Sunday 12th August (Day 1)
We were off to a pub on the River Trent for a stopover and an evening meal. Then the phone rang and Sue and Alan informed us that Dave and Gill, who were staying over at their house, could not come so did we want to stop with them. Plan B: Off to their house with a stop to purchase food etc at Tescos for the trip. By 4.00pm we were parked up and settled, albeit only 30 miles of diesel left in the tank. We sat and chatted and had dinner while watching the European Multi Sport Championship and Dina Asher-Smith smashing it. Bed around 10.30pm.Can highly recommend this stopover.
Monday 13th August (Day 2)
So today we were off to York Caravan and Camping Club Temporary Holiday Site at York Cricket Club. We left around 9.30pm with a first stop at Tescos for diesel with 10p litre off - result. Then an easy 90 minute drive to the site where we were heartedly welcomed by the Yorkshire Region. We then set up and sat out in the sun and had a coffee / tea until the extra couple we were expecting arrived about midday - Chris and Graham> After a while they suggested we took the 20 minute walk along the River Ouse into York. What a good idea?! York is a lovely compact city with unusual shops, the Train Museum, the city walls, Jorvik Centre and much more. So a pleasant time was spent. On the way around we had a bit of rain but onward we went like brave soldiers. A stroll around the town followed with lunch being delicious pork pies from The Shambles - narrow lanes looking very much like what Diagon Alley looks like - and the pork pies were to die for. A further stroll and we then stopped for a pint (well two) in The Starre Inn (circa 1644)! We then decided to stroll back. WRONG! The forecast for today was 'iffy'. Well part way back the skies opened, not just opened but OPENED. By the time we got back everything was soaked through even with a waterproof (ha ha) jacket. Even the back pack had to be tipped up and emptied. A while after getting dried, changed and sorted we cooked our respective evening meals before gathering for more chat and a game of Uno. I was so jammy, winning all three games, including one where having called 'Uno' I was 'hit' with a '+2' and that is the card I had. I really should do the lottery this week.
Tuesday 14th August (Day 3)
Well despite the rain last night (Rain!) the chairs under the MH were dry which was surprising. We showered and had breakfast and then put yesterday's clothes on the line to dry - they were still dripping. While waiting we sat and talked about 'this and that'. Just after 1.00pm we walked back into York and, upon arriving, we separated as Chris and I wanted to walk the 2 to 3 miles around the city walls. Prior to this a squirrel came right up to me in the gardens and allowed me to stroke it, albeit only for a few seconds before making off. A pleasant walk along the walls with some pleasant views of gardens within the wall. We then made contact with the others and joined them in 'The Golden Lion'. This was followed by a stroll back long the river to the MH. In the Museum park there was a charity showing birds of prey including the largest owl in the world, the eagle owl. The walk back continued and we were then rewarded with a heron flying right by us and stopping nearby. Onward and upward we got back and after a while cooked dinner. The gathering then took place in Sue and Alan's MH for the rest of the evening and round 2 of the Uno World Championship.
Wednesday 15th August (Day 4)
At around 5.00am there was a loud 'mooing' from several cows. It continued for quite a while and seemed quite close and getting louder. We looked out to see a big brown pair of eyes looking at us from a close distance; attached to these eyes was a cow. Looking around there were more to be seen. People were out of their motorhomes trying to move them away. One woman suddenly ran off 'chased' by 'our' brown cow. I was going to go and help but there seemed to be sufficient to do the task so I did the sensible thing and snuggled down in the warmth of our bed. At 8.30am we were disturbed again as Dave and Gill had arrived, having left home at 4.00am. So that was the start to our day. A few jobs were done around the motorhomes and then we had a game of Molkky - winner stays on - followed by tea and chocolate cake. Then, as if by way of a change, a walk along the River Ouse to York. Here we strolled around the lanes and had (another) pork pie which was straight from the oven and we ate it watching a street performer. Then a stroll along 'The Shambles' a narrow lane dating back to 1066 (and before) and rebuilt in the 1400's. The Shambles was a butchers street and the bench or area they sold meat from were called 'Shalls' and the street name morphed from that. Not wishing to miss a trick it is being pushed as 'Diagon Alley' from the Harry Potter books despite the fact that the real inspiration for it is in London. At the end of The Shambles Graham and I decided to visit the Railway Museum and not stroll aimlessly around the shops and so left the others. I have been to this museum which is free before but it was still interesting without the 'wow factor' from the first visit. An hour or so later and the main group contacted us to meet in The Punch Bowl (a Wetherspoons pub - Oh how unusual!) So a couple of pints and we again separated with four taking a taxi back to the site while Chris, Graham, Dave and I walked back. That evening we strolled in the opposite direction to 'The Dormouse' pub for a meal. They were short staffed and most of the restaurant was closed. Luckily we found a table for eight settled in and ordered food. A nice meal followed at a keen price. A stroll back in the dark and bed.
Thursday 16th August (Day 5)
A day of indecision and decision. The plan was to leave at 9.00am for a site near to Harrogate, then have breakfast and travel into Harrogate. Well no one had checked that we could access the booked site early (we couldn't) nor that the site actually was close / accessible to Harrogate (it wasn't), Coupled with the knowledge of the local Yorkshire Region people who were of the opinion that "I wouldn't take a Motorhome into Harrogate" resulted in some deep thinking. So off to Knaresborough and a car park for motorhomes (£1.60 for 24 hours). We then walked into town and had a cooked breakfast (Wetherpsoons!) This was followed with a walk around the town which was very picturesque. The church had many scarecrows around the church and churchyard and the shops a knitted (Saint Robert) each with a letter to solve a quiz. The church (1120AD) was an interesting stop. Onwards and downwards to the river and a pleasant stroll along the waterside before a steep climb up to Knaresborough Castle which goes back to the 1200's. We then sat and dithered before Chris, Dave, Gill and I opted for the bus to Harrogate and Sue and Alan a trip home. £8.80 return for the four of us was very reasonable. Once there we strolled along the shops and into the 'old' Montpelier Quarter. We then paid to go into the Pump Room for the spa. In the area the 'stinky well' was the original well and the sulphur smell was overpowering. Right next to this well (about five foot away was another well / spa that was totally different (Iron being the main constituent). Close by were another 86 wells all different in the water content. Back in the days the 'stinky well' water was drunk every morning (1.5 pints) resulting in severe 'bottom issues' - a cleansing process. The salt also killed the worms that Victorians had in their gut. Back in the days one shilling a glass was paid and over 1500 glasses every morning were sold so quite profitable. The death knell for 'the waters' was 1947 when the NHS came into being. People, even the rich, decided why pay for treatment that you could get free. Harrogate then went into decline before re-inventing itself to survive as a conference centre. We then walked around Harrogate a bit more before getting a bus back. The plan was then to go to the site to the west of Harrogate but the traffic was unbelievably bad in that direction. An alternative Ridgewood Nursery in Cutlet only one mile away was opted for. A lovely site with lush green grass and good faciltities, but £20 a night is a bit excessive despite this. The evening finished sitting outside for the main part, in the late sunshine although we got the awning out as it rained lightly.
Friday 17th August (Day 6)
Up with the bright sunshine. After breakfast we said our goodbyes and had a good run back home. Leaving at 10.00am; arriving at the Motorhome site at 2.20pm; and home by 3.30pm.