Magnificent Malham

 Wednesday 14th. June 2023.

                 Magnificent Malham

With glorious weather conditions  in their favour, it was off to Malham Cove for today’s adventure for the Lads, a North Yorkshire beauty spot set in wonderful countryside. It would be a group of five that would make this trip. Getting to the village of Malham is no easy task ,but careful planning by John ensured that he along with Malcolm, Glenn , Colin and Dave arrived at this splendid location a little shaken but not stirred by the driving skills of the minibus driver has he negotiated the narrow country-lanes between Skipton and Malham at sometimes breakneck speeds. We were all looking forward to the return journey with baited breath. Some how we made it safely to the village of Malham arriving there at about 10:30.

It had been an earlier start than normal for the lads, each leaving our homes before 8:00am.in order to catch the 8:56 train from Leeds to Skipton. It was a bright sunny morning with  clear blue skies and just a tad less warmer than previous days.

After escaping the clutches of the mad minibus driver we headed to a nearby cafe in order to purchase sandwiches plus a drink and then collect our thoughts before heading off up the village lane towards the footpath that would eventually lead us to our intended target, that of the splendid formation of Malham Cove. 

We were not to be disappointed has we slowly made our way through the wooden gateways and on to rolling pastures full of grazing sheep and cows.

We were accompanied by many other revellers , they came in various shapes and sizes with a vast difference in ages also , from rather elderly pensioners to school children and babies in pushchairs each and every one admiring the magnificent views. Plenty of people to chat with has we ambled along ,folks from nearby others from further a field , Cambridge and Bristol just to name but a few.

About 40 minutes into our walk a decision was needed as to who would risk taking the more than 400 steps leading them up to further enjoy magnificent views way beyond the cove and out onto open moorland . It would be Glenn and John that took on this challenge while Colin, Malcolm and Dave sat and consumed their sandwiches at leisure sat on rocks by the side of a running stream. It would be sometime before Glenn and John rejoined the gang ,having experienced a rather strenuous climb and decent of those steep steps but worth the enormous effort. Back as a five-some the lads continued a little further along the valley bottom almost up to the face of the cove and wondered at its shear size rising hundreds of feet above them. A few moments were spent taking in view before they began the return journey back towards the village and a well earned drink at the aforementioned cafe.

With the time approaching 1:15 we made our way to the bus stop close to the Buck Inn in order to catch the much dreaded minibus ride returning us to Skipton where we would board the 14:17 train heading back to Leeds. John would be leaving us a his station of Bingley while we rode the whole journey, from the city of Leeds we then took our respective paths home. 

What a great days adventure, glorious weather, magnificent views and of course splendid company to say the least. 

Cheers Everyone 

Saltburn by the Sea

 Wednesday 7th June 2023.                   Saltburn by the Sea

Today the Lads have decided to take a rail journey up to the Tee side region and visit the coastal resort of Saltburn. It’s a journey of just over 2 hours from Leeds if all goes according to plan, but guess what!! plans are made to be unavoidably changed at very short notice regarding the railway companies strategy these days. 

John was first to notice that our intended train had been cancelled, so stood at a bus stop close to his home he began to try and rearrange our schedule, not an easy task with just a phone, but he did his best, ha ha.

Dave was the first person he informed who was able to contact Derek and Glenn, then he called Colin and Brian. The new plan was to catch the 10.07 Edinburgh train leaving Leeds then change at York for a connection to Saltburn, however things were to change yet again.

As the 3 musketeers from Wakefield , who had descended on the railway station in Dewsbury, were given  a different alternative in reaching Saltburn, that was to take the Newcastle bound train which was due in 20 minutes and alight at Darlington then take a local train to Saltburn. At this point Derek decided to inform John of this new proposal only to find out that Colin couldn’t get to Leeds on time to catch this train. The eventual outcome however was that John , Brian and Colin would arrive in Saltburn approximately 25 minutes after the lads from Wakefield, those times being 11:55 and 12:20 which is indeed what happened.

Upon arrival at Saltburn each group headed for a nearby Sandwich shop and ordered a sandwich with a hot drink and slice of cake. With smiles on each of our faces after finally meeting up at this resort it was best foot forward and begin our exploration of this locality, leaving it up to Derek to guide us along.

Before not too long we found ourselves walking along a pathway close to the railway line and a nearby large cluster of allotments, in fact there were a few hundred of these, all being well attended to in one form or another.

We eventually left this location and found ourselves heading through open fields and then an housing estate before making our way towards the beach, once at the beach we rested for a short while before returning along the shoreline back towards the distance pier situated just below the town centre.

Close to the pier is a short promenade which houses a number of brightly coloured beach huts each individually named, a few shops and a couple of cafes one of which served us with a late lunch time meal of fish and chips etc. this was consumed at a table with a splendid view out to sea, great advantage point as we discussed future adventures yet to  be experiencing. 

Over lunch we have decided to try and take an earlier train back to Leeds and beyond, so bidding farewell to the seafront we took a ride in the Tramway car up the steep cliff side and then back towards the railway station. A brief moment spent chatting to the guard ensured we had a trouble free  ride back home.

We eventually arrived back in Leeds about 6:30 pm from here some of us traveled on to Dewsbury, upon reflection today as been full of thrills and spills combined with laughter and excitement.

Cheers Lads