'Aysgarth Weekend' - 24 and 25 November 1984

 

The silhouettes in the above picture could be used in a walking club logo, perhaps?

 

This posting stems from a fairly routine weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. You'll be pleased to know that I haven't included all the photos - it wasn't particularly good weather. Nor have I attempted to produce any route maps.

 

'Aysgarth Weekend'

 

Friday (II)

 

Ian (II), Martin (MB), Dave and John were on this trip.

For those who haven't seen Ian since he last appeared in the diary - Easter 1982? - a potted life history since then can be given as:

1983 - fell 600 metres down Monte Rosa and broke my wrist;

1984 - I climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska and then rolled the hire car we had afterwards down a bank.

I wonder if I'm accident prone!

 

Saturday (II)

 

Ian and John arrived at Aysgarth dead on 10 am to find the café closed.

Martin and Dave were late.

At about 10:30 the party set off down the south side of the river, strolling along on a fine, very windy day.

 

 

The highlights were spotting a team out rabbiting with ferrets, and a climb across a stream on a very rickety fence. I was sure the fence was going to fall over when Dave went across. John chickened out of climbing along the fence and splashed across while no one was looking.

 

 

In true D Wynn style, a hydraulic lunch was had in West Witton. Over lunch, Dave and Martin gave a demonstration of how not to play pool and how to chase the black ball around the table without potting it. Neither appeared to know the rules.

The solid part of the lunch was eaten in a convenient nearby shelter in West Witton, before we set off back to Aysgarth.

A heavy squall appeared, but vanished the moment Dave had managed to put his overtrousers on. We wandered back and dived into the tea shop for muffins and tea, then we drove to the campsite in Hawes because the facilities were known to be better there. It was closed, so the facilities were non-existent. After a gastronomic delight of meatballs and beans we set off for the pub.

Dave amazed us all by doing a 2-ft high Fosbury Flop when he fell over a low fence. Luckily the fence was unhurt.

 

Added by MB:

 

Various witterings...

That's an unduly brief 'memoire' from Ian. What about his sponsored parachute jump? and his KIMM performance (10th in the Saturday score event)?

Everybody is tired. John, who had a sleepless night yesterday, is pining for his damaged bike which is his normal substitute for company

Here, the diary contains two pages of in jokes, taking the Mick out of John's bike, his fleas, bicycle love affairs, Martin's employer, and various other risqué comments.

 

Sunday (MB)

 

Adjourned late last night - 10:45. Sound sleep despite a bit of wind and rain. Rose slowly. Conspicuous absence of sausages in D and M's tent. Slithered out of campsite to park opposite café.

 

 

 

Up to Gayle and on to the Roman Road. Bright sun made navigation difficult as visibility was minimal due to glare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On down to Marsett and thence to Semer Water. Ian's navigation was best. Rain started showery, then set in.

 

 

On to the Rose and Crown at Bainbridge. Wm Younger Traditional No3 was dark and sour.

Not so many reminiscences from Ian made for a quieter morning today. No pool table here - no revenge.

 

 

Mandatory lunch stop in bus shelter. I couldn't find my lunch, nor did I get a seat. Had to con the others to get a photo. (Dave was being silly with his rucksack.)

 

 

Return on north side of river. Paths and railway. Very pleasant, especially when the rain had stopped.

Reached Hawes by 4:30 - almost dark. Tea shop very convenient. Lots of ducks, coots, fieldfares, dipper, White dead nettle, Pineappleweed, rabbits grey squirrels.