In which we go walking and fall through a time warp

We made the most of the last of the sunshine on Saturday with a lovely walk in the Yorkshire Dales. Eldest was doing his second walk for his Duke of Edinburgh Award which entailed he, with a bunch of similarly dressed and haversack laden teenagers, to walk about 14 km to an overnight stop. Here they had to set up camp and cook for themselves then, on Sunday walk a similar distance to another designated point where they would collapse until various parents would scoop them up and whisk them home (insist on showers and a fresh change of clothing) and sort out their wet socks/shoes/tent/trousers and empty the crushed food remains out of the haversack.

As we were already out and about dropping off Eldest, we set off for our own walk too. Youngest misses (but won't admit to it) his brother and relies on us as a poor substitute. So we have to keep him busy.

After a bit of a slog up a gentle but almost never ending uphill slope, we stopped for a break.  All we could hear was the sound of the skylarks, the occasional sheep and Youngest nattering away.

We travelled along rolling green humpbacked hills and down in to a dark sharp gorge with steep edges. Back out into the autumnal sunshine we walked down into the village of Grassington and was transported back in time.

To the 1940s.......

 

Grassington was hosting a rip-roaring 1940's weekend. The place was heaving with costume perfect folk, sand bags and military encampments.

We were pleasantly entertained for about an hour as we walked through the sandbagged streets, listening to a wonderfully dressed chap, in his plus fours and round spectacles, as he belted out all the latest tunes. SS officers mingled with the US army whilst beautifully glossy lipped and stockinged legged women clipped along the streets in their kitten heels and fur stoles. Men saluted and barked orders, guns were slung casually over shoulders as were gas masks. A wonderful old perambulator was being trundled up the street filled with lacy baby bedding and a vintage teddy. Youngest was in heaven - he loved it, his eyes almost as wide open as his mouth as he checked out all the uniforms, military vehicles and weapons. His kind of day :)

On Sunday, as promised, we arrived to collect a weary Eldest who has picked up a rather nasty cold and in a fit of 'teenagerdom' didn't look after himself and now was cold and unsuitably dressed - all his warm gear stuffed in his haversack. *sigh* when will they learn?

Now, Monday, he is curled up on a chair with a book and the fire crackling away. He was so flushed and poorly this morning, I didn't have the heart to send him to school and even Youngest said his brother should stay in bed!

knitting progress

 

'Dancing cats' making the most of the fire

prrrrr

Any hoo - it is Monday, it is the beginning of a new week and I am going to use our lovely weekend to power me through :)
Have yourselves a good day - with love hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx