Buckden, Yorkshire Dales
A few reminders of our weekend
THE USUAL SUSPECTS...
- Barrie "Where's My Flippin' Breakfast!" Astbury
- Charlie "Bog Jumper" Grant
- Pete "13.75 Stone" Smith
- Simon "Have You ONLY Got Phil Collins?" Piercy
- Tim "Rumble Strip" Spate
- Dave "Don't Feed The Mice" Noble
- Steve "Fire Starter" Barker
Friday
We all arrive at the cottage and make the long walk to the local pub (next door!) - The Buck Inn
Good food and beer had by all
Tim and Steve compare plastic watches
And then we notice Steve's DIY scar tissue ...
... and here's the machine that he didn't treat with the respect it deserves
(Photo courtesy of Steve Barker)
Simon enjoying his exotic "Radka Pilsner" (brewed in Skipton!)
The Place
The Cottage
Dave had left his food bag on the kitchen floor overnight. A mouse (or rat?!) chewed through and took 3 packs of wine gums!
... and here's the evidence
(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)
The Usual Suspects
Safely negotiated
We arrive at a pub that has rave reviews - one of the best in The Dales. At least it was, several years ago. We find it closed and for sale!
... these signs have therefore been suitable altered ...
Opposite was one of the many yellow bicycles that were placed along the route of the opening stages of this year's Tour De France
... and also some stepping stones across the river
Geocache #1
Yet another of Barrie's Bitches - he always seems to attract them
Geocache #2
We stop off at The George Inn for a quick pint ...
... and this is what it looked like out the back when we left!
We head back to the cottage, stepping over the roadkill
We get back and eat a late lunch in the warm and dry. Here is a rare thing - an indoor Piercy Pot Noodle Pic. Not sure what Simon is doing here
We liked The George Inn so much, we had booked a table for dinner. Not sure what Steve is doing here
"This parrot is dead ..." etc
Geoff the Chef produced excellent meals for us - and Ed the Lanlord kept the beer flowing
The toilets are outside, across the lane and so this sign is displayed
Steve had been gagging for the cheesecake since earlier in the day. No-one else wanted a pudding but that didn't deter him - and he ate the lot to himself
We head back to our local for a few before retiring. Some of us play Botheration and despite our best efforts we couldn't beat Pete
In the morning we find that the rodent(s) had not taken the bait
Our own Chef Pete uses all available cookers to prepare another excellent breakfast
... including ensuring that Dave's sausages are crisped to his liking
The four-slice toaster wouldn't stay down but Steve improvised with the use of Charlie's poker chip case
(Photo courtesy of Steve Barker)
A family of flasks
Saturday
(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)
Off we go, up to Buckden Pike
The Usual Suspects - At 11am, as tradition has it, we pause for a respectful two minutes silence
As we approach the summit, the sun tries to poke through
Summit of Buckden Pike
Geocache #3
Polish war memorial
Geocache #4
Charlie the Bog Jumper!
It all ended well
At the lunch break, both Steve and Charlie are banished because of smelly food
... and here's the rest - the un-banished
Decent into Starbotton
Of course, we stop off for a couple at The Fox and Hounds as we're passing through
(Photo courtesy of Pete Smith)
Give it some stick, lad!
Not many of these left nowadays
On the way back we somehow manage to gain a young dog - another of Barrie's Bitches! We don't know where she's come from but she follows us all the way home. We hand her in at the pub and they find someone to re-unite her with her owners
In an effort to get the fire lit, Steve nearly burns down the cottage by dropping a lit paper and burning the carpet. His clean-up efforts resulted in it looking like this
(Photo courtesy of Steve Barker)
Sir Winston Churchill watches over us
At this point we say goodbye to Barrie and Pete and then head to the pub. We have a meal and are about to head back to watch the Grand Prix but then young Chris from the bar puts it on the big screen, for our very own private showing!
The start of the Brazilian Grand Prix
Back home Steve enjoys the warmth provided by the fire he so painstakingly persevered in getting going earlier
In the morning we have sausage sarnies for breakfast, pack up and go - but not before signing the visitors book
