Author: Fhithich
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“The finest view in England”
It was a tad wet and misty this morning at Sutton Bank. “The finest view in England” according to local author James Alfred Wight (1916 – 1995) was not much of a view. Wight is more widely known by his pen name James Herriot. With no photos in the bag for today’s featured image, I…
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Summer Solstice Sunrise
Up before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise on the longest day of the year. Who needs to go to Stonehenge? In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced his new calendar, but, in what now could be seen as Euro-scepticism of yore, it wasn’t until 1752 that England finally adopted it, bringing us into…
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Wiley Cat Wood
I came across this old weir today but frustratingly I have been unable to find out any history about it. Wiley Cat Wood is a lovely little valley but, at this time of the year, it is heavily vegetated. It’s drained by a beck which flows north seemingly a tributary of Boos Beck but abruptly…
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Robert Chaloner
A gentle breeze this morning on Great Ayton Moor leading to a slight increase in visibility. In the absence of a stunning view, I had to resort to another of the many boundary stones that scatter the moors. This one is inscribed ‘R C’ so it is likely to refer to Robert Chaloner, but is…
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Recreation of a 1950s postcard of Saltburn
Another morning, another haar. And then Ayton cleared. Blue skies. It will be nice to end the afternoon by the sea, at Saltburn. But driving through Guisborough the temperature dropped as we were engulfed by the sea fret. Although the promenade looks deserted the fish and chip shop was busy with a long self-isolating queue.…
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Boundary Stone, Great Ayton Moor
A roughly dressed boundary stone, probably limestone, and inscribed “RY 1752”. This probably stands for Ralph Yoward who became Lord of the Manor of Hutton following the death of his father in 1751. When Henry VIII dissolved Gisborough Priory in 1539, it was the fourth richest religious house in Yorkshire. The priory land at Hutton…
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Red Tarn
It’s good to be back in the Lakes even if only for a day trip. I could have packed my tent, camped high and not really increased the risk of spreading Covid-19. But the rule is no overnight stays and rules are rules. Filling the cirque below Helvellyn, Red Tarn is perhaps one of the…
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One misty moisty morning when cloudy was the weather
I didn’t meet “an old man a-clothed all in leather” this morning. In fact, there were not many folks around at all. Plenty of evidence of money spiders (Liniphiidae) activities. I think these are the webs of the money spider, normally un-noticed until they capture the morning mist. In case you are wondering the title…
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Ruined water tank, Rosedale
An early start for a circuit of Rosedale. Dense mist to begin but quickly clearing for a nice day. Much good work has been improving the old mineral railway around the head of the valley; it is now easily cyclable. What is not so good is the conservation of the brickwork ruins of an old…
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Tempus exploro omnis negotium
Rather poor Latin, I’m told. The belief is it’s intended to mean “time reveals every affair”. My ‘O’ level Latin didn’t much help. And reputedly carved by a monk, although I can’t remember where I picked that up from. Google, however, says it’s “every time to explore business”. Hmmm, not sure about that. Another website…