Southey and Tetley strolled in, seeing Allen, with iPad in paw, humming away merrily with a smile on his face.
"What are you so happy about, pal?", asked Tetley.
"There is a day down for a walk on Thursday, with Uncle Eric for company too. It is so good to be able to walk with him, after being unable to do so for a lot of the time during the pandemic."
"What's the forecast?", queried Southey.
"Sunny and warm, so Dad will be in shorts for sure."
Just then Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived with the cakes and tea, putting and even wider smile on Allen's face.
Seeing this, Tetley laughed, "nothing like tea and cakes, to make the arch cake stuffer happy."
Southey got the mugs then helped Shaun pouring the tea. "Thanks pal", said Shaun.
Grizzly meanwhile opened the cake tins, saying, "Little Eric has made chocolate coated flapjack, and there are Chorley cakes from me."
"Ooh yummy", cheered Allen as he took one of each, closely followed by Southey, who has become the number two tea belly and cake stuffer.
"You two", laughed Little Eric. "Always in competition these days to see who can eat the most. Good job we baked double!"
"Too true", agreed Grizzly. "Still it is always heartwarming that our efforts are so appreciated."
Tetley then explained about the walk on Thursday. "Do we need to come up with and idea?" asked Shaun.
"Dad has said no, as we suggested the walk from Eaves Wood we did with Uncle Eric last month. He has some ideas, so it is only fair to do one of those."
So all content there was quiet as we enjoyed the tea and delicious cakes.
The night before Dad spoke to Uncle Eric and agreed our expedition. He then came to tell us briefly the route. "We start on the A65 under The Helm, then across to walk up by St Sunday's Beck, after which we go via Blease Hall and Strickley and join the narrow road under The Helm on the east side. The walk is from the Ramblers book he has."
Shaun had opened the OS Maps app and was following the route. "The first section to and up St Sunday's Beck we have done before, but pretty much thereafter we will be on new paths."
"Great", cheered Tetley. "Good to do some more new ground."
"Looks to be interesting", went on Grizzly.
"Here's to tomorrow", cheered Little Eric.
We were up early, and ready for the off as we heard Dad slam the hatch on the car shut after loading his gear.
"Come on pals", called out Southey. "Time to get settled for the drive."
"Have a good time", called out our Hug pal Craig. Make sure Dad takes care."
"Thanks", replied Allen. "We will look after Dad."
As we drove up the M6, Dad said, "we will leave at junction 36, then take the A65 through Crooklands etc. The walk, as published, actually starts at Barrows Green but there is no where to park there. So instead we are meeting at the large layby on the right, just past the turning to Natland."
Uncle Eric was already there and Dad pulled in behind, after a bit of manoeuvering that caused a slight delay to other traffic.
"Problems of having a big car", laughed Southey.
Our Hug pals Barnaby and Lee had come along as always to see Uncle Eric and said their hellos.
The reason is that Barnaby accompanied Dad to work every day. Uncle Eric and Dad worked together for a while on a computerisation project, and Uncle Eric liked to see Barnaby. That was long ago but Barnaby still come to see him bringing his best pal Lee wearing his jumper that he acquired at the Kennedy Space Centre and his NASA name badge.
Shaun called out "good morning Uncle Eric on behalf of us all. Nice to see you."
"Good to see you lads", he replied.
So all ready, Dad shouldered the rucksack with us safely tucked inside, Uncle Eric saying, "we walk away from Kendal and take the narrow road left in a few yards, then almost immediately go right on the rising track."
This took us over the end of The Helm to a road, where to follow the published route as far a possible, we turned right towards Barrows Green.
"We don't go all the way to the A65, but to the drive to Barrows Green Farm", read out Uncle Eric. "It is not along the drive rather to a gate to the left of the farm."
"There", pointed Allen. "Across the grassy bank. I can see the gate that has a waymark, so that must be the route."
Beyond the path led by the hedge on the right through the long grass. "How about taking that tree as a picture for the story", suggested Little Eric.
The grass was tall as mentioned before, Tetley musing, "maybe it is going to be cut for silage soon. It is nice though to see the different types of grasses. Please take a couple of shots for our story Dad."
"OK lad."
Dropping down we crossed the stile in the far wall. "Keep ahead to come to the wall on the right and find the stile between two trees", advised Shaun.
Through this we emerged into a field. "Ah", said Allen, "we have been here before coming through the grounds of Helm End. We head to the stile at the bottom of the field near that electricity pole."
"I recall it maybe difficult to get through at this time of year, so we can use the gate and concrete bridge if need be", commented Grizzly.
"Only that gate is blocked off now", said Tetley.
As it turned out the stile was accessible to then cross little bridge over the tiny beck. The inquisitive cows crowded by the stile and fence.
The farmer was rebuilding the wall to the side of the concrete bridge. He explained, "the cows knocked it over. Hence why I have temporarily blocked the gateway to keep them out while I complete the repair."
About to set off Southey called out, "that's a lovely view of Helm End backed by The Helm.
"So where now?", asked Little Eric.
"Over that stile just ahead then turn sharp right by the hedge and across the field to a gate, and continue past the bungalows to the narrow road", replied Uncle Eric.
We reached the road opposite High House with its large beautiful garden. "Turn right, then at the end of the garden go left through a gate and up the field to a stile", instructed Shaun.
There he then advised, "turn right by the boundary to the gate onto the lane."
"That's a bit of an unusual stile", pointed Allen. "The gate was the easier option.
"Now go left and follow the track down to the footbridge across St Sunday's Beck", instructed Uncle Eric.
On the far side the track led right into the hamlet of Halfpenny, where we walked the road left past the pretty houses to a junction. "It's left, and then through the next gate on the left", called out Shaun.
The field was crossed to come beside the beck, then we had it for company as via stiles we made our way across three further large pastures to reach the gate into Bleasehall Wood, where the path was rather overgrown at times.
"It was late winter when we passed through here, before the vegetation had grown", commented Little Eric.
We emerged from the wood via a kissing gate. Allen pointed left. "Look there's the building housing the Syphon Well on the Thirlmere Aqueduct."
The way ahead was clear. Down to the stile and footbridge by the wall and then across the large field to the distant boundary.
"It's sod's law", said Little Eric, pointing to the nettles by the stile and bridge.
"Hmm", agreed Dad. "I'll use the stones in the beck instead to avoid getting stung."
At the far side, Shaun said, "in the past we have crossed the stile in the right boundary and followed the path to Low Blease. Today we keep on ahead through the left of those two gates."
Walking on across the field we headed towards the gate ahead where we continued by the left hedge.
Looking back, Southey said, "that lone tree on the top of Lowblease Hill really stands out."
A track emerged leading to a gate into a walled track to Blease Hall, the former farm now being the site of a number of businesses.
This arched gateway...
...gives access to the former farmhouse.
Grizzly said, "I have made just a very few notes about this. The full description can be found on the Historic England website. Blease Hall was probably built c.1600 for Robert Bateman; by masons probably the Gibson family who worked on Levens Hall. Note the large projecting chimney to north end and the stepped cylindrical mid chimney and south end chimney. It is grade II* listed.
Pointing to the signpost Shaun said, "that's our route from here."
"We're going to where the dancing competition is held", laughed Tetley.
Oh", cried Southey. "That's an awful pun."
Past the buildings, and through the gate we descended right down to another gate and half left to a footbridge.
"Blimey", said Little Eric, looking about, "there a truly a lot of cows in these fields.
Over the footbridge, Allen looked about. "Oh sheep!"
"Well, you have done pretty well recently, with stories without sheep pictures", replied Southey.
"Yes", sighed Allen. "Anyway I am quite happy today, as they are our favourite Herdwicks. So feel free to snap away Dad."
Now it was through the gate in the hedge, where we were faced with a very steep slope to the top of the field. We kept by the right boundary girt with many colourful foxgloves.
These days Uncle Eric needs to take his time and make stops where it is steep. So reaching the top Dad said, "while we wait, hop out lads and I'll take your picture."
"Good idea", cheered Tetley. "Come on pals, let's get settled."
As we settled again, Uncle Eric arrived, and we waited a few minutes while he caught his breath, then Shaun advised, "it's through the gate and then down the field towards Strickley Farm. We keep by the right boundary and at the bottom there is a gate out onto the farm access, where we turn right to the road, and then left along it."
Soon we passed the junction with Beehive Lane and crossed the bridge over Beehive Beck. "Look a postbox", called out Little Eric. "Please take a picture for my collection." Then peering closely he said, "it dates from the reign of King Edward VII between 1901 and 1910."
Reading the instructions Uncle Eric said, "we should continue to just past that house on the left, and then take the signed path, to go diagonally right across the pasture."
As we did this Tetley pointed, "look those are covers for valve chambers for the Thirlmere Aqueduct."
As we looked closely we could see that were marked with MCWW TA. "Manchester City Water Works Thirlmere Aqueduct", stated Grizzly.
Also away across to the left we could see another of the Syphon Well buildings, similar to the one we had seen earlier as we emerged from Bleasehall Wood.
Beyond the next gate, the route was marked left to a stile, and then half right where the buildings of Underhelm Farm soon came into view.
Cows with young were grazing, and Dad was able to quickly snap this of a calf, with we think mum behind looking on.
"It's through that metal gate to the right of the buildings", said Uncle Eric.
Passing the barns and farmhouse, the route led onto a walled and rather overgrown lane, via a gate with a rather novel way of keeping it closed.
"In all the years I have been walking, I have never seen the like", laughed Tetley. "Still the pole is very heavy so effective."
The verges were in full growth, Little Eric saying, "oh dear there are bound to be nettles. The disadvantage for you being in shorts Dad."
"Never mind lad. I will just have to take my time and be very careful."
We are pleased to say that Dad got through unscathed.
This ended at the quiet narrow lane under The Helm, that we walked keeping on on the same direction.
From this we had a typically English pastoral view. The distant hill towards the right is Farleton Fell that dominates the M6 at junction 36 where we had left the motorway this morning.
Eventually we came to the outwards track, where we retraced our route to the layby and the cars.
"That was a lovely walk", said Shaun. "Thank you for suggesting it Uncle Eric."
"You are welcome. Glad you all enjoyed it."
So goodbyes were said, Allen saying, "we look forward to walking with you next Wednesday, Uncle Eric."
"As I do too", he replied.
