Monday's promising weather forecast did not start to come true until about two in the afternoon. I had been looking forward to a long walk but in the event all I got was an hour in The Hope Valley between Hope and Castleton. Above - Hope Cement Works illuminated effectively by the sinking sun and below a tree that caught my eye by a sheep farm track.
When I pulled the curtains back this morning (Tuesday), our garden was frosty below a cobalt blue sky and laser yellow sunlight. It was just after eleven when I headed out in my trusty South Korean chariot, aiming eventually for the village of Scrooby which has long been associated with The Pilgrim Fathers and "The Mayflower" that famously set out from Plymouth, Devon for Massachusetts in the late summer of 1620. There were "Geograph" squares I still needed to bag in that vicinity - including this one:-
Near Scrooby, by a bridge that crosses The River Ryton, I came aross this memorial stone dedicated to two young women - Emily Haith and Lizzie Ternent from nearby Retford. On the night of January 16th 2010, their car came off the road and ended up in the river below. The circumstances will forever remain mysterious. It was not icy and neither of them had consumed any alcohol. At that point, the well-maintained A road is as straight as a die.
Scrooby's only remaining pub is called "The Pilgrim Fathers" in recognition of the village's historical links with the episode I referred to in the opening paragraph. However, at the end of the nineteenth century the same pub was called "The Saracen's Head".
Close to the pub is this signpost which tells us correctly that the distance to Boston (Lincolnshire) is fifty miles but the distance to Boston, Massachusetts is 3200 miles. By the way, I am sure they got the wrong mileage for Plymouth, Massachusetts! How could they do that? Didn't anybody check?
It was a nice day out and Clint and I were back home for three thirty. I had successfully bagged all the squares I needed. Being a simple minded kind of fellow, I rather like days like this.
I love that first tree photo in the light snow. So peaceful.
ReplyDeleteI am glad it wasn't just me who liked that scene.
DeleteThat one was my favorite. I stopped in to say so!
DeleteThose trees against the blue sky and the fence, atmospheric and beautiful. The one with the fence reminds me of "All Creatures Great and Small" which I'm watching currently. That's very sad about the deaths; perhaps someone fell asleep at the wheel. :(
ReplyDeleteThose two friends will never grow old - always eighteen and twenty. They had enjoyed a restaurant meal and weren't driving far to get home.
DeleteSimilar skies here today. I went for my walk around 2:00 PM but it was less than 2 km.
ReplyDeleteMuch better than staying home keeping warm.
DeleteThat's a very nice signpost and I like all the other photos too. Our skies here are cloudy with patches of blue as we experience some cooler days which I am very thankful for.
ReplyDeleteIn hot climates, some people dream of chilly days.
DeleteA winter walk can be so good for the soul, especially if after days of grey skies the sun comes back.
ReplyDeleteThe death of those two young women is mysterious. It sounds like something out of a book or a film, but we all know that real life often tops anything an author can conjure up.
The road was straight. Did the driver swerve to avoid an animal? They will remain forever young just like Steve.
DeleteYou and Clint seem to be getting along now, with you calling him trusty.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I love your solitary tree photos.
The lady who drove off the road may have just fallen asleep.
The sign with the US additions is cool.
I have just written to the clerk to the parish council about the mistake with the distance to Plymouth, Massachusetts.
DeleteLovely to see the light snow in sunshine and against the perfectly clear blue sky.
ReplyDeleteThat signpost is very strange and I can only assume that everyone knows the local distances, but it seems to have a random selection of destinations. Farmers Branch, Texas, seems slightly odd, but perhaps it's a twinned town? I have been to Plymouth Mass, and Boston Mass is one of my favourite American cities, and have visited the point where the Mayflower was supposedly said to have landed.
Glad that you had a satisfying day.
I have been to Boston, Mass but we never got to Plymouth, Mass. Instead, we headed north to New Hampshire and Maine before driving west to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. You are right Carol - when you look closely that sign seems unfinished and how could you get a distance so wrong?
DeleteI remember staying at an hostel near the cement works and we also saw some Belted Galloways cows.
ReplyDeleteDid you stay at the Pindale Farm Outdoor Centre?
DeleteYes I would say so. It was more of a Bunk House with plastic mattresses and tiled floors and sc facilities.
DeleteI have an artist friend who has a similar sign in her garden, think it is based on the Land's End one in Cornwall. It is rather a good weather change from monotonous rain and grey skies to bright sun and snow but cold. Are you by the way photographing every square on a map?
ReplyDeleteGradually I am gathering as many 1km squares as I can though I will never cover all of the British Isles. So far I have taken photos in 6883 different squares. This has become my main hobby.
DeleteI might have had a couple of ancestors pass through there.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, there are links between all humans like a massive cobweb.
DeleteI love that photo of the tree, in the sunshine. Shadows are always so blue in the wintertime. Why?
ReplyDeleteI guess it's the pure quality of the light.
DeleteWhat a strange mistake on the sign. They're definitely making Massachusetts seem much larger than it actually is!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about this link between the pilgrims and Scrooby. Were they from there? I don't ever recall hearing this before. I'll have to look it up. Glad you got your walking in!
There are at least three villages in that area that provided "pilgrims" for "The Mayflower", They include Babworth and Austerfield as well as Scrooby.
DeleteMy one big complaint about history taught in the United States is that it tends to be United States centric. We've been taught many times about where the Pilgrims landed but until today, I had never thought or knew from what port they came from. I bet there is a fascinating story about all those who decided to purchase tickets on the Mayflower.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of the most influential pilgrims came from villages near the border of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. They seemed to be seeking a fresh environment for religious reasons.
DeleteBeautiful day and beautiful pictures. I love going to Hope Valley with you! Provincetown is 3,178, Boston is 3,199 and Plymouth is 3201
ReplyDeleteYou should have painted that signpost Mrs Thyme.
DeleteI love those walls of stone and wonder about the people that took the time to fit all of those rocks together and who keep them in good shape.
ReplyDeleteIf well-built, a drystone wall will last for centuries with no cement between the stones. I still marvel at them.
DeleteSad and sobering to read of the deaths of Emily Haith and Lizzie Ternent.
ReplyDeleteI looked up the names of these two young women who died that January day.
*Grieving Mum's unanswered questions 11 years on.* Lizzie's mother.
Sturton Le Steeple caught my eye on the signpost.
It could be a name out of A Shropshire Lad, though it is in Notts.
I liked seeing steeples on the horizon long before I found supernatural faith.
Did the Normans add le & la to English place names ?
Houghton-le-Spring. Bolton-le-Sands. Chapel-en-le-frith.
Ashby-de-la-Zouche. Chester-le-Street. Newton-le-Willows.