Clithero Camping

Moody

The weather has been pretty poor for the last couple of weeks, and we were preparing for a wet weekend as we set off on Friday afternoon. The weather forecast had said that Saturday would be the best day, but it still might rain. 


First job when we arrived at the Caravan and Camping Club Camp Site by the river Ribble at Clithero was puncture repairs. Both kids had flat tyres on their bikes. I soon repaired everything, looks like they had both run over hawthorn branches and the thorns had stuck in the tyres!


After tea me and the lads went for a quick walk with Toddie down by the river. There are some railings on a ramp used as disabled access to the river. Jack and Finlay put these to great use practising Free Running! I kept asking them to be careful, and they kept themselves entertained for an hour!

Great Mitton

River Ribble

View from Castle

Saturday was overcast but dry. We set off on a walk along the River Ribble, heading south to Little Mitton. The kids did a couple of Geocaches along the way. The path turned out onto a road that we followed away from the river. We made out way back through woodland and arrived back at the campsite for some lunch.

The Keep!

In the afternoon we walked into Clithero, it was a busy afternoon and the Market was in full swing. There was a display of Owls, Jack and Finlay enjoyed looking at these. The imposing Castle/Keep drew our attention and we headed up the hill to explore the ruin. Finlay has a phobia of castles! And was uncertain about looking around, heaven knows why he's got such a daft hang up. We coaxed him to look more closely and he soon settled down and thought it was ace! 


Finlay needed a new scooter so we found one in the shops and headed back to the van for tea.

Free Runners!!!

Spent the evening in the Park adjacent to the camp site.

Sunday morning brought bad weather, it was chucking it down. I only got out of the van to disconnect the electric, and we headed home. 

It had been a good weekend, Clithero is a place we've passed through many times, so it's nice to have spent a little more time looking around.

George's Day Parade - Bradford

Beavers and Cubs attend the St George's Day celebration each year in Bradford City centre. Both Jack and Finlay were involved this year. They both really enjoy going each week to do all the activities, however they weren't that keen on doing the march. We explained that part of the responsibility of going to Cubs and Beavers meant that they had to do some things that they didn't want to do.


The day comprised of meeting in Centenary Square in front of the City Hall, march to the Cathedral, the kids sit through a service, they then marched back to the square. 


It was very busy all the local Scout, Cub and Beaver groups around Bradford were attending. There was also a couple of Bands, Queensbury Scout Band being one of them.


Just before the march to the Cathedral started the heavens opened, everyone got soaked! Thankfully the Queensbury leaders were organised and distributed matching rain coats for all the kids, Jack like a clown didn't want to wear his so he got wet through!

Soon the march was under way, the kids all went into the Cathedral for the service and we headed off for an all day breakfast!

After the service everyone marched back into the square by 1:30pm. Jack and Finlay had managed to stay awake throughout the service, but couldn't tell us anything about who spoke or what was said!


The weather did rather spoil things, but it still was well attended. It felt a little dated and more 1950's than 21st century, but why not celebrate St George's day!

Andrea - Overgate 10k Run

Another run for Andrea, now she's a Halifax Harrier it's getting more serious. We all went down to watch her run the Overgate 10k at Copley, it's a relatively flat course along the canal and in the valley bottom. Kept the kids occupied with a couple of Geocaches on the canal.


It took Andrea 55 minutes and 10 seconds, she wasn't happy and hoped for a better time. Just 'run out of puff'. There's always a next time.

Whitby Camping

Whitby - Like Lowry

Loaded the van up and set off by 10am, initially we made good time but as we passed York on the A64 the traffic ground to a halt, and we spent an hour queuing, finally we made it to Malton. Called in at Morrisons, had some lunch did some shopping, and set off again.



We soon found our camp site at Hawsker, Long Leas Farm, very simple camping it's a field beside the farm. I unloaded the bikes and we set off on the near by cycle track to Whitby. It's a really safe route on a disused railway. The track goes from Whitby all the way to Scarborough. Jack and Finlay headed straight to Toymaster and spent their holiday money on Airfix models and Lego!


On Saturday we went the other way on the bike track and headed to Robin Hoods bay. The weather improved as the day went on and we made the most of the settled weather. We spent time on the beach, had some Fish and Chips before heading back. Finlay did well on his bike and didn't complain all day.

Whitby Harbour

Robin Hoods Bay

Sea Views

Sunday we arranged to meet some friends who were B&Bing near by, we spent the day in Whitby, we went on a boat trip and the kids went on the steam bus. At the end of the day we went for a meal at Moutreys Italian restaurant, really good food and good company.

On a Train

Monday was 'Train Day' ,Got the steam train (The Green Knight) from Grosmont over to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Had some lunch before returning for a look around the yard at Grosmont. Got to see the Class A4, Sir Nigel Gresley, a nice train, having seen Malard at York a couple of years ago it was cool to see this one!


The weather was great when we were at Robin Hoods Bay, but most of the time it was overcast ANC threatening rain.

Walk to Shibden Park and onto Halifax

Looking Back Towards Queensbury

When I was little the first place I went without my parents was Shibden Park. Mum and Dad thought Lea and me were 'down the valley' playing, however we'd followed the stream down to Stump Cross and found our way into Shibden Park. I was probably 8 or 9 and lea 6 or 7. These days parent who let their kids do this sort of thing would probably get into trouble, but the perceived 'Stranger Danger' wasn't an issue back then. I sometimes wish our kids had this type of freedom, it certainly made me more independent at an early age!





The nice thing about this walk is it's mostly down hill, we came back from Halifax on the Bus. Walking down the lane, through Hanging Royd we headed past the 'cross becks' and over the bridge, walking by the holly bushed and down the track, back onto tarmac at Simm Carr Lane. Today we didn't stop at Shibden Mill Inn, but carried on past the pub and onto the track that follows the valley bottom. We crossed the stream again, doing a Geocache to keep the kids occupied.

Halifax from Above Stump Cross

Crossing the busy road at Stump Cross was a tricky business. In the park the kids has an ice cream and climbed around in the playground for a while. The daffodils are looking great at the moment, but the trees are still bear, and a long way from their summer best.


We left the park via the exits above the hall and header along the road side and dropped down into Halifax. The bus stop is on North Bridge, after a short wait we we're heading back home. £8.50 on a Sunday for the bus fair was a bit steep. - Spot the tight Yorkshire man!