Friday, 16th July 2021
Full sunshine, 19C, with a promise of 24C.
Today is scheduled as a "cycling day".
We cycle to Hebden Bridge, via NCN66, then, on to Todmorden, still following NCN 66 and the Rochdale Canal.
It is possible to continue to Manchester, only approximately another 20 miles, over the Penines, from Todmorden, but, I cannot convince Kathleen that this is "a good idea". So, just over 13 miles today.
Not sure what I expected of Todmorden, but, it is rather scenic.
Wednesday, 14th July 2021
No overnight rain, to the best of my knowledge. The morning starts very similar to yesterday, dry, mild (16C), but overcast. The forecast is for sunshine with cloud and 21C.
With a coffee (and bacon sandwich) stop at, The Secret Cafe (turn off the canal, at bridge 4, and go into what looks like a Victorian Factory area (which it probably was!), there are lots of small Units, one of which is the Secret Cafe, very pleasant.
Onwards to Hebden Bridge Town, and then, return to Hebden Bridge CAMC Site, via our walking route of yesterday.
Just over 11 miles in total, and, we even manage to cycle up the hill, from Mytholmroyd to the Campsite.
Thursday, 15th July 2021
Sunny start to the day, and 17C, with a promise of 21C.
I have agreed to give Kathleen a rest from the cooking today, and, we plan to "eat out".
It is an interesting proposition, since, while Kathleen has prepared breakfast each morning, ie, put cereal in a bowl, I have cooked/prepared the "main meal", each day so far. But, after 34 years, I know when to keep my mouth shut!
Finding somewhere to eat turns out to be a problem!
A combination of Google and reviews of this site, suggest that The Robin Hood Inn or The Hinchcliffe Arms are promising. Accordingly we walk (steadily uphill) to Cragg Vale. The Robin Hood is open, but, not serving food until late afternoon. We walk on to The Hinchcliffe Arms, which turns out to be down a very steep hill, only to find that it is "under new management" and will not re-open for another two weeks.
Plan B, we walk back up the hill from the Hinchcliffe Arms, and then, down the hill to The Shouder of Mouton, at Mytholroyd. No joy here, pub is open, but, staff have failed to turn up, so, no food!
We have now walked almost five miles, and, still have not found a pub serving food!
An elderly chap, enjoying a coffee, outside a coffee shop, by the bridge, suggests The Dusty Miller, we try that, closed!
We give up and take the bus to Hebden Bridge. At last, we find food being served.
After a pleasant lunch, we walk back, along the Rochdale Canal, and enjoy Magnums from the Sainsburies in Mytholmroyd.
We have walked approximately nine miles today!
Monday, 12th July 2021
It has poured with rain overnight. This morning, it is a mild 16C, but, still persisting down. One consolation, it is rain at home too!
With rain, rain, and more rain, we had a lazy day of reading.
I am now about a third of the way through (there are 800+ pages!), Barack Obama's Memoir book "A Promised Land", he has become President, and, the great sub-prime mortgage financial crisis is in full swing. Still cannot quite make my mind up about the guy, he "seems" OK, but, I constantly remind myself, he is a Politician.
This the first book I have read, using an eReader (a Kobo Libra H20). It is working out better than I thought it would, still not quite a "book experience". Big advantage is that books can be bought/exchanged online, and, there is an appreciable space and weight saving. Pleased I went for the 7" screen model, rather than the 6" screen, indeed, the 8" screen may well be even better. Like, Barack, the jury is still out, on if I think it is "a good thing" or not. Time will tell.
Tuesday, 13th July 2021
Even more rain, overnight, but, morning dawns, mild 16C (with 19C promised), overcast, but, dry.
We followed the cycle path/walking route (NCN 66), to Hebden Bridge, and, return by a slightly different route along the Rochdale Canal towpath.
Hebden Bridge is approximately 3 miles away, so, we must have walked about a mile, along the Rochdale Canal, towards Manchester (24 miles away, according to the milestones).
Hebden Bridge is a pleasant little place, presumably, once a thriving industrial place (in the days of weaving, clog making etc), but, now, a "heritage centre", just about every shop is a coffee shop/craft shop/antique shop/cafe, I didn't notice a single "real" shop, ie, one selling meat, groceries, etc.
A picnic lunch, in the park, followed by coffee and cake, in one of the many coffee shops.
We then walked back via the Rochdale Canal towpath.
For traditions sake, the usual garden photographs, although, given that we will only be away for a week, Claire should not need to cut the lawns or, otherwise act as head gardener.
I usually do just a single photograph, but, this year we have some major changes in the garden.
Yesterday, we returned home after a cycling outing, to find that neighbour on the left (David), had a chap "trimming" his conifers. Actually, trimming is a mild description, they have had at least a metre chopped off.
Because of the direction of sunshine, etc, they were never really an issue to us, but, reducing
In addition, because, by agreement, I used to trim David's conifers every couple of years, from our side, this will mean I barely have to climb a ladder to do so, and, as Kathleen never tires of reminding me, I am getting too old to climb ladders etc.
Friday, 11th June 2021
Sunny with cloud, 24C, but, with a stiff breeze. Despite the cloud and the breeze, it is very warm.
A combination of having cycled a lot this week, plus the breeze, means we opt to walk.
we manage to make a more or less circular walk, to Ludham Bridge, then, follow the river and footpath to How Hill.
Brief stop for picnic lunch and ice cream.
Then follow a small lane to Johnson Street (Ludham), then back to Ludham Bridge.
How Hill is an interesting place, a mooring place (free) for people cruising the broads,
Donations accepted of course, and, there are items for sale, (ice cream, guide books, "novelties"). But, unusual, in my experience, to find something so attractive, in a tourist area, which is not "cashing in". Am I growing cynical in my old age?
This being Norfolk, obligatory photograph of windmill, and swan. Swan would not pose correctly, so, I didn't give it any bread.
Saturday, 12th June 2021
An odd day today. Forecast is only for 19C, and, according to my phone, it is 19C, with a stiff breeze, but, it still feels very warm.
The rest of the day a combination of lazing in the sun, and packing away in preparation for leaving tomorrow.
Sunday, 13th June 2021
A bright and sunny morning, 24C plus is the forecast.
Kathleen's traffic jam beating plan has us up at 7:00am.
Breakfast is taken just north of Kings Lynn.
Approximately 270 miles to home, and, Kathleen's plan more-or-less works out, there are no holdups in the road works (I use that term loosely, no work is evident), on the A47, but, we do encounter a few stop-start stretches on the A1M, sheer volume of traffic it would appear.
Wednesday, 9th June 2021
Clear blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, and 26C.
After a short distance on the A1062 from the site, we are on small lanes, through Horning, and on to Neatishead.
We don't know it yet, but, the small lanes will be our (or my) undoing.
The village sign is a bit neglected, almost missed it, with all of the growth on the verge obscuring it.
There is a much more imposing "traditional" sign, in the village centre, we discover.
A couple of locals (women or a certain age), who appear to be just sitting having a chat, but, have the prime shady seats, kindly move, to give us visitors the prime seats.
Surprise, surprise, one of them has connections to Newcastle (son went to university there). She is a fund of (local) knowledge, explaining to us how the shop was bought, and is run, by the community, mostly volunteers. While we are there, a large wagon arrives (how did he get along the small lane we rode along?), and delivered two large pallets, full of various stock. The driver drops the pallets off, and leaves. The two elderly ladies set to to move the stock into the shop, when I offer to help, I am told "re-enforcements" are en-route, and, sure enough, a few minutes later, a small group of villagers arrive to help move the stock into the shop.
We set off, to retrace our steps, or, should I say peddles?
At some point in the labyrinth of small lanes, without signposts, my memory would appear to have failed me, because we emerge onto a main road, which I was expecting), but, I am not sure it is the correct main road (Nrwich Road), or, if it is, we are at the correct junction.
My (faulty) memory says turn right, then left
We come to this rather magnificent church (Parish Church of Beeston St Lawrence), by the roadside, at the brow of a hill.
All very interesting, but, it proves we are going the wrong way, we definitely did not pass this, on our outward journey. That, I would have noticed, and remembered!
To make matters worse, I have come out, without my phone, so, cannot consult the all knowing Google.
We eventually emerge from School Road, at another junction, three choices (four, if you include the one we came from), and, no idea which one to choose.
Kathleen's phone is brought into action, we (I)
We stop off en-route, in Horning, for ice cream, and, to sit in the shade, watching the boats go by.
Eventually, we return to the campsite (Ludham Bridge).
A grand total of just over 16 miles, 5.5 miles there, so, by a deduction, 11.5 miles back.
Kathleen is gracious enough to say she enjoyed it.
Thursday, 10th June 2021
The forecast says sunny and 25C, but, what we actually have is sunny with cloud, and only 23C.
There is a partial eclipse of the sun today, hopefully, the cloud cover will not be so much that we don't see it!
It does cloud over, and we don't see the eclipse.
Basically, a lazy day.
We peddle along to Horning (6 miles, there and back), for lunch.
Our first choice, The Swan, is full.
Second choice, The New Inn, we get a table. Another indifferent meal. It would appear Norfolk is not the place to come if you want a decent meal and a bit of service.
`Sun returns by 16:00, so, lazing in the sun follows.
A bit of wildlife action, on my Trail Camera.
Monday, 7th June 2021
Norfolk Broads CAMC Site (N52.70036 E1.51371)
Cloudy start, although, 17C, soon sunny and 21C.
An exploratory cycle ride to Ludham (about 2 miles away, but, just under 6, with our exploring).
As we left the site, were behind two much younger cyclists (middle 50's at most, I would guess), both on electric bikes. After about half a mile, they stopped to let us pass, because, and I quote, we were going too fast for them. Not bad for two pensioners 73/74 years old ;)
We discover two pubs, which will require further investigation, The Dog Inn is nearest and walkable. The Kings Arms is in Ludham village, a bit further, but, cyclable or walkable.
Things must come in twos here, because, there are two shops. Shops have basic, but, not fresh fruit/vegetable. We do note a sign for someone selling fruit and vegetable, but, I suspect, it is from a garden or allotment, something else to investigate.
We also discover a place called Womak Staithes. There is a shop, jokingly (I assume), called the Big Shop, a rather scenic area for boats to tie up, and a couple of small campsites, one a CAMC CL, Womak Water, the other a Camping and Caravan Club CS, Manor Lodge.
After lunch, and, an hour or two lazing in the sun, the exploration continues.
Not. exactly a supermarket, but, rather, someone's garden.
There are a few cabbages, cauliflower and tomatoes. Perhaps, you have to be here earlier in the day?
We press-on along the lane, which is an alternative route to Ludham, a little longer I suspect, but, quieter and probably a good bet when cycling.
Tuesday, 8th June 2021
Norfolk Broads CAMC Site (N52.70036 E1.51371)
Relaxing with a coffee, not in bad shape after approximately 17 miles, in the heat, two 73/74 year olds, on "real bikes" (ie no batteries).
