The Quest for Buckden Pike

Though they said “Ophelia’s coming”

Though they said it was sure to blow

The intrepid five joined shaking hands

And vowed “To Buckden Pike we go!”

Right out the back of Hilltop House

Lay the gate to adventures unknown

With poles and boots and maps they went

Though sorely buffeted and blown

Up and up and up they did climb

And up and up and ever on

And up and up and up they trecked

Into the great Yorkshire beyond

Through rocks and stones and mud they went

Through the land of the orange sun

Doughty Laura did lead the way

Fearless Ann said ‘Isn’t this fun?”

But fun was not what fate held forth

And joy was not for this hike

For far and wide do perils lay

On the trail to Buckden Pike

Brave David was the first to fall

Though bewitched by puffer and pills

Another fearless walker gone

To the rigors of Starbotton hill

Said Cathrin then “I’ll stay behind

I’ll give my brave brother a hand.”

Bur Brave David said, “Save yourselves

For the terrible task at hand.”

The other four did struggle forth

Slogging on through the Wharfedale moors

Fearlessly facing cows and gates

All perils of the great outdoors

But after Buckden fork they passed

Doughty Laura and Tim alike

Flagged beside the long winding path

To the dark mines of Buckden Pike

“It’s enough for me to see it”

Said Tim, “It’s wonders to behold.”

Laura said “That’s it, what he said.”

And they departed from the fold.

So Ann and Cathrin were the last

To continue on their bold quest

To challenge the moors one last time

To give their final and their best

To the bottom of the Pike they came

To the start of the long high road

And gazed upon its winding path

And said “What memories we will hold”

But the long high road was very long

And it was also so very high

And Ann and Cathrin pondered this

And said, “Maybe we’ll just get by.”

Many hiker has come and gone

Many the muddy road do spike

And many are those who’ve tried and failed

In the quest for yon Buckden Pike.

My epic poem, with help from sibs. It was a wonderful walk but it was a very steep climb to start. It cleared as we went and gave me some wonderful shots of the flank of the mighty Pike itself. We were certainly weary when we got back. And yes, none of us made it up it.

Laura and I had a bit of a run in with a cow and her two calves - she was literally standing in the opening in the rock of our walking path and when I went to shoo her away took a step towards me. We hastily beat a path to a detour route some 30 feet away.

And the sun was orange. I looked up as we climbed Starbotton hill and it was a big orange ball in the sky. My camera didn't get the colour but Dave had one shot that did. It stayed like that for several minutes and then went away.

Here are some pics from the great quest (the first one and the ones similar are of yon Buckden Pike);