I had a text from my regular climbing partner last night to say that he is unwell, and would not be able to make our regular weekly date. Another friend who often climbs with us also let me know that he had injured his shoulder and really didn’t think that he ought to climb today.
It looked for some time as if I would be condemned to the tedious bits of preparation for an exhibition. In anticipation of my exhibition at Worcester Cathedral next week I am in the middle of pricing catalogues, and wrapping and pricing greetings cards showing images of my work. It all has to be done, but it is deadly boring. I was grateful for the fact that I could actually find all the stuff I needed with very little effort. Even so, when I got up this morning I was not exactly looking forward to the day ahead. Then I had a bright idea.
I suggested to the friend with an injured shoulder that we could go for a country walk. The weather promised to be poor, but not bad during the morning. There is an attractive walk through the woods not far from our house, that follows a stream up past waterfalls. His response was very positive, and we had a really pleasant morning, ending with lunch in a pub. For some time I have intended to collect some reference photos from this area, for a couple of compositions I have in mind, which added utility to the pleasure. It was remarkable how, even in very dull weather, the colours were so very intense, particularly the mosses and lichens. The price labels are still waiting to be done, but I am very grateful indeed for the distraction.
That area (known by the very characteristic Yorkshire name of Goit Stock) is very interesting from the point of view of industrial archaeology. As you walk up the valley you pass three old buildings which during the late 18th century were early textile mills, and still are surrounded by the original dams and water channels needed to power the machinery (although the waterwheels are no longer in place.) These days they have been converted to very up-market residences. There is also an impressive stone viaduct that at one time carried a railway. Now it provides part of a network of cycle tracks. Our recreational stroll followed tracks that one would have been used by pack-horses carrying finished textiles to the Piece Hall (textile market) in Halifax.