After our standard early start to the day, does mean one can fit more in the day, we got under way, first stop Albion Farm Shop and Cafe. With a brisk wind and rain threatening there was no better place then inside with a hot pot of tea and some English crumpets for a snack. Tony couldn't go past the scones with jam and clotted cream. Very country rustic feel, with great views, and lots of goodies in the shop to tempt one to part with hard earned dollars, elevated my rubber boot wearing with 'wellington' socks ~ too cute highland cows pattern.Views.
Then it was off to Standedge Tunnel and visitor Centre - Canal and River Trust, where good people are dedicated to keep the tunnel open and the boat rides going. A morning of perfect timing, as, as we started the walk beside the canal up to the tunnel, we noticed the narrowboat ride advertised. Asked the helpful man, one of these aforementioned dedicated volunteers, and jumped on board, providentially as it started to rain, so were nicely dry! This also meant that we got to the tunnel quicker, to find out again that the boat ride into the tunnel was running, and leaving in a couple of minutes, so quickly paid and got on board. Not a ride for someone with claustrophobia ~ no such worries for us. Very informative ride, and leaves one marveling at the ingenuity and dedication of those who designed and constructed it, and admiration for the hard working "navies" who did most of the hard yakka, with 55 paying for it with their lives. After that, and rain having ceased we enjoyed our walk back to the carpark along the canal. After a brief explore of the town ~ actually looking for a bakery for nice bread rolls for out lunch, we left for York, via experiencing UK's highway system. This proved fine to navigate and google maps did a great job, hopefully that will continue!
Our first narrowboat ride, perfect timing as it rained.
Very cheery crew were on board, what better retirement then to man a narrowboat. Much bigger narrowboat.
About to go in tunnel.
Inside, can imagine how dark it is, with only a lamp back in the early days.
Cue to move inside, don't really want a shower!!
The walk back to our car beside the canal, was lovely, so then found some bread rolls for our picnic lunch, and set off on the way to York to walk the walls. Finding a picnic spot is harder, not like Australia, where each little town has a picnic table, swing and a toilet on the main road. Instead I spotted a side road with room to pull off, and that had to do. As it was up on a very high point on the moors, we battled the wind to get lettuce on our buns, but we won, and enjoyed the roadside picnic.
York was the busiest place we'd been yet, and it's shoulder tourist season. Found the entry, and with some super sleuthing, a toilet, alas needed 50 p pieces to gain entry. As I'm searching my bag for coins a local guide took pity on us, waved us over producing a large brass key, and voila, we were saved from bursting bladders on the approx 90 minutes walk around the walls.
Comments
Post a Comment