UKY Ramblers

Good luck with the ramble Mrs. R!  Is there an anti-rain dance?

If you're not crippled by July we can do the Slad Valley walk.  It's 7-9 miles and beautiful. 

I think by July I'm going to want to put my feet up & drink cocktails! 

Oh yes, please everyone - do the anti-rain dance!!!  I think we're going to need it. 

I think by July I'm going to want to put my feet up & drink cocktails! 

  

You're just afraid of the gentle slopes. 

Safe rambling Mrs. R!

Thanks! 

We hiked the first section in Slovenia.  The last day was the highest and the lowest and Slovenes apparently don't believe in switchbacks.  Ouch.

It was fun and really pretty, but a lot of the huts apparently just don't open if they don't feel like it which meant a 20km hike turned into 27km.  We were considering just breaking out the emergency tent, but we had no water and no place to get any from for filtering.  Then I lost my hat.

So if you see a picture with a bear in Slovenia chewing on a blue baseball cap, it's mine but I lived. 

Today I did my first solo expedition up to the Yorkshire Dales.  It was three buses to get up there, the third being one of the Dales Buses that Mrs. R. mentioned before. 

The Dales Bus route was very scenic, I took it to the end of the line (Grassington), just to see the whole route.  I then took it back to Burnsall and did a 6 1/2 mile walk which took me through different terrain, over water, across suspension bridges and foot bridges, through fields and walled lanes, through a pretty village (Linton) and a very secluded and beautiful hamlet (Thorp) and back to Burnsall again.  Saw lots of sheep, a curlew, and something that was probably a stoat, and several bunnies.

There were a few times when I thought I was lost, but luckily there were other people coming or going my way to assure me I was going in the right direction.  Everyone was so friendly!  The description on the walk didn't always match up exactly to what was  happening in real life.  Sometimes a wall was on the left instead of the right, signposts were missing, gaps in walls were not where they were supposed to be, etc.

But I really enjoyed the walk, it was perfect for me--not too long, not too steep, and very picturesque.

The description on the walk didn't always match up exactly to what was  happening in real life.  Sometimes a wall was on the left instead of the right, signposts were missing, gaps in walls were not where they were supposed to be, etc.

Sounds exactly like a lot of our walks - lol!  I've probably done some of those bits before - I remember having a pub lunch in Linton previously.  

Bookgrl's Slovenian adventures sound ace too!

I haven't got round to posting about our Yorkshire Wolds trek as of yet...  We didn't end up doing the entire route...a succession of 12-mile days in a row was killing my feet, so we started taking some short cuts (also having to divert around more cattle with calves in field than I would have liked to encounter).  Then as the weather was turning by last Wednesday night (to rain all day on Thursday), we decided to make it a little more holiday & a little less hard work and pain - chucked it in and headed for the beach early.  Rainy day spent in Scarborough & then two days at Filey Beach.  DH was disappointed not to do the whole thing, but it was the best thing for my feet & temperament by then (and was his suggestion because I think he got tired of my being cranky).  Also, walking in the rain all day on Thursday would have really sucked.  We met another couple at various points along the way who did the entire route & they walked in the rain all day that Thursday - staying at the place we would have stayed (but canceled & arrived a day early over in Filey) - when they got to that place (where we were supposed to stay but didn't), the pub/inn had left their luggage out in the rain ALL day...so not only were they wet from walking in it all day, they didn't have a single dry thing to put on.  That would have seriously sucked & we were so glad we didn't go/stay there!  (It's by a posh golf club & I don't think they care much for ramblers.)  Plus the last 23-24 miles would have been mostly open fieldtops (exposed) & we'd seen the most scenic bits already.  

I haven't got round to posting about our Yorkshire Wolds trek as of yet...  We didn't end up doing the entire route...a succession of 12-mile days in a row was killing my feet, so we started taking some short cuts (also having to divert around more cattle with calves in field than I would have liked to encounter).  Then as the weather was turning by last Wednesday night (to rain all day on Thursday), we decided to make it a little more holiday & a little less hard work and pain - chucked it in and headed for the beach early.  Rainy day spent in Scarborough & then two days at Filey Beach.  DH was disappointed not to do the whole thing, but it was the best thing for my feet & temperament by then.  Also, walking in the rain all day on Thursday would have really sucked.  We met another couple at various points along the way who did the entire route & they walked in the rain all day that Thursday - staying at the place we would have stayed (but canceled & arrived a day early over in Filey) - when they got to that place (where we were supposed to stay but didn't), the pub/inn had left their luggage out in the rain ALL day...so not only were they wet from walking in it all day, they didn't have a single dry thing to put on.  That would have seriously sucked & we were so glad we didn't go/stay there!  (It's by a posh golf club & I don't think they care much for ramblers.)  Plus the last 23-24 miles would have been mostly open fieldtops (exposed) & we'd seen the most scenic bits already. 

Sounds like a good compromise to keep you both happy.

Sounds exactly like a lot of our walks - lol!  I've probably done some of those bits before - I remember having a pub lunch in Linton previously.

It was comforting when I encountered people who said things like, "Yes we've done lots of those walks (descriptions with bits of OS maps in books) and you do need a bit of imagination."
I knew it wasn't just me!

There were some lovely scenic parts of the walk & wildlife & fun times.  Also, the wide variety of the places we stayed & people we met - very cool.  Towards the end, we stayed at what can only be described as an extremely eccentric place in a tiny village - the couple were as friendly & caring as could be, but kept 7 cats (and possibly more!  they take in strays, including us too I guess!) plus a dog.  Our room & the bathroom were okay, but the rest of the place was a bit animal-smelly & someone with pet allergies could definitely not have stayed there - lol!  After we got back from our pub dinner, they wanted us to come & sit in the living room with them & chat, so we did - and the cats came & sat on our laps & everything - lol!  Then we stayed at a really, really nice upscale B&B when we got to Filey.  Oh it was such a wonderful range of places & people & amenities & food!

Hooray for everyone making it back alive and with their respective partners. 

The awesomest part of the Slovenia thing...stamps.  They have created a passport and have stamps along the way and a place in the book of each stamp and yeah.

I am a geek. 

The awesomest part of the Slovenia thing...stamps.  They have created a passport and have stamps along the way and a place in the book of each stamp and yeah.

I am a geek. 

Oh - I nominate you to do the El Camino de Santiago!!! 

There you get a pilgrim's passport that they stamp along the way, and then if you've got all your stamps by the end - you get the certificate of completion (the compostela).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James#Credencial_or_pilgrim.27s_passport

Push comes to shove, you can always get a donkey to help you along with your stuff. 

I've heard of that.  And I am tempted. I wish they had this on the WHW and GGW in Scotland.  Oh well.

They do the same in Slovenia, but I heard the prize you get is lame and you don't get the passport back.  Some of the stamps are just the name and elevation and some have a little picture of the hut. 

A donkey would be way cooler than my husband. 

Oh, ahhh, nevermind. 

Hee hee!  He had lots of trouble getting his donkey to move...

They did a film (The Way) recently about the Camino - that recent one with Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez but I didn't get a chance to see it.

But the Tim Moore book is really good, if you get a chance to read it - gives you an idea of how hard the thing is to accomplish - over the Pyrenees & a lot of it tends to be sodden with rain - northern Spain & Galicia particularly.