Pub

Rowan is back for Easter. We had a pint in the Crooked Tap with Layla on best-ish behaviour. Good to catch up on Rowan's news.

Community Wood

There is a brand new community wood being planted west of York, which we can walk to. It looks like it will be really impressive when established: an exciting development. True to form the community has decided to start walking around it ahead of being allowed. All very civilized.

Canal Bridge

The impressive bridge over the canal at Barnby Dun from the stroll. I met a bloke from the Canal authority who was a consultant who walked the canals to locate leaks and places where the banks were giving way etc. Very interesting, he answered plenty of questions I had for him.

The Stroll Stage 2

I came to an early realisation that The Stroll is going to need a pragmatic approach to ensure the best of the weather. There is also the on going mess of rail strikes that have to be taken into account. So this week I took the train to Thorne (north of Doncaster) and walked south on the South Yorkshire Navigations  towards Donny as far as Kirk Sandall where I could get the train back. There were very few people around, and the dog was off the lead most of the way, the rain held off, I saw grebes and goosanders, heard chiffchaffs and had a a great walk. 

Wood

I cycled through Temple Newsham park in east Leeds, then on  tracks to Aberford and back to York. Not a long ride but very enjoyable and almost traffic free. I appreciate it. 

Deer

I was able to cycle right through Leeds along the newly developed waterfront, where I got a coffee and croissant - very pleasant. In a swathe of  post industrial waste, where the Sustrans track takes you towards York, I saw a couple of roe deer, less than two miles from the city centre.

Ark

From Shipley right into Leeds I followed the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal. It is a beautiful route along the Aire valley, contouring the southern slopes. When I saw this sight, I thought it must be Noah's ark, but then saw there were more than two sheep, so it can't be.

The Trundle 1

As well as The Stroll, I have embarked upon The Trundle, which is going to be a series of interconnecting bike rides. I kicked off with Bradford to York, nearly all the route was off road, including this Cycle Superhighway from Bradford to Shipley. I am full of admiration for Bradford Council finding the means and energy to build this at a time of real pressure on local authorities. 

Nataliia Departs

Nataliia moved out last week, it was all a bit of a rush and we did not have a proper farewell. So she came round and ate with us a few days later, and kindly gave me this print to me (as you can see by the subject, she worked me out) and a lovely notebook to Danielle. Very kind of her, in difficult circumstances. We have really enjoyed having such a considerate guest. 

Nataliia is now with a new family in Cambridge and all is going well.

Tod

 Todmorden, squeezed into the Calder valley.

The Stroll Stage 1

On April 2nd 1984 I set off with Marie on The Walk across Europe from Greece to Spain. I hope to go back to a couple of locations from that walk sometime this year.

I have also decided to lower my sight considerably for another long walk. This is The Stroll and the aim is to walk from place to place on routes across Yorkshire, where I now live. The start and finish have to be on the rail network, so that the route can be done without a car. I hope some stages will be with Danielle, and friends. The dog will be on most of the stages. I have no idea if I will keep it going, but that is the plan.

So yesterday was Stage One of The Stroll.

 

Taking the train across the county of local trains reminded me that the Tory government had messed up not just the economy, the health service and pretty much everything, but also the rail network. So I had to deal with a couple of "cancelled" trains. The staff on the trains were universally pleasant and helpful (having a big friendly dog helps) and God chipped in with a beautiful sunny day to start. 

I took the train via a change at Leeds to Littleborough, on the Rochdale canal just to the west of the Pennine watershed as it is crossed by the highest broad canal in the country. I have never seen a canal so full of water, with many of the many locks appearing as if waterfalls. Once over the summit we began in geographical Yorkshire down the wondrous Calder Valley. It is a valley with a unique landscape for the Pennines, the deepest narrowest most dramatic of the routes through the moors. The canal, railway and road are all squeezed into the bottom of the valley, with the brooding bleak moors up above. The industrial architecture from the railway, the canal and the mills, is incredible and awe inspiring. 

We walked to Todmorden (which I last visited when Rowan was performing in a Triathlon here) then got the train back to York. Hope to be back for stage two next week.

The Stroll

Walked across the Pennine watershed alongside the Rochdale Canal today. Beautiful. I shall explain why in a more detail soon.

Canal 3

One last shot from the canal walk. This is looking across the aqueduct to the river Don below. That skimpy rail is all that is between the canal and the waters below.

A World Gone Mad

A bridge keepers cottage on the canal from last week. Such a still day, with perfect reflections and not a breath.

It was book group this week, we had read A World Gone Mad by Astrid Lindgren, which was the writer's diary of her experiences of living in neutral Sweden during the second world war. The history was interesting, exposing how ignorant we were of the war in the north, but the rest of the memoir lacked interest.

Spring is sprung.

 Spring is arriving, the pond is showing life, the dog is in position, all is well. 

New Junction Canal

Built in 1905 the New Junction Canal, very wide and totally straight, cuts right across Humberhead and was built to carry coal to the port of Goole. There is still a tiny amount of freight traffic, and very little leisure users. It has one aqueduct over the river Went and this dramatic one over the river Don, with floodgates at either end. Unfortunately the mesh walkway proved to disturbing to the dog so I had to explore it alone.

Manchester Collective

Thursday I met up with friend Paul in Leeds to see another great gig from the Manchester Collective, this time it was The Unfurrowed Field performed by a jazz trio and a string quartet playing together. Great stuff.

This is Philip Slack, my favourite dry valley in the Wolds, taken at the weekend. Still looking good.

Farewell

Nataliia is leaving us to move to Cambridge next week, so we took her for a walk in the Wolds at Cottam (the deserted village is behind in them in this shot). Always good to show people the wonders of the Wolds.
 

Well elmetic

 A classic elmetic landscape near Askern last week. To the right an old bridleway heads east, to the left what will feel like a natural cathedral in the summer when the trees are in leaf.

Sutton Common

As part of my continuing in the history of  Elmet, I recently found out that near Askern (north of Doncaster) an iron age collection of earthworks had been discovered that was "very important". It is rare to find iron age sites on low level marshy flatlands. I was expecting to be impressed, picturing ramparts akin to the hill top forts on the downs in the south. It was not to be. Having to trespass to get access there was not a sign of explanation to be seen, and I struggled to find the earthworks. But here they are in the photo.

Not a lot of whelm involved, but nevertheless it still felt good to stand alone in this place with a rich past and a very minimal present.

Peace

Chilli plant to the left, Strat to the right, chilled dog in the middle, sun shining bright.

Wood

Cutting up firewood takes a lot of time, but is strangely satisfying. The bench is safe for now (just about).

Nesting Season

Thorne and Hatfield Moors are now off limits for dogs off the lead until August 1st, on account of ground nesting birds. So this was our last visit for a while. 

Danielle and I saw a version of Bluebeard at the York Theatre Royal this week, a fantastic production - fast paced, powerful, funny, short - all the things I look for in a play.