30th Birthday Dales Holiday

We've been away in the Yorkshire Dales for the last week for Boots' 30th birthday, staying at Batty Farm near High Bentham. All the family joined us and we had a great time walking mostly in the area around Ingleborough. Boots' sister and family were with us the whole time, her Mum was there for the first half of the week and her Dad for the second half which worked rather well. The weather wasn't too bad considering it's the middle of February - we had sun, rain, snow and hail at various intervals but made the most of it and went out every day.

Sunday 19/02 - Walked from the farm to Ingleton and round the Waterfalls Walk. The kids didn't quite manage it all the way round, but Boots and I did. I'd done this walk years ago with Mum and Dad but it was good to go round again. The river was in full flow too so the waterfalls were quite impressive.
Monday 20/02 - Walked from the farm along the river and railway line to High Bentham and then to Low Bentham. This was really good and the first walk I've been on that leads you through a cow shed, complete with newly born calves! Unfortunately the pub we wanted to get some lunch from was closed but we did manage to buy a packet of crisps from them and then walked to the Great Stone of Fourstones where there was a fantastic view across to the Lake District.
Tuesday 21/02 - Boots, C&C and I went on 13-mile hike from the farm to Newby and then up Ingleborough. The walk along the ridge from Little Ingleborough to the top was pretty horrific - very, very windy, cold and into driving hail - but the summit was well worth it. We walked back down into Ingleton for a fantastic hot chocolate and cake in a cafe and then back home.
Wednesday 22/02 - Changeover day. Boots and I went to Clapham and did an easy walk from the village around Norber. Got home just in time for the arrival of Boots' Dad.
Thursday 23/02 - Boots' birthday. Walked from Clapham to Ingleborough Cave which was fun, then up through Trow Gill to Gaping Gill. Had a birthday meal for Boots in the evening and a fabulous coffee birthday cake for pudding.
Friday 24/02 - While Boots' Dad and the kids explored some spooky caves, we walked from the Ribblehead Viaduct along the Ribble Way to Horton in Ribblesdale. As well as snowing and being very cold, the walk was most notable for being incredibly boggy and me falling over, landing on my back and squashing the sandwiches. Grrrrrr.
Saturday 25/02 - Time to leave for everyone except Boots and me as I'd booked us into a hotel for the night as a surprise. Went for lunch at the Wensleydale Creamery and then to The Stow House Hotel to check in. This is the hotel we're considering staying at in November/December so we were checking it out for suitability as well. Overall, the hotel was lovely, but we weren't too sure about the food, nice as it was. Went for a walk around Aysgarth Falls in the afternoon in the rain.

Hull City 1 Norwich City 1

A return trip to the KC for me, having been to see Hull v Macclesfield a while ago, this time with Craig and Richard tagging along. The stadium is pretty good and was quite full and the game was reasonably entertaining. Hull were the better side in the first half and scored first, right in front of us, Cort with a thumping (and completely free) header in the middle of the six yard box. Norwich improved in the second half and were trying to get forward with Hull defending deep and getting plenty of men behind the ball. We finally managed an own goal in the 87th minute, the ball trickling over the line after pinging around in the area off Doherty, Leon, Earnshaw and some random Hull defenders. So an OK game, with 1-1 being about right. Earnshaw looks good although we need to learn to play it along the ground to him rather than lumping it up in the air. Obvious to everyone except those on the pitch it seems.

Special mention to the bloke sitting behind us who, after a couple of needless backpasses followed by a big hoof up the pitch, insisted on shouting 'Give it to Greeno!' every time a Norwich player got the ball.