Week 28 - 21st to 27th April

Monday 21st April – day 177

We are going to Ripon today to do a little exploring, but go via Knaresborough, where we believed that there was an Arts and Crafts Centre worthy of a viewing as we are still in search of potential memorabilia. What we found when we got there was nothing to do with ceramics, glass design or sculpture, but was a fabulous lottery funded creative centre for the learning disabled. We wandered through a colourful and exciting sensory garden and past workshops for photography, music, pottery and textiles; and the number of other people, both able bodied and disabled also there, that looked like they were enjoying it, suggested that it was a success!
Onwards then to Ripon, and the first tourist sign we see on arrival is for the workhouse museum, and as we missed an opportunity in Lincoln to visit a National Trust workhouse we decided to check this one out, and it proved to be a fascinating visit. The conditions were grim, the requirements for getting in were scary, and the atmosphere for the inhabitants depressing, but for many unfortunately it was their home and possibly their only refuge from destitution, so they must have provided something!
We were there so long that they nearly offered us a bed, but, we still had the Cathedral to visit, so back out, and into warm sunshine thankfully!
The Cathedral was not the most interesting that we have visited, but it had a 12thcentury crypt designed by its founding Father St Wilfred, plus a rather lovely modern stain glass window designed in his honour.

Tuesday 22nd April 178

Today is one of those rare golden days, and it has been a while coming! (well the weather anyway!) The day is warm, bright and positively spring like! We pack a picnic and are off to walk by Aysgarth falls. We stop in Leyburn first to look for an antiques warehouse, (for that elusive artefact) but it is closed down, instead we find a Tea Pottery which invites you first into their production rooms, before going into the shop. It was brill, we have never seen so many shapes and styles of novelty teapots. Next door was a chocolate shop, too tempting to pass by, so in we went and again we were invited into their factory, and to watch a film of how chocolate is made, once we got into the shop it would have been churlish not to make a purchase!!
We arrived at our destination in time for (a late) lunch, and it was so glorious we decided to eat outside – our first of the whole trip, what a wonderful feeling, the sun warm on our faces, the air sweet, the grass was soft and springy, and the field completely to ourselves, more please more!!
After lunch we parked up and walked down into Aysgarth for our first glimpse of their magnificent series of water falls. As we walked through the fields to get there, we saw a most unusual site, for there in the middle of this wide expanse of open farm land was a stile, complete with gate (a regular feature here in Yorkshire) but no wall, just a stile – bizarre!! Chris was tempted to walk through it for a moment but then decided that he should save his energy!
The first falls that we came across were the higher set, and we walked along them for a while then the path took us over the fields to a disused railway, which we walked alongside of until we reached a bridge that we crossed to walk back to the village, we had did have a bit of fun and games finding the narrow gaps in the walls as we went along though. Once back at Aysgarth, we set off to find the middle and lower falls just as the early evening sun was casting a warm soft light over the water.
Unfortunately the path was a little too high so once we had reached the last of the falls we found a little detour that took us back along the waters edge, FAB, we got a superb view of the wriver, and walked as far as we could before we had to scramble back up the bank to return to the proper path, we looked a like a pair of mountain goats I am sure as we climbed the river bank!!!
We made it back to the car by 7.30, and with well over an hour’s journey back to the caravan we decided to stop in the first good looking and available eatery for a meal. We got lucky in Grange near Askrigg, where there was a pub selling pies “just like granny made” this was too good to pass by so we didn’t!! Chris had a very large kate and sidney, but I had a slightly less overwhelming pork, turkey and apricot - lovely, and washed down with a pint of Black Sheep, this was a lovely and fitting way to say au revoir to the Yorkshire Dales, for now, because we will definitely be back!!

Wednesday 23rd April 179

We finally leave this blissfully rural idyll and are off to stay in Pickering at the foot of the North York Moors. The journey was not the easiest as the A170 which looked so promising on the map is prohibited to caravans, so we had to follow another windy route round the back roads to Helmsley. We arrived at Saltergate, above Pickering soon after 3pm, which is quite good for us, and then spent the next 4 hours washing and cleaning the caravan (inside and out!) and car. How virtuous do we feel this evening! Not to mention spending 3 hours trying to upload the blog, not a pleasant experience, and I think it may now be time for a whisky!

Thursday 24th April 180

Rain this morning for a change, I’m not sure, but I think Chris may be developing skin flaps between his toes, if he starts to quack we will be in trouble!!!
However it did cheer up by the afternoon, but we are on a mission today, with a bag full of dirty walking trousers we need a launderette. We discovered that the nearest was in Scarborough – actually not as far away as we had thought at 17miles from Pickering, our closest large town. So we set off for a wander round this charming market town, and in particular the antiques market, where there were many things to tempt, and his nibs was particularly taken by a trio of small pewter jugs selling much cheaper than expected – we may go back!
The drive to Scarborough took us through pleasant, but unremarkable countryside, until we saw the sea again, causing a little thrill of excitement, I think that we shall concentrate on visiting the coast once we have settled in here. We saw the most salubrious side of Scarborough whilst playing hunt the launderette, but thanks to Sherpa mint we got there in plenty of time to get our washes completed before closing time. Once we had got clean trousers we drove down the front, and although the sun was shining by now, we couldn’t quite muster up enough enthusiasm to get out and wander today!

Friday 25th April 181

We are off to visit York today, and the weather is quite reasonable for mooching round at the moment, lets hope it stays that way! We packed a picnic which we ate before we left the car (which indicates what time we got there!!) We wandered round the Shambles and old cobbled pedestrian area, and it brought back memories, as we visited York fairly regularly whilst in Leeds. Again, and antiques market caught our eye, so we had a nosey in there, and Chris found some more pewter jugs, but much more expensive ones, which makes me think we will definitely go back to Pickering! We arrived at the Minister for a look around, to find a couple of ambulances outside, and crowds milling inside the cathedral entrance. We found out that someone had become ill trying to climb the 270 some steps up the tower, and the only way the ambulance staff could get the patient out was to order a rescue helicopter, which made a noisy landing in the Minster grounds, to everyone’s interest. We spent too long taking in the rather plain charms of the Minster’s interior, but were glad to see the replacement bosses made following the fire in 1984, (I remember the Blue Peter competition to design a boss, and there were 6 on view in the east wing ceiling.) Plus the rather fabulous roof of the Chapter House, with its clear bright paintwork.
Our final tour was round the crypt taking us on an audio supported journey through time to see how the first Roman, then Saxon churches were built on the site, to be followed later by what we see today. I think we may return to the crypt as I saw an advert for “Transcendence” an Ancient modern Mass, which is led by the staff of St Michael Le Belfrey, a church that was influential to us in the eighties, I will just have to see if Chris is up for it!!

Saturday 26th April 182

Today we are popping back to Reeth to collect a beautiful lamp created by a local potter, as this is to be our reminder of the absolutely glorious Yorkshire Dales. We are also looking forward to driving over Sutton Bank as we were denied the pleasure coming over to Pickering on Wednesday, as caravans are prohibited from using the road as it has an extreme gradient - or so we were led to believe! What an anticlimax –going up and coming down!! Perhaps there is a need to prevent other cars from being held up as it is an A class road, but the old Land Rover was quite insulted at not being allowed to have a go!!
We reached Helmesly in lovely sunshine, and decided to have a wander round this rather picturesque and busy little town. We purchased some birthday presents and carried on through Thirsk, which looks even lovelier, but we decided to go back for a proper visit rather than a rush through as we wanted to get on to Reeth in good time. It was good to see the Dales approaching and we stopped for our picnic lunch over looking familiar farmland before reaching Leyburn.
The drive over the tops was quite different today as the sun was out, and the far fells were clearly visible, Swaledale was a picture, and Reeth was buzzing with walkers and ice cream eaters, best not tell you which group we belonged to! We stopped for our preverbial cuppa, in a delightful little café (that also sold icecream, is that a give away), and they rather cleverly had put a traditional wooden toy on each table top, for guests amusement (regardless of age!)such as “Shut the box”, Chequers and Ludo, plus a couple of wooden puzzles. We had much fun playing with these (and our memories) before moving on.
We bought our lovely lamp, and after a wander made our way back to Kirbymoorside, where we decided to take a detour up into the Moors for a little explore. It is a much different landscape than the Dales, with miles of barren, heather clad flatness at the top stretching out into the distance, with deep wide valleys disappearing over the ridges. We drove through beautiful Hutton le Hole and on to little Rosedale Abbey nestled in the valley head, and drove round to Goathland, and every now and then the landscape changed to rolling green hedge lined hills, and then changed back to barren. Just before we got back to the caravan we came across this huge air conditioner on the fell. It is owned by the MOD, and someone needs to tell them that there is enough fresh air up here without any assistance from them!!

Sunday 27th April 183

After yesterday’s fun and frolicks, today has been a real non event. We woke to rain, so decided to wait for it to clear before moving, however it didn’t, and the emails from Hannah started to come in, chapter 1, then 2, then 3, then 4 – all need editing before her dissertation goes in tomorrow morning – well that was the rest of my day really, and no doubt Hannah’s night too. And to make things more cheery, as we were trying to make telephone headway with the editing, the heavens absolutely opened ad we were accompanied by great claps of thunder and streaks of lightening for a while (which made staying on line quite difficult!!)
Things will be different tomorrow!!

Week 27 14th to 20th April

We are still in the glorious Yorkshire Dales this week, and although the weather is proving difficult, appreciating this areas beauty is not! Enjoy!

Monday 14th April – day 170

We are off to explore Bolton Abbey and the Strid today, and so far the weather is with us! I have memories of this tourist draw from childhood, so I am interested to see how much it has changed, but I am unprepared for how much! I expect that it is inevitable that with so many people tramping over the land, it has to managed, and there is money to be made – we paid £5.50 to park, and were shocked at first, but then for that we got to explore the ancient Abbey,

and walk a well maintained, and mostly wheelchair accessible 7 mile round the Strid forest. I am sure this must be progress and I expect those with limited mobility are glad of improvements like these, but (rather selfishly I know) it was rather too manicured now, and the joy of rambling over rocks and narrow windy paths could only be a distant memory.The Strid itself though was still stirring to the senses, as the wide shallow tumbling River Wharfe reached unforgiving hard stone and was squeezed through a length of very narrow gap, and great swirls of foaming water were sent rampaging over stony outcrops. The sun stayed with us, and we were delighted along the way by glances of foraging Nuthatchs, playful Great Tits and Blue Tits, fighting for a last little piece of fat ball, and we also saw our first bank of violets, just as I was beginning to wonder whether we had missed them this year. As we reached the car, the desire for tea took over, so we headed for the truly delicious Devonshire Arms. The interior reminded me rather of the Old Bell, Malmesbury, a place that holds very happy memories for us. We had wandered round a little until we found a settee - just squidgy enough, by a fire - just warm enough, and drank Earl Grey - just fragrant enough, before it was all too much and the ol’ Mint put his head back and was gone – solid gone (but quietly on this occasion fortunately!)
Our final jaunt was a quick trip into Skipton to do some emergency provision replacing, and Morrisons gave us just enough time to do a grab and dash! We did though decide to revisit this lovely old town to explore further. Like Bolton Abbey, it is a place of my youth, though more forgotten than remembered.

Tuesday 15th April – day 171

Rain, rain and more miserable rain, made worse by the fact that I think the rest of the country are basking in spring sunshine, so we stayed in till mid afternoon when it cheered up enough to tempt us out for a trip to Grassington, where we went to at Christmas for the Dickensian Fayre. And how glad we were to have made the decision to go! Grassington itself was a lot sleepier than at Christmas for obvious reasons, but we wandered along the lanes until we came to signs for Ghaistrill’s Strid which needed further exploration. We walked through the field to the river, as the clouds ahead of us darkened. In a breath we were being bombarded by huge cone shaped hail stones, which made the whole setting very atmospheric. This Strid was not quite so dramatic as yesterdays, but there were still some great views to be enjoyed! We returned back along the river bank and carried on further down in order to get back to the village, spotting along the way, a pair of Oyster Catchers, Grey Wagtails and a lovely little Wren which would not stay still long enough to be photoed! Just before we were due to leave the river we came across a magnificent weir followed immediately by the impressive Linton Falls, which further delayed our return to the car, happily, as we stood for an age just watching the water tumble over the rocks! If we had known what weather was ahead of us, we might not have lingered! We had not been in the car very long when it started to hail again, big fat balls being hurled horizontally at the car. By the time we had reached the tops by Grimwith Reservoir we were in the middle of a foggy snow storm, visibility was poor and the road was slippy and sludgy. We had to take great care to complete the journey, and exciting though it was we were glad to be back in the warm and dry.

Wednesday 16th April – day 172

We decided to mix business and pleasure today and returned to Skipton to wash up our filthy walking trousers, fill up our empty food cupboards and to have a nosey around the antique shops, to see if we could find a little something to add to our growing collection of memorabilia. Skipton was bigger than I remember, but it was surprising how many of the shops were the same, even the “Wild Oats” café where we stopped for a little tea and tiffin! We spent too long looking round the antiques market and didn’t leave enough time to walk all along the canal, but we did manage to come home with clean trousers and full Morrison’s bags!!

Thursday 17th April – day 173

It seems that a pattern is emerging; the mornings recently have all been bright clear and fresh, but by lunch time the clouds descend and the wintery rain sets in. For that reason we decided to take a road trip through the dales up to the northern most areas of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, and what a fabulous day we have had. The route that we took started in Wharfedale, and we drove from Grassington to Kettlewell amidst delightfully soft and pastoral scenery along side a wide tumbling river, the hill sides were patchworks of stone wall lined fields dotted about with little barns, that were once so important to the local economy which is centred round sheep farming. We stopped for a wander round Kettlewell as the sun was still with us. We had forgotten, but this delightful little village is where the film Calendar Girls was shot, (though the real calendar girls came from Rylstone!) but it seemed not to have become too stage struck!! We moved on from there up a very steep little road that took us over the tops to Coverdale. By now the scenery had become much wilder and dramatic, but even in the rain and mist it still had a glow about it, it was quite magical especially as we only had the sheep for company for most of the way to Leyburn. We did not stop here although it also looked very charming in a traditional Yorkshire market town sort of way, but went straight on to Reeth, the “capital” of Swaledale. Had the weather been with us we would have parked and walked for a while, but as it was pouring we stopped instead at an arts and crafts centre to see if there might be something to add to our collection, and although there were plenty of tempting treats, we left empty handed. We set off to drive along Swaledale and round to Arkengarthdale. Again we were delighted by a landscape of patchworks of small fields, but here the field barns were in much greater abundance, and as we stopped to take this photo, all we could hear was the baaing of sheep, again much as it must have been for generations! By the time we arrived back at Leyburn it was gone 6pm, and thoughts of returning home for supper had almost reached the top of our “to do” list, but we still had enough enthusiasm to see one more dale so opted to return via Nidderdale, which was a little like Wharfedale, the tops were still wild, atmospheric and remote, but once we were down in the vale it was softer and gentler again.

Friday 18th April – day 174

Well it does not look like rain today - cold and windy, but no rain! Which is just as well as the wrinks are joining us, for a look round Brimham rocks and a visit to Fountains Abbey. They arrived in good time for coffee, and then lunch, and after a long leisurely sit we went for a wander up round this geological master piece of rocky boulders strewn higgledy piggledy across the hillside in some interesting shapes and stacks, it was a joy to investigate these old relics! We went on then to Fountains Abbey for a cup of tea, and we left Ma and Pa in the warm and dashed off for a quick explore of the ruins, and we were so glad that we did, for this huge 12th century Cistercian Monastery was so intact it was not difficult to visualize its original form in places. The refectory, which included a seating area for its lay workers, was at least 100 yds long and had a wonderful ceiling, and on the way back up we saw our first display of Bluebells, spring is definitely on the way – despite the temperature! Once we had located our own spring chickens we headed back to the caravan for …….. more food, and a very long slide show …………. no, PC picture show (ah how sweet revenge does taste!!!)

Saturday 19th April – day 175

Well, today was a weird one, we are off to Ma n Pa’s for supper to welcome Al and Vic back from France, so we decided to visit the west side of the Dales, including Ingleton and Settle. The problem is that this is the route that takes us between Ambleside and Clitheroe, so it is familiar yet unexplored, and it didn’t go too well, we headed first for Ingleton to visit the Falls, but we are really beginning to understand why the Yorkshire folk have the reputation for being canny with money, as the admission charge to visit these natural delights was a mere £4.50 per head! Now for that we knew that we would be able to walk on a carefully prepared path round a carefully manicured route, but it rather goes against the grain in this whole area of rugged paths stretching across miles of outstanding beauty, however we do understand that it helps maintain and develop this beautiful area that is visited by so many of us so often. We mooched around Ingleton for a little but decided to head off for Settle as we had no map to plan another walk. Settle was much as I remembered it, but the Watershed Mill Craft centre was a con, as it was more like a mini factory outlet shopping centre. We were just too late to visit the Folly so went to a café instead, good choice I say!
We made our way back to Clitheroe by the scenic route, and were at the wrinks by 6.15 ready for supper and holiday photos – no not ours!
Sunday 20th April – day 176

We were determined not to let the weather affect our plans for walking today, but fortunately for us it was dry. We drove back through beautiful Wharfedale, alongside fast flowing streams coursing across mossy stones, up over bleak windswept moors, past Kettlewell and finally (and slowly) into Hawes. We had a wander round the town, into, and quickly out of, a frighteningly expensive antique shop, and took a quick forage round a second hand book stall. It took a more than a little cajoling to move Chris on from the packed shelves but we were soon ready for our picnic, followed by a planned circular walk up to Hardraw Falls and round along the fields back to Hawes via Sedbusk. As usual we had the paths mostly to ourselves as all sensible people had returned to their cosy warm sitting rooms but the lambs (who did keep us company) were in an absolute abundance and a joy to watch as they leaped, frolicked and sucked ferociously giving their mothers some GBH of the back end! Their noisy baaing accompanied us all the way round, and in one field they were so used to seeing the farmer come at tea time with some treat or other that as we entered their field they all careered towards us, at an almost stampede like speed, baaing insistently, until they saw that it was not their feeder, and we had nothing to offer them, and I’m sure that their baaing took on a disapproving note as we scurried out before they got cross!
We arrived at Hardraw Force and were further assured of the Yorkshire entrepreneurial spirit, as we came across a large sign saying “Hardraw Falls entrance through Inn” so we paid the required £4 and having walked through the beautiful old 17th century pub called The Green Dragon, took a 5 min stroll to see their bit of the falls - a 50 foot high narrow and noisy cascade of water onto rocks by a pool – not quite what we had expected, and it was not until we had walked up to Simonstone and into the very dingly-dellish Scargill woods did we really get to enjoy the Falls in their entirety, as the water fell over several shallow wide steps through its woodland setting – much more photogenic to us! It was here that we also had our second sighting of a beautiful little wren today, they are such chocolaty brown charmers, but will not stay still long enough for us to photo them (yet!)
We journeyed back through the patchwork of field to the company of madcap field hares and stupid but colourful Pheasants, we arrived back to the car feeling that we had been completely entertained by the locals!

wk 26 7th to 13th April

Monday 7th April – day 163

We have decided to stay on in Derbyshire until Wednesday as we are having such a lovely time here, and there is still such a lot to see. So today we are off to pack a lot in! We take the scenic route along the back roads between Hope and Ashbourne. We first stopped at lovely Lathkill Dale, not too dissimilar from Dove Dale, but of course with its own charms. Unfortunately we needed to move on if we were going to make all the visits that we had planned, so, with thoughts of returning to the Peak District for long weekends once we are back in the saddle, we set off for Tissington, the capital of the well dressing region. We were a month too early to enjoy the well dressing, that happens on Ascension Day – 1st May this year we were informed - but we had a bracing walk down its deserted streets (I think everyone had run in doors to escape the icy blast!
Finally we drove down to Ashbourne for a wander round. It was a pity that we arrived there after 5.30pm as there was a wonderful street full of beautiful antique shops which I am sure that we would have enjoyed a wander round had they been open!!

Tuesday 8th April – day 164

There were plans this morning to walk round Kinder Scout (home of the mass trespass) but as it had snowed again in the night, and the clouds were still low and looking dangerously like rain, we decided that it would not be worth putting the boots on, so… we had a lazy start instead! We still had to go to Buxton to have the TV checked, pick up my prescription and our souvenir – a gorgeous “Arts and Crafts” ladies chair that I had spotted on our first visit. The drive back over the dark peak was as atmospheric as remembered and we arrived in Buxton in the sunshine, what weird and changeable weather we are having these days.
We were successful only in part in our business, the success - the reason we could not tune the TV in to digital reception was because there isn’t any – not the fault of our TV! We were not so lucky with the ladies chair though, our prevarication was someone else’s purchase, boo hoo!
Well we may not have a chair, but we were able to enjoy a wander round the park, and take in the rest of Buxton’s delights before driving up to Glossop, and back to Hope down Snake Pass.

Wednesday 9th April – day 165

We are leaving the lovely Hope Valley today, and already with thoughts of returning to get better acquainted with this beautiful county. We are making the journey up through Sheffield, the M1, Leeds and out the other side, not looking forward to being in the middle of all that business!
Fortunately the journey was not too congested and we made it to Hartwith in Nidderdale, where we are staying for the next 12 nights, in glorious evening light. We had the warmest (and longest) welcome of our journey so far, I think that we are going to enjoy it here!

Thursday 10th April – day 166

Woke to a beautiful bright morning, plans to walk from Malham up to the tarn seem not to have to be postponed due to rain this time! We took the scenic route passing through a truly glorious landscape, we are loving these stone glorious stone walls, patch worked over the hill sides and old heavy set houses, it is much more invigorating (to my eye at least) than the flat and chocolate box prettiness of further south! We parked up at the Dales centre, packed ALL our wet weather gear just in case(!) and set off at an almost brisk pace, but not so quick that we didn’t have a chance to gaze inside the houses, and check out the good beer hostelries (for afterwards) as we weaved our way through Malham. The first popular tourist spot was the Cove, once a tumbling waterfall, but now sheer wall of white limestone popular with climbers, and nesting peregrine falcons! There was a wide and easy path trodden on by the masses, then 398 steps up to the top of the Cove (carefully built by our friends the National Truss). We picnicked at the top, amidst great white water shaped rocks, and sat looking over to Malham before setting off along this wild stony moor land that is this southern section of the Pennine Way (our first foray along this national trail). Our final destination was the tarn where there was a nature reserve, but we made very slow progress as we kept spotting unfamiliar birds. We later identified that we had seen: Lapwing, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Wheatears. We sat awhile by the tarn, quite alone except for the birds, and enjoyed their singing and particularly the aerobatic displays of the Lapwings, before taking a circuitous route back over the strange blue grey terrain to a pint of Lancaster bomber and a pint of Wainrights.

Friday 11th April – day 167

Good job that we took the opportunity to walk yesterday as today it is back to the old familiar theme… rain. We decide to explore Harrogate and neighbouring Knaresborough as it is so inclement.
Harrogate may have been delightful, but its charms were lost underneath a torrential downpour, so there was little wandering around, expect a couple of indoor antique markets, and a very long sit in Betty’s Tearoom – a must for all visitors!
After an interesting but circuitous route Sherpa Mint got us to Knaresborough. By now the rain had stopped, and a watery sun gave this little town a glow that had been missing in Harrogate, so we parked up and went for a jolly good wander round this interesting old town. Along our route, we passed an ancient castle in lovely grounds, a house in the rock, several sets of steep back steps to get to another part of town, a chequered house, a couple of establishments hiring colourful boat, cobbled streets, two bridges a viaduct and a quintessentially pre 1930’s train station, (still in its original livery) all within a mile radius of the castle. Can you tell that we enjoyed ourselves there! And all visited in time to get back to the car for the Archers to find out if the Jury has made their verdict- but alas we will have to wait until Monday!

Saturday 12th April – day 168

We woke to sunshine and blue skies for our drive down to Malmesbury for Val and Rob’s wedding party. It rained in spurts during the journey, but we arrived and left Cotswold Outdoor People in fine sunshine, both in outside and in our moods! My wonderfully comfortable Meindl boots had really started to let the water in since the New Year and we hoped they replace them, but were not too hopeful as we had no proof of purchase. But the Manager could not have been more helpful, after explaining that I had not conditioned the boots properly after washing (!?!) so the leather had deteriorated and shrunk away from the soles hence the leakage, he promptly gave me a shiny new pair, joy, well it will be once I have broken them in!
We popped in on Margaret on the way through as it was her birthday, to find that all the family were there so we all sang happy birthday and ate cake, then we headed off for Malmesbury. Next stop was to catch up with Graham after his American trip, he looked very well and excited at the thought of taking a six month road trip with his new partner once they have bought a hotel on wheels (as only the Americans can do!)
We arrived at Anne and Andy’s by 6pm, just enough time for a cuppa and wash before we were back out to St Mary’s Hall for a Ceidligh and a Hog roast. There was little time for dancing as there were too many people to catch up with, but I think that we managed to speak to everyone. The evening ended with whisky at A&As – joy!

Sunday 13th April – day 169

Another lovely morning, particularly as we woke to the smell of sausages and bacon wafting up the stairs – wonderful hosts Anne and Andy, make you feel properly looked after; we may need another excuse to return!!
We were a little late to be really useful in the clearing up at St Mary’s Hall, especially as there were probably over 20 there already all fighting for a go on the hoover – oops – dyson!!
So we headed off to see Fred and Sarah, who, I am glad to say, looked really well. It was lovely to catch up with them, if too briefly, for we were then on to Jem and Sally’s for lunch. Again it was lovely to spend time with them as well as Sue and Al. Jem served up a superb belly pork and lentil casserole, yum, but we won’t need to eat until tomorrow!
We were back on the road by 3.45pm and after a long, but easy journey we were back in Hartwith by 8.45pm.