Friday

Charlie and Simon meet at Tim's and set-off in the Tesla. They stop in Leeds, at a location that has food for the car, food for the boys and food for the weekend ...

Tim provides his digital shopping list ... but it is discovered later that it's 1 of 2 lists - and it's not the up-to-date one ...

The next part of their wet journey was spent playing the traditional music quiz - a random selection of the first 50 "Now That's What I Call Music" albums. The unanimous decision was that the output was almost entirely crap! However, they managed to recognise 20 artists / song titles between them. Simon was victorious but, considering the standard of the material, not particularly proud!

Everybody converges on the cottage, bedrooms are assigned, shopping is put away and tea is brewed. After a quick catch-up, we head out to walk the short distance to neighbouring Hawes. We have a table booked at The Fountain Hotel.

Together again - cheers!

Following Charlie's recent poker win in Malta, he treats the guys to a hearty meal

After the meal and a few beers, we move just up the road to an old haunt, The Board Inn, for a nightcap. We didn't stay long because it doesn't seem to have the same buzzing atmosphere as when we were last here, in 2017 (with Barrie), when we all get very drunk and, thanks to a great jukebox, played air guitar, danced and chatted-up the local women.

After heading back to the cottage for tea and toast & cheese, Simon & Charlie prepare for the start of their usual weekend poker sessions.

Saturday

The place.

The accommodation.

The fleet.

We'd already met Steve ... now it was time to greet the rest of the band, The Fresh Meats ...

Once cooked, they helped make another cracking breakfast, prepared by Chef Pete & sous-chef Steve

We head out on an 11-mile circular walk, taking-in 20 commemorative mosaic plaques, originally installed at the millennium.

This made a fun extra tack to the walk, looking for and finding the mosaics

Here are the 20 mosaics ...

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Aysgill Force

(Video)

During the walk there were several opportunities for Stevie B to finally get on the property ladder ...

... but, after a quick check with his financial advisor (who was breakfasting in the Cayman Islands), he decided that his best option was THIS ...

Common Frog

#NotAToad

Rainbow

We heard a motorbike and then stood aside as 7 trials bikes roared past

The views

Looking for a suitable place to stop for lunch, we seek shelter from the drizzle under the viaduct arch - but it was little protection so we moved-on

A waddling of huge Mallards

The rain eases-off so we find a bank to sit on for lunch

Piercy Pot Noodle Pic

Galerina graminea    (Turf Cap)

At this point, having found 10 of the 20 mosaics, the group splits into 2 teams, one pushing-on to try and bag the rest of the mosaics before sunset and one opting to take a leisurely stroll back

She barely moved a muscle as we walked right past her

We walked over the bridge that was flooded back in March, 2004

Here's a video (no sound) and photo from back then ...

Here's the river at the other bridge in Hawes ...

... and how it looked in 2004

We passed the chippy that would be providing our evening meal, later

The B-Team makes it back first and, as the daylight faded, the A-Team got back having bagged the remaining mosaics. After freshening-up, Simon takes the fish & chips order from us all ... which turned-out to be really quite finicky

We had heard that the chippy was good and this was borne-out by the sight that greeted Simon & Charlie when they went to get the food - queueing out the door

Charlie kept the group informed in the group chat

Pete watches the England rugby union match

It was a good result

We head out for beers and, seeing as The Crown was rammed & noisy with live music the previous night, we pop-in ...

... and, upon finding there's no Theakston Best Bitter (which 3 of us were drinking), we immediately exit.

We head, instead, down to The White Hart (with a view to potentially booking a table for Sunday) ...

... and, upon finding there IS Theakston Best Bitter, there IS Guinness 0.0 and there IS a table available for tomorrow, we stay!

Sunday

We head out on a circular walk that takes-in a peak summit (not something that the B-Team is particularly pleased about, especially considering the weather forecast!)

Clitocybe nebularis    (Clouded Funnel)

As 11a.m. approaches, we find a suitable place to stop for our traditional two minutes of silence ...

... and choose to stand on this bridge ...

... to contemplate whilst taking-in this view

It is at this point that those of us who trusted the forecast of rain and those that just wanted to bag another peak, split into 2 teams.

Signs of the time ...

Newly renevated camping barn

A couple of classics

There were also some rusty old bangers ... here's 2 of them next to a classic tractor!

Good enough to eat?

Summit brags

A week before, Simon had warned the group that Brentford v Newcastle United was happening - and Charlie mentioned that Miami Dolphins v Buffalo Bills was also happening.

Simon provided some AI-generated images ...

Simon sets-up his laptop to be able to watch the Newcastle game

It doesn't go well

At the same time, Nottingham Forest fans, Steve & Pete, follow their game v Leeds, Steve listens on the radio in the other sitting room and Super Fan Pete watches on his iPad ... it must have been thrilling ...

zzzZZZZZ

... just like when he watched them last year!

zzzZZZZZ

Despite this, they managed a win.

Charlie was also keeping an eye on Celtic v Kilmarnock ... which also ended well.

And later he was checking the Dolphins score, which went well, too.

We make our way to The White Hart early for pre-meal beers but our table is ready, so we sit. The meals were, by all accounts, fantastic!

We head back, in time to watch the highlights of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

British driver, Lando Norris (McLaren) is the eventual winner

Monday

On a beautiful morning, we have "finish-whatever-is-left" breakfast cobs before packing-up and vacating the cottage.

Pete dashes-off to visit his father-in-law; the rest re-visit the Wensleydale Creamery, buying lots of goodies, before leaving for home.

On Friday, Pete & Steve had borrowed £1 each from the kitty to get a poppy.

Just before leaving, Steve re-pays his.

On the way back, Charlie rings Pete on speaker to remind him he (once again) still owes the kitty and, in front of 2 witnesses, says, "Oh, yes - OK. I'll pay-back double next time!"

This has been duly noted.

On their way back, Simon, Charlie & Tim get a great view of the Ribblehead viaduct ...

... and, of course, have to make a stop at Preston for a quick Super Charge

Another great weekend.