Devon Trip (July 2017)

July 21st to 2nd Aug

We had agreed to meet up with Nicole, Tim and the Girls on their weeks holiday in Torcross Devon and then after that, have the girls for a few days on the way back home.

Friday 21st July

We stated by heading of of Friday afternoon so that we could cut the journey in two and have a bit more rest for me. The weather was fine when we set off but it started to rain as we got to the campsite. The drive down to the Caravan and Motorhome Club site at Tewkesbury was fairly uneventful, there was a traffic jam on the A1 just after the M62 but it didn't last too long. We arrived earlier than we thought and were given the last none awning pitch, only when we drove round to it, it was occupied. Went back to reception and were shown to the pitch were the other van should have been.

Caravan and Motorhome Club site, Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury

Web Site https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/about-us/

It was raining on and off by now but we wandered off into town for a drink and food anyway. We went into Spoons but it was packed and we could only get a seat outside in the smoking area, it was undercover though. As we could not get a table for food we just had a couple of beers (they are mentioned here) and went of for a takeaway to take back to the van.

Saturday 22nd July

Next morning we set off for Devon, the M5 was very congested, coming to a stand still every few miles and there didn't seem to be any reason for it at all. We did have all day to get there though. The next problem was the last six or seven miles to the site, were the roads would go to single track about every mile. Anyway we arrived ok and got the last hard standing pitch.

Start Bay Caravan Club Site

Caravan and Motorhome Club, Start Bay Club Site,

Stokenham, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2SE

After we got set up, and had our dinner, we walked the mile down to Torcross to meet up with the others. Their accommodation was very nice with the living area up on the top floor, lover ground was the main bedroom with bathroom, the kitchen a bathroom and girls bedroom was in the middle.

The small shop just around the corner had a good supply of beers that I hadn't had before and I bought quite a few of them.

Latter we walked along to the pub, The Start Bay Inn and after a drink or two, we got a fish and chips from their takeaway to eat back at the aparment. We had to drink outside as we had Sid the dog with us though.

The walk back to the van was quite exhausting, probably not for someone fit but it definitely was for me and it was getting dark.

Sunday 23rd July

After the walk downhill to Torcross, we went down onto the beach, not the best beach in the word in fact it was pretty poor but when you come from somewhere with fantastic sandy beaches, most are poor. The others all went into the sea but me and Dot didn't, we just sat and enjoyed the sun.

I went for a walk around the cliffs and took some photos round there. The others joined me for a look later on.

 

Much later when they had all changed and been washed, we went out for another beer, and our tea, this time to the place next door to The Start Bay Inn, The Torcross Boat House.  It was quite nice in there and we could take the dog in with us.

Monday 24th July

Today was much the same as yesterday, Me and Dot were however picked up by Nicole in the car so it saved some walking. Down there we went onto the seaside but instead of just sitting on the beach, I left the others and went for a walk.

I stopped for a look at the WW2 Tank, recovered from the sea bed in 1984, it had been there since and just before D DAY.

Exercise Tiger Memorial, is dedicated to the memory of the 639 American soldiers and sailors who perished on April 28, 1944. They also maintain the Sherman Tank Memorial Site established by the late Ken Small in 1984.

 

From there I walked towards Slapton with the sea on my right and the lake, Slapton Ley, on my left. I walked for about one and half miles before finding a toilet and turning back. On the walk there I walked and talked to a man from Liverpool who was out on a much longer walk.  Walking back I crossed over the road and kept to the side of the lake and took some photos of plants and bugs along the way.

 

I got a call from the others to ask were I was and to say that they were having some lunch, I was about half way back at the time. Anyway they saved me some food for when I got back.

Tuesday 25th July

Today the others came and picked us up and we set off for a drive out to Salcombe, saved us walking down to meet them. In Salcombe we drove around for a bit before getting the last spot in a car park, handy for the town centre.

 

We had a walk around the centre of Salcombe, the girls had a look in the shops, before we set off for a walk down to Salcombe North Sands. We went there as it had been recommended by Dot's sister Jane and the restaurant there was also recommended.

 

The Winking Prawn was very nice and also very full, we all had food and beers or Ciders in there, not bad at all. It was really hot but that is what we wanted.

 

After we ate, the others all went for a wander down to the sea, while Me and Dot just sat and enjoyed the view and the sun.

Latter we all walked back along to Salcombe and back into the shops, I just sat and waited for the others but later, I did buy some new beers along the way. In fact I bought quite a few of them but it wasn't too far back to the car.

Wednesday 26th July

Well the weather wasn't too good today, so we hung about in the van until after three, before walking down to see the others.

For tea we walked along to The Torcross Boat House again, for a coupe of beers and probably fish and chips (I can not remember what we had).

Later after tea, we went for a walk up the side of the cliffs behind their apartment and down the other side. We had a really good view along the beach and had a look at the WW2 pill boxes ether side of the cliffs.

 

There was a seal swimming just off where we were and it kept surfacing and looking to see what we were doing.

Thursday 27th July

A much better day and we got picked up from the campsite for another drive out. This time we headed to Totnes first and got parked fairly easily just off the town centre. First thing we did was set off to see the Castle, it was just off the main street, we didn't bother to pay to go in though.

 

We split up for a short while and me and dot wandered down to the river, The Dart, where we took some photos of the bridge there.

 

We got a phone call to say they were heading back so we set off to find them, it didn't take long and we stopped to get pasties for lunch. We then sat in the centre to eat them, before heading back to the car.

 

Next we drove to Paignton but luckily there was nowhere to park, it looked to be really crowded and also really full of chavs. So we drove on to Brixham a much more civilised place, although still very full of visitors.

 

One of the first thing we did was go and find a nice place to get some cream teas. We found a place called The West Country Deli and got a seat outside. We ordered the cream teas, Scones with Jam and Cream, together with drinks, they were very good.

After our tea, we wandered around the harbour, to the Breakwater, before setting off back to the car.

After out visit to Brixham, we drove on to Kingswear and got the ferry across the River Dart to Dartmouth, we had done this many years before but no one remembered it. It was the Kingswear Lower Ferry that we took, there is a Higher Ferry but that is not the one we used.

 

We parked up for and hour and went for a walk around, Dartmouth is a lovely place but we didn't have long here. The girls went shopping and later I bought more beers, this place is well worth another visit.

 

Friday 28th July

Our last day in Devon and another overcast day. We just got ready to go tomorrow and then wandered down to meet up with the others. Later we all wandered along the beach to the pub and got something for tea.

Saturday 29th July

Nicole and Tim (and Sid) dropped the girls off and set of home, we followed soon afterwards but headed for Bath for a couple of nights.

Only it all went wrong, crossing a small bridge with traffic lights just before the A38, I hit a bollard sticking out into the road a burst the back tire. We got parked up about a hundred yards from the bridge and phoned the AA.

We have had bother with these recovery services before but nothing at all like today (although last year when my car was written off, was pretty close). It took over five hours to get us moving again. I phoned the AA the first time to be given two numbers to call tire companies, both said that they could do nothing on Saturday. Phoned the AA for the second time and was told that they would have to take us home then but it would be two hours. So that was the end of our holiday. After two hours, I phoned the AA again to be told that I would be another hour to get a recovery truck big enough to take the van. Sometime later though I got a call from the AA to ask that if a driver came and took me to a tire Garage to get a new tire, would that be ok.

After about half an hour the AA man turned up, got the wheel of and took me and the wheel to a Garage. It was only about ten miles to the garage but it took about twenty five minuets to get there. The garage was very fast with the new tire but it was still another twenty five minuets to get back. By the time it was all done and we were ready to go it was around half five.

It was also raining and had been for most of the time we had been waiting for the AA to sort us out. I had also phoned the site in Bath a told them we would not make it and we made for a site in Ashburton just a few miles away. But when we got there I didn't like the look of it and moved on, the next site I headed for was on a closed road, so I just drove on and headed for Bath.

We realised that we were not going to get to Bath and the sat/nav was playing up, so after a long drive we eventually stopped at a site miles from anywhere and checked in (it was a lot more complicated than that though).

Southfork Caravan Park

Parrett Works, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6AE

Web Site www.southforkcaravans.co.uk/

We got set up and had something to eat (first of the day for me but I had had crisps) then watched a film before bed. Tomorrow we would just head for Stratford and have an extra day there, it was all better than it could have been anyway.

Sunday 30th July

Back on the road and back to the M5 we headed off for Stratford-on-Avon, I had phoned and booked the extra night but we still had about one hundred and thirty miles to go.

On arrival we were sent down the road to wait for the man to show us were to pitch up. When he arrived he didn't have us on his list (we were not due til tomorrow), so he just put us on the first pitch, right next to where we were. It was getting late by now so we didn't go into Stratford, we just wandered over to the bar and had a meal.

After the food, the girls wandered back over to the van but me and Dot had another beer sat outside, before going back to watch the TV with the girls.

 

Monday 31st July

Today we would get the boat into town, they had moved the departure point from when we were last here, to just under the bar. I think the girls enjoyed the boat ride but you can never tell, it was already about dinner time when we got into Stratford.

 

As we started our walk around Stratford it started to rain so we headed off to find food and would leave the walk until later. Spoons was fairly close so we went straight in there and with the rain outside we were lucky to get a table. It was only dinner time but I still had a pint with my food a Byatt's, Crystal Cookie, it wasn't very good but ok with the food.

After lunch the weather was a lot better so we had a wander around the shops and the girls did some shopping, although I do not think that they bought anything.

 

After the shopping we walked over to the were there was a big wheel and beyond all reason we all went on it. It was pretty high but I did manage to get some good photos from up top.

 

I was glad to be off though and after that, we just went back over the river into town.

 

Then it was back to the boat, for the ride along the river back to the site.

Tuesday 1st August

Our last day in Stratford and as usual we wandered down to get the boat into town but as there were big queues. So we wandered up to the site entrance and got a taxi into town, it was cheaper than the river taxi.

First thing we did was to get some sandwiches and drinks for lunch and ate them sat outside the Shakespeare theater. From there we went for a walk along the river. We crossed over at the footbridge and came back along the opposite side, passed the lock gates.

 

We sat and watched the small hand pulled ferry crossing the river, before making our way back to the bridge.

 

We crossed back over and got the boat back to the site, bit more expensive but a nicer ride.

When we got back to the site the girls went straight back to the van but Dot and I went for a beer at the bar. After the beer we decided to have tea in there, so I massaged the girls to ask if they wanted food here and they both came running back (well practically).

Wednesday 2nd August

It was time to head back home but it was still a long drive.

Amber's Birthday (April 2017)

15th April to the 19th April

We could not be there for the whole of Amber's Birthday but we could get there for a couple of days and see her before we left on her Birthday. We were going to be away for a couple of days before we could get onto the site in Peterborough, then two days on the Caravan and Motorhome Site there. The first site was well out of the way over towards the Wash below Boston.

Saturday 15th April

We drove there relatively easily, although the SatNav took us down a very narrow road for the last mile or so of the journey, which it didn't have to. The route there was A19 to A1 then A17 to the side road for Holbeach Hurn, where the site was.

The Rose And Crown is a very nice name for a campsite although the site is not that good, we will have to see how it goes.



Rose & Crown
1 Low Rd, Spalding
PE12 8JN
Web Site dougiescaravanandcamping.co.uk/index.php/touring-camping-...

We booked in and were put next to the children's play area, it was windy so we didn't do much just sat in the van reading and watching TV.

At tea time we wandered into the bar, where they had a nice choice of draft beers and a good selection of food on the menu. I had a a couple of draft beers in there and for food I had the biggest Hunters Chicken and Dot had Homemade Steak & Ail Pie. It was all very nice, the beers I had were Tom Wood's, Hop Bunny Hop and one called Patron Saints Ale, not sure who made it. They were both not bad, better than I expected but we only had the two, then left.

Sunday 16th April

Another quiet day in the van, we didn't do anything at all, except read and watch TV. After the GP we wandered back over to the bar and had a Beef Sunday Dinner, when we got there we were told there was no beef left but on checking, the chef had just cooked another one. It was really good and I had another new beer in there, Tom Wood's, Imp Stout, although I moved back on to the Patron Saints Ale for the second one. Again we only had the two and the meal then wandered back to the van.

Monday 17th April

Today we were thankfully moving on to Ferry Meadows Caravan and Motorhome Site in Peterborough. Again our SatNav took us down some very strange roads to get there. We got there ok and we were half an hour early but we were just allowed in. People were still leaving, well into the afternoon, what happened to no entry until twelve thirty and having to leave by eleven or eleven thirty. First the change of name then the change of rules, what is the club coming too (I do not believe the rules have really changed).

Amber, Ralph and Fran turned up not long after we got there and pretty soon we had the BBQ going, we also had a few beers.

Later that night, Amber stayed with us and I watched the Boro match on Ralph's iPad before bed.

Tuesday 18th April

Ralph came back late in the morning and him and amber ate all of the sausages that were left from yesterdays BBQ.

We then all went out for a drive in Ralph's car, to Rutland Water, one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. We did not stay there very long but Amber managed to get an ice cream before we left.

We took a long way back to the site as the A1 the way we wanted to go was stood still. When we got back Fran and her granddaughter came over and latter on, we all went to the Beefeater for a birthday meal for Amber.

Wednesday 19th April

Amber's birthday, Ralph and Fran came over early and we spent the morning together before we had to leave to get back for Dot to go the work on Thursday.

Three Days With The Girls (April 2017)

2nd April to the 5th April

The twins were on holiday two weeks before most of the other local schools, so we thought we would go away for a few days in the van while it was still quiet. Imagine my surprise when I went to book the Caravan and Motorhome site in Barnard Castle and found it was over £38/night. This is for a pitch on a site at the beginning of April, the 2nd to the 5th in fact. We didn't go there.

We booked the Caravan and Motorhome site in Thirsk, something like £22/night and just as nice. As we were so close to home we also took the car with us, so we could drive around during the day.

Sunday 2nd April

Well I set off for the Caravan and Motorhome site in Thirsk, now you may be wondering what the Caravan and Motorhome Club is, well its the Caravan Club but they changed their name to keep in with us motorhomers. I say I set off, because Dot and the girls were in the car and they arrived just after me.

We got set up and had our lunch before Me and Emily set off onto town to watch the Boro match. We went to the The Darrowby Inn in the centre, as they were the only ones to answer the phone when I called them to see if it was on. The match was ok but the beer was very expensive, or the cola was and it wasn't very nice, that's the beers.

After the match we met up with the other two and went for a walk by the river, we wandered about for about half an hour then just went to the pub for tea.

We made our way to Spoons The Three Tuns, and sat downstairs in one of the basement rooms. Me and Emily had the All Day Breakfast, Georgia had Burger and Dot had the Pie and Mash with Mushy Peas. The beer I had was Birrificio MC-77, Mild The Gap from Italy but it was really from Hook Norton and it was ok. I had another beer a Bodebrown, Brazillian Burton Pale Ale from Brazil but again it was really from Banks’s.

Monday 3rd April

When everyone was ready we got in the car and drove to Ripon, its not far but it got us out. It was dinner time when we arrived and we just popped into Greggs for some sandwiches, well small baguettes each. After dinner we headed to the Cathedral then on down to the river just for the walk.

 

Back in town I had a look in DrinksWell a booze shop, very good beers in there but expensive, so I bought nowt. I had a sit in the town square while Dot and the Girls continued shopping. We then made our way into Booths supermarket, where the beer selection is fantastic and I bought quite a lot, as I usually do in Booths, the price is just right.

We even headed into the cafe upstairs for a drink.

I had to take the beer back to the car but the girls continued with their shopping, so I just sat on a wall, in the sun and waited for them to get back. When they did get back we just drove back to the van and played on our iPhones / iPads (well some of us did) until it was time for tea.

We made our way back to Spoons for tea but first I had a pint of Butcombe, Union, it was a bit too hoppy for me. So with the food I got an Abbots, the girls both had Fish and Chips and Me and Dot had Tandoori Chicken Wraps.

On the way back to the van we called into Lidl and got some more beers, some nice French Wheatbeers and some other nice beers as well. Then it was back to the van to drink them.

Tuesday 4th April

Today we headed off to Knaresborough, we parked down by the river and set off for a walk under the viaduct towards the next bridge over the river. We have been many times before and even a few times with the girls but nether of them remember the place at all. I though they may remember as we got into town but they never did,

Up in town we decided against going for somewhere for lunch and just got fish and chips and ate them in the square.  We would eat later back in Thirsk at Spoons.

After a walk around the shops we made our way to the remains of the castle but as I said the girls didn't remember any of it, very strange.  But I did take a photo to show them when we got home.

 

We walked through the station on our way back to the car and had to wait for a train to pass before we could get through to the other side. Emily did go through the underground pass to get to the other side but the rest of us just waited.

From there we walked down to the river and had a walk along the far side but the opposite way to Mother Shipton's Cave. We didn't walk too far and came back the same way, from there we made for the car and drove back to Thirsk.

That evening we wandered back to Spoons again for tea, I had another new beer, a Maxim, Hapi, not bad at all but I did change to Abbots for the second one. For food Me and Emily had Tandoori Chicken Wraps and Dot and Georgia had Ham and Cheese Panini, all with chips of course.

On the way back to the van, again I popped into Lidl for more of the good beer we got yesterday.

Wednesday 5th April

Well it was time to get back home, Dot and the girls went off in the car, Emily had to be back to go to the Boro match. So I just drive slowly home on my own.

Next trip will be to Peterborough for Ambers Birthday in about two weeks.

Back in York but for a week (March 2017)

4th March to the 11th March

Second time in York this year and only the second time away in the van. We are away for a full week to take in both our birthdays and to have a nice rest.

Saturday 4th March

My birthday, got ready and set off for York. When we arrived there it was very busy and it took some time to get through to the site. Once we got there we were told drive around, pick out a site and go back for the key (all very usual), only there were only three places available and one of them was reserved.

When we got settled in Ralph and Fran came to visit us and we sett off into town. Ralph's feet are not that good so in the end the girls wandered off and we made for the Spoons pub. Before we finished our first pint the girls turned up and joined us. Eventually we got our tea bought for us for our birthdays and it was very nice.

After they had gone we just stayed in the van and watched TV for the rest of the night.

Sunday 5th March

Today the other half of the family, Nick, Tim, Georgia, Emily and Sid came to visit. As yesterday we wandered off into town to go shopping, although the weather was not that good, it kept poring down. At one point I got the job of standing outside with Sid as everyone else was inside shopping (Sid is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he is very soft).

Latter when we were on our own after the others had gone home we just stayed in as the weather was not good. I messed with the iPad I had got from Nick and the others and had a couple of beers that I had brought with us.

Monday 6th March

Latter on the afternoon we wandered off towards the train station, just to see how long it took to get there. Of coarse we have done this before but we are getting old and just needed to check. We are off to Leeds for the day on Wednesday (makes a change from Harrogate), just for the day and it only cost us £12 in total.

Well it took about half an hour, we had a look around the station, got our train tickets from the machine and then wandered off into town.

I managed to buy a shirt and a cardigan in one shop after all our walking about, then made for the pubs. We had decided to try some different pubs for a change, and wandered into the first one we passed. Evil Eye Lounge was nice inside but the beers we got in there were not nice and very expensive (only in cans and bottle as well), so we drank up and moved on.

Next we went into the House Of The Trembling Madness, a very good beer shop and went upstairs to were they sell beers but it was too full, so we moved on.

The next place was The Botanist, the beer was much better in here even though I was from the USA. It was a Sam Addams on draft, from were we sat we noticed a bar restaurant opposite and decided to pop in there next. Dot had also noticed that it was half price in there on Monday as well, so that was it.

Kennedy's Bar and Restaurant, was full but we managed to get a table and ordered food, I think we both had the chicken burgers. I had a new beer in there a Helmsley, Striding The Riding, not too bad but I have had better.

On our way back to the van we did have another much cheaper one in the Kings.

Tuesday 7th March

Today after walking about York for a couple of hours we ended up in another new pub for us (I think we may have been in before a long time ago), the Hole in the Wall. I had a Marstons Pedigree and as we sat reading the menu noticed that they did smaller afternoon meals before five. So we had another beer each and ordered Stake Pie for Dot and I had Hunters Chicken.

From there we moved on to Pivní, I had a Wild Weather Ales, Big Muddy and Dot had Primátor, Czech Wheat Beer. Both nice although Dots was better than mine.

From there on our way back to the van we did have another one in the Kings again.

Wednesday 8th March

Up early, showered and ready to go to Leeds. Arrived at the train station with plenty of time but could not find our train on the departure boards. In the end I asked and we were stood next to our train, still never got onto the main boards though.

 

On arrival in Leeds we walked into the Spoons in the station for an early lunch, the breakfast that is available until twelve. But the one in the station was very full and we could not find seats, so we decided we would just get something later.

Out of the station we walked along Park Row and within minuets came across another Spoons, so we popped in and ordered two breakfasts. The spoons was Becketts Bank and it was a bit rundown must be one of the older ones but the food was ok. Looking out of the window in Spoons we noticed a Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant, opposite, looked good but probably beyond our pockets.

After diner we wandered around into the centre and did the shops, lots of shops, Leeds is a lot bigger than I remembered. Even the indoor market it very big and I think the only thing we bought in Leeds was in there.

 

Eventually it was time to sit down and we ended up sat outside another spoons The Cuthbert Brodrick, it looked a lot newer and was in a very good position. Sat outside in the sun was very nice and with our backs against the wall, it was very warm. I had an Acorn, Jarrylo IPA, it was not too bad Dot was sticking with the 1664.

 

We had a couple sat outside in the sun, although I switched to Abbots for the second one. We then moved inside as the wind got up a bit and we decided to have food again. This time we had Tandoori Chicken Wraps with Chips and yet another beer or two.

Soon it was time to get back to the station, we had a slow walk back and waited about half an hour for the train back to York. Once back we just walked back to the van and had an early night. We had walked today further than we had walked for over a year.

I woke about midnight with my hart in defib and I kept having to get up and go to the toilet, luckily by the time Dot woke at about eight, I was back to normal but it had tiered me out.

Thursday 9th March

We didn't do much at all today, besides me, we were both worn out after our long walk yesterday. We sat watching the TV but eventually set off for a walk late in the afternoon. Although we didn't get far, we just wandered out the back and made for the pub out there, the Swan, but only had the one in there. I asked what to try and the one I was given was foul, Empire, Soner, is not nice at all.

We were joined in there by a group of about seven what looked like students, and an older man with a dog. The older one was asking for volunteers for something tomorrow and when three said they could, he gave them pamphlets and left. The seven what looked like students, then all sat there with their half's or water and looked and typed on their phones in silence. It was all very strange.

We then set off for food, we looked in the caffs and restaurants close by but just got something from the shop and went back to the van.

Friday 10th March

Dots birthday, we were both feeling better today and set off into town for tea. After a look around the shops and getting birthday presents from me, we made for The Star Inn the City and sat outside in the sun. Although that didn't last long and we moved inside to finish our drinks. Again I did that thing with the drinks, I asked what to try and again it was foul. The Brew York, Jarsa Session Ale, could have been the same one as last night, so we moved on after that one.

Dot had picked somewhere for tea, it was a restaurant bar we had been in on Monday, The Botanist, first we had a drink in the front before moving into the restaurant at the back. There were also rooms upstairs but we just got a table under the stirs, this was a lot better than is sounds though. I had Lamb Koftas and Dot had Steak, both very nice, I also had the Sam Addams to drink again.

Saterday 11th March

Nice sleep in, then got the van to go, the drive home was straightforward see you next time.

2017, MOT.

Well, we have got the van through this years MOT, although it did coast me. It failed on the off side front wheel bearing. It took the garage longer than it should have to change, as it was seized on but they got it done eventually. So the MOT and the wheel bearing cost me about £260, not too bad for something built in 2002.

We are now ready for our next trip away, not far at this time of year, its just our usual trip to York for our birthdays. Only we will be there for about a week this time, to cover both our birthdays and we like it there. We are away from the end of the first week in March, I do hope we get some good weather though.

York, second week in January, 2017

This trip was booked last year, as you know we couldn't get booked in towards the end of last year as we usually do, but we did get this one and our Birthdays in March. I think it is my memory that is causing us to miss booking times for trips like this but that can not be helped nowadays. I have looked back at last year and was surprised to see that we did almost the same things last year just a bit later in Jan.

York 8th to 11th of Jan 2016

Sunday Jan 8th

We arrived in York not long after twelve and set up against the side with the big trees. The TV was just plugged into the ring main and we were ready to go into town but we didn't. We sat and watched TV for a while and had lunch before we set off.

when we did set off we just walked along to Ouse Bridge and there crossed into the centre. Walking there, the elastic in Dots leggings burst so we made our way straight for Next to get some new ones. We then had a bit of a look around before heading to the Kings for a drink. It was nearly a year since we were last in there and there was not one person in that we recognised.

For a second pint in there I did have a Christmas beer, the Samuel Smith's, Winter Welcome Ale 2016/2017, it was very good but a bit strong at 6.0%. I only had three pints (two of them just ordinary bitter) in there before we wandered off back to the van for the night.

Monday Jan 9th

Again it was fairly late, about three before we set off into town. The sun was really shining and it was a very nice day as we walked over Skeldergate Bridge, past Clifford's Tower, to start looking in the shops.

Fist thing that happened is that I bought some shoes, we then moved on to Dot buying a new handbag (or two) and then spent the rest of our time there shopping.

It was Monday and that is half price for meals in the Slug and Lettuce, so we made for the one next to the river. The Slug and Lettuce no longer do two for one meals on Monday anymore and the pint and a half of lager we got in there was really expensive. So we took our time drinking them, before moving on for something cheaper and our tea in Spoons. The Slug and Lettuce used to be full this time on a Monday night, when we left there were about fourteen people in there.

The Postern Gate on the other hand was fairly full but we got a seat and drinks easily. I got a pint of Ossett, Excelsior and it was not to my taste, it was not nice at all. So when we ordered food I got something different with it, Abbot Ale. Stake and Chips was on offer so we had that, it was good but it could have done with some peas or lettuce with it.

After that we made our way back to the van.

Tuesday Jan 10th

Today we decided to try and walk a bit further than the last couple of days. So we set off in the wrong direction, something we have done many times before and written about on here. Anyway we crossed over the Millennium Bridge and walked back into the centre.

Dot bought another new handbag (she had only got one yesterday), then we wandered off into the Museum Gardens to sit and get it set up. It was getting cold and the wind was getting up so we headed of to the pub to warm up. Yes we ended up in The Postern Gate again, it was warm in there and just about everything in there is also cheap.

It was still early but we ate anyway, I had the BLT and Dot had the stake pie, the stake pie didn't come with a beer but the BLT did and I had the Abbot Ale again. I had tried some of the other beers first before we ate, but they were foul, The Rat Brewery, Rat Crafted and Bad Co, Clockwork Orange, both far to hoppy.

Wednesday Jan 11th

This is what I wrote last January "Up in plenty of time to get the van sorted and left fairly early, it was due to get windy again so it was straight home."

Well it was almost the same this year, only it was already windy and it was a dodgy drive home but we got there ok.