YORKSHIRE DALES

Sunday 11th May 2003 Week 10, Day 47 Chris, one of Dave's caving friends, kindly took us on a trip to the Dales on my third day in Leeds. This was the day I fell in love with English country side. So green, so fresh and all those free-stone walls lining the fields made me feel like I had escaped the city completely, even though it was only a half hour drive behind us. First we stopped at a waterfall walk. It was pouring with rain initially and of course, being the Aussie that I am, I had no waterproof jacket. I survived though. And the photos really speak for themselves. I ate my first chip buttie at lunch, and then we visited the Wensleydale Cheese shop. We received nasty looks from the storeperson because we kept eating their taste testers. Luckily, Chris bought some cheese so it didn't make us look too bad in the end. The blueberry and caramelised onion flavours were my favourites. Next, we headed to Janet's Foss, another pretty waterfall though smaller. You walk through some fields to get there and suddenly they change to a beautiful lush forrest with lots of pretty white flowers - it's like you've stepped into another realm entirely. Ironically, Janet's Foss is nambed after the fairy who is meant to live in the cave behind the waterfall! We kept on walking along the trail and ended up at yet another waterfall but it wasn't as spectacular due to the lack of water! The first fall with the nearby church in the background. Front view of the first waterfall. Bluebells on our walk. Janet's Foss. The final waterfall - if only there had been water. Chris and I not looking too impressed. Me taking a silly shot of Dave and I back at the house while looking over the photos. All photos © David G. Birch, 2003.