York, November 2013

Early in November 2013, we set off for three days in York, we went to see the meeting of the six remaining A4 Pacific Railway Engines, and the last night of the York Lumiere Festival. This was all on the first night of the holiday, the rest would be spent free in York (well that was the plan anyway).

November 2nd 2013

We arrived at about 13:00 on Saturday afternoon and got set up for one night at the Manor Farm Caravan Site, we would be moving on to Rowntree Park Caravan Club Site tomorrow, much closer in to the centre of York.

Looking for the the base for the satellite and not finding it dint put me off much, but when I could not find the satellite, I realised that the satellite wasn't in the van at all.  Anyway I got the Sat set up on the phone and could watch the Rugby Union from here and could watch the Rugby Liege to on the Free View on the TV.  It did rain slightly during this time but it was not too bad.

 

After two very good matches, we got ready to go into town to see what we could see.  The walk is not that bad, although we did think about getting a taxi back later on.

First we visited Clifford Tower, although we could not get in to see this fully, we could see fairly well from the road way and it was fairly good.  Next we mad our way into the centre and sew a good projection on the side of the Jorvik Centre, although the woman dancing outside was a bit unnecessary.

 

Next we made our way further in and found more stuff, it was all very good, although getting photos was not the best for me. 

 

Eventually, I needed the toilet, so we headed into one of the John Smiths pubs we had not used before and it was very nice indeed.

From there we headed over to the Railway Museum, which was also included in the York Lumiere Festival. One thing that we didn't know was that the front door to the museum was closed and you had to go in via the back door (maybe you have to all the time now). It was very dark in there but we found our way around ok. It was ok in there but we thought we could come back tomorrow when it was lighter.

We called into two other pubs on the way back to the campsite, Wetherspoons, the The Punchbowl on Blossom Street and The Swan on Bishopgate Street. Both very good pubs but we were very tired. I did get a couple of new beers but I will make a separate blog for these beers.

In the end it did not take that long to get bake to the van, well it didn't seen that long anyway.  It was late by the time we got bake so it wasn't long before we ended up in bed, some thing of a first for me.  It had been a long time since I had use the upper bed in the van. 

November 3rd 2013

We had both woken at about the same time and for change, I was the first one to get up. After I had been to the toilet, Dot went but as she came out, I went straight back in.  For me, that is about about all I remember for the next two or three hours.

Coming round in the hospital (well back to about normal that is), is the first clear thing I remember since going into the toilet.  Dot had been to the farmhouse to help find the right address for the ambulance and got locked out of the van (that is something I have to mend as soon as I can), but she got round this eventually.   The ambulance arrived, loaded me and Dot on then took us to the hospital in York, where I came round (to the surprise of most of the staff there).

From here on I remember most of what happened, especially the hospital staff pretending that I would be released later that day, witch of course was a lie.  A stroke is a lot more serous that you think it is. 

Nothing else much happened that day, it was a Sunday, we did however watch a fire work display from the hospital window (a bit early I know), before Dot leaf to find her way back to the van.  This can not have been easy, although Dot has never moaned about it, or even mentioned it but I know I can not have been easy.

November 4th 2013 (Bonfire Night)

Today the hospital started working again and from early on, I was doing all sorts of tests.  I had heard from Dot and she was coming over later, when young Ralph arrived.

Eventual I was released from hospital but it did take quite some time from when they said I could go though, to when I actually got out.

Back at the van, Ralph took over and drove it back home, I followed behind with Dot driving Ralph's car.  I was against everything and wanted to stay in York but I had to give in and just go home.


Later

Dot and Ralph where right though, I was a lot worse than I thought I was, in fact I am still having trouble with some things, even after all this time.  The fact is, I was not allowed to drive for two months (very frustrating) but I just had to do as I was told.  Now there are still a few things that I have trouble remembering and I have bother sometimes, just saying what I am thinking.  With a bit of luck, nothing will get any worse, well not for a long time, I hope.

I am just getting on with with things that we had booked before the incident, I am very grateful to D.F.D.S, for letting us change a booking we had won with them.  I had to cancel two bookings with and Caravan Club but I am not sure they even took any notice when we cancelled. 

Check back here to see if anything has changed, thanks.

Wooler (and Alnwick Gardens) 2013

Looked for somewhere north of us with a pool for the kids for the summer holidays in August, a bit of a tall order. We had heard good reviews for Wooler and tried to book the Riverside Leisure Park there but their website said there were no pitches available.   Looked on a website called Pitchup.com. and booked the same days we wanted at the Riverside Leisure Park (mind you, we did do this on April fools day).

Wooler

Day one, 18th Aug 2013

Me. Dot, Georgia, Emily and Amber, set off for Wooler in Northumberland, with Emily navigating, basically it is only two or three main roads from where we live.  The journey was not too painful for me driving (my sciatica has been a problem and I could not take the same mix of stronger pain killers, I had used going to Cornwall, as this time I was driving) but we were overcharged at the Tyne tunnel, was asked to pay £2.50 by the machine instead of the £1.60 it should have been.

Riverside Leisure Park

South Road, Wooler, Northumberland, NE71 6NJ

Web Site

The Riverside Leisure Park is a large campsite with many statics / residential mobile homes and a reasonably sized touring section. We were pitched next to the river, with the other caravans and motorhomes, in a horseshoe around the tents. I did not like this arrangement, tents have become massive, some were easily three times as big as our van, mind you, a large caravan with a full awning is also easily three times as big as our van. Could not get any TV reception and had not taken the sat receiver ( later, we also  discovered the the built in DVD in the TV did not work either).

Once set up we had some sandwiches, leaving our prepared Sunday lunch for later, so we could get out and explore.

When I had checked in at reception, I was informed that you had to book time in the pool (I had not expected that). So on our way out to inspect the town, we popped into the shop to see what pool slots were available, thinking we would just take what we could get, only to find that you can only book on the day you want to go for a dip, so we would have to go back first thing in the morning and try again.

Crossed the bridge over the Wooler Water and walked up the steep hill into the town (didn't expect that either).  To me wooler looks nice but also slightly run down but it was is Sunday, we will have to see what it is like tomorrow when the shops are open.

Walked back down the hill a diferent way crossed back over the river and found a play park for the girls to play on.

We were going to pop into the clubhouse for a beer but had to go straight back to the van, as Georgia's chest was bad and we and no ventolin with us (very strange that, I hardly ever go anywhere with out some). After Georgia was feeling better we did go back for a beer or two and the girls played on the amusements but they would not go into the kids club (too grown up now).


Later while I was getting the food ready and the girls had gone to find a park on site to play on, they all suddenly came back with Georgia crying. She had fallen of her scooter and hurt her knees and fingers and was very distressed. We gave her paracetamol and cleaned her up but it took some time to calm her down. Eventually though we got a film going on the laptop, the food all warmed up and Georgia back to her old happy self.

After the film it was an early night.

Day two, 18th Aug 2013

41st wedding anniversary

I was up at five in pain, took pain killers and had two cups of tea, I then did the previous days write up for this blog and by about seven, felt confident enough to go back to bed.

All back up again by nine, Georgia was feeling a lot better, but still in some pain. Emily and Amber went to the shop to book pool time, came back with a 50 min slot for 10:00, sent them back to get another one as well, they managed to get 17:00 as well, the last 50 min slot of the day.

Getting ready to go to the pool for 10:00 was a bit of a rush but they managed (that's putting it mildly), I stayed at the van and did the washing from last nights meal, then went over to see them.

Later we all got ready and went up into town for an anniversary meal, we had picked Milan, an Italian restaurant behind the Black Bull.  The girls went up on their scooters this time, it looked like hard work scooting up the hill.

When we got to the restaurant it looked like it was closed, in fact it said closed on the door and it was supposed to be open all day.   As we walked back to eat in the black bull instead, a lady who was telling the girls off for scooting in the alleyway, also informed us that the restaurant was open and to try the door again, so we did.  Glad we did, as the food was good, with friendly service but they did have a poor choice of beers. The girls all had food from the children's menu, Dot had pizza and I had the pasta dish (we knew we would swap some), the girls portions were very good as were ours and the girls got balloons as well.

As the others had afters, I popped in to the black bull for a new beer (which wasn't a new one in the end) and talked to one of the old regulars in the bar, before going back to meet up with the others and pay the bill.

We had seen something in a charity shop window the previous day but it was closed on the Sunday, so we went back after our food but it had closed again, oh well, we can try again tomorrow.

Went back the way we had the previous day but while the girls all went to the play park, I popped into a farm shop and got a couple of new beers for later.  After the park it was back over to the pool but I joined them this time. the pool is very small (I can see why you have to book) and the spar pool (jacuzzi) was not working which made even less room (it was never operating the whole time we where there).

After our splash in the water we had a beer (just the one though it is far too expensive in the clubhouse), while the girls wasted money in the amusements, before we went back for a family supper.

We had films on the laptop again and with the help of an HDMI cable, on the TV as well.

I got a bit grumpy, I think the pain was getting to me and I shouldn't let it make me get this way. Cheered up after my medicine and beer though.

There were only two motorhomes on the whole campsite (not seen that few for a long time), campers around us were noisy but they settled down just as we went to bed after the films.

We had different sleeping arrangement for this trip, I had to sleep on the ground floor in the bottom bunk as we were sure I would not be able to get out of the overcab bed when the pain was at it's worst in the morning. Emily slept in the double bed next to my bunk, Georgia in the top bunk with Dot and Amber in the large overcab bed.

Dot thought I would be the first time we had not slept together on our anniversary but I assured her that in 28 year of shift work we probably had before (although I never worked a new years eve in all that time (something I always kept quiet about at work)).

Day three, 20th Aug 2013

Day three was pretty much the same as day two.

It started with me up a 04:00 in pain, took painkillers, had tea, did some writing but got back to bed earlier, at about 05:30 this time though.

We were all back up by about 08:00 and Dot and Amber booked the same two pool slots as the previous day, this time though there was plenty of time to get ready.  After the pool the girls wanted to play in the river so that is what we did.

We crossed over the campsite bridge looking for somewhere suitable to play in the river.  There were signs all over warning about deep water and steep banks but many parents were just letting their kids play unsupervised in the river anywhere.  We found a nice pebble beach with easy access to the water.

Boys usually try to dam rivers and streams with stones and boulders, the girls on the other hand wanted to take the dams apart.

Pizza and potato wedges for lunch then the walk up the hill into town.   Georgia got what she wanted from the charity shop (open this time) and Emily got something for her dad.

The others went back down the hill to the play park and I popped in to the black bull for another new beer. I also popped into a farm shop again and got a four pack of new beers for later (new to my photos that it but a beer from many years ago), the beer in the club bar is too expensive for me and has not got a very good selection of nice beers, plenty of lagers and ciders though.

Soon it was time for the pool again, then a BBQ for supper only it started to rain but just as we finished our food.  The owner of a car that had unthoughtful parked on our pitch then came over and asked if it was in our way and did we want it moving, we did want it moving but said it was ok we were moving in the morning (and it was raining so we didn't want to be outside anyway).  Turns out he was a policeman and therefore should have known better but he was big, brash, loud and had three or four mates with him.  He knew exactly what he had done, a caravanner with an awning and lots of family and friend sat around drinking, wanting more room.  So he parked on the motorhomer's pitch, after all motorhomer's don't need to park a car.

Two more films on the night, including a Mamma Mia! sing-along, I gave the twins that DVD to take home with them.

Day four, 21st Aug 2013

Up at 01:00 in pain took painkillers and went straight back to bed, up again at 05:00 in a lot more pain than I had had been for the rest of the holiday, took more painkillers, had some tea and got back to bed about 06:30.

We had groupon tickets for Alnwick Gardens as a surprise for a stop off on the trip back.  We did not get away very early but it wasn't far to Alnwick.  Georgia was up front with me navigating for the trip back.  According to our sat navs, there was a quick route to the A1 so we took that and I was rewarded with the sight of a very nice old bridge, which I had to pull over for a photo.

As we drove towards Alnwick we could see the rain in the distance but luckily it had just stopped as we got there.  On arrival at Alnwick Gardens and was surprised to have to pay £3.50 to park when we had already pay for admittance.  Also  the car parks were full so we had to turn around and had back the way we had just come to the overflow car park, a very easy task in a motorhome. 

From the overflow car park, there was an open top double decker bus to take us to the garden entrance, so at least we got something for our £3.50, you had to walk there from the other car parks.

On the bus I discovered my camera was still in the van, so I had to get off the bus and walk back to get it but still managed to get my seat back on the bus before it left for the entrance.

By the time we got into the gardens it was time for our picnic lunch, so we found some seats under a huge garden arbor.  As we ate, the girls kept running out from our seats when the fountains squirted across the walkway and were very wet before we finished lunch. 

As they were already wet (we had a change of clothes in the van, we had swimming costumes in the van if we had thought), after lunch we made for the Serpent Garden, where the kids could play in the water features. Which they did.

And they got very wet indeed but the sun was shining and we walked up the side of the Grand Cascade to the Ornamental Garden, to dry off in the sun.  As we dried off walking in the sun one of the girls found a castle entry ticket on the ground, it was actually a season ticket to the castle for the whole of next year.  I put it in my pocket to hand in as we left for home.

I took many photos of flowers and Georgia Rose took some photos of the roses.  From there we walked back down through the Cherry Orchard to the the area in front of the Grand Cascade.  Here the girls played on the little plastic tractors there have there, while I went for a look at the castle.

At the entrance to the gardens, I handed in the castle season ticket to the lady on the gate and she took in straight to the ticket office, with a bit of luck the person will get their pass back.

The castle looks fantastic, and there is a view of an old bridge as well, next time we are up this way, we will have to get castle tickets as well as tickets for the gardens.

Next we headed for the Treehouse, it was not what I had expected, not sure what that was though.  It is mainly a cafe and restaurant but built up a tree, with a couple of rope bridges on a short tree walkway.  It is an impressive woogen structure and to be fair, it is free to walk around this bit of the gardens but I think the treetop walk could be extended.

When it was time to leave, we got onto the bus but we were the only ones on, I thought we would have to wait for the bus to fill up but it set off as soon as we were seated.

Then it was back onto the A1 then A19 and home, I was over charged at the tune tunnel again.

Past Trips, UK 2009 York Trips

This is the last of the past trips from 2009

March 8th to 11th

First of four trips to York this year.

Rowntree Park, Caravan Club Site

Terry Avenue, York, Yorkshire, YO23 1JQ

Web Site

March 8th

After a short visit home from our trip to Scotland, we set off again for Rowntree park in York, as you know by now one of our favourite places.

On a rainy day, we got settled in and met up with Nicole, Tim and the girls for lunch, we went to the Pizza Hut near the law courts, where the service was the worst we have ever had at Pizza Hut. But we were out of the rain.

After Nicole, Tim and the girls set off for home, we looked for somewhere to watch Middlesbrough get beat 2-1 by Everton (but we didn't know that at the time), A pub not far from Pizza Hut, the Stone Roses, had the football on and at the bar the prices looked very good but when I paid it was much more. To get the cheaper price, you had to buy some form of loyalty card form behind the bar, anyway I made the beer last until halftime and then we moved on. A couple of buildings down the road is the Lowther a much larger bar, although there were no seats where we could see a TV. But the girl behind the bar, directed us to the upstairs dining room where there was plenty of seating and a large TV and we had a couple of beers during the second half.

After the football we moved on and I had a couple of beers in the Kings (see previous visits to York).

March 9th

The weather was much better today and in town, we went and looked for parts of the wall in the museum gardens, parts that we had not seen on our previous wall walks but had found out about, while researching the wall for our walk page. Once we found all we were looking for, I took some photos to add to the description.

Also I did not have a photo of Bootham Bar, so we entered the old city that way to do some sopping.

Dot had to go into one of the big shops (BHS I think), to change the new coat she had bought in Edinburgh, and I wanted to look in Oddbins to see if they had any beers I hadn't already had. Eventually after a day shopping or looking around the shops, we did the usual and had a couple of beers in the Kings.

March 10th

Dot's birthday and another fine day.

Dot wanted to have a walk, so we headed through Rowntree park and crossed over the river Ouse via the Millennium Bridge. From there, we went straight up the street opposite the bridge, heading away from the river where we ended up on the A19, not a nice walk but by turning left we ended up at the city walls.

At the wall we took another left turn to Fishergate Postern and even though we hadn't planned it, we had lunch in the Postern Gate a Wetherspoons pub. I think it was a food offer, on a board outside the pub, that got us in there and the selected beer was only £1.00 (Ruddles County).

After lunch we continued to walk through the city's shopping streets to the Minster, and then towards the river where we walked around the museum gardens in the sun.

Then over the river via Lendal bridge and followed the outside of the wall passed the railway station to Micklegate Bar. This part of the walk enabled me to take photos of the arches cut through the city walls for roadways and railways during the nineteenth century.

At Micklegate Bar, we popped into the city's other Wetherspoons pub, the Punch Bowl, although it is a nice pub the clientele was not. The three men sat closest to us, talked about their time in prison and where to get drugs.

We had one beer (still a £1.00) and moved on, down Micklegate back to the river and the Kings arms, where we sat outside, in March.

We did have to move inside when the sun went down, we were in the Kings to meet Josh (like we need and excuse), who was coming to see Dot on her birthday. Josh arrived and we had another beer before all moving back to the Postern Gate for food.

September 5th to 9th

Rowntree Park booked in January, Mick and Bren would also be in York for the first two days.

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.

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).

Manor Farm Caravan Site

Middlethorpe, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 2QA

Web Site

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 stood on a chair and urinated on a table, just 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 in the afternoon 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 (2013 now and we haven't).

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 big breakfast sat out in the sun.

October 31st to November 4th

Back to 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 have). 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 drinking for the night, 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 (we have seen it higher since 2009), 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 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.   I have no photos at all.