catch up

14th and 15th February 2009

1800 finds over the weekend

weekend started well as we headed out from the boat in Caths new car, over the top of Haworth moor and down into the worth valley, still snow all over the moorand we saw the steam off a train on KWV railway, a detour up[ the halifax road and we parked in the large layby and headed down trhe Bridle path to hunt for Merry Christmas 2005 (past), which we had worked out a few weeks ago,
The bridleway had a covering of snow which was melting fast, though it dropped away from the road quickly leading to an Icy slippy decent, classic upland green lane with substantil drystone wall either side, some strange crops growing in small fields either side of the lane too, winter beet maybe, lots of evidence of pheasant raising and we saw some bird tracks in the snow.
Cache box was found, but wont tell you where as it is a puzzle cache, work it out yourself:)

On the way back up to the car we could here shooting and saw a crow/rook fall from the sky in the field alongsie us, also more worrying was the sound of the spent shot rattling through the trees in the wood alongside the brdle opath, we were glad of the shelter of the stone wall, just in case their aim was out.

After that decide not to find theWATCH THE BIRDIES cache nearby as the snow hadnt fully melted and I had Dnf'd that one due to very deep snow covering the area last sunday.

Off to Skipton for some shopping and a wander round the town, but found that my export on the PDA didnt get as far as Skipton so a cache free day was in prospect, though an excellent pub lunch in the Narrow boat pub a large burger smothered in Yorkshire blue cheese and jacket wedge chips... mmmmm plus a pint each of Blencathra and High Pike ales from Hesket Newmarket cumbrian brewery.. very good, glad Cath was driving..
blencathra.gif (8.17 KB) Viewed 216 times

http://www.hesketbrewery.co.uk/
http://www.hesketbrewery.co.uk/brewery/beers.php

Drove back via Foulridge where we stopped to have a look at the tunnel mouth on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, canal was still frozen and There was building work going on converting an old wharehouse into a cafe, looks like it will be open later in the year.

Onwards via Burnley and back to Todmorden, saw a drive by Top of the rocks on the map on a road that climbed up above the valley, a very steep road as it turned out and we ground up it, luckily it was free from ice and we made it onto the moor top, though the weather had closed in and we were just below the cloud base with a bit of drizzle, parked up and struck out across the moor for the .1mile to the cache which was found, Cath headed quickly back as the breeze was cold and I managed to loose my foot into a bog as the snow covering it looked nice and firm. A wet cold foot, not fun so we headed down into Tod and home.

only 2 caches but a good day.
And i got to watch the whole england -Wales game,
So a great Valentines day for me

Sunday 15th february

Lazy day, we should have moved the boat up to Tod, only 2 miles and 5 locks but as it was a bit grey we didnt fancy it so just goty to hope we dont run out of water before saturday.
As the afternoon wore on I began to get Itchy feet so grabbed the little dogs lead and took her off for a walk
Drove down to Hebden Bridge nd parked behing the station, aiming to get 3 of John Haughton' caches but stayed out longer and bagged four in just under 90 mins as the ireland Italy game was still on when i got back to the car.

The caches were:
Wood Top
Hidey Hey
Secret Nest &
Pocket Rockit

Quite a climb up from the valley bottom but the first 3 caches were all on the top of the valley edge after the climb, all nice easy finds and a good walk, the last, Pocket Rocket, was up again nearly at the top of the moor, well it felt like that though i think it was up again to get to Stoodley Pike. I went up the footpath from secret nest cache, and it was steep, mollydog loved it as we left pasture and the climb was through scrub, heather on an ancient path that was cut into the side of the hill, really enjoyed it. some nice old houses up here too. what a place to live, though you must get snowed/ iced in.
these caches took us past the 1800 mark too