BB1930 : I Believe

Thursday, 5th September 2019

“Is that your dog?” we said to the man walking what looked like a trail hound.

“I believe,” he replied.

“Don’t you know?” we jokingly asked.  “Do you know its name?”

“I believe,” he replied once more.

“Don’t you actually know its name?” we responded.

“Aye,” he said emphatically and with some frustration. “I’ve told you twice.  It’s Believe”.

Ah, the joys of the English language.  

The dog turned out to be a superstar trail hound, or so we were led to believe.

As so many of our usual companions were away, it left just Tony and I to uphold the honour of the BOOTboys. It was also the opportunity for Tony to try out his new camera- an ebay bargain.  We decided against dashing round the Lakeland tops as we didn’t want the others to be too disappointed about being absent.  Instead we opted for a local walk where the first and only hill was The Helm at Natland, all 574 feet of it- a fine viewpoint none-the-less.  Just right for Tony to put his new camera to the test.

It was on the far side where we met a succession of dogs, all friendly but none with the attributes of Believe.

We had to pass through a field with a big black bull which I don't think should have been in a field crossed by a public footpath.  Fortunately he had his eyes on something much more interesting than us.

A little further on, we reached the Quaker burial ground.  It is impossible to say how many folk lie there.  Their belief in simplicity is evidenced by the lack of grave markings  There are a couple of very old but conventional tombstones, much damaged and I suspect not of Quakers but I could be wrong.

After crossing the A65 near Summerlands we made our way to Stainton, not helped by the fact that the OMN mapping software on my phone was playing up (AGAIN) causing me to make a navigational error.  That was soon corrected and we reached the hamlet.

More tombstones are to be found outside the 17th Century Presbyterian Chapel.  It is now signed as the Stainton Institute but which doesn’t seem to be much used.  Maybe it is a work in progress.  Tony was more intrigued by the huge straw turtle in the yard opposite.

 

 

 

The other oddities of our last visit (BB1307) have now been removed and / or gentrified.  In fact Stainton proved a pleasant place to stop and eat our butties by the bridge over St Sunday's beck.  I don't know which to believe.

Our route led us to the canal bridge where it used to run out of water.  However the next section has been dug out, lined with stones and partially filled.  

Who has done this?  Tony believed it was the Canal Trust people.  I thought I had heard that it was the folk at Sellet Hall who seem to have developed their property into quite an equestrian centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The canal soon returns to its dried up state until you reach the Hincaster Tunnel.  This is water-filled but not navigable.  The canal path by-passes the tunnel and the barges used to be propelled through, or so we are led to believe, by men lying on their backs and pushing against the walls with their feet.

At the far end of the tunnel the canal turns north as did we.  A new path has opened up along the canal bed and what was to be found there took us completely by surprise.  Do you believe in fairies?  Probably not but how about gnomes?  Or My Little Pony Princesses?  Here is a stretch of over one hundred yards where there is a succession of such things and many other creatures picknicking and playing amongst the trees.

 

 

 

We continued along the towpath through Sedgwick on to Larkrigg where we took the bridle path home to Cracalt.  No pub there and no beer in the cellar.

“Sorry, Tony,” I said.  “I can only offer you a cup of tea.  Would you like one?"  

“Do you know?" he replied “I believe I would.”

Don, Thursday 5th September 2019

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Comitibus:

Comitibus:  Don, Tony

STATISTICS

BB1930 : I Believe

Date:

Thursday 5th September

Features:

The Helm, Hincaster Tunnel, Lancaster Canal

Comitibus:

Don, Tony

Distance in miles (Garmin):

11.1

Height climbed in feet (OMN):

1,044

GPX track

BB1930.gpx

 

BB1930 Map

Map: OS 1:50k

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