This morning dawned cold and foggy in North Yorkshire. Mrs O was off to Skipton to revel in yarns and I was going north on to the fells for some autumnal photography. Both film and digital cameras were packed along with the obligatory Fat Rascal – an essential for any foray to the fells. Alas, it was rather too sunny. As predicted by the BBC weather forecast the fog burned off at 1000hrs to reveal a cloudless and sunny scene. Oh for some of the clouds we witnessed traversing the County of Durham

We happened upon the privileged few shooting birds on the grouse moors of County Durham. I know not whether the assembled guns had bagged any birds but I do know that when Mrs O and I woofed our ham and pease pudding baps the other side of the hill that five grouse were merrily cavorting in the heather.

No guns today but hoardes of lycra clad cyclists, swarms of leather clad motor cyclists and blisteringly bright sunshine.

The cyclists had commandeered the roads around Hawes and the Ribblehead viaduct so I decided to to take another route back and headed for Kirkby Steven. As I passed through I glanced to my right and there in a siding was a gaurds van that I thought I recognised as one I documented for my then neighbour of many years in Ipswich so I swung the car around and found myself parked up at the railway company and my two neighbours were there working away on improving the railway museum. It was good to see them thriving and happy in their new environment.

After an all too short a visit I was off to pick up Mrs O and her booty. I was not prepared for the sunshine effect though. Traffic was dire and I trundled into the cattleyard 30 minutes late but the scenery was worth it. I’m glad I did not waste any film or digital storage space.

The memories of just driving around North Yorkshire and Cumbria are strong enough.

Now autumn is well and truly here I’ll be looking to re-engaging with my 5×4 cameras and Portra. Marvellous, and the Fat Rascal was first class.