England 2009
The Second Six Months
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England 2009
The Second Six Months |
| Ripley | Leyburn | Stockton | York 2, 3 & 4 |
2009 July to December
As I have started chronicling our walks recently, some of write ups this years will have links to more detailed information of the days events. I will also by continuing with the photography, see my flickr account for more.
July 19th to 22nd
We had considered and even tried to to book this site over the last couple of years and eventually booked in with the twins during the school holidays, Mick and Bren also booked in with there caravan.
The time I tried to book before, I filled in their online booking form with the dates I wanted and eventually got a reply via email, with a phone number to book up, phoned only to be told it was fully booked, why couldn't they have just said that in the email. This time we all booked on the phone but it wasn't straightforward, the person on the phone didn't seem to know the site systems.
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Ripley
Ripley Caravan Park
Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 3AU |
July 19th
We arrived not long after midday and being friendly towards the man in reception, I said that as my brother had set off before me, he should already be here, "no he shouldn't" was the reply "no one should be here before two" and from then on he was very snotty with us. Still can not find any mention of this fact anywhere on the website and we received no booking confirmation from them.
Another guy (who didn't speak very
good English) took us to our pitch and made sure we where the right way round
(all habitation doors farcing the same way), then warned us not to change it
round the other way.
Mick arrived not long after and while he set up his van we got the dinner warmed up and had it between the vans. After dinner all the girls when to the pool while me and Mick got our satellites working, well I did and Mick went to his fall back position and got the free view on. We also has a few cans of beer.
BBQ for tea, and several more beers, then discovered if we moved the satellite dishes to the front of the vans it all worked.
July 20th
Got a picnic ready and all set of for Knaresborough in Mick's car, we parked by the river and walked along it to the railway viaduct, where we had our picnic and fed the ducks. It was beautiful day so the girls got an ice cream each, not that the weather makes any difference to wanting ice cream. Then we followed the river along to the next bridge and from there the hard walk up hill to the town centre.
In town the girls spent money (all of them) and I popped into my favourite beer shop and bought several new beers for my collection (and drinking tonight).
We then made our way to the castle, there is not much remaining of what must have been a magnificent building but it was dismantled in 1648 because of an order from Parliament. It had been on the wrong side during the civil war, now many town centre buildings are built with stone from the castle. From there we headed down hill, back to the river via the level crossing at the railway station.
We then headed back to Ripley with the intention of looking around the castle there, the car parking is on grass but most of it was still firm. The twins spotted their favourite thing on the walk into the village, horses, so we had to walk over to let them have a closer look. At the castle there was a charge to get in and as we had already had a long walk today, none of us could be bothered to pay for another walk, so we just looked around the gift shops and retired to the village pub, the Boars Head Hotel (for a sit down you understand). Mick and I got the beers, Black Sheep Best Bitter, while the girls went of the another shop for more ice cream.
No photos of the castle, as there is no good view of it without paying for entry to the castle or its grounds. On the way back to the car we had to stop for the horses again and they came over to let the girls stroke them. That evening it was another BBQ with my new beers and the twins playing on the play ground, or with a ball on the field behind the vans.
July 21st
Mick and Bren had to get back to work, so it was just us and the twins today, it was a bit cooler so most of the day was spent in the pool or in the play ground.
July 22nd
Off home today but a drive through the dales was planed, although I liked the this site and location, I would have to think very hard before coming back, some of the staff are pretty miserable though luckily we didn't have much contact with them during the stay. Anyway enough of that, we fed the duck and the site pond then set off on our drive.
We headed for Leyburn but made our first stop at Middleham for fish and chips and a look at yet another castle (we did stop a Masham but the chip shop was closed, very odd when the was a market on). After lunch with the sun shining, we set off to see the castle, quite a lot more of this one than the last one.
After our walk, I wanted a photo of the single track road bridge between Middleham and Leyburn, so off we went, just as we parked as close to the bridge as we could, the weather completely changed. The heavens opened and torrential rain started to fall, I sat and waited for a while but eventually put my waterproof coat on and set off for the bridge, while the others sat in the dry. Back in the dry van we continued into Leyburn but it was very busy and I couldn't get the van parked, so we just went home.
As we had given Leyburn a miss we called in to the Wynyard Woodland Park (Castle Eden Walkway) for a while but it was then Dot remembered she had a doctors appointment and we had to rush off, so ending this trip (good job we weren't in Leyburn).
August 16th to 19th
When we where in Middleham we could see a campsite on the side of a hill, facing Middleham, it was just outside Leyburn, so we looked it up and booked it up and so did Mick and Bren.
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Leyburn Craken House Camping Site Middleham Road,
Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5HF |
August 16th
Arrived and booked in, the owner is a very laidback lady and very friendly. Got set up and waited for Mick and Bren and also Nicole and Tim to arrive with the twins.
As soon as every one arrived and got
ready we set off into Middleham for a Sunday dinner, we took two car and got the
last two parking places in the square. I was going to look around but we just
went into the nearest pub to where we parked. It was a very friendly pub
and they got us seated in a side room but informed us that they were out of
roast potatoes. I fact we were very lucky as the next group that came in
looking for food were turned away and it was only two. Everyone was happy
with their meal and they even found a few roasties for us, I say everyone but I
am not that keen on the Sunday dinner out, I would rather do my own (I do not
like lots of veg, so I do not get much choice).
After dinner we all went to have a look at the castle and the twins led the way, as we had been the month before. Then it was back to the campsite for a cupper before Nicole and Tim set off for home leaving the twins with us. The girls discovered that the field at the end on the campsite contained horses, so they would not come away from the gate. That night we watched DVDs and drank beer, the grownups drank beer, not the twins.
August 17th
The girls were up early and off down to see the horses, they didn't even bother to get dressed first, they just went down in their pyjamas.
When we eventually got the ready, we made the obligatory picnic and all set off for Aysgarth falls, on the river Ure, in Mick's car. We parked at the bottom of the hill in the national trust car park, which was very busy, as workmen were using part of it for storage. Anyway we got a space and made our way to the falls, we all had cameras, Me, Mick, Georgia and Emily, to see who could get the best shot. We decided that we would have food before we did anything else and luckily there was a picnic table free.
To win the photo comp, Mick, besides having the best camera, decided he would climb down to river level below the falls for a better angle. The rest of us were all ready to get a shot of him falling in but he didn't. There was a good flow over the falls and they looked very impressive, in fact they usually do and we come here quite often.
We walked along he river for a while, threw stones in it, skimmed stones over it and plodged in it and no one got overly wet. Then made our way back to the falls through the ling grass and wild flowers and took photos.
On the way back to the car park we stopped to take photos of the bridge and crossed over to visit the shop in the old mill. The bridge is from 1539 but I think it may have been rebuilt at some time, as one side looks a lot older than the other side. Yore Mill is a four-storey Grade II listed building, originally built in 1784 but it burned down in 1852, was rebuilt in 1853, and then extended in 1870. We got ice creams and it started to rain.
It stopped raining when we got back to the site so we had a BBQ for tea and Mick spent quite a long time on the roof of my van trying to get the internet on his phone.
August 18th
Spent the morning on the campsite and then after lunch, made the half mile or so walk into Leyburn, the first part of the walk up the lane to the main road is very steep. The main road is very busy so we had to be careful with the twins on the scooters.
Our first stop on the way into town, was Leyburn train station, sadly now just a tourist line and luckily there was a steam train in the station. So we went in for a closer look, the engineers and rail staff were very helpful and let us take plenty of photos.
From the station we continued into Leyburn and took photos back down on the station from the road bridge, I can not count the times we have been over this bridge and never realised the railway and station was underneath.
In Leyburn we spent time in the shops, before heading along the Shawl, to a large children's playground with fantastic views across Ure valley. While we let the twins play, Mick and Bren wandered off to the pub for a warm.
Mick and Bren made curry for tea, very nice and as usual we had a few beers.
August 19th
Our 37th wedding anniversary, booked to take the girls on a surprise visit to the Forbidden Corner on our way home but Mick and Bren where heading off home earlier.
The booking wasn't until two, so we stopped off on the way, just outside Wensley, to have a walk along the river Ure. We did all of the usual things, took photos o the bridge, threw stones in the river, got wet, you know he sort of stuff. Unusually for this summer the sun was out and it was very warm.
We followed signs for the Forbidden Corner but ended up on a road that said private property, looking at the map it was a very long way round. I asked a car driver coming down the private road and was informed that it would be ok to go that way.
We had our picnic lunch in the van at the Forbidden Corner and then had to queue to get in, even though you have to pre book, have an allotted time to enter and pay in advance you still have to stand in a queue to get in, what wonderful organisation. The girls were very exited but Georgia get scared just going through the entrance and when we got to he indoor parts she we so frightened we had to come out and just look around the outside parts.
There is still plenty to do and see but we did miss quite a lot, Georgia was a lot happier though. We sat on a wall for a drink and some chocolate and watched a herd of deer in the field below us. That cheered Georgia up and we continued exploring, getting wet in the process but as we missed out some of the places out, we were not there as long as we expected. We left via the road we came in on and the only other stop we made on the way home, was to take a photo of Richmond castle
September 1st and November 5th.
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Stockton-on-Tees White Water Caravan Club Park Tees Barrage, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QW |
September 1st
We were out in the van with the twins for the day and passed the Crimdon holiday park and thought we could stop the night there. But it was full, so as we had the idea now, I phoned the Caravan Club site at Stockton, and booked one night.
Unfortunately after we got set up, the weather changed and became cold and overcast, so all we did was walk to the local ASDA supermarket behind the site and bought some children's DVD to watch.
Next morning though the sun was out and the twins played on the site playground before we went for a walk around the white water course. We watched people on the course and then in the river Tees, we watched a seal catching and eating fish.
November 5th
Last minuet, we booked in to Stockton, so we could watch the fireworks without any hassle with crowds and driving. Dot was working, so I took the van up and had a nice quiet day reading, even did some sopping and got our tea ready. After tea we got well wrapped up and set off to watch from the Tees barrage, on the way down we bumped into old friends and stood with them to watch. Even though the weather forecast was for it to be a dry evening, it rained. Afterwards we didn't bother with the pub we just went back to the van.
Next morning Dot was up early and off to work. After breakfast I had a walk by the river but it wasn't just cold it was miserable, so I just packed up and went home.
Our next three trips were all to York (we love York and it is less than an hour away), but not all to the same site, the middle visit was to a new site for us Manor Farm, its about a mile further out from the centre than Rowntree Park.
York, 2
September 5th to 9th
Rowntree Park booked in January, Mick and Bren would also be in York for the first two days.
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York Rowntree
Park, Caravan Club Site |
September 5th
Got set up as usual and had our lunch before setting off to meet up with Mick and Bren, who were stopping on another site about a mile further out from us, on the outskirts opposite York race curse.
Mobil phones are very useful when trying to find friend in a city centre, so we met up easily even though the centre was very busy. It is unusual for us to be in York on a Saturday as we usually only book, Sunday to Wednesday, although Sundays are usually fairly busy anyway.
So what did we do, we went in a Sam Smiths pub, The Hansom Cab, where I knew I could get a pint of draught wheat beer, Dot also had one and the others a bitter. We managed to have another before we had to move on to watch the football (no televisions in Sam Smiths pubs), an international friendly between England and Slovenia. Well we knew just where to go and didn't make the same mistake as last time we wanted to watch football in York. This time it was straight to the Lowther down by the river, we got seats in the upstairs dining room again where there was plenty of room and a large TV. Not a great game but we won 2 - 1 and that's not bad, after the match we moved to the Kings, as usual.
Later we all walked back to the campsite together but from there Mick and Bren still had another mile to their site.
September 6th
We walked trough Rowntree park, then up to the main road and by the race course to meet Mick and Bren at their campsite, it didn't seem to be too far out and we thought it could be an good option when Rowntree is fully booked. In the park a "green" festival was just getting underway and the band who were playing sounded to be very good, so after a nice lunch, made by Mick and Bren, we headed back to the park for some free entertainment. York Green Festival is a celebration of sustainable living, campaigning for change and a better way of living.
A band was just ending their set, when we got back to the park, so while one of the organisers when on for far too long about the good work they are doing, we looked around the stalls selling "green" products and even got some ecologically friendly cycling freebies. We looked in the solar-powered cinema (an eco film was on), we watched a cycle-powered Scalextric race (looked like fun but hard work), then made our way back to the stage. We sat and had a Stella, Mick had them in his bag, and eventually the next band came on, unfortunately, they were not as good as the first band. After another tune and bottle we wandered off into the city centre leaving, the York Green Festival 2009, behind us.
As per the norm, we had beers in the Kings, chattered to the locals and the not so locals and had more beer than we intended, then back to our van for supper.
September 7th
Mick and Bren had gone home, so after lunch and a morning sat in the sun (yes in the hot sun) reading, about mid afternoon we set off for the centre. After a mooch round the shops it was time to go to the kings but we only had the one and headed to the Postern Gate for food. We had the burger and a beer offer, well we got the offer when I went back to the bar and pointed out I had been overcharged. There were also some very good beers on offer as well.
September 8th
We started walking the wall again for some exercise, we started from Fishergate Postern and headed the opposite way to usual. At Walmgate Bar we came down off the wall so I could get some photos of it from the outside, all I had were from inside the wall. Down there we happened to pass a chip shop, I say pass but actually I went in and got chips and gravy, just what I needed.
As we where down on street level we continued round off the wall to the Red Tower, which I also needed photos of, in all I got photos of three places I needed for the Walk page. Looked in the big wine shop there and then popped into Morrison's supermarket as we passed, very useful for toilets, I think I may have mentioned that before.
We then got back on the wall at Lathorpe Tower and walked to the next gate Monk Bar, where we came down again and headed into the centre. Here we looked around the market stalls in the sun, yes like yesterday it was very warm. So taking advantage of the unusual weather we got a seat by the river and had a couple of beers, only to cool down you understand and watched the narrowboats going up river.. Also I had been having trouble with the muscles in my legs aching (I believe it was the drugs for high cholesterol causing it), so we were not walking as far as usual. In fact you can see from the photo below, that I look to be in pain, well that my excuse anyway.
At tea time we once again we walked along to to the Postern Gate for tea, I had the burger and a beer again, it wasn't on special but it was only a few pence more anyway. Again there were some very good beers on offer and if anything the Postern Gate is slightly cheaper than the Kings for beer, if you are careful what you buy.
September 9th
On the way home we did think about popping in to the Ye Olde Punch Bowl the Morrissey Fox pub but we weren't sure exactly where it was. So we stopped off in Boroughbridge instead, we had, as we found out later, passed very close to the Punch Bowl but we also found out that it was no longer with Morrissey Fox.
In Boroughbridge we parked over the bridge by the river Ure and walked in to the centre and the shops, to get something for lunch. Back at the van we made sandwiches and had them on a picnic table, by the river in the sun. After lunch we walked along the canal to the weir on the river, something we had not done here before, then we walked back along the canal to Milby Lock, about half a mile. After this lock, the short length of canal rejoins the river Ure
Then it was the short walk back to the van and off the get the girls from school.
York, 3
October 3rd to 5th
A new site in York for us, Manor Farm Caravan Site, is on the outskirts of York opposite the racecourse about 1.5 miles walk from the centre of the city. Meeting Mick and Bren, who have already been there a couple of times and like it.
For those getting bored with us doing the same old things in York, besides the new campsite, we also find a different pub to visit and we have Jazz the dog with us (Mick and Bren's).
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York Manor Farm Caravan Site Middlethorpe, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 2QA |
October 3rd
Very, very, windy, was not sure about the drive, but set off anyway but did avoid a high bridge on route. The drive was horrendous and even though it only took about an hour I was worn out when we arrived, the roads were also very busy.
We were supposed to be on hard standing but when we checked in, the owner putt us on grass, as he was worried that the roof would blow off the barn next to the hard standing pitch. When Mick arrived. he was pitched next to us and his drive down had been as stressful as ours.
We had to meet up with Nicole, Tim and the twins in town and Mick and Bren were going to drop Josh off at his digs, so we cadged a lift into the centre with them. However the traffic was that bad, that half way in, Dot and I got out and walked the rest of the way , it was quicker.
The city centre was busier than I can remember seeing it before, but we met up as arranged and managed to do some shopping, I even popped into Oddbins and got some beers. Then we went to visit Clifford Tower, I did not want to look around so I looked after all the shopping while all the others went in. While they were looking round I arranged for us to meet up with Mick Bren and Jazz (the dog).
Once we were all together we went for a drink, looked in at the Kings first but it was very full and a bit rowdy with drunken Stag and Hen nights (and it was only four in the afternoon) in fancy dress, the language was bad as well. So we moved on Yates Wine Lodge, the beer garden looked farley quiet so we stopped there but Tim had a look inside and said it looked bad in there. Anyway we eventually got drinks, then some drunks in fancy dress game outside and where very obnoxious and oblivious to anyone else around them. One of them even urinated on a table, about then the whole group were thrown out. Someone from management did apologise to us but he didn't know about the urinating until we informed him. It was only four and these people would be out all night, the mind boggles, in my humble opinion, York should be doing more to discourage this sort of thing. The manager asked if we wanted another drink, we declined and left and may never be back.
We set off for the Postern Gate but once there Nicole and Tim decided they would just set off for home, we had to sit outside with the dog but through some deception we managed to get a seat just inside the pub. Had a couple and set off on the long walk back, on the walk we passed The Swan, a pub we have driven passed every time we have been to York, but have never been in, until now that is. Mick went in first to see if it was ok to take Jazz in and it was, what a gem of a pub. An old style pub, with plenty of hand pulled beers and mostly friendly customers and staff, although the beer is more expensive.
October 4th
Wind dropped and after lunch we wandered into town, the intention was to walk the walls with Mick and Bren but by the time we got there, no one could be bothered to do anymore walking. So we called Josh and arranged to meet him for a drink. In other words we did nothing, well we went to the kings and then the Swan on the way back to the vans.
October 5th
Nice warm day and we had to go home but before we left, we had a late breakfast sat out in the sun.
York, 4
October 31st to November 4th
Rowntree Park
Mick and Bren had managed to get on our site this time, I say our site, because that is what we have started calling them, Rowntree Park is our site, Manor Farm is their site. We were booked on for four night Mick and Bren for three nights.
October 31st
Just us today, the others not arriving until tomorrow, after getting all set up including the satellite we wet off to see what it was like in town. It was Halloween and the street entertainers were out in force as were may people in Halloween costumes.
It was bit like last time we came to York on a Saturday, people very drunk very early in the day, will have to give Saturdays in York a miss in future. We moved on from the kings to the Postern Gate where it was a bit more sedate even though there was a beer festival on. Unfortunately I must have chosen the worst beer on offer. Strawberry Republika and it put me off so we left. We did intend to stop out until late but we were back at the van about seven.
It rained all night.
November 1st
Tried to save a pitch for Mick but it is against club rules, we could have just cheated and put a "pitch in use" sign on the one next to us but we were polite and asked and that gets you nowhere. When they eventually arrived the closest good pitch was about five away not to bad. We got lunch ready while they got set up and after food we set off into town.
This is unusual for me but I have no photos of the day and am not sure what we did, I know it involved Christmas shopping. I know visited the Hansom Cab to get a pint of draught wheat beer but it was off, also the Kings and then the Swan, where there was no room where we usually sit so we sat in a less nice room but that is all I remember.
November 2nd
When we got up the river level had risen alarmingly, I think it was slightly higher than I have ever seen it before, there were worries amongst us, that the Kings could be under water.
I think that is why we were ready and out before lunch, heading towards the Kings, panic over the pub was still above the level of the river but not by much.
After we had made certain that the pub was ok, we took Mick and Bren for a walk around some of the places in York they had not seen before. We followed the course of the river Foss through the centre (see details of our previous Foss Walk), I took photos along the way, as it was an awful lot brighter than the last time Dot and I walked the Foss. At The Kings Fishpool, we looked in the wine shop and then in Morrison's but you are limited as to where you can go with the dog, we took turns going in these shops.
After the shops we though we would do the short length of Wall between Lathorpe Tower and Monk Bar, only to find a "No Dogs On The Wall" sign, I thought we were a nation of dog lovers, well we as far as I can see, we can love them but not take them anywhere. Se we walked round the outside of the wall instead.
Then we went in to the centre via Monk Bar and got sandwiches for lunch, we actually got them in Poundland with crisps and a drink. Then after a very short time in the shops we ended up in the Kings arms, surprise, surprise. The staff there informed us that it would probably be flooded tomorrow, that was according to the warnings they had received.
On the way back to the vans we picked up food from Domino Pizza, well it was expensive, slow and not very good, the chips from the fish and chip shop opposite were good though. Next night Domino Pizza were advertising, two for one, on thanks.
November 3rd
Much the same as the previous day, only the river was down and we didn't go to Domino Pizza.