We were just looking for somewhere to take the girls during the summer holidays and Thirsk is very handy for us.
Day one Mon 2nd August
Thirsk Racecourse Caravan Club Site
Thirsk, Yorkshire, YO7 1QL
We had our pop up tent with us, is it is very handy for keeping all of the twins toys in, saving lots of room in the van.
As soon as we were set up we did the short walk into the centre (well we did, the girls went on there scooters) and had fish and chips sat on the plinth under the clock. This was followed by ice creams.
From there we walked to the river (Cod Beck) and the children's play area only the girls liked playing on a large old rotting log instead.
After that we walked along the river back into town, we did parts of the beck we hadn't done before. We managed to pass most of the day like this.
We went into Wetherspoons for tea and the girls were surprised when Nicole popped in on her way back from a meeting.
Day two Tues 3rd August
The bottom hinge on the habitation door broke, so I took the door off and went into town to find something to fix it, while the girls looked after the van. There is a nice hardware store, where the staff were very helpful looking for a bolt and nuts the right size.
I didn't take long at all to fix the door back on and the girls were enjoying themselves playing with there pushchairs anyway.
After a late lunch we did some walking by the river again and took bread for the ducks this time.
Day three Wed 4th August
On the way home we took a detour and stopped off at Catterick to look in at the caravan shops there. We arrived just before the fish and chip shop closed and had chips with our sandwiches.
After lunch the girls played in the stream there, that's three days in a row playing in the water.
Barnard Castle 14th to the 18th August
The new Caravan Club site at Barnard Castle had just opened so we booked in with the girls for a few days.
Teesdale Barnard Castle, Caravan Club Site
Lartington Lane, Barnard Castle, Durham DL12 9AZ.
Day one, Sat 14th August
We were very disappointed to find that the children's play area wasn't complete but not as disappointed as the girls. The
Spent the day on site, we took some photos and the girls had a go with their cameras as well.
It was Saturday and the friend we usually see on Saturday came over to see us there. Jonathan Lorraine and the boys arrived and we had a BBQ for tea and a few beers.
Day two, Sun 15th August
Nicole and Tim came to visit, it was a surprise for the girls. We all decided to walk into Barnard Castle for Sunday lunch. This was the first time walking from the site although we did know Barnard Castle very well. I though there might be a way from the site down into the valley and Deepdale wood but there isn't. There is a footpath down just outside though, close to the back gate, a gate which also wasn't open yet.
So we walked down the main road, there is no path, you have to walk on the narrow grass verge or step on and off the road as traffic permits (in 2013 it is still the same, a small path would be very useful and much safer).
At the bottom of the hill we used Deepdale Aqueduct to cross over the river Tees.
Then the long climb up to the the high street (its not that long but it is a bit steep).
It didn't take us long to find a pub serving Sunday dinners.
After lunch, we walked down the high street to the river a crossed over via Startforth footbridge, it was the first time we had used this bridge to cross the Tees (we have walked this way many times since).
Last time when we first discovered this bridge and tried to use it, we couldn't as it was closed for maintenance.
We then followed the river back to where we crossed on the way into town, here we decided to take the public footpath though Deepdale wood. We knew a public footpath came out just before the campsite, we just had to find it.
We looked all the way along but still managed to miss the path up to the campsite and walked almost to the Camping and Caravan Club site. We turned back and found the path up the second time, it is not a very good path very muddy (in 2013 there had been a land slip on this path). It is easier to walk up the road.
Day three, Mon 16th August
A lovely day, the girls had fishing nets with them, so we made a picnic and set off for a day by the river.
We crossed over Deepdale Aqueduct but instead of turning right into town, we turned left crossed a bridge over a small beck (Black Beck) and settled down on a patch of open ground with a small stony beach.
We spent the rest of the day there and the girls just played.
Day four, Tues 17th August
The girls made friends on the campsite and played all day, so dot and I had a relaxing resting day.
Day five, Wed 17th August
On the way home we pulled over near Darlington, at a play park we had seen on passing several times but never stopped at before.
From the car park we also found a path down to the river Tees and a wear I didn't know existed. So we ended up playing in the river again.
The rest of the trips for 2010 would all be to York (York was and still is our first choice for a two or three day break).
York 26th to 28th September
Day one Sun 26th September
It was a usual first day in York, park up, sort out the TV, have lunch and then head into the city centre. Walk around the shops until it was time for a drink, then call into the Kings Arms for a few good beers and good crack (craic as the Irish say).
I was even given a bottle beer by someone who had bought the wrong beer, all in all a very good night.
Day two Mon 27th September
Another day walking in the centre, followed by beers in the Hanson Cab and the Kings Arms.
Walking home I though I could take photos of the river in the dark again (I have been resisting this lately but beer does funny things to you mind).
York 10th to 13th October
Day one Sun 10th October
Settled in but gave lunch a miss, as we were meeting up with Nicole, Tim and the twins for food. We caught up with them in the centre and went into Bella Italia to eat.
I can not remember what but there was something wrong with the meal and we got money off, the food was good but I think they were just far too busy.
After our food as it was a lovely day, we all went for a walk through the centre and then along a section of the city walls.
At the end of the section of wall we had walked, we followed the river Foss back into the centre and the girls had a go on the bouncy trampoline things outside Fenwick's.
When the others left for home, Dot and I did something different, no we didn't, we went to the Kings for a couple of beers before supper.
Day two Mon 11th October
It was Josh's 21st birthday and we would be meeting up with the rest of the family for an Indian that evening (Josh it at University in York), so a walk was required to make room for all the extra calories we were going to have.
So after a light lunch we set off through Rowntree park towards the Millennium bridge and the river. We sat on the bridge and took photos of passing narrowboats before walking back to the site along the river.
We were only out for about an hour and then went back to get ready for the night. We set off into town early and had a walk around the shops before meeting up with the others in the Kings. Dot and I were a bit early and it was very quiet in there.
We met up with the others and headed back over the river to the Indian, the food was very good (look at the size of that naan bread) and there was a cake for Josh.
We walked back to the car park with the others on the way back to the campsite.
Day three Tues 12th October
Another beautiful day spent in the centre, we discovered a little old church we hadn't noticed before. Holy Trinity was down a passageway between two shops. You can see the Minster in the background.
Day four, Wed 13th October
On the way home we stopped off at Cod Beck reservoir for a picnic and walk (until writing these catch up blogs, I hadn't realised how many times we have done this). But it is a nice walk.
York 22th to 24th November
Day one, Sun 22nd November
York yet again, set up and walked in the the centre via the city wall, anticlockwise to Monk Bar where we came down and headed in to the shops. It was a cold wet miserably day so it was just over an hour before we made for the pub.
First we had a couple of beers in the Kings before moving on to the Spoons, Postern Gate but the beer I got in there was foul. So we just headed back to the van for supper.
Day two, Mon 23nd November
Guess what we did today, we walked around the walls the other way in the clockwise direction. Something we have done before, in fact you can see the whole wall tour here, although we only walked as far as Lendal Bridge today.
Wandered around the shops then made for the Kings for a drink. Dot tried something different and had a Samuel Smith's, Pure Brewed Lager, well I got a photo anyway.
Day three, Tues 24nd November
Well we just drove home today and it is the last trip for this year, so that is 2010 complete.
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