Tale of the river bank
Published: Sun, 08/20/17
Getting settled in at last. I got back to Beverley on Wednesday night after a very slow drive from Oxford. From then on I have just been sorting stuff out. Got computer properly set up yesterday so feel able to write a post today. I am not going to bore you with my struggle to get organised, it won’t happen properly until V gets back anyway, she has just finished a course in London and is now working there for another week. Things will really get organised when she does finally get here and gets settled in.
I have however been making time to do a bit of exploring by taking a walk each day. On Friday I decided to check out the Beck and walk down to where it meets the Hull. According to Ivar the Beck used to flow right through the town from the Westwood via Walkergate and drained out into the Hull. Now the Beck is a canal just under a mile long. A lock (assisted by a pump) maintains a constant level since the Hull is tidal.
The waterway begins abruptly amongst streets and houses. As you walk along the towpath there are rather pleasant residential developments which have been built quite recently. Once you pass under the A1174 you find yourself skirting an industrial estate, although there is a thick hedge screening the yards and buildings. Then comes a small marina and boat yard complete with a dry dock. Cross the lock itself and you are looking out over the Hull, the river banks covered with reeds. As you reach the lock you also notice the Barmston Drain coming in from the left, however, rather than flowing into the Beck, the drain flows underneath.
At the Hull a man was supervising two boys who were fishing, at least the older one was. I asked what they were hoping to catch and I was told pike. We fell into conversation and the man told me that he runs the local Kung Fu and Tai Chi club. I was planning on finding out more about the local martial arts scene so what were the chances?
I then walked back along the bank of the Hull where a surprising variety of boats are moored at the bottom of rather precarious looking jetties. There are quite a few wrecks too, some of which have obviously been there a very long time. Some boats are for sale, a large but very decrepit vessel caught my attention. What would it take to do it up? A lot of knowledge about boats and a great deal of money I imagine.
Eventually the path joins the Hull bridge road and I followed it back home.
Apart from sorting stuff out and going for walks I have been doing some training with Ivar. I am making an effort to learn a new sequence of drills which I was introduced to last summer camp but it didn’t really stick. This time I will make sure the drills do get embedded.
So, if you want to see where we are living and get some training in with Ivar then we would love to see you here on the September 16th and 17th of September http://www.stavcamp.org for more details and to book. I will even take you for a walk along the Beck and the river if that appeals to you.
regards
Graham
PS If you are stateside then its last call for the USA training 30th September to the 2nd of October in Illinois. http://iceandfire.org.uk/usasept17.html Come to think of it there are some nice rivers around that area too, some sight seeing might be possible there if we ask Allen nicely.