BB2233 : Three Things To Remember

29th November 2022

“There’s three things that you need to remember,” I told the boys as we started to sink in the mud.  “If you find yourself in quicksand, first remove your rucksack and throw it away from you.  Next, if you still can, lie on your back to maximise your surface area.”  “OK “said the boys.  “What’s the third?”

“Put your hands together on your chest, palm to palm, fingers to fingers and pray.”

For a while, it seemed that there was the possibility that this advice might be needed.  We had met at Arnside intending to do a circuit of the Knott.  However, to our surprise, the mist was thick and visibility across the estuary was severely limited.  

The sensible thing to do, we decided, was to head round the coast to New Barns and stop for a coffee in the Bob-in café and hope that the mist would clear.  We did but it didn’t.

We debated which way round to go- hill then coast or coast then hill.  We chose the latter, as much as anything because the tide was now out so it would be much easier than later on once it returned.  What a good decision.  A better one might have been not to go round the coast at all but that didn’t occur to us.

All was well to start with but then the sands became less and less firm.  It had obviously been a very high tide and it showed.  

There were occasions when our feet sank deep, which is why I reminded them of the above advice.

Eventually we were able to escape up onto the cliff path.  The track is narrow and perilously close to the edge.  

It wasn’t a huge drop but the debate as to whether a tumble might lead to certain death or just a good mauling didn’t exactly fill me with confidence.  At last we descended to a firm beach.  One I knew well.  

It has been mentioned previously in these reports (BB1403 for example).  It is below where we had a family caravan for 44 years although in those days the channel was quite different.  I used to go out to the windy beach where I would dance beneath the diamond sky with one arm waving free, silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves…… OK. Sorry, Bob. Forgot myself there.  The Tambourine man must have jingle-jangled me.  But that is how I thought of it.  Today, the beach is gone.  The moss is gone.  The channel comes right up to the pebbles.  Sad, really.

The caravan site is much the same, only grander.  The van parked where ours had stood has been changed since our last visit.  Clearly the 10 year rule is still being enforced.  The stone wall that we commissioned remains.  It still grieves me that we had to pay for it to be built.  Anyway, that is long in the past, let’s not dwell on it.

We climbed the Knott from Hollins Farm and had our lunch at what used to be the view point.  Today, the only way we would have known there were any hills to be seen was from the brass plates depicting them.

After saying hello to the Giraffe.....

.....and visiting the trig point, we dropped down into Arnside, passing many rather grand houses plus a summer house that looked as if it had Bart Simpson on the roof.....

..... before emerging to the path that crosses the field to the station.  The mist across the estuary had lifted a little.  We could now see the viaduct.

Somehow we walked past the Fighting Cocks but the same could not be said of The Albion.  It called us in as it had done many a time fifty years ago.  Until I was banned, that is.

"There are three things to remember," I told the boys as we parted company some time later.  "What?" they asked?  Sadly, I can’t now recall but I’m sure there were.

Don, Tuesday 30th November 2022
Thanks to Tony for several of the pictures

 Comitibus : Martin, Don, Tony

Photo Competition

Last week's Photo Competition proved too challenging.  
The photo was actually taken pointing down one of the protective tubings for a planted tree.

These week's competion is of a rather different type.  Here is a sign spotted on our walk.  
Clearly there are missing letters and / or words.  What do you think it should have originally said?

Winning suggestion earns a (very) modest prize.

Do you have any comments or questions?

If so, please click on .  We look forward to hearing from you.  If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate.  Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let US know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.

STATISTICS

BB2233 : Three Things To Remember

Date:

Tuesday 29th November

Features:

Arnside Knott

Distance in miles:

6.4

Height climbed in feet:

944

GPX track:

BB2233 GPX

Comitibus:

Don, Martin, Tony

Home

BB04

BB05

BB06

 BB07

BB08

BB09

BB10

BB11

BB12

BB13

BB14

BB15

BB16

BB17

BB18

BB19

BB20

BB21

BB22

Archive