Jo’s Monday walk : Gargrave in the rain

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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?

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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 :

A Walk of an Urban Garden

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 :

Coventry Transport Museum

A dent in the head for poor Woolly?  Oh, dear!

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Something all too familiar to some of us.  Thanks, Jesh!

Rainy Seasons

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?

A day in the life

Enjoy some beautiful frosty leaf patterns with Denzil :

Shapes and patterns in nature

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 :

Morning walk ; Afternoon walk

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 :

Walking the Vintnar Gorge

And one more for luck!  Sophie makes Siena look absolutely stunning!

Night walk in Siena

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!

 

144 comments

  6. Although the skies were grey, everything looks so nice and green. I always love your shots of the sheep, Jo. They seem so curious when you’re around. Thanks for the terrific walk. Your photographs are lovely as always!

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  7. Stone walls, house of bricks, vintage boats with vintage lettering … It’s like a walk back in time. I’d definitely talk that walk with you. Those boats are cool, cool, cool. A date with a canal … Ahihihihi 😀

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  8. You are quite determined to go soldiering on through such a deluge, Jo! And Mick is such a great companion, indulging you and your whimsical walks. I’m sure he loves being pushed to come along on your adventures, though. I like the rainy-day photos, and especially the houseboats. They’re so unusual and full of character. Did you see any signs of life on them?

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    1. The boats where the dog was were almost all occupied, Cathy. It’s a great spot because it’s near to the village for all amenities. It was school hols so probably much quieter there now. The walk to the waterfall was lovely too but I’ll keep that for another day. 🙂

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      1. What a life, living on a houseboat. I wonder if it’s cold? I used to work on a boat (Management Systems International had its offices on 13 boats at one time) and it always seemed cold. Can’t wait to see your waterfall walk. 🙂

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      3. I’m sure you’ll get to it soon enough, Jo. I’m doing blogging stuff between Christmas decorating and shopping. I need to go on a walk today, but I’m in no hurry because it’s ultra cold: -6C right now. Brr.

        Happy holidays, Jo! I know it will be hard and you’ll be missing your dad. But I’m sure you’ll find plenty to be joyful about as well. Love and hugs. xxx 🙂

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      4. -6!!! Have you got snow, Cathy? We’re going to Leedstomorrow for a Magic Lantern Festival and it’s forecast +6. That’s cold enough for me 🙂 Hope you have a lovely Christmas. Have you heard from Adam lately?

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      5. No snow, Jo! Isn’t that a rip-off for it to be so cold and to have no snow? The Magic Lantern Festival sounds marvelous, and you’re right +6 is cold enough! Stay warm.

        We talked to Adam on his birthday, December 7, but I haven’t talked to him since then. He’s still in Hawaii; though he always sounds like he’s having a grand time, I suspect it’s not as grand as all that. Thanks for the Christmas wishes! Same to you, and Happy New Year too. 🙂

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  10. It doesn’t matter how many times I see photos like these, I always marvel at how green England is. It’s so beautiful and lush. I guess the rain will do that for grass!! 🙂 We’ve thought many times about having a canal boat holiday and did some research before our trip in September but a week on a canal boat was so expensive – we decided not to bother. But I would love to stay on one some day.

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    1. Unless you’re a party of 4-6 it’s an expensive option, Carol, and you don’t always want to share that space. You could end up parting friends 😦 But I’ve always wanted to do the Canal du Midi. Think I could talk Jude and Gilly into it? 🙂

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      1. My parents hired a canal boat for a week in Wales about 10 years ago and it wasn’t anywhere near the price they are now. I think we missed the boat on that one. Ha ha!
        I once saw a segment on a television travel show about boating on the Canal du Midi. It looked fantastic. Perhaps I could pop across on my magic carpet and join you.

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  11. Admirable stoicism in the face of the elements Jo! Beautiful set of photos despite the weather and I love the houseboats too (to look at not to live on them!). Wishing you a lovely festive season and happy blogging adventures for 2017! xx 🙂

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  12. I think your grey day is a real treat. Those house boats! I have the sudden urge to downsize and go drifting. I wonder if they acquire the same amount of dust as stay-at-home houses. We have a real gunky grey day on the Edge this a.m.

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  13. Some lovely narrowboats there Jo, although some of them would not make it to Carcassonne! Love that first photo of your companion lurking under the umbrella, especially when you adjust your mouse so that the snowflakes are coming right down on him! Very realistic! Thanks for including my link, much appreciated.

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  14. Born and bred in Skipton so I really enjoyed this walk. I would often walk up Sharp Haw dropping down to Flasby and into Gargrave, lunch at The Swan and then back onto Skipton via the canal and Stirton. I always dreamed of living on the canal, the pace of the barges always suited me.
    Some lovely picks and memories rekindled, thank you!

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  15. There is no bad weather if you’ve got a lovely company. I think you had. I enjoyed canals, they look terrific. How do boats swim through them? They are so narrow, it must be challenging. There is a particular atmosphere there. Calm admiration. Your thoughts are drifting. Well, mine for sure! I enjoyed this walk so much, dear Jo!

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  18. I recognise that lovely smile 🙂 hope you both sang singing in the rain as you walked along the tow path! And as for that wooden house boat, rather like a shed on a raft. Quite extraordinary.

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