It was Friday, and Tetley found Allen and Southey huddled over the laptop.
"What are you on with, pals."
"Looking at the pictures Dad took on the walk yesterday from Feizor", replied Allen.
"They have come out pretty good and there should be some nice shots of the bluebells and other wild flowers in the woods", went on Southey. "We will be able to make a nice story of that adventure."
"It was nice for Dad to see Aunt Elaine, and have the take away fish and chips, afterwards. She is keeping busy with the pop-up shop, until such time as she is allowed to open the tearoom again", said Tetley.
"Dad is so missing being able to go every Monday and see Aunt Elaine, Aunt Sharon and Aunt Sue and all the staff", bemoaned Allen.
"I know", said Tetley, "but all this with COVID-19 will not last forever and we will get back to normal."
Southey's eyes had drifted to the door, and he called out, "here comes the tea and cakes", as Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived.
"I'll get the plates and mugs", volunteered Allen.
Tetley then gave Shaun a paw to fill the mugs with steaming tea.
"Wonderful", breathed Allen. "Just what I needed."
Little Eric said, "cake wise, I have done mincemeat slice, while Grizzly had made fruit scones."
"There is butter and raspberry jam to go with the scones", added Grizzly.
So tucking in, we were soon all content.
Love the scones", said Tetley.
The mincemeat slice is scrumptious", said Allen, taking his third piece.
"Yes", agreed Southey who was also on this third slice.
Shaun laughed, "you two are certainly cake stuffers."
"We get it from Dad", replied Allen laughing.
Our thoughts then turned to walking. "I am getting close to 5000 miles walked", said Grizzly. "I was hoping that Dad might take us out this weekend."
"Well, I'll go and ask", replied Allen, "but we need to come up with and idea."
Shaun said, "being bluebell time, how about we go to Aughton Woods, as suggested by that gentleman we met at Bull Beck a couple of weeks ago?"
"Good idea", agreed Southey. "Dad had thought of starting that at Crook of Lune, but as we saw yesterday the car park is closed. So it will be a start from Bull Beck again. That is of course if Dad agrees."
"OK", said Allen draining his mug, "I'll go and see what Dad thinks."
"You had better refill his mug", laughed Southey. "He is a tea belly as well as a cake stuffer."
Soon back, Allen said, "Dad is in full agreement and we are going tomorrow."
"Great" cheered Grizzly, "another step closer to 5000 miles."
So on a gloriously sunny day and warm with little or no wind we drove the few miles to Bull Beck parking area, about a mile beyond the village of Caton.
"OK", said Shaun. "it's across the road to join the cycleway and turn left, then after a few hundred yards go right along a track."
The countryside is looking beautiful with the trees in full leaf, some covered in May blossom.
"That tree is a must picture for the story", pointed Little Eric.
The track was surfaced and quite wide, zigzagging past a house. "Ah", pointed Tetley. "Ingleborough. It will be great when we can go back on the hills again."
Soon the track led into fields joining the path beside the River Lune.
Shaun pointed across the river. "that is Burton Wood one of our objectives to see the bluebells."
The scenery is so lovely here that we just paused to take in the view of this wide sweep of the River Lune. "How lucky we are to live so close to such beauty", breathed Allen.
Strolling on, Tetley said, "that's a nice shot of the blossom and reflections."
Adding context Shaun said, the wood above the blossom trees is Applehouse Wood. We will walk through it and then cross the clearing right and enter Lawson's Wood."
The path followed a loop of the river to Waterworks Bridge. "That's our route to the far side", said Southey.
Arriving by the walls, Grizzly pointed, "look at the different flood level markers. The most recent are highest. I guess that is no surprise really, even though over a century ago."
Dad then climbed the steps, and we made our way across.
Three large pipes lie to the side of the walkway, and we could hear water running through them. "Must be part of one of the aqueducts", commented Grizzly.
Seeing some lettering on a cover in the centre of the walkway, Allen replied, "yes pal you're right. The initials are TA, so it is the Thirlmere Aqueduct."
As we descended the steps on the far side, Shaun said, "we are now on the Lune Valley Ramble and we should go right."
There were plenty of people out enjoying the beautiful day, and Dad was mindful of keeping the requisite 2 metre distance.
The path soon entered Applehouse Wood, and crossed a footbridge, where almost immediately a concessionary path was signed signed left. "That's our route", instructed Shaun.
The path climbed with bluebells either side and in sections of the woodland and then exited into this large clearing.
"That's Lawson's Wood on the far side", said Tetley. "We will follow the path through that into Burton Wood."
Almost at the far side the path split. "I'm going left and climb up to that seat to rest a while and enjoy the view", said Dad.
"Fine", agreed Grizzly. "We can have our picture taken there."
The seat, as can be seen, is a memorial to Keith Woods, with a stunning views across the Lune Valley.
"That's Clougha Pike", pointed Allen, "with the villages of Brookhouse and Caton in the middle distance.".
"Clougha is one of the Bowland Fells, that we have climbed a few times", added Little Eric.
"I might take you up there again", said Dad, "provided the car park has not been closed off."
Then this pastoral view further to the right, with again the village of Caton.
We sat here for quite a while, it was so peaceful with just the bird song and the occasional distant bleating of the lambs.
"What a heavenly place", breathed Southey. "I could sit here all day."
"Me too", agreed Dad, "but we had better be getting along soon."
We got settled in the rucksack, and off Dad strode, crossing the stile into Lawson's Wood, where the path was lined with bluebells. "Wow", called out Shaun. "Just beautiful."
Then on into Burton Wood where too the bluebells are profuse.
The path climbed then bending right began to drop down...
...to rejoin the Lune Valley Ramble, above the river, where on the bank were swathes of wild garlic.
"What a heady pungent smell", commented Grizzly.
"We go right of course", stated Shaun, "to complete the circle.
Just before the footbridge Dad stopped, fiddled with the camera and crouched down. "What are you doing?", asked Little Eric.
"Getting a close-up shot of a bluebell", replied Dad.
Now retracing our route, we passed under the Waterworks Bridge and across the wide grassy river bank, and into woodland.
"Wow", pointed Allen. "The wild garlic is lining the path."
Out in the open again, Tetley pointed, "those rhododendrons make a colourful sight. Picture time Dad."
"And look", pointed Southey. "More bluebells. How wonderful is nature."
Of course there were sheep and lambs here. "No chance of there being a sheep picture free story", laughed Allen.
"No lad, certainly not", replied Dad.
"That lamb is begging to be photographed", pointed Southey.
Further on the ewes and lambs were taking advantage of the shade from the trees to keep out of the sun. "Oh no", called out Allen, as Dad got the camera out again.
Striding on we soon approached the Crook o'Lune where there were a group of swans.
This is where the Lune makes a wide bend in the shape of a shepherd's crook and on the east side is crossed by the road bridge and old railway viaduct. On the west side is a second viaduct that once carried the railway line. Grizzly said, "the viaducts were built between 1846 and 1849 as part of the 'Little North Western Railway' that ran from Lancaster Green Ayre Station to Wennington and then extended in 1850 to Clapham. In 1882 they were modified to allow double track running. Both are Grade II listed."
"Our way will be across the viaduct", advised Shaun.
"Right lad, but before then I am going to have a rest", replied Dad.
So we sat a while by the cafe, that is currently closed, to enjoy the peace and quiet.
"OK lads, I'm ready to set off on the final leg", said Dad
Dropping down the path we headed across the viaduct.
Grizzly once again gave us the benefit of his knowledge. "Between March and December 2013 it was refurbished at a cost of £1m. The timber deck was replaced with 100 tonnes of new hardwood, and the masonry was repointed. The ironwork had been lead painted so the superstructure was wrapped for blast cleaning and repainting."
"That is why it got this award", said Tetley, pointing to this plaque.
We did not march straight across, but paused to take in the view left and right.
"That's lovely to the left, along the river looking back to where we have walked.", commented Southey. "That is Lawson's and Burton woods in the distance."
To the right we had a fine view of the road bridge. "We used to cross that every Monday on our route to and from Elaine's at Feizor, until the Bay Gateway link road opened", said Dad.
Once again Grizzly did not let us down. "This is known as Caton Lune Bridge and opened to traffic on 6th August 1883. It is constructed in sandstone ashlar, and like Skerton Bridge in Lancaster has semi-elliptical arches so allowing for a flat road deck. Like the viaducts it is Grade II listed."
"Thank you pal", said Little Eric, "you truly are our historian member."
Dad strode out along the old trackbed that is a tarmac cycleway.
As we approached Caton, Little Eric suddenly pointed, "look at that beautiful bank of forget-me-nots. Do you think we can get a better look and picture?"
"If I take this narrow side path we should", replied Dad.
Then continuing the area around the track widened. "This must have been where Caton station was", suggested Allen.
"Yes pal, you are right", replied Grizzly.
No evidence whatsoever remains of the station, other than Station House, that we suspect was once occupied by the station master.
Beyond was another seat. "I am going to sit here again for a while", said Dad.
Then it was just the matter of walking to Bull Beck.
"Thank you Dad, for another super day out", said Southey.
"A lovely walk", agreed Allen, "and I think that quite a lot is new, which is a bit of a surprise."
