Goodness they’re getting keen. Hardly a week has passed and they’re taking me out again. Can’t wait to see where I end up this time. Oh, we’re heading off down the A1 again….looks like it could be the Yorkshire Dales or the Lakes…depends on what we do when we get to Scotch Corner.
Carry straight on is what we did…I’m guessing fish’n’chips at the Wetherby Whaler for Him’n’Her and a nice little layby for me. But NO! Before we get that far south we turn off for Ripon.
After navigating Ripon’s odd one-way system, which isn’t made any easier by roadworks and Him guessing when to turn right and left, they eventually end up on the road to Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey, but pull off into River Laver Caravan Park before we get there.
We are given the first hard-standing just inside the road barrier and get onto it ok and within 5 minutes I’m hooked up, gas on and cooking on all burners. They talk about having stayed on this site before when they had an old caravan - whatever one of them is ;-) and how the facilities are very good and that it is within easy walking distance of both Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey and Ripon centre.
On the Saturday, having spent ages talking about how the radio came on when they went to the loo, they went for a walk into Ripon. By all accounts they had a grand time walking along the Riverside and then the Canal bank, taking photos of swans, golden trees in the autumn sun and such like.
They followed this with a visit to Ripon Cathedral, having first taken some pics of the sun shining right through the stained-glass windows – the sun was on the opposite side of the cathedral to them and they were outside it… so it really did shine right through the place as you can see in this shot.
They also had a look in the horizontal mirror which gives a view of the ceiling in the Cathedral.
When they came back they were raving about the lunch they had at a small eatery called Lockwoods, especially the raspberry champagne cocktail and Pimms and Ginger Beer that they had to drink.On Sunday I was expecting them to wander off straight after brekkie and for me to spend the day gassing with the neighbours, but no, it’s pack everything away and off by 11.00am. Instead of turning left for the Ripon one-way system and home, however, we turn right and, after a few miles turn right for Fountains Abbey. The car parking is a bit rough’n’ready and full, but they manage to get a space for me by backing me up against some trees. They then go off and, so they told me later, had a wonderful day exploring both the abbey and the grounds of Studley Royal, including parts of it they had never seen before.
You can see more of their photos from their jaunt here - Ripon - Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
After that it was straight back home and time for a good rest for me.
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