Wednesday 24 April 2024

Roundhay Mansion 

Today’s adventure would take three of us Derek, Mark and Me to Roundhay Park to join up with Tim. Russell would be joining us later at the Mansion. 

Tim was already there when we arrived at 11:20 after we had caught the No. 2 bus from Corn Exchange. Tim had also secured seating at a table with Chesterfield couches and our drinks were brought to us “presque immédiatement“ and we were all interested in catching up with Tim’s health recovery after his fall earlier this year and with his wife’s return to fitness.

Russell then arrived to increase the party from four to five and he soon found a seat which was placed in the Window. 

The conversation flowed as usual and before long it was time for the visitors to leave after over two hours chatting. Tim would have been happy to stay all day. 

We walked with Tim to meet his wife who came to pick him up.

At the end after a very enjoyable afternoon the lads then all made their individual ways home catching the No.12 back into Leeds and then getting their specific buses back home and were still looking forward to their day out in York next Wednesday on the 1st day of May.

Colin Hendrick Ward

Knaresborough

 Wednesday 17 April 2024

Knaresborough 

Today’s adventure would take four of us Brian, Glenn, Mark and Me to Knaresborough, Mark joining the train at Harrogate and apart from a stiff wind the weather stayed bright and sunny.

We left Knaresborough station Brian, Glenn, Mark and Me to join the Main Street turning left at the World’s End Pub. 

We then walked along Waterside in very pleasant surroundings. After a fair walk Colin suggested that we had missed our left turning up to the Castle. Glenn said categorically that it’s further along but Colin was adamant that we’d missed the steps and we should go back as it was time for Colin to eat to stop a severe hypoglycaemic attack. At this point Glenn acceded that he was thinking of the Chapel and not the Castle which after all both began with a letter “C.”

Retracing our steps we made it back to the steps in no more than twenty minutes and made it to the first stage to admire the view and had a photograph taken by a passerby which also had a train crossing the viaduct, an excellent and unexpected result.

On reaching the Castle we made our way towards the Market Square and found a lovely little cafe called The Secret Bakery where we stopped for a bite to eat. Unfortunately they didn’t do soup but they did fantastic sandwiches which we all participated in with homemade bread and sourdough if you fancied it. We spent a good thirty minutes in here putting the world to rights and recalling Thackray’s past then Glenn reminded us that we were catching the 14:07 back to Leeds not the 14:37 as he had a meeting back in Walton and as the Sheriff he had to be there.

We meandered down to the station but still had a few minutes to spare so a good look round the railway shop and a scone with Jam “pour moi” passed a few precious minutes before our train arrived.

The train journey back to Leeds was uneventful but pleasant enough with some spectacular views across the landscape and dropping off Mark at Harrogate Railway Station.

At the end after a very enjoyable day the lads all made their individual ways home and were looking forward to their day out in York on 1st of May with a visit to Roundhay Park Mansion on 24 May sandwiched in between.

Colin Hendrick Ward

Roundhay Roundup

 Wednesday 10th April 2024.                 Roundhay Roundup 

It would be a group of just 4 of the Lads that descended upon the region of Roundhay Park for today’s outing here in the outskirts of Leeds. They will be Colin , John , Mark and Dave making the journey courtesy of the No 12 bus , they boarded it outside the Corn Exchange at about 10:40 it was running a few minutes late. However this was not a problem, some 25 minutes length of journey through the streets of the city found them soon  alighting the bus just outside the entrance gates to the park.

From the bus terminus it was now across the road and onto the pathway leading to the Mansion House Cafe where they spent a short while taking refreshments etc. Upon leaving the Mansion House the lads now took the trail down through the park and on towards one of the lakes situated here in this lovely setting. A decision was now made to continue a circular route along the pathway leading around the edge of Waterloo lake , the underfoot conditions not being too bad considering the amount of rain that as been falling over the last few days. 

Eventually the lads made their way to a lower park entrance gate and then followed the main road for a short distance until they reached the location of Oakwood and the famous clock tower which as been sited there, with the forecasted rain now falling it was a hastily dash towards a nearby bus stop and hop on the No 13 taking them back to the city centre , then each making their respective onward journeys home.

Upon reflection today’s so called roundup was both fun and exhilarating to say the least, plenty of fresh air  to consume with conversation to match.

Cheers Everyone 

Saltaire Saunter

 Wednesday 3rd. April 2024.           Saltaire  Saunter 

As the title suggests today’s outing for the lads took them to the West Yorkshire town of Saltaire , a location steeped in history from a bygone era. But the lads were not here for an history lesson ,instead it was for a stroll along the banks of the river Aire and then a return journey along the towpath of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, this would be a total distance of about 3 to 4 miles approximately.

Today’s group would include Colin, Brian, Glenn and Dave travelling to Saltaire by train, John would travel by bus and meet up with the Lads at the railway station which indeed he did , the time was about 10:50 am. With rain forecast the lads were suitably dressed for the occasion but fortunately it was only a few brief showers that fell upon them during this adventure. Their outward journey was strewn with many rainwater puddles from an overnight downpour which hampered their progress a little, the return leg was less of a challenge as part of the towpath now includes a long stretch of tarmac surface etc.

After about 90 minutes of walking the lads found themselves heading towards the Boathouse Cafe for a lunchtime meal, which on this occasion they all found quite satisfactory so to speak. Over lunch as per usual the conversation turned to future plans and the prospect of either different locations to visit or return to previous places that the lads have visited and enjoyed, several venues came to mind as you would expect. York, Scarborough, Whitby, Hebden Bridge, Filey, Lytham , Knaresbrough plus many others.

With some kind of planning put in place the lads now left the comfort of the Boathouse Cafe and took the short walk towards the railway station with John making his way to the bus stop, all for their intended homeward travel arrangements etc.

Yet another enjoyable day out with the Lads 

Cheers everyone.