Albert here reporting on Oldsidevalver festivities.
Saturday 15th May. Weather - Overcast and average temperature.
9.30 a.m. Orders to report to the control centre. (read Beer Shed)
Chosen transportation to be fuelled and ready for action.
Lets do it...........
The route was known to myself and Basil K. (due to the fact we planned it) All other Oldsidevalvers would be on a mystery tour, the only clue being should they wish to join us they would experience some of the finest scenery Yorkshire had to offer and would also be travelling at altitude. Step forward Krazy Koen, Fifi La Downdraught and The Baroness von Battenburg. Hardy souls or fools ? only time would tell.
First scenery stop - Beamsley Beacon.
Oldsidevalver fact - “During the Bronze Age, some 4,500 years ago, a large stone mound was built there, probably to mark the burial place of a local chieftain and to act as a territorial boundary marker,” The name Beamsley Beacon, recorded in 1667, suggests it was used as part of a signalling system using fire. In 1804, during the Napoleonic wars, the beacon was refurbished and a guardhouse was constructed to shelter the beacon keeper.
Onwards..forever forward.......and the promise of coffee further on route had our mystery tourers once more under power, with a short stop for an unofficial photoshoot at Bolton Abbey.
Oldsidevalver fact - Bolton Abbey was founded in 1151 by the Augustinian order, on the banks of the River Wharfe. In the early 14th century Scottish raiders caused the temporary abandonment of the site and serious structural damage to the priory. Building work was still going on at the abbey when the Dissolution of the Monasteries resulted in the termination of the priory in 1539. The east end remains in ruins. A tower, begun in 1520, was left half-standing, and its base was later given a bell-turret and converted into an entrance porch. Most of the remaining church is in the Gothic style of architecture, but more work was done in the Victorian era, including windows by August Pugin.
Back in the saddle, once again select forward gear, release clutch and lets crunch those last few miles.....through Kilnsey, Kettlewell and Starbotton before the well earned coffee stop. Not quite as planned because the official stop was the George Inn at Hubberholme......which was shut !
So, back track 2 miles to the Buck Inn at Buckden....which was open ....hurray.....and the landlord only required money in exchange for coffee.....how cool is that ! So heres his official picture of that fine establishment for all Oldsidevalvers to see.
To be continued.................
