Southey, with his paw round Allen's shoulder stared glumly out of the window at the overcast sky and another rain shower beating on the glass. "It's been a long winter. Miserable weather with hardly any sunny days and lots of rain."
"Aye", agreed Allen. "And so cold too. Bitter winds, a lot from the east. But despite it all we have had quite a few adventures so far. Dad wrapping up against the winds, and us snuggling as deeply as possible in the rucksack."
Tetley coming to join them added with a chuckle, "Dad calls it a lazy wind. It goes through you not round."
"The one thing that will cheer me up is a warming mug of Ramblears tea and some cake", said Allen.
"Well no surprise there", laughed Tetley. "After all you are the chair of the Teddy Bear Tea Belly and Cake Stuffers Society. And you Southey are of course the secretary."
As if by magic his wishes were answered, with Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arriving with the flasks and cake tins.
Allen rushed to get the mugs and plates and soon we had steaming mugs in paw and delicious cakes on our plate
Chocolate caramel shortbread from Little Eric and I have made mincemeat slice", Grizzly informed.
"Both are scrumptious", declared Southey, who was matching Allen slice for slice.
"That they are" agreed Shaun. "We never ever take your efforts for granted. We without a doubt have ace bakers. If only there was a teddy bear version of Bake Off."
"You two would win paws down" stated Allen.
Refreshed and cheered up our thoughts turned to walking. Little Eric got the iPad and brought up the Met Office app. "Look", he exclaimed. "Saturday is to be a basically sunny day and hardly any wind." Then a quick tap to bring up the diary. Dad has nothing down for Saturday."
"I'm sure he will be happy to take us out. Just need a suggestion to put to him", said Allen.
There was quiet while we thought and Shaun recharged our mugs. Then he said, "Dad's leg is better. Maybe we can do some modest hills. I was thinking of Smearsett Scar and the ridge along from it, having approached over Feizor Thwaite."
"Then return through the woods", added Grizzly.
"We would of course be starting from Elaine's." Tetley paused lost in thought for a few seconds then said, "Saturday is Valentines Day 14th February. I recall on that day in 2009 we climbed Giggleswick Scar with Uncle Bob starting from Settle. We met some walkers on the path up by the River Ribble, being asked where we were going, and on the reply one said that there is a nice tearoom in Feizor. Elaine's of course. Now the tradition was to go for a snack at the end of the walk, but that day we stopped at Elaine's before completing the walk. That led to Dad and Uncle Brian going every Monday. So it will be exactly 17 years since that first visit."
"Wow", breathed Little Eric. "Heaven only knows how many times Dad has been there. Sadly no longer with dear Uncle Brian, since his death, but he has good friends Pat, Leo, Ken and Raie, to meet and chat. Also some of our Hug pals go along and are loved and hugged by Pat and Raie."
When Allen went to ask, Dad readily agreed, saying, "now my leg has healed it will be good to see if I can get up on hills again."
Here is the tale of the adventure.
Dad ready we dashed out and settled in the car for the ever so familiar drive up the Lune Valley and onwards over Clapham Common to Feizor.
"I'm going to pop in for a mug of tea, before setting off", Dad informed us.
"Ok with us", said Allen. "We can have a mug of tea and cake to set us up for the walk."
Dad laughed, "why am I not surprised."
Walking in Elaine saw Dad, saying, "what are you doing here?."
Off for a walk", Dad replied.
Immediately Sharon organised a mug of tea that Dad had while chatting with Elaine.
Returning Dad was soon ready and with us snuggled in the rucksack, off we went crossing the ford and at the signpost....
...taking the path to Stackhouse up through the gate and climbing gently over the wide open pasture
Dad paused as we took in the views. First of Feizor with the woods beyond.
"We can see the track that climbs up to Feizor Nick, round the slopes of the 318m unnamed summit that we have called Feizor Nab, as it is directly above the hamlet", pointed Tetley.
"That will be our last summit of the day, after Pot Scar, went on Grizzly.
Strolling on, Southey suggested, "that tree will be a nice picture."
Looking distantly to its right, Shaun said, "we can see Ingleborough covered in snow."
Reaching a junction, Southey advised. "Take the left fork and we follow this path as it winds uphill."
"To that gate in the wall" pointed Little Eric.
"It'll be locked, said Allen firmly. "This is despite the land on either side being open access."
He was right...
...Dad making short work of climbing over and walking the short way for us to see Dead Man's Cave.
Shaun advised, "I have the grid reference for Feizor Thwaite summit. Southey and I will keep and eye and give directions. Initially head east but ever so slightly right."
After a few minutes Southey called out, "we are at the right reference for the eastings. Now turn left and we should soon get to the summit."
Very soon Tetley said, "here we are. There's the small cairn."
We eagerly jumped out and settled for our picture. Note the remains of some snow in the little hollow next to Shaun.
"Wow!" exclaimed Grizzly, "what a superb view of Pen-y-ghent."
"And of Fountains Fell", called out Allen, pointing left.
Settled once more, we headed on in the direction of Smearsett Scar, to come to the Celtic Wall.
Grizzly told us, "it is thought to be over 2000 years old. Wainwright conjectures that its unusual thickness and obvious age suggests its purpose was that of a defensive shield for an ancient encampment in the valley, the earthworks of which can still be traced. The excavation of sites of similar walls, has revealed them to be places of burial and this was probably the use here."
Carefully Dad made the steep descent to the valley. "That's good", he said, "my leg is not hurting."
"Great", cheered Little Eric. "We are so pleased it has finally healed."
At the bottom we had this view across the valley of the ridge towards Pot Scar.
Facing us now was the steep climb by the wall to the right of Smearsett Scar. If you look carefully you can spot a group of walkers on the path.
At the brow Dad struck left up the slope and round the back to reach the summit.
"There's hardly any wind, so we will be able to sit on the trig point for our picture", cheered Southey.
As you will see we sat such that Dad could get snow covered Pen-y-ghent in the background.
Getting settled for the off again, Shaun pointed, "there's a fine view to Ingleborough from here."
Striding off along the ridge, we quite soon met a gentleman from Settle and Dad stopped for a chat about walking and the area in general. He told us that he had been in Leeds last night for a performance of Peter Grimes. He had got up early so he could get back and take advantage of the fine weather today. Dad introduced us and told him about the stories. He thought this was wonderful putting into words and pictures the memories of past walks.
Over the large step stile...
...Dad strode on, climbing to the large pile of stones at the top of Pot Scar.
"Picture time again", called out Tetley, as we posed at the summit.
Shaun said, "down and over the ladderstile that the gentleman is just climbing, then drift right to the step stile in the next wall and up left to the 318m summit that we have decided to call Feizor Nab, although this is totally unofficial."
"There's Feizor down to the left", pointed Grizzly. "Elaine's is a lot busier now, judging by all the cars."
The lady and gentleman who we had noted climbing the ladderstile were still by it when we arrived. Dad had a nice little chat with them too.
So as Shaun had directed we walked up to the small grassy rise and the small cairn Dad had built on the first ascent and made larger last time in 2021, that marks the 318m summit.
Quickly we scrambled out of the rucksack and clustered round for our picture.
The gentleman we had met at the ladderstile, showed us a shot he had taken with a tree and Pen-y-ghent. "It would be nice if you could take a similar photograph, Dad", said Tetley.
We are very pleased with Dad's effort. However Allen was not so pleased with the following pictures are they contain sheep.
"Hmph", he grumped. "I was doing so well too."
As of this one, Dad said, "I am really just taking Pen-y-ghent again, it is just a coincidence there are sheep in the foreground."
"Huh", said Allen. "I've heard some excuses, but that takes the biscuit."
Descending to Feizor Nick, we met a lady from Settle who commented, "how fortunate we are to see such wonderful scenery and on such a lovely day."
Over the gated stile we followed the path through Wharfe Wood. "Hard to believe it will be a mass of bluebells in three months". commented Little Eric.
This led us into Oxenber Wood, where we kept left at the fork in paths. Dad had been taking care on the muddy terrain, but somehow his foot slipped on mud and he fell back, landing on his left shoulder.
Oh dear", cried Southey. "Are you ok Dad?"
"Aye lad just my pride dented and some bruising to my shoulder, otherwise fine."
We knew there was to be a steep descent to the valley and on meeting a couple coming the other way, the gentleman said, "the descent is slippy."
Dad was extremely careful and we got down safely. Here the view stretched away towards Feizor, via the numerous stiles in the walls.
After climbing two stiles, Shaun said, "you don't have to take this route if you don't want to. We could cross to Cat Hole Barn...
...and then walk along Hale Lane to Feizor.
"Thank you Dad for a super walk", said Grizzly on behalf of us all.
"Aye it's been a grand day out in my home county", agreed Tetley.
So to the tearooms and we came in of course and sat on the table.
Dad had ordered steak and ale pie mash and vegetables, and we heard Sharon say, "Gerry does not like cabbage". They know him so well. This was followed by blackcurrant crumble and custard, all washed down with a big pot of Yorkshire tea.
He had long chat with Elaine and more briefly with Sharon. He did not recognise most of Saturday staff. One girl had asked if he had had a nice walk. Elaine told him she is Laney, Jo's daughter. "Heavens above", Dad said, "I remember her being born."
And as alluded to at the start of our story is was 17 years to the day since Dad first came here with Uncle Bob. Uncle Brian loved coming here, and always said Monday was Feizor day! Since his death Dad has the lovely company of Aunt Pat, Uncle Leo, Uncle Ken and Aunt Raie.
