Bonjour Swaledale!

While much of the world is busy watching the World Cup, a little corner of England is saying " Bonjour " to the Tour de France.  The first  leg of the race is in Yorkshire running from Leeds to Harrowgate.  They will head north into Yorkshire Dales National Park and be running south down the Swaledale.

During my journey on the Coast to Coast Path last year, this leg through Swaledale was one of my favorite.  Starting with a lovely hike up and over Nine Standards Rigg and a stay at the wonderful Keld Lodge.

The hike down the dale was chosen so I could divert to Muker to visit Swaledale Woolens, where I was forced to buy a hand-knit sweater.

http://www.swaledalewoollens.co.uk/

The dale was a lovely and picturesque as you would imagine starting at the ruins of Crackpot Hall

and through fields and across a ton of stiles of all shapes and sizes.  This was the path to Muker.

I ripped my favorite hiking pants on this style, the day-lit gap is not more than 6 inches

Everywhere there were sheep of the most friendly temperament

Here is a map of the course.  I hope it is a lovely day and that I can find a glimpse of the race, simply to relive some of the beauty of what I remember as one of my favorite part of the trail.

http://tdf.roadworks.org/