Celebrations were under way for Yorkshire Day, so it seemed fitting that the Yorkshire onland boating club were there to help out. They pushed past the outdoor cinema screening High School Musical 3 of all things, which Ellie particularly enjoyed!

The great day was covered in terrible weather however and the crew walked back to meanwood in the soaking rain. They will rest up tonight however with a takeway and a few drinks before heading on the last bit of journey tomorrow; the push from Moortown to Chapel Allerton.

They will return for their welcome home meal at Seven Arts. You can come along and join them for a fantastic event styled in the way of a village fete. The whole team will be there to talk about and celebrate their journey. There will be lots of games available to play, a special meal deal from the wonderful Seven Arts bar, and later on in the proceedings, the crew will host their final, Yorkshire Onland Boating Club quiz; all about their journey.

come down for stories, merriment and meeting friends new and old!

Today was the group’s last day in North Yorkshire, and though they will miss the beautiful views and exciting people they have met, they are all quite tired and looking forward to the home straight. As their bodies ache and complain and when they don’t feel like getting up in the morning, it is the chance encounters with strangers on the road and from the local community which make it all worth while. When they are heading up a hill, it is all the messages written on the boat that they see and which help them push it along.

Today the crew were pushing the boat from Starbeck to Kirkby Topside Overblow. They were pushing very hard and very quickly as the goal was to reach the village by lunchtime so that they could meet the community and watch the cricket.

They made it in time and the group settled in for a few drinks and cricket watching action. In the evening, Dan and Steve who have been doing less pushing and more support car driving due to a lack of Stewards, went to stretch their legs and took the long walk over to Harwood where the group will push the boat tomorrow.

They had a BBQ at Simon’s dad’s house in the evening and look forward to tomorrow, their last long push to Harewood House where I’m sure there will be hoards of people to meet. They then have a short push from Moortown to Chapel Allerton on Sunday and you can welcome them home to Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton at 5pm for a welcome home party!

See you there, and more news tomorrow!

The lonely country roads of North Yorkshire have provided the crew of the Yorkshire Straif with challenges, beautiful views and the chance to meet some truly unique individuals living in really interesting situations in very special places. However, the roads have also been very empty and only when the group stops at a land mark or a hub of activity, are they really able to engage with the public on a large scale.

Today the group stopped at Knaresborough castle and were greeted with good weather and many very friendly people. The view accross the valley and river was wonderful and the team had a lot of fun. They later went down to the river and played on some of the ‘on water’ boats that were there, for a break from their onland variety. They held boat races with Dan and Ellie on one team and Simon and Jamie on the other. After much puffing and panting, Ellie stormed ahead to victory. Simon was left dropping his oars in the water and blaming his tools… poor show.

The group had some iced tea at the castle before heading up to Starbeck to sleep at Simon’s dad’s house.

More news from the crew tomorrow.

The crew spent the morning getting up slowly and trying to recover from the pub quiz where they had many drinks, played many games of cards and faired admirably in the quiz. One of their prizes was a bottle of budwieser, through her womanly charms, Ellie managed to swap it for a bottle of scotch, not a bad switch!

They explored the new Boroughbridge play area late at night and particularly liked the new zip wire!

They spend the rest of the day pushing up steady hills and felt their muscles tighten as the days and days of heaving begin to take their tole on the crew’s bodies. They got to the little village of stavely just as it began to bucket it down. The crew stopped off in a little pub to see off the worst of the weather and finished at the boatyard, ironically enough. Unfortunately, the yard was all locked up and was ‘members only’. A pity they weren’t prepared for the arrival of some hardcore, onland boaters.

Today the crew were pushing the boat along from Ripon to Boroughbridge. They were travelling slowly and met some German cyclists who were travelling all the way around the UK. They talked about how they valued being able to travel through the beautiful countryside slowly so they could appreciate it. The crew think they feel the same, at least when the hills arn’t steep and the weather isn’t rainy.

The group made it to Skelton, to miles from Boroghbridge around lunch time and stopped off for lunch with the grand parents of an old friend of Jamie’s. They bought the team a round of drinks and chatted to them for a little while. The team greatly appreciated it. In the evening, the team went back to the same pub for an evening of quiz time fun – prizes were won and much ale was taken – the team came a very respectable 4th overall. Jamie spent the evening with an old friend who had just had a baby boy.

The group once again split in two. Half the team went walking through fountains abbey to the deer park, whilst the others stayed in front of Ripon Cathedral with the boat to speak to people and get them to write their values on the boat.

Simon and Dan found a good opportunity to show off their value of ‘disrupting the norm’. They did this by smashing some watermelons with sledgehammers – as if the huge boat by their side wasn’t enough…

The group then got the public involved with some games and challenges to do with disrupting the norm of Ripon.

The team then reunited, pushed on to Boroughbridge and stayed the night in the local school. Off to bed, but not before some beers and a night of playing in the empty gym. Kids again.

Today the group were pushing the boat through the beautiful grounds of Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire. They made their was through to the Celerium where they had planned to have their pre raephelite picnic. Ellie demonsted the value she places in putting attention into detail and created a wondeful picnic space in this amazing location with a long straight cloth for people to sit on, metal trays and wooden bowls to eat from.

Lots of people brought their packed lunches along to joing the crew and talked for several hours about their values and to share stories of the journey the team have been on.

The group had one last look around the grounds and then pushed the boat back up to Ripon where they were spending the night. They went for a well earned pint in the One Eyed Rat pub and then off to bed.

Today the crew woke up to glorious weather! They came out of their tents knowing that this would be the last night they would spend in them, with relief they made their breakfast and set about the day.

They pushed the boat from Brimmam Rocks down narrow country lanes and beautiful countryside all the way to fountains abbey. Cars passing them were very confused and astonished by the onland boating club but on arrival at the abbey they had many great conversations with people who wrote their values upon the boats hull and sail.

Along with the tents, another thing the team will not miss is the constant presence of insects. Jamie is the tastiest onland sailor it seems and wildlife have been feasting on his legs to the point of them bleeding! He has also been stung by a wasp. Our thoughts are with you Jamie!

Another crew member on the casualty list is Simon, who may have a broken toe – more news to follow.

They crew had an amazing day and moved up on the late afternoon to Ripon Cathedral where they will be spending the next two nights. As I spoke to them I could hear the chiming of the night time bells as they settled down for a late dinner. The crew are really enjoying their last days in the countryside and have been well treated by the land and people of North Yorkshire.

More news tomorrow!

Peter Reed

BA Performance Arts

The Central School of Speech and Drama

The Embassy Theatre, Eton Avenue

Swiss Cottage NW3

peter.reed@cssd.ac.uk

The team awoke this morning with grumbling bodies – the aches and pains of having carried the boat yesterday were setting in and making themselves heard. The group split into two, some went accross with the boat to Stump Cross Caverns where they finished the day before whilst the other half of the team took a long walk over to Pately Bridge.

The group with the boat met some amazing people: A man who spent 105 days in the Caverns themselves in 1963! He wrote that ‘adenture is the art of travelling safely in dangerous places’ on the side of the boat. Another woman wrote about her love of the pylons in the fields. This may seem strange to many, but she thinks they look like giants striding accross the fields. she says they make her smile. They also met a woman from Kuwait who said she values her doctor as he helped her recover from a severe illness and return to the work that is important to her.

The team heard the cries of an angry cow from a mile off and followed the sound. They seemed to have a calming effect and she remained quiet when they were with her. They continued this nature theme later in the day when Jamie tried to help an injured rabbit who was missing an eye.

The crew of walkers finally made it to Pately Bridge Park after taking a not so short short cut suggested by Dan, well done Dan.

At the end of a day with many great stories and animal excitement, the team are settling down at Summerbridge camp site for some well earned Bangers and Mash.

If you want to catch up with the group, hear about their journey and tell them your values, you can hook up with them for a pre raephelite picnic at Fountain’s Abbey this sunday. Come along and bring your ham, bread, olives and cherries for a feast and good times.

More news tomrorow…

Peter Reed

BA Performance Arts

The Central School of Speech and Drama

The Embassy Theatre, Eton Avenue

Swiss Cottage NW3

peter.reed@cssd.ac.uk

Today the Yorkshire Onland Boating Club went where no onland boating club have gone before and they took their boat off its wheels and decided to carry it like a coffin accross the hills and bridal paths; the rugged terrain of the Yorkshire Dales.

The crew bravely ploughed a route from Percival Hall to Stumpcross and their new campsite, Summer Bridge, where they will spend the next two nights.

They were seen off from their old campsite by families and holiday makers who wrote on the values and waved them off into the days trek. The team really appreciated the support of the campers and would also like to send a special thank you today to all the participants and stewards who have helped them throughout the journey so far. It is their unique personalities that have brought variety, fun and debate to the journey of the core team. Thank you!

The crew learnt many things today. They learnt that on land boats are very heavy and that shoulders hurt and complain when put to work on such a hard task. They also learnt about the beauty and variety to be found in the dales. They passed styles and bridal paths, rocks called ‘simons seat’ (which simon ran up to!) marshland, beautiful views and disused mine shafts!

They also met a lovely lady in a four by four who invited them into the home she was building with her husband in a gorgeous but remonte location. They gave up their city jobs and have been building their amazing house on the hills for five years, living in a tent within it to avoid the dust. Their new lifestyle and values about freedom from a regular job really touched the group, along with their kindness in offering out the home they were building.

Tonight the group are camping near Pately Bridge and they went down to the Bridge Inn for a slap up meal, huge gammon steaks and I am told, that following the meal – Dan did an amazing mole impression!

More News Tomorrow!