Due to continued frustration with the speed of uploading photos I have moved to a new site.

You can continue to read all about my travels with Him'n'Her

here

(http://harveydiamond.wordpress.com/)

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Five (21/07/09)

And it goes on, and on, and on - to point where my rain shelter (or sun canopy if the weather is right!) tries to divorce itself from me. Just as well He remembered to peg it down. After a while they get up, unhook me, roll up my rain shelter and off we go - leaving the bikes and my lovely pitch-marker/bird feeder behind - must mean their memories are really getting bad now, or that we are coming back later today.

20 miles or so through the pouring rain and we pull into a car park near Abbotsbury and they go off for a stroll along Chesil Beach, another place they are excited about visiting. They couldn't go too far along it's 17 miles, however, as most of it is closed to human's between April and October due to sea-birds laying their eggs on the pebbles.

Still, they agree that it is a fantastic place and they really enjoyed lying on the pebbles in the drizzle (yes, the rain had softened to a drizzle at this point).

They could see the swannery at Abbotsbury from Chesil Beach and we went there to have a closer look at the swans, but when they saw the size of the entrance fee (£9 each) they decided that it wasn't worth it - after all they have seen lots of swans all over the place - and so they went for a wander around the quaint village of Abbotsbury instead. Mind you, everything seems to be expensive round here - including their lunch of baked potatoes - must be where all the rich folk from Sandbanks come for a day out ;-)

On the way to Abbotsbury, He had spotted a viewpoint that gave a view right along Chesil Beach and we agreed to stop there on the way back so that He could take some snaps but no dice...it was that misty I had to get her to turn my fog lamps on.

Still raining, we called into Bridport to do some shopping before returning to Bingham Grange. Despite the rain, they seem as if they had a good day and that's all that matters, bless 'em.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Four (20/07/09)

9.00am and He's got into Her seat, pulled me forward a few feet on the drive and then got out again. What's he up to now? Call that a test drive?! Ah! - making enough room to get his pudgy tummy between me and the hedge while He fills my water tank - must mean we're away and I'll have to say a fond farewell to the dogs and my holiday home. About 30 minutes later, She's in the driving seat and we are, indeed, off.

After about 40 minutes we pull into a grassy, sloping car park at Lulworth Cove and He's getting all excited, bouncing up and down and saying that He can't believe He's finally gotten here. Turns out He'd wanted to come here since He was knee-high to a leek (well He is Welsh!!).

They leave me with a lovely view of a hedge while they go off and enjoy fandabbydozey views of the cove. Apparently, they not only went to the beach at the bottom of the cove, but also climbed the path on the eastern edge and came up over the top of it, where they saw, and He photographed, a Kestrel hovering over the cliff top searching for prey.

This was followed by a short jaunt to Stair Hole, a lovely blow-hole caused by sea water eating its way through the rock, a cuppa in the cafe near the car park and then they walked right past me without so much as a nod to a blind bat on their way to Durdle Door - a natural arch. This was, apparently, even more fandabbydozey than the cove, and far more impressive in real life than when they had seen it on Coast, and I think I agree with them having seen their piccies.

They especially enjoyed their tramp along the beach to Butter Rock, a small stack that seems to merge with the headland of Bat's Head behind it. Incidentally, Bat's Head also contains a small natural arch called Bat's Hole (what else?).

On their return, He arrived back first and stood next to me until She arrived and they then put their bags on board and then went off for food and mucky beer in the pub, before we set off again.

After about an hour we arrived at Bingham Grange Touring and Camping Park just off the road between Melplash and Bridport. I'm shown to a large hard-standing pitch up in the corner of the site, tucked away nicely with hedges on 3 sides - tidy! They quickly get me hooked up, cook some tea and then settle in for a night of reading and chilling. That night, however, the rain returns, accompanied by quite high winds.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Three (19/07/09)

10.00am, after a very hearty breakfast, they set off again in Her brother's car for a day around Poole - which is full of people doing watersports, Sandbanks (where all the rich people live - He was very disappointed not to be able to find Harry Redknapp's house and persuade him that he didn't really want to sigh Crouchy for Spurs) and then over to Studland Bay via the remarkable chain ferry. I'd have been a bit dubious about getting on such a vessel until they told me that they saw a double-decker bus on it...and a tasty Morgan.

A quick stop off for Him to get some photos of the stacks known as Old Harry's Rocks and the a delightful trip to Corfe village which started off with a cuppa and some delicious cake at a garden tea party. They didn't know whose garden it was, having been invited/accosted to attend by some bloke in the street, but they enjoyed the refreshments and the 1930's style disco nonetheless.

This was followed by a great visit to Corfe Castle and then it was back to the house for a lovely meal and a very nice evening of chilling and chatting.

Me, I had a very restful day watching over the house and the dogs - and very well-behaved they all were as well.

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part Two (18/07/09)

The following morning we're up early, a glass of juice each and by 8.00am we're away. Back to the M1 and south, stopping off for brekkie at Tibshelf Services after a few miles. Then it's south again to the M40 and then the A34, by-passing Newbury on the Newbury By-pass (what else would you call it). Newbury, She informs us, is where Swampy was from, whoever he is! He then gets a phone call from my first stalker, sorry follower, Big Pete, and tells him what we are up to...so I finally get to find out that we are heading for Dorset. Can't wait to get there.

But, what with Him being contrary and everything, He tells Her to ignore the Sat Nav cos He knows a better way - which involves a traffic jam which adds an hour to their journey - but I did manage to give them a good view of Stonehenge to compensate.

Shortly after, and an hour late, we arrive in Blandford Forum where they have relations - Her brother and his family, not that sort, you dirty-minded reader, you ;-)

After a very nice lunch with their relations they go off in Her brother's car to Shaftesbury to see the street from the Hovis ad, leaving me hooked up and watching over the house and the four dogs, the 2 girls having gone out somewhere else.

They round off the day by taking the dogs for a walk (and one for a quick dip) and calling in for a pint of mucky beer followed up by a very nice crispy duck in black bean sauce takeaway and go off to sleep in the house, leaving me to keep guard on the driveway. Guess I'm on holiday too!

Twenty: Dorset, Somerset & The Cotswolds: Part One (17/07/09)

It's the day after my MOT and it's been persisting down for about 10 hours non-stop when He comes out, plugs me in to cool the fridge and starts loading me up with clothes, food, a few (Yeah, right!) bottles of wine and then, about 2.00pm they both get in, Her driving, naturally, and off we go. He's forgotten to fill up my water tank again, but I'm sure they'll be ok if it's only a short trip.

31/2 hours of driving south down the A1 through dreadful even more persistent rain and really heavy, very slow-moving traffic and we arrive at Pleasley Park Farmhouse CCC site. He gets out, still in the rain and goes in search of the owner and, after the owner has rigged up an electricity supply, wrapped up in a plastic bag to keep the connections dry, they level me off, hook me up and settle down for tea. One meal and a Sopranos later and they're off to bed. I keep them warm and dry until it eventually stops raining some time around 4.00am - which means I've been persisted on for about 26 consecutive hours - just as well I wasn't on a parade.

Nineteen: MOT (16/07/09)

What have I done?

He's got in first thing in the morning, no loading up, no topping up my water tank, and driven me a few miles to a motorhome dealer...and left me!!! Looks like I'm going to get some new people - shame, cos I was really getting used to Him'n'Her and their forgetful little ways.

Sure enough, about 10 minutes later a new man gets in and drives me away - to a garage where another new man does things to me like testing my brakes, putting a sensor up my exhaust (ooo-er, missus), checking all my lights are working and so on.

About an hour or so later I'm back at the motorhome dealer's and He gets back in and takes me home, explaining that now that I'm 3 years old I had to have an MOT, just to make sure I'm all okey-dokey and I am. So, it looks like I'll be keeping Him'n'Her a bit longer - Tidy :-) It's also nice that they think enough of me to get me a check-up - what do you mean they only did it cos it's the law - I'm sure they would have done it anyway - if they'd remembered ;-)

Eighteen: Troutbeck (04/07/09 - 07/07/09)

Just when I think I've got Him'n'Her sussed they blinking well go and surprise me - straight after filling my water tank we're off...no eight hour wait for me while they go and 'work'. "So where are we off to, then?" I wonder. Five minutes later my wonderings are answered...back home!! Seems they forgot to put their bikes on the rack - I'm gonna have to write them a very big checklist, the poor dears...mind you, He'd probably forget to check it ;-)

Bikes now on, off we go again...obviously heading for somewhere nice and flat if they're thinking of going cycling, hehe!

So, south down the A1, west along the A66 and straight into Mainsgill Farm - breakfast for them, a chat with the alpacas, emus, donkeys and cows for me...but no camel to be seen today.

After they've filled up we continue west on the A66 until we get near Penrith, where we turn south down the A6, go through Shap, skirt Windermere and then turn right up the Troutbeck Valley to Limefitt Caravan Park. I'm given pitch no 99 - so you can guess the size of the place...but, as it turns out, most of the pitches are statics or holiday lodges with just a couple of short avenues for those of us who like to travel around a bit. It was a fairly good site, with nice views and good facilities, although the dodgy mucky beer they had in the onsite "traditional Lakeland Inn" counted a bit against it (end of the barrel stuff or something I heard them say).

The pitches were also very regimented and fairly close together, although I got on well with my immediate neighbour, a smart caravan from Leeds whose people, a taxi driver and his wife, were leaving her there for the week to look after their son and his family.

Having settled me in, including extending my sun canopy (or rain shelter, as I prefer to think of it), Him'nHer went on a tour of the site, a stroll along the banks of Troutbeck, got bitten by horseflies (His right elbow and pinky knuckle didn't half swell up, and had the aforementioned really mucky beer. After a bit of a chill and a yummy tea, it was off to bed - upstairs!! Can't wait to see them struggling down in the morning ;-)

Well, they didn't struggle too much, actually, so it was only mild chuckles for me, rather than loud guffaws!

After a fine breakfast - some Cumberland sausage they had bought at Mainsgill yesterday, they set off up Wansfell Pike which, they later told me, was a fine walk with lovely views of Lake Windermere, The Langdales, and the Kirkstone Pass and some fine-looking sheep. They said the only thing that had spoiled it was a large group of doctors who all wanted to be the centre of attention and so talked incessantly and very loudly. To get away from them, Him'n'Her deviated from their planned route, when they realised the loud ones were on the same trail, and were fairly quickly away from them, although they could be heard in the distance for some time.

On the way back they called into The Mortal Man in Troutbeck for some mucky beer (Old Speckled Hen - nice mucky beer, not end of barrel yuck) only to find the loud ones hogging the bar...but they quickly moved out into the beer garden and so Him'n'Her sat in a quiet corner of the bar and engaged in some decent conversation with a couple from down south who were staying in a hotel run by John Lewis for their employees.

After that it was a nice stroll back along a path complete with badger sets and swifts to have a nice meal and then off to bed - once more upstairs. They seemed to sleep fairly soundly until they were woken, not by the sound of the rain, but by the scritter scratter of a crow doing a Gene Kelly impersonation.

After another hearty breakfast it was off for a ramble along Robin Lane and through Skellghyll Woods to Ambleside for a spot of retail therapy and something to eat at, yeah, you've guessed it, Lucy4 - their favourite bistro, and very nice it was too, apparently. I was expecting them to arrive back in a taxi, what after some mucky beer and pims with their meal, but apparently that chap from Leeds wasn't able to get to them in time, so they decided to walk back and, even though it was after 9.00pm, I sent them off for a shower before I let them get into bed...but downstairs this time... too tired to climb the ladder, bless their cotton socks.

The following day we pack up and head off home, calling in at Keswick for a bit more retail therapy and fish'n'chips at the Old Keswickian - apparently, they were not as good as on previous occasions, but this didn't spoil what had been a fab weekend.

See more of their photos here.

Seventeen: Leyburn (26/06/09 - 28/06/09)

I'm really getting the hang of things now... load me up in the evening, fill my water tank the following morning and off we go when they get back from 'work' in the evening. But where to this time?

South down the A1, right, then left at Scotch Corner for Richmond, straight through that lovely little town and then left toward Leyburn, pulling into Cow Close Farm just before we get into Leyburn itself. And what a delightful little site this is - in fact it's so delightful I hesitate to tell you about it, and Mick the owner is a very friendly chap with a good sense of humour - he tells us that you can see for 40 miles in one direction - we can barely see the other side of the field it's so misty!

We're quickly settled in and I chuckle as they make their tea...they came prepared for a barbie (No, not the doll - that would just be weird) but instead turned it into a grillie, on account of it being misty (as in foggy, not as in roots) - still they enjoyed themselves.

The following morning they're up early and after a muesli (yes, muesli, not measly... but is there a difference?) breakfast they set off in the slowly lifting mist for a walk along Leyburn Shawl, down to Wensley, along the banks of the River Ure where they see lots of butterflies

and then back to Leyburn. And very enjoyable it was too - especially the romanticism of the Shawl, the giant yorkie and steak'n'ale pie in the Three Horseshoes pub in Wensley, Holy Trinity Church, also in Wensley, and additional mucky beers in Leyburn.

That night, it was a new jig, a chill out to some groovy beats and a good night's sleep.

The following day it was up early for Him - cooking breakfast while She relaxes in bed reading the newspaper (I only mention this, because it's unusual for it to be this way round!!) and then, after paying Mick and packing everything up it's off to Aysgarth Falls

which they spend ages looking at and photographing and then it's home, past Bolton Castle, to the constant chatter of "We'll have to watch Robin Hood Prince of Thieves to see the fight scene between Robin and Little John..." apparently it was filmed at Aysgarth.

You can see more of their photos from this trip to Leyburn here.

Sixteen: Loch Lomond (01/0609 - 05/06/09)

It's Sunday afternoon and they're loading me up with clothes and other things...looks like we're off for a trip...but NO! After a while, they leave me alone for the rest of the day.

The following morning they're up bright and early, fill up my water tank (He's finally got the knack of unlocking and locking it...I hope!!!) and off we go - with Him driving - can't be going very far then methinks ;-)

Six miles later, she jumps out at a bus stop and He takes me to a supermarket car park. He then goes and buys some stuff which He stows behind the driver seat and then...just sits there. About 20 minutes later He starts me up, drives me off and we pick Her up just around the corner. And then we're off again - another supermarket? back home? No, north up the A1 and then west on the A69...long way round to the lakes? North up the A68, however, makes me think deepest Northumberland, but No - we fly past Carter Bar and I'm in Scotland for the first time. About half an hour later, we pull into a lay-by next to the River Tweed which, of course, forms part of the border between England and Scotland, and reminds him of the Dick Gaughan song Both Sides of the Tweed. They make a cuppa, have a picnic and then She gets into the driving seat and it's off we go...obviously going much further than I thought, given that She's taken over the driving seat.

So, She's taken over the driving seat and He's taken over the navigating and telling Her to ignore everything that the sat nav's saying and 4 hours later, after my having to squeeze through traffic in a small village by gently caressing wing mirrors with a nice 4x4 (no damage done to either of us - He did get out and check with the person driving the 4x4 - honest!!) and we arrive in Balmaha, a lovely little village on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond.

This'll do nicely, I think, but they go through the village and come to a very sharp right hand bend (so sharp it's almost a right-angle) with a turn off to the left - you can see it in this map - it's next to the boats (little white dots) moored in the harbour).

The sat nav is saying to follow the road round the right-hand bend, the road sign is telling them to go round the right-hand bend towards Rowardennan and that the left-hand fork is a dead end, but what does He do? -Yup, insists on Her taking the left-hand fork...which means, after about 300 yards they end up with no way forward, because the road is very narrow and there are lots of parked cars, and no way of turning me round without dunshing a few of said cars and running the risk of taking me for my first swimming lesson in the Loch. (not a bad way to go...Harvey Diamond, the Loch Lomond Monster, LOL) so She has no choice but to reverse me all the way back to the junction -which She does magnificently, and safely and receives a round of applause from some passers-by who had to wait while we manoeuvred past a land-rover. I bet He couldn't have done it.

Back on the road, we head towards Rowardennan and, after about 4 miles arrive at Cashel Caravan Park and Camping Site . They park me up with a great view of Loch Lomond, hook me up and within 10 minutes have a B-B-Q going. After eating they go for a stroll along the Lochside and then THE MIDGIES COME OUT TO BITE...

Up early Tuesday morning and, following a healthy breakfast (Muesli for them, midgies for me), they make some sarnies, pack their small backpacks and get the bikes down. About eight hours later they come back looking absolutely shattered.

Apparently they had cycled the 4 miles or so to Rowardennan, walked up Ben Lomond (974 metres or, for those of you who prefer old-fashioned money 3,195 feet above sea level, making it a Munro - whatever one of those is!), down via The Ptarmigan Ridge after being dive-bombed by hundreds of flying beasties on the summit of Ben Lomond, stopped off for a burger and a pint (cider for Him, J2O and soda water for Her - but no mucky beer for either of them!) and then cycled all the way back.

I have to say that I admire their stamina, or should that be stupidity ;-) - it was very sunny, very hot and they had drunk the 3 litres of water they took with them by the time they were half-way down. Still, I sent them off for a quick shower. knowing that they were very good, hot and free, and, when they got back all nice and clean instead of hot and sweaty (Him), gently glowing (Her) I lulled them off to sleep.

Wednesday morning at 5 o'clock as the day begins...oops, sorry, that's one of my favourite Beatles songs, what I meant to say was, Wednesday morning and they are up earlyish and feeling alrightish after their exertions of yesterday but not that alright because, instead of leaving me to fend for myself while they go off walking or cycling, they drive me to Balloch and park me up while they go and have a look round some shops, spot a local beastie, have lunch in a very nice pub (yes, mucky beer was involved) and then a one hour cruise on Loch Lomond.

On the way back they stopped off at the Caravan and Camping Club site at Milarrochy Bay to buy me some more gas and I heard them say that this was nicer than the site we were staying on...but I'm not sure they would have coped with the extra 4 miles that staying here would have added to their adventures yesterday!! Arriving back at our site, it was a quick bite to eat and then watching a glorious sunset - through clouds of midgies and a visiting swan.

The next day, having fully recovered from the Ben Lomond jaunt, they set off on the bikes again, but this time to Balmaha, including doing part of the trip on the West Highland Way through woodland dripping with bluebells. After a look around the harbour they walked up nearby Conic Hill which, whilst being nowhere near as high as Ben Lomond, had brilliant views of Loch Lomond and the line of islands that mark the southern edge of the Highland Boundary Fault.

After a very nice meal in the sunshine outside The Oak Tree Inn (and some mucky beer, of course), they cycled back, nearly running into a deer wandering down the road.

On arriving back we chilled out, listening to some music and watching one of the best sunsets we have ever seen, but the millions of midgies mean that he did not go out to take any piccys, so I can't share them with you, I'm afraid. I thought what a wuss but, the following morning when he went out to put the bikes back on the rack, he was almost eaten alive and there was probably only a tenth of the midgies there had been the previous night, so I can't say I blame Him really.

The return home was a bit of a suprise...it started with a fine view of a crow plucking the hair out of a highland cow...

and then, instead of taking the scenic route (i.e. the long twisty way with the dead-end detour) or the direct route (south to Glasgow and then further south to the A69 before heading east) we set off in the direction of Stirling and then south towards Auld Reekie. We are just about past the city when He suddenly shouts "Rosslyn Chapel" and She reacts instantly by swiftly, but carefully, navigating across a few lanes of traffic to leave the motorway and head for the said chapel. They park me up in the car park and go off and indulge in their Knights Templar fantasy and try and solve the Da Vinci Code, whatever that is and, after an hour or so they come back full of it and can't stop talking about how the visit had been very enjoyable.

About 90 minutes down the A1 they pull off at Stannington and head for The Ridley Arms for a last supper of sausage and mash and steak pie (they told me that was two meals rather than all on one plate, but I'm not so sure!) and 'optional' mucky beer.

We arrive home about an hour later and She leaps out saying '"You sort out Harvey" quickly followed by "Take That" - I later found out that this wasn't their first row, but a remider that she was off to see Take That at the Sunderland Stadium of Light with their daughter, which She thoroughly enjoyed.

You can see more of their photos from Loch Lomond here.

Fifteen: Leyburn (08/05/09 - 10/05/09)

What's happening? - It's a Thursday evening, 7 o'clock to be precise, and He's come out and after just a few minutes has managed to unlock the water filler cap and filled me tanks up. Oohh...we're off on an overnight trip. But NO!! He just disappears back into the house and leaves me all expectant.

The sun sets, the moon rises, the moon sets, the sun rises and a few hours later He comes out and start loading me up...so a quick start this morning was what last night was all about. But NO!! He disappears back into the house and I'm left on the cusp again! About 5.00pm both Him'n'Her come out, get on board (with Her in the driver's seat, naturally) and we're off heading south down the A1.

An incident-free hour-and-a-half later and we arrive at Craken House Caravan and Camping Site near Leyburn. Marjorie shows us the lower caravan filed and tells us to pick one of the last remaining three pitches - I opt for the one nearest the small pond so Him'n'Her can watch the ducks dabbling and cows drinking. This is a lovely little site and I'll definitely be bringing them here again, even though the facilities are not in the luxury category - but they did agree that the showers were the best they'd had on any site so far...plentiful hot water and free.

We had wonderful views of the surrounding countryside, including being able to see Middleham Castle, which just added to the loveliness of the site.

After a nice bowl of chilli, Him'n'Her go off for a short walk and arrive back in time to see a red moon rise with me. Yes, that's right, the moon was red...well orangeish once the camera had done its business ;-)

After that it was off to bed for us all, and a good night's rest was had, despite the occasional blustery gust and a few showers, and we woke bright and early on Saturday to a blue sky and those lovely views.

After breakfast they left me watching the duck-pond whilst they went for a wander to Middleham, round the side of the castle and then cross some fields and down to the River Cover. They then followed the river downstream through woods alive with bluebells, wild garlic and orchids and seeing the rive rflow over some wonderful bedding planes before crossing the river on some fantastic stepping stones.

Shortly after this they stopped in the slightly up-market Blue Lion Hotel, East Witton, for a pint of mucky beer. They commented that the beer was good, ( although a bit pricey by their standards) and the pub was full of wonderful furniture including big curved benches, large tables and a huge roaring fire.

After only one pint (are they not well?) they carried on walking and a mile or so later crossed the Cover Bridge and stopped at the Cover Bridge Inn for more mucky beer (obviously not, not well ;->). This was, apparently, a lovely little pub with 7 real ales and another roaring open fire.

From the inn it was back to Middleham and a very late lunch in a - no, not a pub, but a very nice cafe - the Castle Keep Tea Rooms, after having got caught in a torrential shower five minutes after leaving the pub. They also spent some time looking at the the architecture on view in the town.

They arrived back nice and dry, however, as the sun had reappeared and dried up all the rain and incey-wincey Him'n'Her walked up the hill again.

Sunday morning they are up bright and early again, have breakfast and leave me watching the cows and ducks while they go off and explore Leyburn - which was largely shut! She did, however, score a bargain in a gift shop and bought a lovely glass paperweight.

On the way back home, I decided that they needed to have a look around Richmond and especially to wander away from the town centre and down to the river, before I got them back home a little after 4 o'clock that afternoon.

Yet another fandabbydosy weekend for me, and I think Him'n'Her enjoyed it as well.

Apparently photos will follow when H's uploaded them, whatever that means.

Looks like He's finally got round to it...see His photos of Leyburn here.

Fourteen: York (25/04/09 - 26/04/09)

Another Friday, and another quick getaway after they'd come back from 'work' - whatever that is! Once more, south down the A 19 - Whitby? York? Somewhere new?

A couple of hours later and we pull into Rawcliffe Manor Caravan Park again, so York it is, and another super-pitch for me. I must be doing something right ;-)

Before we left, however, they had strapped bikes on to my rear end... I'm guessing they'll be doing a bit of exercise (the only 8-letter swear word I know) while we're here. After hooking me up, off they trot to the Lysander Arms for grub and mucky beer - is there a theme developing here? Am I nothing more than a conveyance between meals and ale?

After a couple of hours, they return, have a bit of a read (He's into Terry Pratchett's Discworld at the mo and she's reading Kate Mosse's Sepulchre) and then it's off to sleep for all of us ....UNTIL...2.00am and 4 young &8^%$ people get back from a night out in York city centre, crank up the boombox and yak like there's no tomorrow. About 2 hours later they finally shut up and peace falls once again on Rawcliffe Manor.

8.00am and the noisy neighbours are up and about...even more than that, they are packing up their caravan and awning and, and hour or so later they've gone...leaving only a memory of a disturbed night behind them...oh, the resilience of youth!

Him'n'Her then get the bikes down and set off for the day - cycling into York and then walking the City Walls. When they got back they kept on-and-on about what a great day it had been - easily finding somewhere near the Minster to tether their bikes whilst they did the City Walls walk, which, apparently was very nice, and they saw lots of lovely gardens and tulips in bloom...

and then found a nice little tea room for lunch - scrummy sandwiches and baked tatties. What, no mucky beer!! Well, I suppose they were being good...after all they were on their bikes.

They also yammered on about how much they had enjoyed listening to Cor Meibion De Cymru (South Wales Male Choir) rehearsing in York Minster, apparently having chatted with a couple of them in the tea room and finding out about the rehearsal. TIDY!

Mind you, She was a bit miffed that his sense of direction wasn't quite in full working order and they had added at least 3 extra miles to the trip back - but like most men He doesn't have the word LOST in his vocabulary.

A lovely sunny Sunday morning and we set off for home fairly early...odd, me thinks....we don't usually leave this early...maybe he's got a footy match to go to...but no, his beloved SAFC are away this weekend - which is why we've come away - You know, I'm now an expert on the SAFC fixture list!

However, instead of going straight back, a few miles down the road we turn off to the left and end up at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens. They have a wander round the gardens which have a lovely show of tulips and a wonderful acer and then go and look at the portraits and furniture in the house.

A couple of hours later, they return and off we set for home...but NO, this time they suprise me agian by taking me to Helmsley, where they abandon me in the farthest corner of the car park, squeezed between a tree and a car, whilst they go off in search of food in the lovely little town.

A nice tea-shop and a wander round the town later and they're back and this time they say we're definitely going home...but NO...a few miles outside of Helmsley and we are turned back by the police who have closed the road due to a fatal accident. We turn round and then go back through Helmsley, our thoughts with those involved in the accident and follow the Police's advice to get to the A 19 via Sutton Bank - thankfully, this means going down it, rather than up it, Phew!!! No more problems, detours or stops and it's back home by 6.00pm. Another enjoyable weekend away.

You can see more of their photos from this trip here.

Thirteen: Whitby, Hinderwell and Runswick Bay (04/04/09 - 05/04/09)

Saturday morning, without any warning, they chuck a few bags on and off we go - no filling up with water, no big bags of clothes, no food to speak off - a bit minimalist for my liking. A day-trip, methinks - but where? South down the A19 and then East on A194 - aha...Whitby is my guess, and an hour or so later I'm proven right.

They park me up right next to Whitby Abbey

...I'm glad that it's a bright sunny day and there's no chance of a visit from Dracula - not that I'm scared of him...after all, he'd have a hard job getting any blood out of me.

They came back about four hours later telling tales of very good fish'n'chips, and a wonderful half-hour trip out to sea on the old Whitby Lifeboat, a truly magnificent little vessel, as you can see below.

They also went on about how great it was to get Her pledge ring back with Whitby Jet replacing the previous stone...now it matched His again and they were both looking as good as the day they bought them over 20 years ago in Greece.

We set off back North, heading towards home along the coastal route but, when we got to Hinderwell, they suprised me by pulling into the Serenity Caravan and Camping Park. Pat and Nigel, the owners, soon got us sorted with a pitch amongst other vans and chickens!

They don't want me to say too much about how wonderful the site was, how very excellent the facilities were and how relaxing a time they had there because they are worried that you might want to go there and then they will not be able to get a place next time so I'll just say DON'T STAY at this site ;-) - at least when Him'n'Her and Me want to go there.

That night they went out for mucky beer in the Brown Cow and good steak pie and roasties in the Badger Hounds before coming back and jigging (doing their jigsaw - not dancing round like idiots) and dropping off to sleep.

The following day they had brekkie al-fresco and then set off for a walk to Runswick Bay via Port Mulgrave although they didn't stop to look for fossils there. Nevertheless, they said the walk along the cliff tops was fandabbydosy and Runswick bay an absolutely charming, picturesque seaside village.

They then came back to Serenity and we all said goodbye to the chickens and set off for home. After about half an hour or so, we parked up in Saltburn-by-the Sea, a somewhat faded resort town with some lovely architecture, a water-balanced cliff-face lift (which, sadly, wasn't running today) and Andy McKeown's Organism Sculpture which they thought was rather fine. A walk around the town was followed by lunch in a nice little cafe and then back home.

I hope they remember to take their dirty laundry out this time...I'm fed up of their smelly socks (although the no-stink undies are still not stinky!!!).

See more of the photos from this trip here.