This, our second Ales in the Dales, could not have been a more perfect week. The sun shone, the group laughed, the legs were strong and the hills spectacular.
Twenty intrepid folk took up the challenge and, despite the incentive of the pub stops, it isn’t really a walk in the park. Each day entailed between 11 – 17 miles with a fair amount of elevation thrown in, so every person fully deserved the “I’ve Completed the Ales in the Dales” fob that they proudly attached to their day sack as we trekked.
Each day saw us enjoying the hospitality ‘or entertainment’ of 2 – 6 pubs! From the friendly country inns, to Emmerdale’s original Woolpack, the pub currently used in the filming of All Creatures Great and Small, the traditional smallholding bar just for locals to the Victorian hotel in a rural town and newly refurbished hotel near the popular tourist attraction of Aysgarth Falls. There was such a variety and this only added to the experience. The opening chat at the beginning of the week included a request to embrace the good and the not so good establishments and sure enough the best stories all came from those with the grumpy landlady or the museum like décor from times gone by!
The beers sampled over the week included Wensleydales own, Wainwright, Theakstons, Black Sheep, Timothy Taylors, Jennings, Askrigg, Lambs Brewing Company and Hawkstone lager. The local produce provided to sustain us on the way by Rich and Sarah appearing in remote and random locations was always welcome and the homemade pies, chef’s taster menus and soup and chips meant how ever much walking we did, no-one was likely to waste away!
The days started with banter and enthusiasm without fail and ended with the popular and amusing account of the day from Henry, who let nothing get past him for those who may have said or done something bizarre and entertaining. Quote of the day became a regular slot as did any hilarious reviews of places to be visited the following day. It wasn’t the leg muscles that ached the most at the end of each day – it was the facial muscles from the uncontrollable laughter and as we know, this really is the very best therapy for everyone!