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BB2324
: The Happy Wanderer?
Wednesday
12th August 2023
I
had an ear worm. Dum-ti-dum-ti dum-ti-dum,
dum -ti-dum-ti-dee. Etcetera. What
was that tune? I didn't mention it
to the boys when we met at Clapham. Perhaps
I should. It might have prevented
what happened later. Our first objective
was Ingleborough, then we would decide how
to return. Or to where to return, as transpired
to be the problem later.
I
asked if Father Christmas was in residence
as we set off up the trail to his cave.
No but he will be back in time for
Christmas, I was reassured.
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After
emerging from Trow Gill, we discovered that
a
meet was taking place at the Gaping Gill
pothole. Properly clad troglodytes
were queuing to go down the winch into the
depths. We didn't join them. The
queue was too long. Actually, that's
not the real reason. It isn't open
to the public until Bank Holiday. Also
Stan and I have each had some sort of trauma
underground. Neither TV Mike nor Robin
seemed enthusiastic to return once it was
open and I doubt if Holly would be allowed
down.
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We
continued to Little Ingleborough. To
the east stands Pen-y-Ghent.....
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.....
not to be confused with Pendle to the south.....
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.....
whilst Ingleborough itself lies straight
ahead.
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These
distractions had quietened the worm but
it made a fresh appearance as we neared
the Ingleborough summit. It wasn't
as crowded as I expected and the weather
wasn't as good as we expected; thin clouds
kept rolling in and out again. We
found a shelter so, anxious to access
my butties, I put my rucksack down.
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It was
at that moment I recognised the song.
It was those
lovely children from Obernkirchen:
Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann,
Und mir steckt's auch im Blut;
Drum wandr' ich froh,
so lang ich
kann,
Und schwenke meinen Hut.
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Click
on picture for song
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From
the summit you can see Whernside plus the
Ribblehead railway viaduct.
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We
agreed that the second part of our walk
should be to descend Thieves Moss.....
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.....
and cross
the vast limestone pavements.....
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..... until we reached
the Moughton Scars Begger's Stile where
we had our Comitibus photo.
The
wooden stile is large and very steep on
the south side which proved a challenge
for Holly though we successfully managed
to ground her without incident.
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The
terrain across Crummock Dale is very different,
sheep farming territory. It was a
pleasant stroll down past Crummock Farm.
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Click
on picture for song
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The song started going
round my mind again, but this time in English.
It was the Stargazers:
I
love to go a-wandering
along the mountain
track.
As as I go, I love to sing,
my
knapsack on my back.
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Hang
on a moment. What was that about my
knapsack on my back?
It's
not there! Disaster!!
What
had happened to it?
Was
it still at the top of Ingleborough where
I took it off for lunch? No, it seemed
more likely that it was back at Beggars
Stile where we stopped for the team picture.
Who was not such a happy wanderer
now?
Fortunately
my money, camera, phone, gps and car keys
were in my pockets so it wasn't the end
of the world (my subconscious just typed Wordle)
if the sac couldn't be found but it seemed
worth returning the 1¼ miles to the Stile.
TVM kindly volunteered to accompany
me which was a blessing, not only for the
company, but for setting a pace that would
get us home before sunset.
Meanwhile
Robin and Stan headed off back to Clapham
and the cars. We had agreed to meet
up at the Game Cock at Austwick.
The
sac was indeed where I had left it at the
Stile so we could gleefully retrace our
steps and continue on to the Came Cock.
Who would got there first? We
did but only by 5 minutes. Very soon
there was not just one but four reunited
Happy Wanderers. Cheers! Or Perhaps
I should say:
Val-der-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaah!
Don,
Wednesday 9th August 2023
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