Trip 165 - Ilkley

Tuesday 4th August (Day 1)

The plan was a stop at a pub partway on the way to Ilkley Rugby Club with a nice walk planned  when parked up. However, Chris was still waiting for a letter from the DVLA (it has only taken six days so far - they will not use email). The Post delivered it about 1330. We then had to find a Specsavers with an appointment today or tomorrow as we are running out of time for her licence with the C1 endorsement to be issued. We could not find anywhere so drove into March and Chris charmed the staff to do the test. This meant instead of leaving around 1300 we did not leave until 1630. This in turn meant our planned stop was too far. We ended up at the Griffin Inn, Papplewick, just to the north of Nottingham. We arrived about 1830 and soon were in having meal. On there journey we passed some really green fields so the weather up here must be quite different to ours. We both had a nice meal and drink with friendly staff. By 2045 we were in the motorhome and it started to rain - well it was very light , but it is the first precipitation we have experienced in 48 days. Bed was around 2230

Wednesday 5th August (Day 2)

A reasonable nights sleep, for me at least. That said around 0530 the road started to get a bit busy and it just got worse as the rush hour progressed. Anyway by 0900 we were showered, dressed and having breakfast. Around 0945 Chris opened the car park gate and we left for Ilkley Rugby Club. Our route took us up the M1 and then through Leeds; I am sure a better route should have been available. While going through Leeds we stopped for a coffee and to supermarket shop for a couple of items in a Morrisons. On the journey we had a phone call from Specsavers in March saying their was an issue with the eye test Chris took yesterday for the DVLA and could we pop in if passing! We explained where we were and the women said she should be able sort it for us and if she couldn’t she would ring again (she didn’t). We arrived at the rugby club at 1300 and were soon parked up. That said Su and Alan were next to us and had to move over as they were parked too far away from their neighbour (not their fault as it happens). That meant we also had to budge up about three metres. Resa and Eric soon arrived after this and Dave and Gill with their friends half an hour later. It actually rained a bit while all this was going on. The first real rain we had experienced for over 48 days,. (I know I said that yesterday but this was heavy rain and around 1700 it started again and was even heavier.) We just chilled for the afternoon in the motorhome and cooked and ate around 1800. Just after 1900 we congregated the hall. What followed was, apart from chatting and drinking, a game, or nine (!), of Beetle Drive and a music quiz. The first was quite chaotic and, while it produced a winner, it was clear many were playing the game differently. The quiz was a nice challenge around music from children’s and TV themes. Of ten plus teams we came abut sixth. By 2230 we helped to put the chairs and tables away and returned to our motorhomes for sleep  n

Thursday 6th August (Day 3)

We had some rain during the night and woke up to cloudy grey skies. An egg butty sandwich after the obligatory shower and then a laze about as we had agreed to leave for a walk around 1100. Graham, Maisie, Eric and the two of us left for a, potential, six mile walk. As we left it started to rain but it lasted just a few minutes. It was to be a bit slower walk than would normally be the case as Graham has issues walking. That said the difference was not really noticeable. The walk comprised of two loops, or a figure of eight. Having completed the first part of the loop we decided to forgo the second part and to return and cross the Ilkley old bridge. On the other side was a pub we were thinking of eating in on Sunday, The Ilkley Vaults. However it was closed until next Thursday for an annual holiday! A bit further into town we stopped at The Flying Duck. We didn’t know but this was a pub that brewed its beer on site and had a choice of about eight beers and two ciders. Three pints and a slow walk back to the site, checking for options to eat both for Sunday and tonight on the way. None of our selections were the final destination for tonight.  The group opted for a tapas type bar and we had a nice meal. Some were a bit upset at the choice of drinks, as it was wine or lager, but not enough to be a great issue. Having left we all returned to the Flying Duck. It was not only to have drink to decide on a Sunday lunch venue. It was agreed this was a great drink venue but our Sunday choice would be, hopefully, better located elsewhere. Bed was around 2300.

Friday 7th August (Day 4)

So a grey start to the day. We are wondering why we left the ‘hot south’ for this place! We had decided today to go to Skipton on the 1105 bus. Having arrived at the bus station in good time we were informed by the matrix board that the bus would arrive in nine minutes. This remained the case for over thirty minutes. Eventually the bus arrived at 1150. Having boarded the bus we spent twenty minutes covering 800m as there was major traffic / roadwork issues. We spoke to the bus driver stating we would give Skipton a miss and he let us off. We then spent time doing a quiz around the town and shopping in some of the stores. We ate lunch in one of the park / green spaces near the river. Back at the site we sat out in the warmth with a group of the others (but it was decidedly not hot). Later into the afternoon we decided a return to the town was needed and indeed Chris bought a couple off tops and a pair shorts. We also needed to check the beer was still good at The Flying Duck. It was and so we returned to the site, and with the weather hotting up.We then sat in a group to chat. This went on for several hours until around 2100 when we all melted away into our motorhomes.

Saturday 8th August (Day 5)

Today it started out sunny and warm and it became a very hot day, well into the mid 20’s, and the hottest so far. Our mini ‘Big Boys’ didn’t happen as I forgot to get the sausage and bacon out of the freezer! Yoghurt and fruit it was then. The weather was so nice that instead of the walk we had planned, sort of, we just sat around the motorhome. Gill, along with Resa, Sue and a different Chris (friends of Dave and Gill) went out at 1230 for a girls only lunch. A main course and a shared bottle of white wine was £35 per person and, while I am sure it was good food, for us it seemed a bit ‘up market’. The afternoon was more of the same with me slobbing in a chair in the sunshine while Chris helped Chris (Stephens) prepare for an afternoon soireé of nibbles, Aperol Spritzer, Pimms, Prosecco and sloe gin. (Our home made sloe gin went down a storm!) A bit later it was onto the baby Guinness's and mango rum. All this started just after 1600 and by 1715 some started to return to their motorhomes, probably called by an evening meal. By 1800 the event was over and we had a snack before going over to the hall for the evening. A very pleasant time with a good bunch of ralliers. We started just chatting and eventually had three games of bingo which the Gabittas’ didn’t win, which must be a first! Before that there was short thank you speech for Chris and some flowers and wine given too her as she is stepping down as the Rally Marshall after three years; they will miss her for sure. Then it was a raffle with loads of prizes. Once your number was drawn you selected a second ticket from a box which decided your prize. We have experienced this before and it speeds things up dramatically as the ditherers are not catered for. We won three small bottles of different tequilas. After a short break we had a music quiz to finish the evening off. Just before 2300 those who had not already left moved off ‘home’. A good hot, sociable and enjoyable day.

Sunday 9th August (Day 6)

Very changeable weather. A cloudy cool start to the day and the ‘possibility’ of a bit of rain later. After breakfast we gathered as a group for a coffee morning and then everybody slowly drifted away. By 1130 there had been quite an exodus of motorhomes but still a lot remained here. Around 1300 Graham, Chris and I went into town to The Flying Duck for a pre-meal drink. Dave said the landlord upset him last time and wouldn’t join us. Good beer won over friendship! Eight of us went to the pub, and the landlord was not present. After a couple of beers we walked to the Ilkley Cow pub / restaurant. Fourteen of us on total. Chris had the beef - medium rare and it certainly was. I had a rack of ribs. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our meal. With wine and a 10% tip it came to £75, so not cheap but really good. Not all were as happy with their meal as us. A stroll back to the site and a while away the late afternoon until 1900 when it was over to the bar area. This morning there were 58 motorhomes and only 28 now. This meant, obviously, a smaller gathering. We still did a couple of paper based quizzes and two music quizzes. Then to was just a chinwag until 2245 when we all meandered away.

Monday 10th August (Day 7)

A bright day and a warm one is being promised. We had a small ‘Big Boys’ and then packed. We still managed to leave by about 1030. We had selected a potential pub over night stop half way home but decided to go straight home instead. We did stop on the way at Brownhills to fill with LPG to ensure we were full for the Greece trip. Traffic was ok albeit one part a bit slow for a few miles of the A1. Home after a Tesco shop by 1515.