Rainy day near Leeds

The rain pours down, as I take two grandchildren to holiday activities. Swish of windscreen wipers, and tyres on the wet road.

When we've dropped Rose off at a friend's house, I give Isaac the sat nav to follow, though he knows the way fine well. He gives me directions as we cut through the outskirts of Leeds, and the scenery changes from suburban chic to rural. 

He's looking forward to a day with ponies, learning all about how and what to feed them. Against my expectations, this lad turns out to be animal crazy. 

One wrong turn and Mrs SatNav puts us right in a trice. 

I deposit Isaac, don't embarrass him with a hug, and drive away. My first instinct is to head for the hills, but I don't have a decent map or my hiking boots. Ok, I'll make my way back, though the prospect of sitting in a wet house is less than appealing. 

On the way I pass the back entrance to Goldenacre Park. I stop at the car park, put my old trainers on, and my waterproof coat. 

Lots of free benches

Never mind the rain, I need air and exercise! And I know there's a café too.

As usual, dog walkers are out in all weathers, and smiling, greeting everyone, chatting. We're all glad to be outside. 

The trees glisten with moisture, and as I approach the flower gardens, the colours glow like fresh paint.  

I have no intention of resisting the cafe, and it's still raining. 

Ducks never mind the rain

 The rain eases off and I take a long route home via Eccup reservoir, where I get a glimpse of proper Yorkshire scenery, with stone walls, and misty hills.

Ragwort, out of the way of horses, feeds cinnabar moth caterpillars. 

Ducks and loads of martins looking for insects

martins swoop low
over rain-splashed water
seeking food
insects galore
this English summer

Mother Shipton's Cave

An expensive-for-what-it-is tourist attraction, though it claims to be one of the oldest in England!

The man managing the entrance is very helpful and enthusiastic, providing us with a treasure hunt sheet which is a bit beyond a four-year-old. 

The setting is superb, in the valley of the river Nidd, close to the soaring viaduct, with the steep rise of the town nearby.

Across the river chequerboard painted houses, flowery gardens, a parade of riverside cafés and boats for hire. Inside the park itself woodland walks, a couple of playgrounds which will provide some entertainment - though you may have to play yourself, even if you are over the age of twelve.

The cave itself and the story are interesting. Mother Shipton was the illegitimate daughter of a local girl who fled to the cave for safety, refusing to disclose the father of her baby.  The audio recorded story told for children is a bit scary for little ones, mainly because of the witchy voice.  The petrifying well is bang up to date with a racing bike to celebrate the forthcoming Tour de France Yorkshire Départ. 

We make our way along the path, past some tepees and this wagon, occupied by a dummy.

We walk past a log with coins hammered in. We make a rubbing of the old pennies.  Everywhere's a little muddy this morning.  

At the cave, Rose declares that she's not going to put her hand in to make a wish. And definitely doesn't want to listen to that witchy voice.  

But we do see a dipper flying in and out of a nest hole near the petrifying objects - mainly teddy bears which are sold later in the gift shop.  The dipper flies to and from the river a few times. That's the highlight for me.

No coffee shop open in the park itself, so I buy Rose an ice-cream, and then we go out into the lower part of the town, and walk over the bridge  and then along parallel to the river.  

The sun's shining now, so we sit outside one of the riverside cafés, before walking back. Lunch at a picnic table by the river, another half hour or so on the playground, and it's time to drive back to the city. 

Visit to Leeds, and Abbey House Museum

An afternoon with Rose in the (Kirkstall) Abbey House Museum, where the toys kept her occupied for a good two hours on a wet and blustery afternoon.
Then I realised I hadn't taken any pics of Isaac, since he'd been at school all day, so here's one taken next morning.

Middleton Railway

 Inside one of the locos in the Engine House.

It's changed from the 'everyone heaped in an open truck' days - oh - 35 years ago.

On Saturday you can ride by diesel power to Park Halt, where you have the chance to see the loco uncoupled from the carriages and routed via points to the other end of the train. On Sundays the train is pulled by steam.
We had a wander through the woods, where the bluebells were pretty well over, the odd red campion was showing, and speedwells were plentiful.

I finished the day with a cup of tea and a couple of postcards, and stocked up with mini biscuits before taking an almost hidden slip road to the M621, heading East, via the M62 and then the A1 South.

A bullfinch

In Golden Acre Park, Leeds.  The first I have seen for some time, and startlingly bright, with a black head.  I was chuffed to get a recognisable photo of it, though small,  but alas it is blurred. Too blurred to keep, and post.Two other birds - I think were green woodpeckers, though I'm more used to seeing these singly in more open ground.

So here's a pic of the fountain near the cafe area.

and a blast from the past:

Alas, he didn't have hair of such a glorious colour - more of a dirty blond at the time. ;-)

Back to civilisation?

,A Yorkshire speciality I forget about until I see one. Then I have to have it. Curd tart.Back in the big city. Could be anywhere, but this is Leeds.

Yorkshire continued

Lunchtime, in the shelter (if you ducked down a bit) of a dry-stone wall. This water wheel in Marske beck was on our way down.
But there was still some uphill work, and the ground was wet.
The petrol station in Kettlewell.
Melmerby Moor at sunset.

A few days In Yorkshire

Coverdale runs between Wensleydale and Wharfedale. We were at Melmerby, about four miles from Leyburn.This was the view from my bedroom window at about 7 am.
If I looked to the right I could see this tree. The clouds were scudding in one direction and birds - rooks or crows - were flying directly into the wind.
When I saw this sign I thought someone wanted to keep peasants like us out. I'd never seen the word 'pheasantry' before, but my dictionary assures me it exists.
We followed a route from a book called Walks with a Pushchair. These all-terrain pushchairs are pretty tough. Luckily the three 'pushers' were tough as well. I may be over-dramatising slightly in the picture above, but the terrain was pretty rough.
Isaac was certainly wrapped up warm. It was windy.