Barnard Castle with Angela

An unplanned couple of nights to meet up with Angela who was on a longer trip with others. First night was on a CL called Lodge Farm at Scargill, which was lovely. I took a pretty route through Leyburn and Reeth to get there. Bacon butty stop at Leyburn.  

The next day we went over to Appleby for an explore, and found the Courtyard Gallery for a coffee and browse. 

The weather wasn't brilliant so we went on to the Teesdale CMC site and pitched up. We walked down the hill through the woods, then over the river and up to Barnard Castle, about 30 mins walk.

 

It was pretty tiring so after poking around in lots of shops we got a taxi back to the site. The next day I headed back home, leaving Angela to meet her friends the next day.

Toe in the water - Richmond

I picked the CMC site at Richmond for 2 nights because I'd been there before and it was just off the A66, so it would be easy to come home if needed. This was the first night away since the virus regulations came in to force, and the first van trip since February. Thankfully Mike and Chris were happy to pop in and feed Charlie while I was away.

To make the most of the trip, which was all on familiar territory, I took the slow road up to Richmond and made several stops.

      

Pately Bridge - first socially-distanced meal in a cafe! Tuna sandwiches and tea, which tasted fabulous. The town was VERY quiet for July.

Then I went on to Scar reservoir which was really busy, the carpark was full so I snacked on blueberries, looked at the view and moved on.

I then took a fantastic road over the tops past Leighton reservoir to Masham, which again was packed so after a brief leg-stretch I carried on to the site.

All was well organised, with sanitisers, distancing and controlled access to the blocks by armbands hung outside the door - if there were more than 2, you couldn't go in.

The next day after a few false starts I got a bus down to Richmond with a group of other campers. Lunch in Penley's Cafe (Cajun chicken burger!) and a trip around the Green Howards museum which was excellent.

Ages spent at Green Howards museum - medal room, lots of uniforms and kit, explations of various campaigns through the decades. Below a landmine timer from the First World War, and a massive sheep's head - a very cross, deceased, mascot.

The next day I drove up to Barnard Castle to meet Tim and Judy Tribe for coffee in the square, which was lovely. They looked so well, a perfect advertisement for retirement!

I got the ultimate Covid souvenir! 

If this means nothing by the time you read this blog, see the background here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/52828076