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The Register — 2019
22 entries, #145 to #166 · transcribed from the notebook
2019 were the busiest year the register had seen, twenty-two shoes, and looking at the notebook now I can see I were covering more ground than I ever had. Skipton in June on a tip-off, which is about as far as I'll go. It were also the year Trevor did the drive. Linda's sister recommended him and he made a decent job of it, though he left a bag of sand we never asked for. Barry claimed his second Heckmondwike sighting in the spring. I drove over and had a look and there were nothing there, same as 2014. I put his letter in the folder and left it at that. Barry means well. The other thing this year were the brogue above Meltham, which were gone when I went back. First one I'd lost since Notebook 1 days. You get used to the idea that they stop being there, but it don't mean you have to like it. The camera were on its second year and I'd stopped fighting the grain by then. Full year. Good boots. I'd have took 2019 again.
#145
12 January 2019 · Right boot, black
Reservoir path, Deer Hill
Right boot, black leather, laces in but loose. Sat on its side just off the path where the wall drops away. Hard frost overnight and the ground were solid, which made for good walking. Flask conditions very good, tea held its heat to the last cup. Two photographs, both grainy, one usable. First of the year and a decent start.
#146
26 January 2019 · Left trainer, white
Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath, Golcar
Left trainer, white gone grey, laces missing altogether. Under the bridge by the mill, dry despite the weather, which were sleet on and off. Size eight or thereabouts. Didn't stop long on account of the sleet. One photograph. Cheese and pickle eaten in the car after, which isn't how I prefer to do it but needs must.
#147
9 February 2019 · Right shoe, black, slip-on
Layby on A62, near Slaithwaite
Right shoe, black, the slip-on sort, no laces to note. On the verge at the far end of the layby, heel to the road. Fair condition considering the spray off the lorries. Windy, and the wind took the foil off me sandwich, which I retrieved. Flask conditions adequate. Photographed twice from the layby side. Laybys have been reliable ground and this one has come good before.
#148
2 March 2019 · Left boot, tan
Castle Hill, Almondbury
Left boot, tan, well worn, one lace snapped short. In the grass below the tower on the Almondbury side. Been up Castle Hill more times than I could count and this were only the third shoe it's given me, so it were worth noting. Grey day, no view to speak of. Brought the stool and used it. Flask conditions good. Three photographs, grainy, as they are.
#149
16 March 2019 · Right trainer, blue
Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, south bank
Right trainer, blue with a white sole, laces tied in a bow, which you don't often see. Sat upright on the bank path facing the water. Good condition, can't have been out more than a week. Blowy but dry. Egg and cress, and Linda had put a Penguin in an' all. Flask conditions very good. Four photographs. Blackmoorfoot rarely lets me down.
#150
30 March 2019 · Child's shoe, left, black
Beaumont Park, Huddersfield
Child's shoe, left, black, the school sort, buckle not laces. On the steps below the bandstand, upright. Good condition. Mild morning, first proper spring day of the year, park busy by ten so I were glad of the early start. That makes a hundred and fifty in the main sequence. I sat on the stool and had a Penguin and thought about it for a bit, then moved on. Two photographs.
#151
13 April 2019 · Left boot, brown
Wessenden valley path, above Marsden
Left boot, brown, heavy sort, laces in and knotted. Lying in the heather a few yards off the path between the first and second reservoirs. Weathered, a winter out at least. Cold wind down the valley but bright. Sat with it half an hour on the stool. Flask conditions excellent. Cheese and pickle. Five photographs and three came out, which for Wessenden light is about right.
#152
22 April 2019 · Right plimsoll, black
Digley Reservoir, dam end
Right plimsoll, black, elastic gusset, no laces. On the wall at the dam end, toe pointing at the water. Easter Monday and warm, warmest Easter I could remember, and the car park were full by nine. Plimsoll in fair condition, sole coming away at the heel. Flask conditions good though tea and warm weather don't always agree. Two photographs. Left before the crowds got going.
#153
4 May 2019 · Left brogue, dark browngone on return visit
Moorland track above Meltham
Left brogue, dark brown, laces in, decent condition for open moor. On the edge of the track where it bends towards Deer Hill, sat square as if set down. Cold for May, hat weather. Sat with it a while. Flask conditions good. Four photographs. Went back on the 25th to see how it were getting on and it were gone. Looked along both sides of the track a fair way. Nothing. Marked lost. It keeps its number.
#154
18 May 2019 · Right trainer, grey
Lock 42E, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Marsden
Right trainer, grey, laces gone. On the beam of the top lock by Tunnel End, balanced but secure. A boat came through while I were photographing and the chap worked the gate around it without disturbing it, which I thought were considerate. Fine morning, light rain later. Flask conditions good. Six photographs, the grain suits canal subjects. Egg and cress.
#155
1 June 2019 · Left shoe, brown
Footpath off Woodsome Road, Farnley Tyas
Left shoe, brown, the lace-up sort, laces present but perished. In the hedge bottom by the stile, half grown over, so it had been there a season or more. Nettles were an obstacle and I used me stick. Warm and still, first proper summer morning. Flask conditions good. Three photographs, two came out. Farnley Tyas is quiet ground but it pays to keep it on the round.
#156
15 June 2019 · Right boot, brown
Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath, near Skipton
Right boot, brown, laces tied together and looped over themselves. On the towpath edge a mile out of Skipton towards Gargrave. A chap on the walking forum had reported it the Tuesday previous and it were still there the Saturday, which I were glad of, Skipton being the far end of what I'll drive. Set off at half seven, there by nine. Good condition. Overcast, dry. Flask conditions very good. Seven photographs. Worth the diesel.
#157
29 June 2019 · Left trainer, black
Bridleway above Scammonden Water
Left trainer, black with red trim, one lace missing. In the rut of the bridleway on the motorway side, flattened at the toe, probably by a horse. Very warm, hottest day of the year to that point, and the M62 were loud with the wind coming that way. Kept the sit-down short. Flask conditions adequate, too warm for tea really. Three photographs.
#158
13 July 2019 · Right boot, black
Field edge below the mast, Emley
Right boot, black, steel toe by the weight of it, laces in. Against the wall at the field edge with the mast above. Emley ground has been good to me since the boot of 2017 and I always give it a look when I'm over that side. This one weren't owt out of the ordinary but sound. Warm, big clouds. Flask conditions good. Cheese and pickle under the mast, which never gets old. Four photographs.
#159
27 July 2019 · Left sandal, brown leather
All Hallows churchyard, Almondbury
Left sandal, brown leather, buckle fastening, no laces to note. On the path between the yews, set neat against the edging stone. A gentleman's sandal, size nine or so, hardly worn. Heavy rain the day before and everything still dripping, but the morning were fresh. Churchyards ask for a bit of decorum so I photographed it quietly and didn't set the stool up. Three photographs, one very good.
#160
10 August 2019 · Right trainer, white
Butterley Reservoir spillway, Marsden
Right trainer, white, laces tied. On the steps of the spillway, three down from the top, upright. The spillway were running after the week's rain and the noise of it were considerable. Crackin' spot to sit, one of the best in the district, and I gave it the full hour on the stool. Flask conditions excellent. Egg and cress, Penguin. Eight photographs and most came out, the light being kind for once.
#161
26 August 2019 · Child's trainer, right, red
Riverside path, Holmfirth
Child's trainer, right, red with a cartoon character on the side I didn't recognise. On the wall by the river behind the bus station. Good condition, laces in, tied. Bank holiday Monday and very warm, so I were in and out before Holmfirth filled up. Flask stayed in the bag. Two photographs. Children's shoes turn up more than folk would think and I note them the same as any other.
#162
14 September 2019 · Left boot, brown
Ramsden Reservoir, top path
Left boot, brown, laces gone, tongue folded back on itself. Under the pines on the top path where the needles gather. Dry underfoot, first proper autumn feel in the air though the sun were out. Sat twenty minutes on the stool. Flask conditions very good. Four photographs, the pine shade made them darker than usual but they suit it. A tidy find in a tidy spot.
#163
5 October 2019 · Right shoe, black
Calder and Hebble towpath, near Shepley Bridge, Mirfield
Right shoe, black, the office sort, laces in and polished not long since. On the towpath bench at Shepley Bridge, sat under it rather than on it. Odd to see a polished shoe out, but I don't speculate, that's not really the point of what I do. Rain most of the morning, steady rather than heavy. Flask conditions good. Three photographs from under me hood.
#164
19 October 2019 · Left boot, black
Pule Hill, above Marsden
Left boot, black, hard worn, one lace remaining and that frayed. In the rocks near the quarry workings on the top. Proper October day, cloud sitting on the hill and visibility down to fifty yards, so it were the boot and me and not much else. Sat with it a while regardless. Flask conditions excellent, needed too. Five photographs, mostly grey, which were accurate.
#165
9 November 2019 · Right brogue, oxblood
Footpath below the viaduct, Denby Dale
Right brogue, oxblood, laces in, tied. On the footpath below the viaduct with the arches above it. Good condition, barely a scuff. Cold, still, a bit of low sun through the arches late morning. Brought the stool on a feeling and were glad of it. Flask conditions very good. Cheese and pickle. Six photographs and the viaduct got in most of them, which I allowed.
#166
14 December 2019 · Left trainer, black
Canal towpath, Milnsbridge
Left trainer, black, laces missing. Against the wall by the aqueduct, frost on the toe where the sun hadn't reached. Bitter morning, the towpath white until eleven. Last of the year and the twenty-second, which is more than any year previous. I noted that in the book and underlined the total, which I don't usually do. Flask conditions excellent. Two photographs. Home for dinner.