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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.

Tuesday 13 August 2024

Homeward bound

Aug 11th

The journey today was to be long, made longer by deciding to drive more of those wonderful roads in the Dales, stopping frequently to take photos of scarecrows and the inevitable hold-ups on the M6. 




It was driving past a small village called Keld that the first of the scarecrows were seen. I found out later that a scarecrow competition was being held in the surrounding villages. 


One caught my attention. We have been watching the TV documentary series 'Our Yorkshire Farm' following the Owen family's remote sheep farm.  Husband and wife Clive, 68, and Amanda, 49, starred in the series from 2018 to 2022. The oldest son Reuben left the family farm to start his own business, so I expect the sign by the scarecrow was meant for him.

I think Reuben's answer was on the brown board.


On the Hawes road, we came across the Ribblehead viaduct, an impressive structure on the Settle-Carlisle Railway line. There is a great piece about it HERE



The M6 was busy, not so for us travelling South, but the North bound traffic started queuing at junction 31 to get off the slip road at Blackpool. And it went on for miles, well past junction 28. I had just mentioned how pleased that we were not caught up in that, when all the South bound traffic also stopped;

 

Top photo, North Bound traffic, and we joined the South bound queue as we passed junction 28
 

We stopped briefly at our daughter and son-in-law's place in Swadlincote to wish our grandson Josh happy birthday before eventually arriving back on FS by 5.30pm. 

This won't be our last trip away as we have been asked to help at Shardlow Inland Waterway Festival in September, and it's easier to cruise to it on FS. We will leave toward the end of August to make sure we find somewhere to moor.

And a few more photos of the Dales





4 comments:

Caroline and Martin said...

Thank you very much for posting your Scottish adventures, thoroughly enjoyed the read Caroline

Anonymous said...

We also watched life on the Owen family farm and Reuben's new venture in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, so enjoyed your wonderful pics.
I expect you breathed a sigh of relief on your return to your peaceful mooring! What a grrreat trip around Scotland and the isles suitably covered in your interesting blog, 'twas a joy to follow, thank you. Ann xx

Marilyn, nb Waka Huia said...

Welcome home, intrepid travellers!
Mxx

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Thank you all for your messages. It was nice to get back, although it's a shock being so near to the road again and the basin is full of reeds!. We had to fight the cobwebs to get through the back doors, and I'm glad Ian went in first, the cobwebs were as bad inside!
New adventures to come and looking forward to that.
Xxx

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