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.