Bowland Bridge

Cowmire Hall, in the winster Valley

A short walk on an improving day from Bowland bridge in the Winster valley. We were treated to a couple of heavy showers as we set off, but the breeze soon cleared the dark clouds away and the temperature lifted as the sun shone. The mainly field paths were very wet after the recent heavy rain. Waterproof trainers probably not the wisest choice, although amazingly I had dry feet once back at the car. Many years ago the Winster valley was earmarked for a new reservoir, thank goodness it escaped that fate, today it provides a quiet backwater, yet so close to the honeypot of Bowness!

Lancaster Canal from Borwick

Reflections

A rather wet, dull, overcast day. But a bit of a walk and a breath of fresh air is always good, so a short walk on the Lancaster canal close to home was the order of the day. There were a number of Mallard families all with tiny ducklings, second broods at a guess? We only saw 2 folk other than a group of children in canoes from Borwick Hall, the weather probably kept most folks at home.

Playing with the Poncho Tarp

A beautiful evening gave me the opertunity to try the Golite Poncho Tarp using a pushbike as the main support. I was intrigued to see if this arrangement would give enough headroom and cover. Yes on both counts! I was well impressed. I just need to get an overnight trip planned now.

klymit Inertia X-lite First View

Compared to a 400ml Nalgene

Strange looking?!

I've quietly being buying several items of gear since my return from France. Todays purchase was the Klymit Inertia X-lite sleeping mat. I purchased it from http://www.peteblandsports.co.uk/ very close to work, and staffed by folk who know what their talking about. It has a pack size of 15cm x 4cm and blows up very easily to create a mat 107cm x 46cm x 4cm. Remarkably comfortable to lie on, check out the Klymit website to read the theory on this design. The weight.... only 173g! I can't wait to try it out.

RSF ride to Semerwater

Stream Crossing nr Birkwith

Semerwater

We met at the Pen-Y-Gent cafe in Horton-in-Ribblesdale this morning, a good turnout of six for todays ride. Simeon had planned a ride to Semerwater, and after tea/coffee and cake off we rode. The sky rather overcast and a chilly south westerly behind us as we gained height quickly upthe walled lane towards Birkwith Moor. All the streams were running very full although none impassable. Once into the plantation of High Greenfield there was a bit of shelter, the side of the forest track had many Mountain Primrose. Good progress was made beyond High Greenfield the tarmac lane is very quiet, onwards down Langstrothdale as far as Hubberholme, were the road to Buckden was closed. This meant a detour almost to Cray, this helped to confirm our return route would be via Semerwater. After the stiff climb to the "Causeway" we rode a short way along the Fleet Moss track before cowering behind the wall for our buttie stop. Sadly this was disturbed by a couple of idiots one on a quad and one on a full blown moto-x bike(niether road legal). Readers of this blog will know I am a motorcyclist and have been for almost 40 years, but its prats like these who give all bikers a bad name. Lunch eaten the rest of the climb seemed fairly easy, it was then downhill all the way to Appersett, only punctuated by a puncture (sorry!). We were able to get a coffee, and cake for those who needed it, at Raydale Preserves. It was then a short climb before a fast descent to Semerwater which was very full due to the recent downpours. Yet another climb was made through Countersett, to reach the Roman road, this led us unerringly for five and a half miles to the Stake Moss road and tarmac, the surface of the Roman road is actually not that bad. The wind was bitter and right on our nose now as we descended the Cam Fell track, branching of to follow the Pennine Bridleway over Ling Gill bridge to eventually reach tarmac once more at High Birkwith. An easy mainly downhill ride brought us back to Horton, where the sun was shining! It had been a another great ride with the South Lakes Group of the Rough Stuff Fellowship

Gragareth

Ingleborough from the Turbary Road

Golite Poncho Tarp

Ians Mini-Peak

A short walk with Ian from Masongill up on to the Turbary Road, and eventually Gragareth. The Turbary Road was built fro the dalesmen to collect peat from the flanks of Gragareth. It rather conveniently stays on the nice dry limestone, and passes many potholes. The views across to Ingleborough are pretty good to. The short cropped turf is ideal for a bit of gear testing. Ian had brought his Mini Peak, and I had my Golite Poncho Tarp, always good for a laugh. Eventually after a bit of loitering we struck up from the old peat road to the ridge of Gragareth. It seemed like the trig had legs it seemed miles. Clearly it wasn't once there the views out to Morecambe Bay were superb. We descended steeply above Yordas Cave back to the Turbary Road, and followed it back to the car. The sun had shone much against the forecast, although to the north the sky was black as night, we had been lucky.

The trig on Gragareth