This week the editor has decided to give everyone a break from the regular "who is going to write the blog this week?" and, instead, do a photo blog. The reason for this is that today was our summer walk. No work - just play; with a lunch provided for by the Nidderdale AONB team as a 'thank you' for all our efforts throughout the year. (Thanks AONB office).
We decided to do a 7 mile stretch of the 17 mile Aislabie Walk, details of which can be found via the link below:
We started and finished in the Hackfall Woods car park and had our sandwiches and chips lunch at the Galphay Inn.The day was lovely and sunny, without being too hot, and we all had a good time, chatting and wildlife spotting as we went. Follow the photos below to see some of the route......
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At 10am everyone was booted up and ready to set off.
19 walkers in all, mainly NCVs with some of the Hackfall volunteers too.
NB It was at this point that Tony K. wished he had brought a pack horse for all his optical equipment. His camera is 10 times bigger than mine and seems to weigh at least 10 kilos. By the end of the walk he had developed a noticeable stoop.
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Every so often Paul would stop and regale us all with some interesting information.
Here he indicated the size of the one that got away.
Everyone listened intently and then admired the view.....
Every so often we came across some interesting fungi -
If anyone knows what the orange one is perhaps they could post a comment up to share the information. The brown one is Jew's ear.
Update - My fungus expert confirms that what we saw on Tuesday was indeed Laetiporus sulphureus or Chicken-of-the-Woods.
Will
At Alum Spring Michael proved to be an expert
on the hypertufa rocks on the opposite bank....
It all looked so tranquil, but looking across this stretch of the river brought back painful memories of Tuesdays spent hauling gravel over the stepping stones in order to improve the path on the opposite side.
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| The majestic trees towered over us like a rainforest. |
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| Next port of call - Mowbray Castle. |
Then onwards and upwards (and downwards) towards the edge of the wood.
At 11:30am some of us at the back rebelled and stopped for a quick coffee break.
Anita bowed down in homage to the great god Thermos ....
...and Jan had a crafty nibble on a goody. He must
have known that lunch was going to be a little delayed.
On the way we saw a large area of Himalayan Balsam. BOOOO! It seemed to mock us as we passed, thinking that, as today was not a work day, it was safe. However - many of us pulled some up as we went anyway - just to show it who was boss.
At last we broke out into the sunlit uplands ..... only to find that we had still about 2/3 of the morning's route to go before lunch. The chances of getting to Galphay by the pre-arranged 12:15pm were vanishingly small. The clock was now ticking. We needed to get a move on.
At long last we reached the pretty village of Galphay....
....and, more importantly, the lunch venue - HURRAY!!!! (only over an hour late!)
Everyone enjoyed their lunch .....
.....and Howie celebrated arriving at the pub intact with a pint of the inn's best bitter.
It went down without touching the sides.....
..... unlike Jan's orange juice that was obviously just too bitter.
Paul continued the 'one that got away' tale
started earlier by using a handy fish sized chip....
...meanwhile Ros tried out a new lunch time yoga workout
which involved twisting her head through 360 degrees.
Not to be attempted at home - the pain from this is clear to see in the grimace.
A guest of honour joined us at this point.
Audrey - she of the wonderful flapjack - 80 years young this week.
Happy birthday Audrey!!
At 2pm we started off again - into the grounds of beautiful Braithwaite Hall.
There were many big trees here and some of the
NCVs started identifying the more unusual ones.
Some of the trees were funny shapes and just
shouted out to be climbed on or peered through....
Braithwaite Hall - I wonder if the owners would like to swap houses with me?
By 3 pm we had reached Kirkby Malzeard,
as the evidence above clearly shows.
Anita gives John and Dave B. a lesson in crossing a style safely. " Now lads; watch carefully.You put your left leg just so whilst maintaining a firm grip with your right hand."
(Another caption was suggested. I will leave it to your imagination.)
Eventually we get around to the lovely village of Grewelthorpe....
... and were greeted by a number of sheep!
A small group of NCVs get absorbed watching a
buddleia bush which was full of butterflies ....
...so much so that they got left far behind by the rest.
After 10 mins of no show they had to be chivvied
by telephone and eventually hove into view.
At last - back through Hackfall and up to the cars.
Michael luxuriated in removing his boots.
Ros (E) (with thanks to Tony K. for some of the photos)
