Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Changing Plans
by admin - 18:45 on 03 June 2011
The plan was to say goodbye to the Dales on Thursday morning and head to Northumberland for our last two nights away. But the weather was so good, and there were so many Dales roads left, that we decided to stay.
We did cross briefly into County Durham before we changed our mind but were soon back in Swaledale, where lunch was taken in sun-lashed Muker despite Matchgirl's complaints that her leather trousers no longer fit.
Earlier, we'd taken the single-track road from Askrigg to Reeth, branching off on the back road to Grinton before we got there. This gave us the opportunity to admire the view across Swaledale to Calver Hill, which we did for twenty minutes until Matchgirl noticed a tail protruding from the stones on top of a nearby wall. The tail, we discovered, was attached to what appeared to be a recently deceased stoat.
I've wanted a close look at as stoat for a long time, but not in these circumstances. Whether the corpse was placed there by a mediaeval gamekeeper or a passing walker is unknown.
Although very little notable living wildlife has been seen since our encounter with the owlet, Matchgirl was more than happy today: baby bunnies galore, one of them black, and two sets of pheasant parents accompanied by half-a-dozen scurrying chicks.
Pheasant parenting skills are not impressive. The first group we encountered was crossing the road. When dad saw us he dived into the undergrowth on our right; mum did the same on the left, leaving their offspring scattered all over the carriageway. Good job I stopped, as did the oncoming car. Bird brains.
Our perambulations ended at Askrigg, halfway between Hardraw and Redmire. The only hostelry not displaying No Vacancies signs was the White Rose Hotel, which should have been a clue, but as we were hot and tired we booked in.
The place was acceptable but rather corporate and characterless after our previous, smaller, B&Bs. However, despite its size the hotel didn't offer wi-fi. The manager was most firm about that, even though she has her own. Which is why you're reading about it a little late.
After humming and hawing we decided to stay the second night, but following an uncomfortable breakfast at one of the hotel's doll's house-sized tables in a room as silent as a library we changed our mind and escaped.
This was a good decision, for it allowed us to head north slowly along some fantastic B roads through Teesdale and Weardale where the upland scenery stretches for miles. However, it was so hot we were happy to stop around a hundred miles later at Brandy Bank Guest House in West Woodburn where we received a warm, friendly welcome. They even provide wi-fi – take that, White Rose.
After cooling off for an hour we ventured into nearby Kielder Forest then returned to veg out before the sumptuous dinner that comes with the room. I also had the opportunity to catch up with email, and discover that the Chief Gnome doesn't need me for the next two weeks. However, I also discovered that the third edition of The Bumper Book of Black Isle Snappery is now not far away.
That's just as well. I'm going to need the money.
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