I’ve just spent a weekend watching other people doing things that I want to be doing. Predominantly climbing and biking.

This weekend was spent in the Yorkshire Dales, not getting drenched and thereby showing two fingers to the general weather forecast. Yesterday we went for a walk which, due to factors entirely beyond my control, entailed walking the red cycle loop at Gisburn Forest. That’s right, we walked it. I can report that although predominantly fireroad, there are some interesting singletrack bits and obviously a lot of new trail-building going on. A quick Google search has lots more info. After a spot of lunch we then went for a wander at Malham Cove. Without binoculars it was quite difficult to be as fascinated as everyone else by the resident peregrine falcons, but I sat and watched people climbing for a bit. The last (and only) time I’ve been before entailed standing at the top and looking over the edge, and it was long before I started climbing too, so it was interesting to figure out the different lines on the various bits of the cove.

Anyway, like pretty much every venue I visit, it all looked a bit nails, but I was still jealous of everyone who’d managed to snatch a dry day from a cruddy forecast. From there, we climbed up the side and across the top, doing the whole “geography-in-action” bit on the limestone pavement. Geeky as it might be, there’s no denying the fact that it is pretty cool.

From there we just went back to the village, and onwards to a pub tea. Today we left the cottage early and stopped off in Skipton on the way home. It’s quite nice for a bit of shopping, I guess.

Anyway, I’m aware that this blog is slowly descending into lameness, so I promise to go out soon and climb a rock / ride down some muddy trails / watch a band, and take some photos to prove it.