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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Sunday 26 September 2021

The high and the low

 Sadly we have decided to go home, it's a couple of days earlier than planned but we seem to have a problem with the fridge. This morning I went to defrost the mince for tonight's chilli and horror of horrors, everything in the freezer was soft. So I decided on a cooked breakfast to use up the bacon and sausages. But those so-called sausages turned out to be lamb kofta sausage and not really that pleasant with bacon and eggs! Anyway they had to be eaten, I couldn't refreeze even if the fridge started working again and with 4 chicken breasts also defrosted, it was either cook them for eating tomorrow (big dinner) or throw them away. It wasn't just the freezer that was a problem, but everything in the fridge was now in danger of going off, so the only other alternative was to go home and get the fridge sorted!

We gave ourselves one more day to go see High Force falls near Forest in Teesdale.  It been on our to-do list and we had planned this for an excursion on the way home anyway. I also fancied one more night wild camping on the Dales at Fore Gill Ford on the  Low Row road (The ford in All Creatures Great and Small) It was unanimous then, that Sunday would be the day of our return to FS.

 The falls were spectacular. One of the most impressive in the county. What we weren't impressed with was having to pay £2 each for the pleasure of seeing them and then with the car park fee of £3, made today's walk very expensive.
It took us about 15 minutes along a very gentle incline to reach the falls. Wow, they were certainly as good as folk had talked about.


These weren't the only falls as roughly 1.5 miles further downstream and Low falls could be seen. So because we had to pay the £3 for three hours (there was nothing cheaper) we headed off downstream. And I'm so glad we did because not only was the falls a sight to see but I finally spied a Dipper, a bird I had been hoping to see back in June.







 


Back to MB and we made for Fore Gill Ford. I had hoped to have the place to ourselves but it seems others had the same idea as us. We were joined by two smaller camper vans with the occupants sitting outside chatting well into the night and one car who we believe were there for just one thing! Anyway as this was the first night of the live Strictly shows, this was all that mattered.



 

Off back to FS tomorrow. Quite excited about finally going boating again although we do have to sort the fridge out first.

And a few more images of the Dales,

This sheep did not want to move!




 And fauna and flora,





4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic pics of the Dipper, waterfalls etc in the beautiful dales.
Hope your problem can be sorted easily so we can look forward to your cruising blog.
Winter can be the best time when most boats have retreated back into their marinas.
Bye for now, Ann Makemson xx

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Thanks, Ann. xx

Paul Clark said...

Irene

I've really enjoyed reading about your latest adventures, though motor homes and narrow lanes don't go too well together, and I guess you must also be constantly alert to overhead hazards that those of us driving cars don't even notice. I hope your plans to take FS out for a while this Autumn come to fruition - I look forward to hearing about what you get up to.

Best wishes

Paul

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Thanks, Paul. Xx

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