E by gum it’s Eccup

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Wednesday 23 February 2022

Eccup Reservoir Circular. 

It was a cold and blustery morning as Colin left home to catch the 10:40 to Trinity where he would alight at 11:02 just in time for the 11:07 No 7A to The Avenue and terminus at Alwoodley arriving at 11:50 where I would begin my solo walk. 

After a quick chat with the First Bus Driver who pointed out to me the road at the top as Alwoodley Lane. I set of looking for Goldrick Lane which I located almost immediately. 

Setting off down this Lane which is adjacent to the reservoir all the way down to the Lodge at the bottom. 

This part of the walk took about 35 minutes and is ostensibly down hill and definitely not uphill by any stretch of the imagination. There were some muddy parts but not as bad as I had expected. At this point this is where we encounter unrestricted views of “Eccup Reservoir” and will be the backdrop for our picnic next Wednesday. 

To the right of the Lodge is a tarmac road and after consultation with a dog Walker who told me that this road belongs to Yorkshire Water and is open to walkers for a quick route back to Harrogate Road and takes a steady twenty minutes climb before arriving at this busy road. 

On exiting the Yorkshire Water site we take a right turn onto the path towards the bus stop back to Leeds with another twenty minute walk taking us past Leeds Grammar School where I crossed over to navigate Wigton Lane towards the bus stop. 

The walk took about 90 minutes but combined with a picnic and bus travel to and from leeds would account for three to four  hours before arriving back in Leeds. 

Another great day out proving over and over again you don’t need to travel far to enjoy yourselves even if you’re on your own!

-- 

Colin Hendrick Ward

Stormy Scarborough

 Wednesday 16th February 2022.              Stormy Scarborough 

What would be in store for the Lads adventure today, a few weeks ago some of the lads took advantage of a reduced train fare to the East coast resort of Scarborough, a favourite haunt of the lads.

Well true to form the weather conditions for this particular outing were dire to say the least. A storm named Dudley was about to unleash it’s wild windy gust of in excess of 40 mph. To the northern part of the country. Anyhow the tickets had been purchased and the Lads concerned were feeling brave, them being Colin, John and Dave , Allan would be meeting up with them at Scarborough. Many train cancellations were apparent on the morning they were due  to leave Leeds railway station ,causing a few problems for John and Dave in their attempt to get to Leeds, but they did prevail and joined Colin aboard the 9:27 on platform 16 duly bound for Scarborough. Just over an hour and a half later they were met by Allan. The actual weather conditions in Scarborough at that point were not too worrying for the Lads . 

So off they began on today’s journey around the resort, with the direction of their normal route changed somewhat, they have decided to approach the North Bay Area via the old streets of the town, but first however calling in at a cafe recommended by Allan, it is situated in the so called Market Vaults which are underneath the old market hall. What a delightful surprise it turned out to be, Allan was on first name terms with the owners,  so of course they were pleased to met us all, especially when we kept bursting into song at the drop of the hat, which is normal for us. We did get some good reviews which lead to an elderly gentleman joining in with our conversation and adding some music questions of his own. Lil supplied us with our breakfast requirements and we did all really enjoy all of this new experience.

From this point we now set off in the direction of the Old Church on the hill ,via the old streets leading us there.

Once at a vantage  viewing point overlooking the North Bay the weather conditions turned foul, so we had to contend with very gusty winds and driving rain , however this spell on inclement weather only lasted for a short time, enough for us to descend by the pathway down onto Marine Drive and part way along it until the really bad weather conditions returned, the last few hundred yards proved somewhat difficult for some members of our team. The Lads did eventually reach the safety of the  Outlook fish and chips restaurant situated in the harbour area and enjoyed a lunch time meal whilst trying to dry off. 

Some time later with the wind and rain battering them, the Lads now headed for the funicular tram that would transport them up to the cliff top, but alas this was not running , much to the lads dismay, so it was a really tough and arduous climb up the many many steps to reach our goal, half hour later the Lads had reached the railway station in plenty of time for to catch the 15:32 train heading for Leeds. Saying farewell to Allan and thanking him for the introduction to the market vault cafe. Once aboard the train it was a smooth journey back to Leeds and hopefully the rest of their individual journeys home. However it would be John who would experience some difficulties in getting to his home. 7:15 pm to be exact.

Looking Back, this was a tough outing covering almost 5 miles but nevertheless a most enjoyable one.

Cheers Lads.

 

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

 9th February 2022.          Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Today’s outing will see four of the Lads travel to this picturesque setting on the fringes of the village of Bretton ,which is situated on the very edge of the West Yorkshire Boundary south of the city of Wakefield.

This small group will consist of Colin and John travelling by means of Train and Bus, while Derek and Dave have made their way by car. A meeting time of around 11:30 as been scheduled and that is what duly happened. The 96 bus dropping off John and Colin at the designated stop where the other 2 lads met them. From here is was few hundred yards to the entrance of the sculpture park and the payment kiosk. Fees paid and off they set on this a new venture for Colin and John, Dave and Derek have made previous visits in the past .

The weather conditions for this adventure are favourable with sunny intervals but a rather stiff breeze to contend with at first, the Lads took the pathway taking them over the dam wall and along the far side of the larger lake and into a more sheltered woodland area. Different features greeting them as they ambled along. One particular observation was that of a large group of Herons nesting in some tall trees on an island in the middle of the lake, over two dozen were counted.

From this point the Lads ventured on crossing  over the shallow end of the lake by means of some rather large stepping stones. Eventually reaching the Cascade Bridge that separates the two lakes, from here they took the pathway leading them away from the water and on into parkland in which many various forms of sculptures have been placed, with lunchtime approaching the decision to make their way to the cafe

 

situated at the top end of the park was made, eventually reaching this location about 1:30. A lunch time meal of Boston Beans was ordered by all the lads who sat and enjoyed this in the comfort of pleasant vistas of the surrounding countryside.Meals consumed it was now time to head for the bus stop and take the 14:35 bus returning 3 of the Lads back in the direction of Wakefield and then their respective journeys home.

Dave making his way back towards the car park at the other end of the sculpture park and then his relatively short journey home.

Yet another great day out with the Lads 

Cheers Everyone.

Saltaire Saunter

 2nd. February 2022.                 Saltaire Saunter 

For today’s adventure the lads have decided to visit the West Yorkshire town of Saltaire and take a rather pleasant 5 mile circular walk, which will include woodland and the nearby canal pathways. Three of the Lads will get there by means of the railway, that’s Brian, Colin and Dave, John meeting up with them at the station.It will be the 10:26 train out of Leeds arriving at Saltaire some twenty minutes later.

Upon leaving the railway station they first called in at a nearby cafe to collect a lite bite to eat and drink before commencing their walk down the road and over the canal bridge and into the park , where statues of the renowned founder of this town have been erected ie, Sir Titus Salt, along with other artefacts from that era.

The Lads carried on walking through this parkland which included formal gardens and avenues of specie tall trees. Upon leaving the park the lads now found themselves along side a roadway that would eventually lead them to the old coach way bound for Milner Fields, a place synonymous with the Salts family.

This old coach way was steadily leading them up hill to the South Gate House of the former estate which once included a magnificent and rather impressive mansion house built by Sir Titus for his son. Only ruins of this structure are visible now as the building was left to decay and fall into disrepair due to tragic circumstances that fell upon its various residents. Much of the ornate stonework was taken away at some point and used in the restoration of Salts Mill another legacy left by Sir Titus .

After a short while searching the ruins the Lads rejoined the drive way that would lead them to the North Gate House and onto Primrose Lane, not before having a brief conversation about the former building with a dear old lady named Maureen. She told the lads of a short cut path from Primrose Lane that would take the lads back towards the canal in the valley bottom and then return them back along the towpath into Saltaire once back in the town it was time to  have a bite of something to eat sat in the small park opposite the takeaway cafe. With lunch time over it was back to the station for Colin,Brian and Dave to take the 14:12 train returning them back to Leeds, John took a bus ride to his home.

All in all yet another great time spent with the Lads ,

sorry about the order of the photos 

Cheers Everyone.

Appointment with the Aircraft

 Wednesday 26th January 2022.          Appointment with the Aircraft

The weather forecast brought about a change of plans for today’s adventure, originally the Lads had pencilled in a return visit to Ribblehead, but unfortunately the weather conditions for that location were not favourable at all. So plan B was put into action, this would be a rail journey to the South Yorkshire town of Doncaster and visit the Aircraft Museum situated close bye. John ,Colin and Brian are taking the 10:21 train out of Leeds with Dave boarding the same train at Sandal/ Agbrigg, they should arrive at Doncaster shortly after 11am. From here they will take the 55 bus that will travel the short distance across town and towards the Dome entertainment centre , from this point it was about a 10 minutes walk  to the Museum . Upon arrival  they soon found themselves inside the entrance office and chatting to the volunteers helping out here at the attraction

. Fees paid then off the lads went on their tour of this quite enthralling exhibition , which included most-of the various aircraft in all their shapes and forms from the different eras of aviation and the role they played in its development. At one point the Lads were given a short insight into history of this particular establishment by one of the volunteers, full of very interesting facts to say the least, didn’t realise the airfield here at Doncaster played such a significant part in the defence of this part of the country during the First World War.

The tour of the museum took the lads just over 2 hours to complete and at the end of it ,they all were truly glad that they had made the decision to visit this establishment and experience all of it’s displays.

Now for the return journey back to the town centre, but not before taking lunch, which to be honest was a low point of their adventure to Doncaster, Asda Cafe is not to be recommended. Back in the town the Lads had quite a few minutes to spare so they took a brief look around the Frenchgate Shopping Centre and were amazed at the shear size of it. From here it was off to platform 6 and their respective journeys home.

Another great day out with the Lads 

Cheers.