“9 to 5″ 🎶 – Dolly Parton “Maybe you should start with a smaller show”. These were the sensible words of my lovely friend Suzie (Sue) earlier in the summer as I confirmed my decision to become a debutant at the Pateley Agricultural Show. Wise words from Suzie, a magnificent home baker in her ownContinue reading “A Cake Maker’s Debut at the Pateley Show”
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A Gritty Ramble up the Ryburn Valley and round Ripponden
“Into the valley” 🎶 – The Skids “You just need to find your new tribe!” Back in 2023, at a time when I had really struggled mentally to adapt to so many life changes in such a short time, those immortal words had been uttered by my friend Jo, a simply brilliant headteacher who runsContinue reading “A Gritty Ramble up the Ryburn Valley and round Ripponden”
A Forage for Quakers on my own Doorstep
‘The Sounds of Silence’ 🎶 – Simon and Garfunkel Traditionally, in the UK, September is viewed as the start of the harvest and foraging time of the year. After a record summer of sunshine and heat, the hedgerows and byways of North Yorkshire are ripe with produce waiting to be seen, snapped and sometimes picked.Continue reading “A Forage for Quakers on my own Doorstep”
‘Pateley Punches’…….
‘Fields of Gold’ – Sting 🎶 https://open.spotify.com/track/0I1DJdLt9BKOb7GWmWxCjo?si=7YVSVwmMQwSnxl5XTZVCCQ Pateley Bridge really punches’ ….! That was my overriding conclusion from my 6 mile amble through, above and beyond, the little market town that is Pateley Bridge, set in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales of North Yorkshire. Yesterday afternoon, Thursday 3 September, I parked my carContinue reading “‘Pateley Punches’…….”
‘Many rivers to cross’ 🎶- Jimmy Cliff (1972)
The Tale of the River and the Missing Footballs Good morning campers and welcome to the third and final part of my ‘Tales from the Dales Trail’: the 80 mile walk linking Ilkley, north west of Leeds, with Windermere, the iconic ‘capital’ of The English Lake District. I started my backpacking trek on Tuesday morningContinue reading “‘Many rivers to cross’ 🎶- Jimmy Cliff (1972)”
“Take me to the river and wash me down.” – 🎶 Al Green in 1974 and covered by Talking Heads in 1978
The Tale of the 3 Grumpy Landlords Welcome to Day 2 of my little jaunt along the 80 mile Dales Way, that links Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Windermere in the Lake District. Due to limited signal and charge this blog is written a day behind my actual walking day. Eg today is Thursday butContinue reading ““Take me to the river and wash me down.” – 🎶 Al Green in 1974 and covered by Talking Heads in 1978”
“Forest Fire” 🎶- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
“Spontaneity is a meticulously prepared art”. (Oscar Wilde) The last few days I have been itching to get off for a walk. On Tuesday 18 August 2026 I actually managed it It is some 14 weeks since I returned to North Yorkshire from Portugal and Spain, having spent 35 days walking the height of thoseContinue reading ““Forest Fire” 🎶- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions”
A thwarted attempt on the 46km ‘Welsh 3000ers’
“It’s a wonderful life” 🎶– Black (https://open.spotify.com/track/0IWtEFQBwRHaMXZQtGEVcM?) I can’t remember the exact date: it was sometime in late May, early June, when I got the call. One of my 2 sons; it was either Harry or Jake, or maybe both, had told me that they were planning to attempt to walk the ‘Welsh 3000-ers’ withContinue reading “A thwarted attempt on the 46km ‘Welsh 3000ers’”
Gdansk: Poland’s Jewel in the Crown
Gdansk! Wow! We were told it was going to be good, They weren’t wrong! It really is a special city! Since retiring in autumn 2020, my wife Nicky and I, have been fortunate enough to visit 3 of the main cities in Poland: Krakow, Poznan and Wroclaw. All 3 have been stunning visits. This weekContinue reading “Gdansk: Poland’s Jewel in the Crown”
“Another one bites the dust” 🎵 – Queen
Chapter 42 Hola Peregrinos, Welcome to the last chapter of my epic trip up the length of Portugal and a decent slice of north western Spain. I left home 41 days ago and managed to reach my goal of Santiago de Compostella after walking for 23 full days of that total. I’m now sat atContinue reading ““Another one bites the dust” 🎵 – Queen”
