Thursday 17 September 2020

Back to York (eventually)

7th to the 10th September

Covid-19, we have had two trips to York and one trip to Peterborough cancelled, also we have not bothered trying to book anything else. We even had a trip to Spain cancelled and as with at home, we have not booked anything else.  

However, we did have more trips to York already booked and the September booking was the first one that was ok for us to go.  

Monday 7th September

As last time we had a nice easy drive to York, got a lot of instructions on arrival at the site and got settled in. The instructions were all about Covid-19 and mainly the use of the shower blocks, basically it was only four people allowed in at any one time. 

We got set up had our sandwiches then set off into town, although we did not go into any of the shops at all. We just had a walk around the centre and then a sit in the Cathedral grounds for a while.  

(158) York

Eventually we walked to the restaurant were we had booked a meal, we had to book just to make sure we could get in. We had used The Botanist several times before so knew that it would be good, it was a bit early but thought we could get a drink first. Unfortunately the bar was full (new rules) but we could have our booked table and have a drink before we ordered our meal. 

My first beer was a Double Maxim, not had one for ages and Dot had a Peroni, eventually we ordered our meal. Dot had a creamy chicken and rice dish, I had the Lamb Kofta Hanning Kebab, both very nice. 

Me

I had noticed that they had a wheat beer in there so got one of those to go with my tea, a Schneider, Weisse TAP7 Unser Original, another very nice drink. 

After that we moved on, heading back towards the van but only slowly and ended up in the Market Cat, and had another good wheat beer, a Weihenstephan, Hefe Weissbier.

From there we walked a bit further to the Pavement Vaults, were I got another wheat beer, although it was the same one as the last pub. While in there we booked a table for tea tomorrow before setting of to continue our journey back to the van. 

I only had my phone with me today I had left the camera back in the van but did take photos of Clifford Tower on the way past.

Clifford's Tower Clifford's Tower

Tuesday 8th September

It was getting late before we set off out today and we walked a different way around the shops, still did not venture into any of them though. In the end we just sat in the cathedral gardens before heading to the Pavement Vaults, for our tea. 

It was a bit early but we had to be back to watch England play Football. One thing we had not noticed, was the the food in the Pavement Vaults is all smoked and neither of us is keen on smoked food. The waitress said that the smokiness was not really noticeable, it is, but it is not too bad and the beer was good. 

Coppergate Walk, York Coppergate Walk, York

Back at the van the internet reception was useless and I ended up watching the match on my phone. It was also a goalless draw as well, may as well stopped out. I did have beer back there though.

Wednesday 9th September

The weather was quite good today so we had a walk along to the footbridge attached to the railway bridge at the other end of the city. The bridges are Scarborough Bridge and the footbridge was renewed in 2019, yes its new since last time we were here. I will have a look to see if I have a photo of the old bridge.

The new footbridge at Scarborough Bridge York Station and Bridge

And here is the old bridge taken in 2008, with the new next to it.

Scarborough Bridge The new part of Scarborough Bridge

On the other side of the bridge we set off back into town but stopped for a sit in the sun and watched the boats going up and down the river Ouse.

(160) River Ouse, in York

It was still early but we decided to pop into The Star Inn The City (it was the first one we came to and it has the best views), we had to walk all the way around the back to get though as there was a one way system in place. We had a couple in there sat on the balcony, before setting off to the The Botanist again as we had booked food in there again.

This time we knew what beers to get and went for the wheat beer, as for food we had decided to get the same as the first night but to swap them over. Well Dot got very similar to what I had, only she had the chicken instead of lamb and I had fish and chips, completely different but very good.  

Thursday 10th September

Its always its the same when we are in the van, we got ready and drove straight home, We do have another trip to York planned before the end of the year though. 

Wednesday 16 September 2020

More York Upset in March

Well our first trip away this year was supposed to be to York, we had it all booked up in plenty of time and for a whole week to fit in both of our birthdays. Well with the bad rain we had around the end of February the trip was first put off for a day, then canceled altogether. This was the second time in two years that we had our birthdays on the campsite in your York canceled and the first time it wasnt even wet. You can read about last year here

Anyway we rebooked and stayed in a hotel in Barnard Castle then a log cabin in the Lake District and had very good birthdays. See Here

I have just reinsured the Van but am very seriously thinking of selling it but that will have to wait, see below.

Within a month of this time away though, Coronavirus (COVID-19) has us all staying at home under lockdown, let's hope the remedy is found very soon and the world gets back to normal.