Heather's blog - 9th May - 13th may

Arrived at the site early (very) with FAR too much luggage wondering how I would know the walkers from all the other campers, and was relieved to see Cara - the unmistakeable dog who's blog I had enjoyed reading before.  I'm not going to detail each days walk here but just put on a few photos out of the hundreds  that I took! 

My first view of the core four, plus Ben - and a welcome cup of tea.

On the way to Jacobs ladder Cara and the sheep have a quiet moment.  Or if they are communicating - I wonder what? Someone did suggest that Cara didn't think that the mirror was a good one!

A nice view of the rain to come - with the hail and thunder of course.  I think that this was around the Bleak Low area - it was certainly after the kinder Downfall which didn't!

Below is the group who walked from Crowden to Standedge on Tuesday 10th May.   Plus Victor the driver And my brother John who is taking the photo.

Not the prettiest elevenses site,  but the team had a policy to eat whenever food presented itself.  This only works when walking all day every day which seems to be a jolly good way of going on in my opinion.  This was on Wednesday 11th when we walked from The carriage House at Standedge to Charlestown 



Loking back from where we had come from.  Cara is being good and not looking for grouse.  Somewhere on the way to Haworth

And once at Haworth, what a treat was in store for us as Jenny cooked a birthday meal.  This was just the starter!

and here are the diners - or some of them

On my  last day we walked twenty something miles (was it 24, or 25?)  from Haworth to Malham, and to carry on the eating theme here is a pony that was really keen to get it's share of Chris's sandwich

At the end of a long day - a long and glorious day - and for me the last day - a pint with friends (no session tonight) was just what was needed

If I could have seen how much I was going to enjoy my five days with these wonderful people, I would have attempted the whole thing!  Just let me know when the next one is please!

Belt & Braces

Get a group of singers together and everyday occurrences inevitably lead to impromptu snatches of relevant song ("food glorious food", "a-wandering along a mountain track", "pass your glasses", "singing in the rain" etc).
Currently topping the FolkTrail chart is "trousers are too big" due to Chris's shrinking waistline causing frequent Trouser Emergencies. He's tried various solutions to the problem, including a 'bungee clip belt' and 'rucksack braces'...
Jenny

Home is where the van is - only here for the craic

In a mad moment I had offered to drive the FolkTrail support vehicle, and quickly discovered that driving the FolkTrail van is an experience not-to-be-missed (especially if you like an intellectual challenge on hill-starts!).

May 6th: We caught up with the walkers at Ilam Hall, where they were enjoying a well-earned rest day (one of only two rest days scheduled in their gruelling three months schedule).
No session was planned that evening, but none of us could resist the lure of the "Isaak Walton", where we found a group of ramblers with a shared guitar wondering if the landlord would mind if they play (he didn't).

May 7th: From Ilam Hall, set in an idyllic pastoral setting, we meandered through gentle countryside to Blackwell, where the energising showers at the newly refurbished campsite refreshed us all for the long evening ahead...
At the Three Stags' Heads (standing room only) we were treated to fiery fiddling, duelling trombones, recitations, loads of songs and a wonderful supper too, courtesy of the Landlord - thankyou Geoff!

May 8th: The following evening's campsite at the Peak District Visitor Centre at Edale was clearly a ramblers' hotspot, with the history of the 'Manchester Rambler' and the mass trespass on Kinder Scout illustrated, and 'non-negotiable'(!) rules and regulations posted throughout the campsite.
The Rambler pub ("muddy boots and dogs always welcome") was, by contrast, a spacious and welcoming venue where Albert (percussion and washboard) with his skiffle band and a large group of Folkworks musicians and singers awaited us.

From Edale I was glad that Victor took over the driving through the Peak District. Being an old-style map navigator myself I was having serious disagreements with TomTom, especially TomTom's instructions to drive across 'hedges and ditches and fields and styles' (there's a song in every situation!).

May 9th: Next stop: Crowden (where the campsite wardens were especially welcoming), and a frantic music session at the Globe Brew in Glossop.

May 10th: As the walkers headed higher into the hills so we drove through increasingly wild landscapes to the Carriage Inn at Standedge where we savoured the turkish menu, and several Morris sides formed a guard of honour for us, then danced the night away while the musicians held the fort indoors.
The Carriage Inn stands close to two ventilation shafts for a train / canal tunnel (three linked tunnels in fact) - the deepest such tunnels in the UK. Clouds of vapour are emitted from the ventilation shafts at odd intervals, and a tall monument stands atop a nearby hill to commemorate the irish navvies who died while 'working on the railway'.

May 11th: At Bacup Borough Football Club the following evening we were treated to a very different kind of evening, starting with the club's very own Premier Pie and Peas (what's the secret ingredient?) followed by an amplified evening of many self-penned songs, recitations, and a toddler-to-watch (just 2 years and 9 months old) who took over the microphone in the interval.

May 12th: The following evening at Haworth YHA we (ie Nadine & I) cooked a double-birthday dinner - it's always a pleasure to cook for such an appreciative eating team, and with Naomi around there's little fear of leftovers! Chilled kir has never tasted so good, and the soaring thirteen-part harmony 'Bonne Anniversaire' was awesome (thankyou all!). With the next day's 26 mile walk to be the longest of the expedition, we all headed off for an early night.

May 15th: A couple of days later we stumbled into the survivors' singaround session at the tail-end of the Hardraw Gathering at the Green Dragon. Although this was not on our list of sessions, the assembled company had heard that we were on our way, and so were looking out for us. A gentle singaround, with a group of fine singers... we're glad you waited for us.

May 16th: Now back at the wheel of the support vehicle, I wondered if the walkers would beat us to the Tan Hill Inn (14m walking / 40+m by road!). This is the highest pub in England, where the singing chef, wild-eyed landlady, puppy-dog and pet sheep kept us all well-fed and entertained (no we didn't eat the puppy, nor the pet sheep).

May 17th: This time the walkers did indeed beat us (9m walking) to the Ancient Unicorn / T'owd 'orned Oss in Bowes for our rendezvous with Black Sheep Morris, the last session for a while.

May 18th: At Middleton in Teesdale we took Black Sheep Morris's hint about the excellent fish-and-chip shop in Middleton, and had a party on-site, rounded off with a tot of Ben's single malt.

May 19th: At Langdon Beck no session was planned but Jamie, the YHA warden, soon persuaded us to make the most of his kindly welcome and the laid-back atmosphere with an evening of songs, music... and the rest of Ben's single malt (sorry, Ben).

May 20th: The route from Langdon Beck to Dufton gave drivers and walkers alike some breathtaking views across to the Lake District, followed by a quiet pint at the Stag before the walkers headed off for an early night in preparation for the following day's tough 20m trek to Alston (said to be the most difficult stretch on the Pennine way).

May 21st: After a hair-raising drive via Melmerby (1900+ft), dodging saturday cyclists on the numerous hairpin bends, we left the FolkTrail support van at Alston YHA and sadly turned for home.

What a fortnight - when can we do it all again??

Jenny Selfe

Following the FolkTrail

We joined the FolkTrail walkers on May 6th, to follow the Trail from Ilam Hall in Derbyshire to Alston in Northumberland.

This was their first rest day since setting out from Lands End on April 1st, and all five core walkers (Clare, Naomi, Moira, Chris and Cara the dog) were in high spirits, having enjoyed the driest and warmest April for many a year.

During the fortnight that we followed the trail we met friends old and new who came to walk and/or share the evening sessions, where we were made very welcome by everyone we met... guitar-toting walkers (Ilam), massed Morris (Standedge), a singing chef (Tan Hill), storytellers, rock and blues musicians (Bacup), romany singers (Hardraw), the old and the young (from a 2-year-old super-star-to-be to octagenarians).

Most days, after the long day's walk, the FolkTrailers had a limited time to pitch the tent, wash, change and eat before heading off to the evening's session, where the music and recording could go on into the wee small hours.

Having just come along to give some background support, we wonder how the walkers found the energy to do all that (especially Moira, who had the tedious task of transferring the sound and video files to the hard drive after each session).

We returned home with some quirky and inspiring memories of the Trail, like ...
... when Clare lost her 'phone, and someone suggested calling her number so we could listen for it ringing - yes, everyone heard it, but still no-one could find it... in the pocket of the jacket she was wearing.
... when one of the guest walkers had a tough time finishing the day's walk Chris stayed behind to help her, arriving at the campsite a couple of hours after the main group - hungry but calm and unruffled.
... at Bacup the Premier Pie and mushy peas were something else - and don't forget the mint sauce!
... the tail-end of the song festival at the Green Dragon at Hardraw was especially memorable, sitting beside Mic and Susie Darling - the romany couple who sang songs of the 'honest people'.
... at the end of a long day supper is always welcome, and Jenny enjoyed preparing some for the walkers - one in a youth hostel, to celebrate her birthday, others in our camper van, at the roadside - it's always fun to get eight or more people packed into a van (and especially when there's food on the go)!
... some days, although the walkers had just a leisurely 9 or 20 mile stroll (ha ha!) the drivers amongst us (Jenny drove the support vehicle some days, while I drove our camper van) were doomed to a 40 - 50 mile journey just to get to the other side of the hill. I bet Jenny's language was colourful as she told the GPS what she thought of 'his' route suggestions through farmyards etc.
... at the Tan Hill Inn we had to push the two pet sheep away from the door before we could get in, and were disconcerted when the 'barman' seemed not to know 'what was what' - no wonder: he, like us, was just there for the evening! The landlady said "if you want a pint you'll have to get it yourself". The singing chef prepared for us some wonderful XL yorkshire puddings, then entertained us afterwards too with several self-penned songs.

It was a privilege to be part of the FolkTrail for a while - thankyou all for making a mad idea come true. We'll be thinking of you every step of the way to John O'Groats!

Pat Selfe

Dog Blog

Haven't been allowed on the blog for a while. They said there was too much dog and not enough human, so I've been waiting for them to do a bit.

Reached Hadrian's Wall today, didn't want to leave the van and go out in all that wind with lumps of ice in it. Told them every way I could but they made me go - must be quite bonkers!

Can't say I enjoyed the Pennine Way either - well, it could have been terriffic, all those birds lying around just waiting to be chased into the sky. Instead I had to have the human on a lead almost all the time and on the odd occasion I got away they all yelled "NO!". They spend a couple of hundred years breeding in all my gundog skills then tell me off for trying to use them - typical!

The other thing about having a human on a lead when it's wet is I get told off every time I take an inadvertant step sideways to follow a good smell. You wouldn't believe the fuss they make if I pull them into a bog. What's wrong with wet feet anyway?

It's not all been bad though since I last wrote. Had a great time all the way up the Severn (except for the long steaming thing that roars past letting out a noise like fifty kettles coming to the boil at once). Staffordshire stiles were made for very thin dogs, good job I've lost weight.

Met two more of my own kind; Heidi in Abbots Bromley and a very pretty marmalade in Uttoxeter. Incidentely if anyone asks again if I am a labradoodle I going to step right out of character and learn to bite.

There's been some talk about hundred mile hour winds tomorrow, with a bit of luck I'll get a rest day.

Cara x

MY FOLK TRAIL EXPERIENCE

The first time I heard about the Folk Trail, my reaction was, as I suppose most of reactions, ''they are crazy'' !! »
The first time I had a look on their website, facing all this work and this organisation, understanding their motivation, admiring their courage and determination, I said to myself : ''I want to be there at one moment or another''. This website is like an invitation to join them !!

And I did it !!

I joined the Folk Trail at Blackwell for a week. As I am not a good long distance walker, I choose to walk with them every two days and, fortunately, the stages were under 15 miles (24 kms) . The only thing that I had not check up before was : this area is like that /\_/\ !!

As English is not my firs language, how can I describe you this fabulous week...
Just picking up a few moments :
- my first day of walk : we stopped and Chris write with chalk on a tree : FT 2011 500 MILES 800 KMS
- my last day of walk : we stopped and hugged and kissed for the halfway (600 miles)
- Naomi’s raised thumb to tell me ''well done'' after a hard climbing
- the silence of the early waking up in the tent only broken by the ''zip'' noises
- the small breaks to wait me when it was a little hard to follow them
- the fabulous landscapes in the middle of nowhere
- the hot meals waiting for us : thank you Jennie & Pat (specially for Jennie’s birthday party at Haworth Youth Hostel)
- my first experience of driving an Irish car : thank you Victor for trusting me (but in fact you had no other choice :-)
- the fabulous sessions, all different but always so welcoming and friendly
- This evening (with no session) in the pub in Malham, to tell and to laugh at funny stories
- And so, and so...

Even if my English is not so good to have long conversations with all my friends, some moments didn’t need words to be shared : just sitting with them on a bench, near the ruins of an old farm in Brontë area, facing the wild landscape and feeling yourself so well. Sharing a smile, a hug to say ''well done'' or ''courage'', enjoying the music and the atmosphere of the pubs...

This Folk Trail is a great experience. If you can join them (even if you are not an English speaker) for a day or more, no hesitation DO IT !! You will come back richer than before... But don’t forget to take a good and warm sleeping bag !!

For Clare, Naomi, Moira and Chris I think that they will have a before and an after the Folk Trail. I think that their friendship shall be indestructible, built with courage, joy and also sadness because of the loss of their fellow traveller, John Hesdon (RIP)

May the road be not too hard, the wind in their back, the rain staying in the clouds, the nights not too cold and the music still alive.
My thoughts are with you every day, I can see each or your steps who move you closer to John O’Groats.

BON COURAGE
WITH ALL MY LOVE
Annick

Over halfway...

Not so many sessions this week so time to catch our breath. Just as well because the North Pennines are pretty challenging! As one local told us "You go up, up, up, up, up, down a bit, up, up, up, up, up, up, up and then you're there." Breathtaking scenery and winds so strong you have to walk quickly because standing on one leg for too long is very dodgy.



Looking back over the past seven weeks the first thought that jumps out is the kindness, keenness and generosity of session hosts and people participating. For example, we have been fed, our washing tackled, sandwiches provided, flapjacks donated (they were delicious, Bacup!), pizza brought to the tent at midnight (thank you Nik at Uttoxeter!) and numerous other considerate acts of kindness.



Next, the diversity if the club nights and sessions. No two places have been alike, all have provided us with terrific music, song, dance and storytelling for the archive.

We started with open minds, unsure of what we would find, but one thing is certain - folk music is alive and well from Land's End to Dufton and we have no reason to believe it's going to change as we walk on.

Clare