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UK May / June 2016
If you ever see the model then you can say, George and Desnee helped to build that! You can watch an amusing series of the history of Durham Cathedral played out by Lego characters. Just click on the picture link below.
Here are some photos of the Lego model as it was when we visited. Even the stained glass windows and the tiled floor are represented by Lego bricks. Quite a feat of design work!
After leaving the Cathedral we searched for a chemist as we needed to obtain a repeat prescription. We found a Boots in North Road and called in. Whilst we were waiting for the prescription to be dispensed, we chatted to the shop assistant about the weather, as you do, and she told us that she was visiting Robin Hoods Bay next week for a holiday. George produced a pebble from his raincoat pocket and explained about his aborted Coast to Coast walk last year and that the pebble had been picked up off the beach at St. Bees in Cumbria and to bring you luck, it was supposed to be thrown into the sea at Robin Hoods Bay at the end of the walk. The shop assistant volunteered to take the pebble with her to Robin Hoods Bay and toss it into the sea. How about that for Customer Service !!!
We thought no more about it and then at the end of June, we received a post card from Robin Hoods Bay letting George know that the pebble had been delivered!! So, thank you Margaret Thornton of Boots the Chemist for a very kind deed.
Time to leave the Durham area and move south to Yorkshire. GARGRAVE, North Yorkshire (11) As usual we stopped over at Seat House CL in Eshton which is just north of Gargrave, near Skipton. This is a delightful CL that we stay at each year when we visit Desnee’s nephew Adrian and his lovely partner, Debbie. The photo below is the view from our pitch. As you can see the weather has improved.
It was good to see Adrian and Debbie again and we spent the day with them exploring Bolton Abbey. Not only are there the abbey ruins but a beautiful estate alongside the River Wharfe. We enjoyed a lunch stop at the park restaurant and were amazed at the cheek of the local birdlife that was quite happy to share your table and your food!
(left) Bolton Abbey On anothet day, to get some exercise, George took a lift to Malham, climbed up the Cove and then walked back to the campsite. Not a very bright day but lovely for walking. (below) some views from above Malham Cove.
We said goodbye to Adrian and Debbie and hope to see them in November when they come down south. It was time for us to head for home but with a mid-way stop at: BRAUNSTON, near Daventry (12) The campsite is a CL which is managed by Braunston Marina. Not ideal for motorhomes as the field seems to slope in all directions. However, in winter this is a very good stopover as you are permitted to park up on the marina office hard standing. Not to worry, it was only a short stop to rendezvous again with Peter and Di Barnes. They had sailed their narrow boat, Brendan, along the canal and moored up near the marina. We took a short walk along the canal towpath to meet up in the Admiral Nelson for dinner. It was a good job that we booked a table as the pub was extremely busy. In the pub garden there was an open air play being performed and people were turning up with their own camping chairs and watching the performance. The food was very good and a nice range of real ale. All in all, a lovely summer evening in a beautiful rural location.
Adrian and Debbie were keen to tell us about a new farmshop which had opened on the outskirts of Skipton. It is called Keelham Farm shop and has a wonderful range of locally produced food. We loved it and took the opportunity to stock up on a few items. Apparently, the restaurant is also very good but we will have to try that out next time!
Following morning we set course for home. It had been a wonderful tour and we were really lucky with the weather. The UK is hard to beat when the sun shines. All the campsites had been good and we had met up with many of our friends. It doesn’t get much better!