I did tell you last week that my skies aren’t always blue? Sometimes you just have to carry on and do it. August in England- you never can tell what’s in store! My companion’s still smiling, so grab a mac and come with me to Gargrave. What’s a little rain between friends?
It’s a lovely village, but I’m not staying long. I hop over a stile in a stone wall and off across the field, even though that sky does look a bit ominous. I have a date with a canal. I expect it will appreciate a little more water! The sheep don’t seem terribly bothered, so why should we?
I do seem to have encountered a lot of sheep this summer. You might remember that I spent an anniversary weekend in the village of Skipton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Gargrave is situated just 4 miles north west of Skipton, and I had in mind a 3 and a half mile walk to take in a few locks. The Leeds and Liverpool canal and the River Aire both pass through the village, as does the Pennine Way, so perhaps you can understand my enthusiasm, despite the dreary weather.
Halfway across the field the mild drizzle turns to a downpour. Nothing for it but to plod on, hoping to reach the shelter of a few trees. I always seem to get the giggles at such moments. Not so the other half, whose frown was growing deeper by the minute. With some relief, I spot the first lock, through the trees. A cheery lock keeper bids us “good morning!”. “I’m paid to get wet” he says, stoically.
Fortunately the rain has eased again and I stop to admire the lock keeper’s cottage. Imagine, if you will, a bright Summer’s day.
We cross over an old stone bridge and a pop of colour from a patch of tiny thistles catches my grey-weary eyes. These are Bank Newton locks.
Can you see what lies ahead? I will try not to bore you rigid with houseboats, but I do have a bit of a fascination with them.
One of the highlights of this walk was a small aqueduct, carrying the canal over the river. It was a first for me. Not very spectacular to look at but an experience in itself. I am full of admiration for the people who made these canals.
Happily, at this point a glimmer of sunshine appears in the sky. I don’t suppose you’ll be able to see it, but it puts a smile back on the husband’s face. And then we come upon a very strange craft!
One of the things I love about houseboats is the creativity of the people who live on, or near, them. We’re almost at the end of our walk so I’ll spare you any more lock details. You might want to observe a stately swan though, and I’m pretty sure I have an irresistible dog for you.
Gargrave has a very charming website with a choice of walks around the village. You could do much worse than follow one of them, and hopefully you’ll stay dry. This is the walk that I did.
‘What! No cream tea?’ I hear your outraged cry! We drove onwards to Malham, where the rain was once again a deluge, and huddled in the corner of a cramped cafe. Determined to see something of the mighty limestone crags, I persuaded the long suffering one to a short walk to Janet’s Foss. No need to feel sorry for him. We were homeward bound and, as we crested the valley, sun beamed down upon us. The scarecrow festival at Kettlewell more than made up for any disappointments. Time to put the kettle on?
I know time is a little tight right now, but please do visit the new folks on here, or at least bookmark them for later? So much work goes into these posts. I’d hate you to miss them. Huge thanks to all you for walking with me each week. Details are, as always, on my Jo’s Monday walk page. Just click on the logo above.
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I have some great mates around here! Thanks, Jude, for reminding me how very lovely Norwich is :
Norwich Part 1 : History and Architecture
Amy joins us with an extremely elegant walk this week :
Geoff usually comes up with something different, and you’ll enjoy this :
Thomas Hardy and why he was miserable # walking
Next, a shout out for my birthplace, from Lady Lee :
A dent in the head for poor Woolly? Oh, dear!
Jo’s-Monday-Walk-Indented-Head
Something all too familiar to some of us. Thanks, Jesh!
Can we have a big welcome please for Lisa, from Israel? She’s new to my walks :
The Jerusalem Model (you may need to scroll down a little)
“I read the news today, oh boy!… ” Those Beatles again, or my friend Drake?
Enjoy some beautiful frosty leaf patterns with Denzil :
Jaspa has a rare find this week. Seeing’s believing!
Walk on the Ocean Floor at Hopewell Rocks, Canada
Here’s value for money. Two walks for the price of one, from Peta :
And I’d like to share a very beautiful post I found. Please say hello to Vanessa :
Sandankyo Gorge, Hiroshima- Wandering off the Beaten Track in the Mountains of Western Japan
And another great find! I love sharing walkers that are new to me. Happy to introduce Ostend Nomad :
And one more for luck! Sophie makes Siena look absolutely stunning!
And, getting the Christmas walks rolling, who could be better than Becky?
Beginning to feel like Christmas
That’s it for another week. Maybe I’ll be in Christmas mode next week. Take good care of each other!
restlessjo 
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Jo
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Thanks a lot and love to Monkey 🙂
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I am impressed by your walks – the commentary and the photography. And also, as one who doesn’t walk enough, by the distance you cover. 😉
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I hate being bored on a walk so I always have incentive to look out for interesting things. Thank you so much for the kind words. I’ve enjoyed your company 🙂
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Beautiful.. so nice to travel with you in pictures.
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Very nice to have your company too 🙂 🙂
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For a brief moment while the snow theme fell across that first photograph I was wondering if my computer had managed to turn a static image into a magical video! Love the capture of that gorgeous white swan on your rainy perambulation, though like many readers, I too am missing a hot cuppa and some jam covered goodies. Have a wonderful holiday season and the best to you and yours!
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We do avidly watch ‘Strictly’, AG, so a twirl or two might have been on the cards (but it would more likely have come from me 🙂 He’s no showman, but he does have a lovely smile). Thank you for your festive visit. Wishing you peace and love this Christmas.
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😏 Who needs a showman? It’s always the smile that does the trick….
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A bit of poetry this week https://geofflepard.com/2016/12/14/december-poem-walking/
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‘Hark, hark, the lark’ springs to mind, Geoff but I’m sure it’s not that. 🙂 🙂 Thank you!
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Thanks for the walk in the rain Jo. Here’s my contribution this week, a walk in the Panier of Marseille – on art street:
http://www.pret-a-vivre.com/2016/12/marseille-colorful-panier.html
Cheers,
BiTi
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Thanks a lot, Biti. Popping over soon to wish you Christmas joy 🙂
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Oh, how wonderful! This takes me right back… I did one of my Duke of Edinburgh Award hikes around Malham, ahem, quite a few years ago! Thank you for the lovely welcome. The link is perfect and takes you straight to my day in Jerusalem.
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That’s great, Lisa. 🙂 I’m so glad you joined in. Looking forward to more of Israel. Very different from the Dales! Wishing you a joyful festive season.
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Wonderful walk, Jo – so inspiring… 🙂
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Thanks, darlin 🙂 And for the link too!
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Beautiful photos although it rained. Sunshine and rain photos differ from each other’s and many cases in a positive way.
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It takes all moods to make a world, doesn’t it, Sartenada? Makes us appreciate the blue skies more 🙂
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Canals are so dreamy, even in the rain! A delight to see this walk here and the photos of the locks bring back wonderful memories of canal trips. Isn’t there something so idyllic about lock keepers cottages, it’s the location I guess. Glad your husband cheered up with the sun!
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If I can’t have a houseboat, Annika, I’d settle for a lock keeper’s cottage, but I’d have my nose permanently pressed against the window. 🙂 🙂
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Just make sure that is where the table is located for all those scones with afternoon tea!
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Ooh, lovely cheesy ones, warm with melting butter, please 🙂
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I love that you are obsessed with houseboats Jo, as I love them too and get to see all your wonderful photos of them…and that brown wooden one, well, that is something! Rain or shine, I love walking with you…but glad the sun came out for you as you headed home 🙂 xxx
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Hi Sherri 🙂 Are you ‘on track’ for Christmas? I’m sauntering towards it with no great conviction but the tree’s up 🙂 And I took a wreath to the cemetery today for Dad. Hugs, sweetheart!
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Ahh…bless you, lovely for your dad. I am getting there, need to with everyone coming home for 5 days and doing all the Christmas cooking, ha! Like you, the tree is now up so that must mean I’m on track. We’ll be missing our dads…thinking of those happy times…love & hugs to you dear Jo… 🙂 ❤
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This was one of my favourite walks. For our next adventure, my husband and I plan to buy a narrowboat and cruise the canals of England, Scotland and Wales — now all we have to do is sell our current boat! My walk for the week was through a park decorated in Christmas lights.
http://www.svcambria.com/2016/12/lights-word-of-week.html
Stephanie @ SV CAMBRIA
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It sounds like a brilliant plan, Stephanie. Wish I was coming along. Thanks for the walk 🙂
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