SKIPTON

THE LONGEST DAY  3 to 4 Miles

BUS PASS BOYS :- Danny, Mike and John.

After an enjoyable trip to Bolton by bus last, week we decided to try another - a bus trip to Skipton. However, perhaps four and a half hours sitting on a bus was a little too long. 

Here we are waiting for the bus to take us to Skipton.

The Service bus weaved it's way along the A59 diverting to call at Barnoldswick, Whalley , Clitheroe, Gisburn,  Earby etc, arriving in Skipton shortly after noon.

Without a well defined plan we set off to explore Skipton's cobbled streets.

A narrow alleyway to the left led to a rather pretty "Square" with this octagonal shop at it's centre.

and also to a very welcome Pub cum Cafe.  Cappuchinos all round.

Unlike Bolton , Poulton and Clitheroe we were unable to find a published town trail. History, though, there was as this photo shows.

Back on the High Street and we soon arrived in front of the Castle.

John appears to be telling us something ??  A bit closer please.

He's telling us that the last time the canons were fired they didn't put enough powder in as the canon balls are still stuck in the muzzles. He's being SILLY of course. What else do you expect from John ?

It was not our intention to visit the castle today but to follow the castle walls to where we would find the entrance to Castle Wood. 

A short distance into the wood and we came to this information board telling us all about it.

This very pleasant couple from Stoke-on-Trent were also checking out the map.

We didn't walk to the end of the wood but cut down about half way to find a place to get out our butties and flasks.

"This looks Ok" said Danny.

.....and so it was. Despite the ominous forecast. Here was the first (and last) place we experienced a spattering of rain.

The paths were not exactly busy but there was a regular series of "passers by". For us old men certain activities had to be well timed.......😉

One of the information boards had fallen down but we could still read the information it provided.

The river at this point was dammed to divert water into the lake close by.

Danny seems to have found something interesting and is pointing it out to Mike.

Not quite sure what this sculpture is about.

A rather strange looking woman seems to be blocking the path as we continue towards the town.

A witch ? A huntress ? It's wicked......... er no .... wicker !

John by a gate  ?????   (The bright sun has obscured the view of the castle which was the object of the photo)

A young pigeon with a damaged wing was unable to avoid being photographed.

It took a lot of careful breeding to produce a woolly coat like that ....... or a few cans of paint.

as your photographer was admiring the balconied house overlooking the canal......... his companions had descended a steep and barely noticeable set of stone steps and were off on the search for the bus station.

Oy !... are them Yorkies trying to cash in some Lancashire talent. Nick Park is a Lanky.  Preston/Chorley I think.     Thinks !   You can only moor them in that order. Gromit and Wallace would be a travesty 😠

The canal did indeed lead us to the Bus Station which is on the other side of the Armadillo.

A UNIVERSAL TRUTH..... IF THERE'S A CANAL ..THERE'S A SWAN.

A very convenient bridge took us over the Canal and into the bus station.

How did this photo get past the censor ????  John's face looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp and Danny is behaving like a naughty schoolboy sticking his tongue out at the photographer. Remove it immediately................................no

A VERY BUSY BUS STATION😄

A Good but very long day

THE END

p.s. As I walked up the steps towards the aforementioned bridge I stumbled (only a bit) But immediately three lads who were a few steps behind, laughing and joking. leapt forward asking was I alright, did I need some help. Well done.

The youth of today are just as good as they ever were