Picnic No8. Emmott to Emmott

 Whilst researching the route to visit 'The Atom' panoptical which was the destination for No1 picnic I noticed the nearest pub was called The Emmott Arms. Rather interesting as the pub nearest to The Old Sidevalve Bar' (which as you well know is where these adventurous tales are penned) is also called 'The Emmott Arms' The idea of a ride from Emmott to Emmott with a pikernic stop was born.

The summer of  '26 continues (hurray) so the old 550 motorsickle was fuelled, picnic packed in the cool backpack and we were off. First stop 'our' Emmott Arms. (Town St Rawdon Leeds LS19 6PP) for a photo. Don't expect much in the way of an exciting read about this pub on line as it's part of the Samuel Smiths chain. Old Sam (who unfortunately died a few months back) kept his pubs 'old skool. Beer and a wooden stool...maybe a pack of crisps but woe betide any landlord putting on music or selling ham rolls....instant dismissal......to be fair Samuel Smiths beer is pretty good...and reasonably priced, dark and malty too, so let's not be too hard on the chap.....it's a quaffer that's difficult to beat.

We're off....route as follows...Bingley, Cullingworth and then Haworth. Quick stop at the steam railway station before heading on'ta moors for a well planned pikernic spot just after Stanbury. The dead end of a single track road called 'Back Lane' that's as near to 'Top Withins' as can be got. Ya know 'Top Withins'...It's where in the Bronte novel Catherine Earnshaw used to tumble in the heather with Heathcliffe !! "Out on the wily, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green"  as Kate Bush would sing! Well it happened up here!!!!!!!

What's on the menu today Uncle Alb? I'm gonna toast slices of M&S Sourdough Super Seeded Cob and spread with lashings of butter and Portuguese Cherry Jam...

And that's exactly what we did...looking out over't moors  towards 'Top Withins'. Lower Laithe Reservoir behind us, back down the valley towards Haworth.

My camp stove toaster was a gift and taken on this trip untested.. but it worked a treat. 4 slices done to perfection. The seeds of Poppy, Pumpkin and Sunflower occasionally catching fire as they fell down into the centre of the toaster adding what's best described as a smoky-flambe taste experience......

Pikernic over it was then onwards into bandit country....Lancashire.!!!...(Pendle area known to be unfriendly if you confess to being a witch ) finishing at Laneshaw Bridge and the other 'Emmott Arms'

Luckily the sun was over the yard arm so I ordered a pint of the local brew and Mrs C ordered an americano.

When I told the barman about our ride he said he had rather a strange tale to tell...He taken a phone call regarding organising a wake and the deposit was paid. No show of any mourners on the funeral day at his ale house.   Doesn't take much to work out 'Wrong Emmott Arms!!!! Oh dear....Sad on the day but maybe talked about for years to come by those that attended ???? 

Beer tasting notes - Local being Hebden Bridge. Brewery being The Vocation Brewery. Pint being 'Bread and Butter' dry hopped ale. Crackle-report -  Pale with a good head but...toooooo new wave man-bag citrus hoppy for me.......I'll stick with the Samuel Smiths Dark Mild. Tha' knows 'ow ta brew proper ale in Tadcaster.

Picnic No7 'Oh no not yet another one of Grandads adventures!'

 I'm going to start this exciting tale with almost the same paragraph as the previous 'Grandad Adventure' Why you may ask.... because there's some most enjoyable similarities....

  14/07/2026. The smallest Crackleport was staying on a 'sleepover' so it would be double rude not to go on another one of Grandads 'secret destination adventures'.  Taking a picnic of course as is customary..and following with a local ice cream (if everyone behaved)  Stay local that's a good idea. Revisit somewhere Grandad Crackleport had taken the youngest Crackleport's Dad....and at very similar age too....

Load up the pikernic basket Mrs C...strap the smallest into the safety seat and let's fire up the motorvehkle. Destination Leeds Bradford Airport. (Cemetery Road) Runway end. Aye, there's a viewing area for 'Avgeeks' to get right up close. We're gonna join em and spot some Jet 2 and Easy Jet action. 

So, there we sat, under the open hatch, in the boot of the motorvehkle in true 'Shooting Brake' style. The sun was beating down..(we're still enjoying this years record breaking heat wave...) Looking out for new arrivals and departs. Tucking into party sized Growlers, sausage rolls covered with lashings of brown sauce, tomiatoes, crisps and dunkers, fruit and a choci-cookie to finish.

When the youngest Crackleport's Dad did the same journey 35 years ago it was to view Concorde taking off....nothing quite as loud nowadays but still good fun none the less.

Everyone behaved so as promised a Mr Softee each at Yeadon Tarn before heading home.

A couple of pics from't internet back in't 'Concorde days below. I'll bet 'Steve' sold a few snacks that day!

Picnic No6. 'A posh road-side cuppa'

The 2026 summer solstice has just passed. The mornings are light and warm. Let's get on the go early, fire up the Guzzi Pembleton and head into the Shropshire countryside.. For those that do not know I'm lucky to be allowed to drive Adam Atkins Super Sport. A Pembleton 3 wheeler fitted with an ex Le Mans 1000cc Moto Guzzi V twin. My much travelled kettle has been securely strapped to the back and the stove and biccies are safely loaded in the rear luggage compartment behind the seat. Joining me will be Mrs C with P & M in 'Old No1' doing lead. Taking a deliberate indirect route through the deserted lanes of the Wyre Forest towards our destination the Furnace Mill area. The Guzzi's engine torque making not only for a relaxing drive but a somewhat pleasurable musical experience too as the exhaust note blats into the hedges and woods, the harmonious pulsating shock waves pounding out of the silencers powerful enough to knock any unsuspecting squirrel off it's branch.... 

Furnace Mill - Now a location for fishing and shooting. More interestingly it was indeed the site of a furnace way back in 1575, smelting iron ore brought from nearby Clee Hill. Fuelled by charcoal created from the vast forestry all around. Wow!!! Ain't local history brilliant?

Pulling in on a grassy verge (possible thanks to the Pembletons small size) the Spyder stove was lit, placed on a flame proof mat and topped with the whistling kettle. As the water boiled the biccie tin was opened. Grandma Wilds Choc chop cookie anyone?

A full head of steam didn't take long to achieve, and the tea leaves were carefully spooned down the neck of the kettle into the boily water. 

Tea info - Todays tea being rather selective... deep clear of throat... don't tell 'um the price 'Pike' !!!

Jing Teas Tasting Notes - In the lush Tonganagaon  gardens, Assam's famed bushes produce golden-tipped leaves during the brief window before the monsoon. From this prized harvest comes our Assam Gold, selected for its refined notes of spiced berries, honey and malted grain. Rich and complex, it offers a perfect balance of strength and elegance-capturing the true essence of Assam.

jingtea.com Assam Gold. Posh or what?

So in the dappled light of the deciduous and evergreen native tree canopy we drank a road-side cuppa and dunked a choc chip cookie.

All of us agreed that this was the best cuppa ever!!!