Passengers 2017.

15th June 2017 Moorsbus buswalking at it's best last Sunday.

I haven't been able to walk the Rosedale railway since the old Moorsbus finished in 2013, but this year's services make it possible again. Threatening sky though it was, I couldn't leave it any longer - it was too long since I'd seen those stunning views of the Dales from the top of the Moors. The sun rewarded me with a peepshow and it was miles until I saw anybody else. Mind, the large group that came the other way at Esklets didn't exactly disturb the peace with cheery "Good afternoon"s. I got a grunt out of one of them, though. Perhaps they were Trappist Trekkers?Peace until Bloworth Crossing where there was a lot of serious cross-country running taking place, complete with arm waving marshals. There was even a large portable site hut with male/female toilets, a medical room and a rest room. Pretty impressive facilities for the runners, thought I, but no, this was all for the one plant driver who was fighting a rearguard action against 4x4s and off-road bikes on Rudland Rigg. It's a funny old world.Ingleby Incline hit me with that sudden, incredible view as it always did and I can confirm that it's just as long and steep as ever. Once again, I was glad to be heading down and not up it. Overtook some trudging Duke of Edinburgh Awarders as I reached Bank Foot Farm but they soon sped up when they spotted their minibuses a few yards further on.Arriving at Battersby with over an hour to spare it seemed rude not to nip down the road to the Dudley Arms at Ingleby Greenhow. What should I find but a line up of Ford Capris outside. Even cleaner than a Moorsbus, they were... Just time for a pint, and very good it was too, and back to Battersby Junction for that beautiful ride on the Esk Valley Railway train to Danby. Cheap it was, too.What a day!