Rumination: Active March

Active March did not get the day 6 which was anticipated for it as I'd found that extra reserves of enthusiasm could not be found for any of the other days of my week off, really too much hot weather for that time of year. More significantly, the last Saturday of the month fell by the wayside when I had planned to join the FOSCL group for a jaunt from Dent to Ribblehead via Deepdale and Whernside. That morning I had woken up with a rather uneasy feeling in my stomach, and had to make a swift decision on going out or not, choosing not too proved to be absolutely the right choice, as about an hour later, around the time I'd have been travelling through Bingley, I was really really glad to still be in my own home and not on the train...

Leeds Country Way #3: Golden Acre Park to Barwick in Elmet 28/03/12

A week out of work gave me an opportunity to test my stamina by fitting extra walks into my week but I hadn't counted on the early arrival of Summer at the end of March. I've often joked that Britain only really has two seasons, shifting between Winter and Summer, with Spring and Autumn only being transitional periods, but even I was stunned at how short the transition was this time. I even delayed my walk by a day in the expectation that it might cool down, but instead it turned out even warmer. A solid 25C at the day's height, and I walked the entire day without a jacket, which I wouldn't do again until this weekend just passed (18th August)

Active March: Day Five

Leeds Country Way #3: Golden Acre Park to Barwick in Elmet  13.8 miles


Self at Golden Acre Park (I should have started the LCW with my beard trimmed short so it could have grown

as I went around the trail, ending with me looking like a mountain man when I finished!)

 

Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen via Mallerstang 24/03/12

When you awaken in Morley under a dense pall of fog, (on the first weekend of Spring, mind you,) you have no reason to expect the day to make a significant change in weather. You feel that the day may clear into one of those sunny, yet cool and crisp days, but it would still be necessary to dress for
winter, so the thermals go on, reminding yourself that it's always cooler in the countryside and you are bound to feel it once you've been in a pretty remote location for 6 hours or so. The day remains foggy as my train takes me north up the S&C line, until we travel up through the clouds at the top of Ribblesdale and sunshine takes over. Disembarking at Garsdale, I expect cool and crisp, not brutal heat...

Active March: Day Four

Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen via Mallerstang 11.7 miles

Leeds Country Way #2: Bradford Road to Golden Acre Park 17/03/12

Only a couple of days into my walking routine, and I'm already starting to project my walking times, sat on the #72 bus, looking to a 9.30am start, with tea break stop at Apperley Bridge, lunch at Horsforth and a 3pm finish at Golden Acre Park, certain that my body can endure the rigours of all this walking.

Active March:  Day Three

Leeds Country Way #2: Bradford Road to Golden Acre Park,  11.3 miles

Self at Bradford Road

Leeds Country Way #1: Bruntcliffe Crossroads to Bradford Road 10/03/12

Taking on a long distance path can seem immediately intimidating, the matter of distance and remoteness clouding your judgement of your abilities, this is why I still can't come to grips with the idea of attempting the Pennine Way. So, it's a very good idea to find a circular path as your first, especially one which can be neatly divided up into unitimidating chunks, all of which are readily accessible by public transport (with a Metro Card making it free of charge!) No long journeys to start points or costs of accommodation here. the Leeds Country Way might not be one of the classics, and may lack dynamism and cache, but it's on the OS maps and it passes within a mile of where I live and that's what counts. It's been my walking target for 2 years, and its 62 miles to be taken in six pieces, so let's get going!


Active March: Day Two

Leeds Country Way #1: Bruntcliffe Crossroads to Bradford Road.  7.8 miles

Self at Bruntcliffe Crossroads