BB1133 : Ol' Men Rovin'   

Wednesday 9th November 2011

Old men rovin'
Dem ol' men rovin'
Dey mus' know sumpn'
But don't do nuthin'
Dey jes' keeps rovin'
Dey keeps on rollin' along

Today's rovin' plan kept changing, partly due to the weather forecast which, this year, seems to have been much more variable than usual as the big day approaches.  Also some were under time constraints which limited the opportunity for exploration further afield.

In the end we opted to start and finish at the Strickland Arms, which might or might not provide the opportunity for us to "get a little drink and down your ale".

Off we set, under the link road and through the Low Sizergh Farm, resisting the temptation to stop for a coffee in the Barn Shop. We wandered down the farm walk (with its Little Folk) and then through the old gunpowder factory caravan(less) site to the river.

North towards Kendal was the direction we took, along the old factory waterway workings, past some memorial flowers, until reaching a newish sign telling us to keep out of the field.  I don't know what the legal position is but I have been walking along the river here for thirty years or so (and I was hardly the first) and indeed new stiles were put in only a few years ago.  Consequently it is my view that this new sign has no validity and that a public right of way has been established by long precedent.  

Anyway, what harm were we doing?

At the other end of the no go area is a short boggy woodland area with a splendid view of the river as it dashes through the limestone rocks under the Hawes Lane bridge.

We continued along the river bank, sadly not seeing any kingfishers, until Scroggs Lane where we turned left up to and across the A6 on the outskirts of Kendal.  As we passed Helsington Laithes and became momentarily confused as to which of two paths to take, who should we see but Sue W who, many years ago, used to work with Stan and me as our company tax accountant.  She soon put us on the right path (as she had done many a time in our working days).

At Lane Head was a LandRover graveyard and an unusually decorated caravan which led us to wondering who might live in it..

Brigsteer Road horses

After crossing under the link road, we soon arrived at Brigsteer Road and walked across the old racecourse into Bradleyfield.  Here we met a couple, Graham and Hilary, who were not quite sure which way to go so I gave them the benefit of my local knowledge and, somewhat to Stan's irritation, took them the wrong and long way up to the Mushroom.  

Like me, they were long retired and making the most of the opportunities to get out into the hills.  

Dey don' plan workin'
Dey don' plan nuthin',
An' dem dat plans 'em
is soon forgotten,
But ol' men rovin'
Dey keeps on rollin' along

They joined us for an early lunch and team picture at the Mushroom then we went our separate ways.  

Mike and James were setting a cracking pace heading south but Stan and I knew we could always reel them in on the hilly bits.  Arnside Knott look quite atmospheric in the distance.

Arnside Knott

We stormed along Helsington Barrow and past Helsington church.  Lower down there was a distinct stone in a field which looked as if it had a story to tell but what that might be we could only guess.  Eventually we reached Sizergh Castle where there was a group attempting to repair a dry stone wall, although Stan was fiercely critical of their technique, or lack of it.

There was also an interesting display of carved creatures, presumably for sale.
Or guard duty!

Sizergh guards

Stan found a bird hide in which he wanted to linger but Mike and James had raced off by then, no doubt intending to be first back to the pub.  They failed.  Thanks to a sneaky detour and an unexpected turn of speed, I just beat James to the cattle grid and was rewarded a few yards later at the now open Strickland Arms with the opportunity to pay for the beers.

You an' me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin' an' racket wid pain,
Clim' dat crag!
Dahn dat dale!
Git a little drink
An' dahn your ale

Much of the terrain over which we had rambled was very familiar to us and it was not the greatest day on which to take advantage of the splendid views from the Scars.  But it had been a satisfying outing with a bit of a difference in meeting up with someone from the old school.  

James and I could easily have been tempted to linger longer at the pub but wiser counsel prevailed.

Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of drinkin'
An' skeered of payin'
But ol' men rovin'
Dey keeps on rollin' along

Don, 9th November 2011

Arnside Knott after a few beers!

STATISTICS:

BOOTboys routes ares now being put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading BB1133.

To see which Wainwright top (excluding Outlying Fells) was visited on which BB outing see Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights see: BB Log.

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Archive

2011 Outings

BB1101 :
Wasnfell Revisited
Tuseday 11th January

BB1102 :
Recuperation Scar!
Thursday 17th February

BB1103 :
A Promenade of Pensioners
Thursday 24th February

BB1104 :
The B Team
Thursday 3rd March

BB1105 :
  A Little Bit Of Wind
Thursday 10th March

BB1106 :
A Linthwaite Round
Thursday 17th March

BB1107 :
Home From The Pulpit
Thursday 24th March

BB1108 :
Taking The Brunt
Thursday 31st March

BB1109 :
Up The Spout
Wednesday 6th April

BB1110 :
Not The Royal Wedding
Friday 29th April

BB1111 :
Kentmere Parts 1 & 2
Thurs 5th, Saturday 7th May

BB1112 :
Five Unknown Tarns
Wednesday 11th May

BB1113 :
Gurnal Dubbs Revisited
Thursday 19th May

BB1114 :
A March Through The Mist
Wednesday 1st June

BB1115 :
Brief Encounter
Wednesday 8th June

BB1116 :
Extraordinary and
Lesser Mortals
Wednesday 15th June

BB1117 :
Farewell David Daw
Wednesday 29th June

BB1118 :
West Side Story
Thursday 7th July

BB1119 :
East Side Story
Wednesday 13th July

 BB1120 :
All The Way From Barrow
Wednesday 20th July

 BB1121 :
Suitable For The Guests!
Thursday 28th July

BB1122 :
Graylings In Flagrante
Wednesday 3rd August

BB1123 :
The First Indecision Outing
Wednesday 24th August

BB1124 :
The Second Indecision Outing
Thursday 25th August

BB1125 :
The Tale of Tony's Triumph
Wednesday 31st August

BB1126 :
The Gunpowder Trail
Wednesday 7th September

BB1127 :
Four Lords a-Leaping
Thursday 15th September

BB1128 :
Heversham Head and Mhor
Thursday 22nd September

BB1129 :
Training For The Himalayas
Wednesday 28th September

BB1130 :
Turn Again, Whittington
Thursday 13th October

BB1131 :
The Windermere Three Peaks
Thursday 20th October

BB1132 :
Perfect Pies
Wednesday 26th October

BB1133 :
Ol' Men Rovin' 
Wednesday 9th November

BB1134 :
Erotic, Erratic, Improbable
Or What?
Thursday 17th November

BB1135 :
The Princess, the King
and the Tower
Wednesday 23rd November

BB1136 :
The Leck Beck Trek
Wednesday 30th November

BB1137 :
The Wild Wet Show
Thursday 8th December

BB1138 :
Of Mice and Men
Thursday 15th December

BB1139 :
The Old Stink
Wednesday 21st December

BB1140 :
The Castle and The Priory
Thursday 29th December

The Way Of The Roses
12th - 14th September 

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 Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright
top was visited on which
BB outing see Which Wainwright When?.

To download a log of heights and miles and which Wainwrights
have been done by which BOOTboy in the"modern" era, i.e. since the advent
of BOOTboys
click on BB Log.