With expressions attuned to the outlook which surrounded us, we sallied forth into the blustery morning, with a leaden sky overhead, and the wind whistling merrily in our ears. But soon our do-or-die determination dwindled to an inclination to potter. and thus we continued on our way. to Skipton. Here a cattle market was in progress, so we quickly slipped through the town; and taking the road up on to the moors soon found ourselves in solitude once more. From up above the pale rays of the sun filtered through to us, and as we sped downward through Rylstone with its roadside lake, an on through Cracoe the wind sang past our faces and acted as a welcome cooling draught. At Threshfield a halt was called and a conference ensued, but the wants of the inner man could not long be neglected, and so we hurried onward, and beneath the frowning Kilnsey Crag we made hearty inroads to our store of "man-fuel." We spent a leisurely half-hour and then once. more we took to our mounts.
After a steady climb we had a glimpse of the pretty village of Hawkswick, nestling at the foot of the towering hillside, before we swept down into the old world village of Arnclifie. Here we left our cycles for a while and strolled through the precincts of the village church, which, in spite of recent renovations still retains its old world solemnity and peacefulness.
The road from Arncliffe led us by the side of the stream on to Halton Gill. On one side towered the hillside with its summit wreathed in swirling mist, whilst on the other side in the distance, rose the other side of the valley. up which meandered the route we had to take. Halton Gill, a bunch of farmsteads and a post office, appeared to be the last outpost of civilisation, for as far as the eye could see the barren sides of the valley stretched, seeming to melt at one end imto black clouds and a clammy swirling mist, whilst the floor of the valley lay bathed in sunshine. As we chmbed up the hillside, sending sheep scurrying from our path, Nature indeed seemed to favour us, for on either side of us black storm clouds lowered, whilst in our rear the mist rolled on in pursuit, Before us, as we reached the top, stretched a wonderful panorama. In the heavens, before us, dark clouds hroke away and the sun’s rays broke through and poured down in long golden shafts on to the earth below, making it look like a chess board of green and brown, through which the stream cut like a silver band. Soon, however, we were forced to hurry on for the mist had rolled up on our heels, obliterating everything behind us, and so reluctantly we mounted and commenced the wild scurry which forms the descent into Stainforth, and so on to Settle, once more rudely plunged into the midst of civilisation.
Under the welcome sign of the “Wheel and Wings" we partook of tea, after which we turned our faces homeward, our way being lightened by the club lasses who, like us, had been revelling in the joys of the open air and a day awheel.
- YOUNG UN