Take Me to the River

Day 24 took us up the River Wharfe from Ilkley to Grassington, through beautiful scenery which (together with more excellent company) made the 18 miles go quickly. An unexpected delight was a visit to St Peter's, Addingham, where upon entry we were greeting by three ladies who were cleaning the church. They gave us a tremendous welcome: they showed us the sights (from a 10th-century cross to carved wooden mice on pews from the 1950s), told us the history, assured us that our boots were not the source of the mud on their carpet (which was true) and supported our cause. One of them, whose name is Lucy, gave us all the cash she had on her.

At the start the walkers were Richard, Paul and Neville; at Bolton Priory, Anne and Francesca (plus Poppy the dog) joined us. We ate our lunch at the Strid, a narrow cleft full of rushing water (from which apparently no-one has emerged alive - although the jump across is only a few feet, we weren't tempted), with natural rock seating. Onward up to Grassington, with the river constantly changing in character: now still and even, now loud with rapids; sometimes with wide grassy meadows, sometimes with woods or cliffs. Bird spots included martins (both house and sand) and red-crested mergansers.

Then back to David and Francesca's house, where they fed 11 of us with apparent ease and found room for us all to sleep - which I will be doing very shortly. Track of the Day celebtrates the lively Wharfe with the Commitments' version of Take Me to the River.