Summer up the river

These photos are from Sunday, it was a day of true summer for us here in Yorkshire. The sun was a hot hot, mid-summer high-in-the-sky sun, and I have the red shoulders to prove it. We decided on Sunday to pack a lunch and head up river to do a spot of messin'. And where else would we go but to our beloved river Wharfe. We visit it often at various points along the Dale (see here and here and here) and its a bloomin' long river :: according to Wikipedia it's 61 miles/97km long in fact, starting high up in the Yorkshire Dales and ending just south of York where we used to live.

On Sunday we travelled right up high into Upper Wharfedale to the point where the river is still a baby, to a teeny-tiny place called Hubberholme.  There is not a lot going on at Hubberholme, there is a teeny-tiny church, some picturesque cottages and one very nice pub called The George Inn, which has toilets labeled Ewes and Rams. People come here for the scenery, it is magnificent with humungous green hills laced with dry stone walls. And the river of course.The river here gurgles down the Dale in a series of delightful small waterfalls, bubbling over large rocks and filling shallow pools.
Its a well known place to do exactly what we set out to do :: park  the car at the side of the river bank and proceed to unload all manner of furniture, food, drinks, blankets, towels, swimwear, suncream, footwear, fishing nets, buckets, newspapers and books. You know, the average needs for a family of four intending to spend oooh say about 4 hours messin' about by the river.

There is paddling to do :: the river here is shallow with large flat rocks and small, warm rockpools.

There's fun to be had with fishing nets, although no living things were actually captured, just stones and bits of weed but fun all the same if you're age four and handling your very own net for the first time.

And then there's boy-work to be done. Rocks to be hauled and an important dam to be built. Hours of solid graft.

As for me, well I paddled, hauled rocks, searched for fish, rescued both Little People when they slipped and fell in the water with a splash. Rubbed suncream in, sorted the "I need a wee!" dilemma (three times), organised lunch, made tea, then finally settled down for a good read of my latest book club novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I love it when home life goes all summery and outdoorsy, even Mummy-duties are fun when they're al fresco.

Comments

[anna]

Ooh, have been meaning to read that for ages- is it good? Love the foot photo...

[claire]

Your posts always make me feel I'm there with you!! Perfect place for children to be children...claire x
ps havent forgotten about your goodies, please bear with me, thanks hun xx

[Fi]

Just in shock and a little in awe that you posted this at 7.23AM!!!! Lovely photos, we spent Sunday at Aysgarth falls and climbing castles at Bolton Castle. Excellent day!