Stepping up the Pace.....
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| Sunday 29th March Leader Barbara Shelton. 20 miles. Start 9.00am at Aireville Park, Skipton. Finish 4.45pm. This was an adaptation of the Skipton Double Trigger challenge walk which I put on for the club a couple of years ago. I trimmed 3 miles off, and a trig point in the process, hence the name. Sixteen of us turned out on a glorious sunny day when the lambs were gambolling, curlew calling and skylarks singing. We started off with a couple of miles along the Leeds - Liverpool canal; the first Trans-Pennine canal to be started and the last to be finished, the section we were on having opened in 1777. The route then took us over the busy A65, through Thorlby and Stirton and then off over the moor to Sharp Haw with its trig point. Stunning views to the East included Crookrise Crag and Rylstone Fell. We dropped down via Flasby and Eshton Bridge, with fine views of Eshton Hall, and so into Gargrave, where we flirted briefly with the canal again before pressing on over the River Aire to pick up the Pennine Way. This we followed as far as Brown House, but not without a stop at the lovely Abbots Harbour cafe at East Marton, close to which is an unusual double arched bridge over the canal. After leaving the Pennine Way we headed over the fields to Elslack and paralleled the disused railway track before swinging away to cross the Aire by footbridge and back to the park. Many thanks to June and John for doing the recce with me, and for their help on the day. Wednesday April 8th Two Rivers "Route March". Leader Norman "Herr Commandant" Thomas. 12 miles advertised, 15.5 walked. Start 10.00 am Rivington Lower Barn, finish 3.50pm. A very pleasing 28 people turned out, ten of whom were new faces to ELLDWA midweek walks and two of those teenagers. Amazing. "Young blood" on one of Norman's walks normally means anyone under bus pass age! Heading south to Adlington from Rivington Lower Barn we crossed the M61 and then upset the golfers on Heath Charnock and Duxbury Park golf courses. One golfer was heard to whisper over three fields "we could have played nine holes in the time we've waited for this lot to cross the fairway!" Reaching the outskirts of Coppull Norman took us south, stoutly resisting any calls for a morning coffee break despite several people feigning heavy dehydration. Lunch was taken at a favourite club spot, Worthington Lakes. Here it was that Tracy saved Norman's bacon by producing from her rucksack a box full of the most delicious freshly baked scones - with jam and cream! One each for everyone and a little extra for the greedy ones. Now hunger and thirst were forgotten as we headed north east, bypassing Blackrod and back into Rivington, a last little treat being half a dozen wallabies taking in the sun near the entrance to Lever Park. "The trouble is, we're getting soft," said Norman as he sat with his feet up in the Barn quaffing coffee and cake which someone else had bought for him!!! What a cheek! So what was the outstanding memory of the walk? No doubt about it. Tracey's scones! Special mention to Viv though who proved once again her ability to spot Thirlmere gates. Several gates were passed that we did not see on the original walks. |
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