. Rounded bottoms, bigger than a handbag, and long handles that can be worn over one shoulder. Not my choice of handle length, but if that's what they want......

Before I start a bag I have to wait untill an idea pops into my head. This one has been floating around for about a week, I almost changed it half way through, but no, I stuck with the design I first thought of. I was visualizing frothy and blue. As you know I like to use recycled materials, can you guess what I made these seven blue flower shapes from?

A empty plastic container of car wash liquid. I collect colourfull plastics, have been know to fish them out of the hedge bottom. A windy day on a Monday is best, when the bin men empty the red bins, and drop half of it on the road, ha ha.

I used a bag that my sister gave me as a template, the fabric is the same as I used for the lining of the last cat food pouch bag, a curtain from a charity shop.

I should say at this point that this is not a full tutorial, but it should give you a few ideas if you would like to have a go yourself. Mark the centre of the fabric and put two pleats either side, on both pieces back and front.

Hand sew a few stitches along the top edge and about two inches down on the inside of each pleat, to keep them in place.

Next, using this as a template, I cut four pieces of plain cream coloured cotton fabric, which I pulled out of the skip last week, and washed. Two for back and two for front. These will be sandwiched between the lining and the outside, to make the bag stronger. You could use any plain fabric because it will be hidden. You could possibly get away with one layer inside depending on the thickness of the fabric. Pin the layers to the bag.

I haven't taken any pics of the next bit so I will try and explain it. I have some pale blue offcuts of thin floaty type fabric which I cut into strips, then did a row of running stitch along one edge and gathered it up tight to make a ruff and sewed it into a circle. The edges will not fray so it doesn't need hemming.

I arranged the ruffs on the bag in the pattern which I thought looked best, put the blue flowers on top, and a red bead on each one. The beads are round and flat, from a necklace I bought for £1 from a junk shop. These I hand stitched on going through all three layers.

The lining is a silky sarong that someone gave me, the colours matched and it is ideal. I am never going to wear a sarong anyway, would look awful with my skinny frame :0) Cut two pieces the same shape and sew the lining together.

After sewing the back and front together, and turning it the right way, insert the lining, and pin it around the top edge. My bag was a bit too long so I have folded two inches inside.

Loads of pins to keep it in place.

Next make the handles, as long or as short as you like. I used the hems from the sides of the curtains for the insides (try not to waste anything), and cut long strips to cover them.

Two rows of machine stitching around the top, and my name inside.

The bag is finished......

It's exactly as I imagined it. Measurements are 15 inches from top to bottom, and 16 inches across at the widest part. It's lovely, my sewing skills are improving and I am very pleased.

Stand up and be counted

That's my census done. I can't decide whether the safest and most secure way to return it is through the post, or go to the web site and complete it online. I am sure this question didn't arise ten years ago when we had the last one. Did we have computers then?

In this day and age of identity theft, is it going to be safe to put my details into the online version, and hope no one hacks into it, bearing in mind that I don't trust computers and never shop online. But there again I did my tax return on line, so I took a chance then.

Or is it safe to put it in the post box, knowing that tens of thousands of other people will be doing the same thing, and some of the forms might get lost or stolen. Crooks could have a field day by using them to forge documents.

Spose I could save the cost of a postage stamp by doing it online. Well I've got till the 27th of March to think about it. What is everybody else doing?

They don't make them in canvas anymore

Now let's see if I can remember what to do with this. First check that all the bits are here. It hasn't been out of the bag for about seven years, I'm sure it will all come flooding back to me, ha ha.

I bought this about 25 years ago, I remember it well. A big camping shop somewhere up near Bishop Aukland. I parked my lorry in a layby and walked across the road.

I haven't used it very often. It came in handy for bike rallies, and truck shows, it should still be in good nick. So far so good.

Brilliant. It's a two man tent, but I wouldn't fancy sleeping with somone snoring in my earhole. Just the job for one person.

Dead cosy inside, even found a few crisps left over from last time I used it.

Look, it's got an annexe with little windows. Best to pitch this end away from other people, then it's handy if you have to get up in the night for a pee ;o))

I've been checking the YHA web site and see that prices for some of the beds are creeping upwards. Methinks that the tent could be a cheaper alternative, only if it's nice weather of course.

Ollie and Alfie were watching me with interest, look at that butter wouldn't melt expression on their faces. They have just flattened my daffodils, chasing around the garden.

Yesterday Alfie scoffed a fat ball before I noticed he had it, I thought he was eating a piece of wholemeal bread that I threw out for the birds. Even the net went down his throat. I have been watching him closely ever since when he has squatted for a poo, then prodding the pile with a stick looking for signs of bright green plastic bits. At 3pm this afternoon I was pleased to find the whole net in poo number five. Thank you Alfie, ha ha.