ROCKWOOD HARRIERS HUNT - From the Kennels and at Hade Edge

Rockwood Harriers Hunt from the kennels - 19th January 2019

Dark with low cloud and fog elsewhere, so it was a typical January day I suppose.

Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to provide a wide variety of delicious food with hot sausage rolls etc and hot mulled wine. It was superb and pedestrians like me were included. 

David Swanbury Copyright

 Excellent service.

David Swanbury Copyright

With a full staff.   And the young lad in the centre seems to have enjoyed some red drink.

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Yes, good hot mulled wine!

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David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

 Oh Dear!  I must stop bringing chicken tikka sandwiches for my lunch.

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

An orange stream, presumably discoloured with iron, bridged by a very long stone towards a stile.  

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

A territorial threat from these two. 

Rockwood Harriers Hunt exercising on foot at Hade Edge - Wednesday 23rd January 2019

Wall to wall sunshine - on snow.  Hade Edge sits uncomfortably at just over 1000 feet with an exposure of the full 360 degrees - well more or less - to the elements, which are frequently not good.  I wondered what Wikipedia said about Hade Edge and discovered that it is a litany of closed shops and post office to nothing now.  Actually it fails to mention at least two thriving shops, one being Brindon Addy's, butcher and deli and it needs an Edit.  Hard places to live like this seem to bring out the best in folk so there is probably a very strong community spirit with its football team etc. and a successful brass band.  One can almost guarantee there is music where life is difficult.  Hade Edge can't be so bad as a relatively new housing estate on the bleak windward edge is currently being extended and one day the place may display a similar vibrance to the town of Holmfirth 500 feet or so below. 

Despite all the negativity today was fabulous in the snow, bright sunshine and lovely rolling countryside.

David Swanbury Copyright

 The Meet - well there were one or two more there.

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 Above the snow line.

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Hepworth village is beyond the green field.  I have heard it said we are in Hepworth here but I have always thought of it as Hade Edge as it has the same exposure.

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 Getting through wire - take a dive or be more cautious.

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David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

David Swanbury Copyright

Just thought it was pretty - no hounds there.  We have had what seems like weeks of predictions of impending polar vortex, Beasts from the East and old folks will die etc. but this is the first real snow we have seen in these parts so far and it is only on the hill tops.  I think folk are more likely to be made to be worried to death by the vogue for dire predictions, forecasts and emotive presentational drama than reality.

(An example from the Express of the 18th January - 'Sub-zero temperatures, ice and blizzards could cripple the nation through the rest of winter and into spring, forecasters warn. Britain’s elderly and vulnerable are warned to make ready for what could be a lengthy and unusually severe winter blast'.)   

David Swanbury Copyright

 But it looks pretty.  Holme Moss mast can be seen in the distance.  

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