The route took us over the impressive Millenium Footbridge and past the former Rowntree factory which had become an upmarket retirement home. We quickly moved on and David led the way through the racecourse, alongside and then across the course.
SUMMER SQWALK 2018
Sunday 1st to Tuesday 3rd July 2018
Up for it were Tone, Yuppy, JC, Dave C, Dave H, Stubby, Bill, Keith and Tim. Also joining us for the walk were Pedro and his fellow Lodgers David and Stuart
The Clayton 6 plus Tim set off from Stoke Station at 09:52 and Tony realised that he'd left his senior railcard at home, not for the first time(is that why it's called “a senior moment”?). DC had organised the train tickets and had them in individual envelopes - well sorted Dave.
Nails and Keith set off from Crewe and their chosen train was cancelled, so they didn't make the rendezvous on Manchester station.
The journey from Manchester to York gave a view of the smoke rising from the fires on Saddleworth Moor, due to the unusually hot weather over the previous weeks, which was due to continue throughout our stay.
Then it was back to the hotel for a quick spruce up, but the pace hadn't dropped and we were soon out again. First stop was the Golden Fleece, a famous York pub that is supposed to be the most haunted, from where ghost walks start and where Slippery's son once worked and performed.
We didn't have to wait as long to get served as the poor soul at the end of the bar before heading to the small beer garden at the back where Stubbee spotted an old friend.
So, we went down the road to the Walmgate Ale House which was supposed to have a ghost. Ropes and Hooks hung from the ceiling. The House Session IPA and Walmgate Ale were the last beers sampled for the day and we went back to the digs.
Next morning we had breakfast downstairs in the Wethers. There was a shortage of eggs which meant you couldn't have scrambled, but if you wanted fried, poached or boiled that was okay!
Pedro, David and Stuart joined us for breakfast and we set off at 10:00. First stop was the grave of Dick Turpin (AKA John Palmer). We passed Clifford's tower and took a detour into some sort of pop-up medieval village, which was full of school groups. Nails reminisced about his school outings and how much he loved them! Eventually we managed to regroup and set off down the riverside. David and Stuart were very chatty and quickly fitted into the group.
Into town again and a visit to one of the most characterful bars in the city: The House of the Trembling Madness (named in relation to the Delirium Tremors); we can say that we've all been there. There were 2 delightful young ladies who served up the beers: Roosters, Costello and Pollards (Thornbridge), plus food: pork pies, cheese board (I've got a note here about Yup's blockage but can't remember the details?) (It ws the toilet Tone!!); Tim had the sausage twirl. (And by the sounds of it so did Yup).
A friendly young chap greeted us and dished out the beer tokens, so we ordered beers and set off following him for the tour. It was about the right amount of time and detail and allowed us to settle in the bar to finish off our sampling. Beers included Guzzler, Otherside IPA, Hansom Blonde, Globe Hopping Vic Secret.
We then ambled through town to reach our hotel, the Travelodge on Piccadilly and checked in. We ate downstairs in the Postern Gate, the adjacent Wetherspoons. The beer there wasn't up to much (Upon the Horizon?) and so we didn't drink there again, apart from tea and coffee.
Someone was checking arrangements on their phone, and the Maps.me app showed that the brewery was closed on Sundays - oh no! Undeterred we set off and walked along the city walls, around to the south-west of the city to arrive at the York Brewery on Toft Street.
The route back went past the Archbishop of York's Palace and, more up my street, the Caravan Club site. It was a very hot afternoon and we were glad to get back and call in for the first of our visits to the Phoenix.
Another favourite, Golden Pippin was on tap, and we sat in the beer garden until we said our goodbyes to the 3 Lodgers who set off for their bus back.
Next stop was The Maltings, where most had a pint of either Twenty four Seven or Cocos, except Keith who decided on a swift whiskey. Our route then took us to York Minster and the Shambles for photo opportunities.
Some hadn't had enough to eat so stopped at the chippy on the way to the Blue Bell.
This is supposedly the smallest pub in York and so doesn't take large groups.
Anyway we walked in and were making our way into the back room when the barman remarked that “couldn't we read?”, referring to the “4 no groups” signs we'd passed on the way in.
Oh well, if they didn't want our trade then we'd have to go to one of the other 105 pubs in York recently surveyed by Camra.
We arrived at the lunch stop, The Marcia in Bishopsthorpe, and settled down under a canopy out of the sun in the rear beer garden.
Food was good, the initial beer selection including Leeds Pale and Farmers Blonde was supplemented by a personal favourite, White Rat, when I found it in the other bar.
The return trip to Manchester was only memorable for the over-zealous ticket collector who nabbed Tone and charged him full fare for not having his Railcard. Apart from that niggle, I think the few days went very well and York proved to be a great venue for a Squarry outing.
Next morning was breakfast in Wethers again, no egg shortage.
Then we packed up and walked to the York Railway Museum. We had a lot of baggage but managed to get all but DC's into one locker. Some of the trains in there, including a huge Chinese one, even made Bill look small. We watched some of the Japanese Bullet Train video and took photos of the Mallard, of course. Back to the station and a last visit to York Tap to try more from their vast range.
We arrived at York on time and after leaving the station re-entered it via the bar of the York Tap.
This place has up to 18 changing beers on at any one time and we quickly ordered our pints and sat outside on a table alongside the platform.
Keith and Nails arrived in time for the second round and a kitty was set up. Amongst the beers sampled were Timothy Taylors' Knowl Spring, Nova, Mojo and Costello
Then onto The Hop, a cask and craft ale bar with very impressive tiled interior. The Silver King (Ossett) and Tidal Force were amongst the beers sampled. From the window the previously not-visited Blue Bell could be viewed across the road. A few Morris Dancers entered - surely that was a group? No, they weren't evicted.
The curry restaurant was the Garden of India, and from what I remember the food was quite good, someone said 7/10, but no complaints. Though Tim was not feeling too well and went for an early night.
Final pub visit of the day was back to The Phoenix, where it was Jazz Night. The group weren't to everyone's taste but Bill thought the girl singer was good. Beers included Distant Sun and Lemondrop and we settled in a corner in the back of the room, which was probably a mistake. JC fancied a game of bar billiards, but we decided to creep out discretely and thought if we went one-by-one no-one would notice. I think we got away with it.
Thanks to Anytime Tone who put together a great few days of merriment and for writing up these notes. Cheers.
PS See walk route below.
