R*n 929: Stainton

A fine February morning resulted in a good turnout for a route based around the upper reaches of the Lancaster Canal.

The r*n featured not just one, but four hares. Bedtime Stories was on Beer Stop duty, Spare Rib, Spare Bed and Big Fish r*n.

The route took us along the canal to the Hincaster Tunnel. Unfortunately we had to go over, rather than through, the tunnel. We then followed the canal towards Sedgwick, with a quick detour down to the River Kent. The FRB’s managed to spend a bit of time on the suspension bridge waiting for the pack to catch up, before back to Sedgwick via the bridge in the middle of a field and up to the Beer Stop. Wayfinding was easy, not just because of the multitude of markings, but also because Big Fish (who knew the route) kept dropping unsubtle hints at the checks as to which way we needed to go!

After the Beer Stop we faced a sinister navigational challenge, which we had been forewarned about….. A farm (who shall remain nameless, just south of the beer stop) had done their best to remove the trace of the footpath across their land, obscuring signs and placing obstacles on the path. It didn’t stop LVH3 though, and we managed to find the footpath and our way through the offending farm and back towards Stainton. Still upset from not having been able to go through the Hincaster Tunnel, Neighbourlee and Spare Bed decided to go through the slightly high ankle deep Stainton Aqueduct which had been removed from the main route due to the water level.

No real stories of misdemeanours, although the FRB’s were given a down-down for not kicking out the last check. Most unfair. The people who dobbed us in really should have kept up! ?