Hope is a thing with feathers

A phrase I have never understood.

A weekend away with Angela, at a CL called Farfield Farm, at Hope near Castleton. Lovely views but really overpriced. Arrived in the dark and nearly got stuck in the wrong field.

Tarka dhal is 'otter

Next day we went down for coffee and cake at a local church schoolroom, then a drive up Winnet's Pass to the Chestnut otter and owl sanctuary.













Finally, down to Castleton for a browse of the shops, followed by ham, eggs and chips. Perfect.

Whitby Walking Weekend

Off to Whitby with the Harrogate Short Walks group. I stayed in Aislaby just outside on a peaceful CL called Abbey View.


Two short walks, one to Saltwick Bay and the other along the beach to Sandsend.

Shrewsbury 2017

Another great weekend, highlights were:

• La Machine
• Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
• Greg Russell
• Loudoun Wainwright 
• Rheingan Sisters
• Sarah Jarosz

After waiting to see the Unthanks for ages, I found them a bit dreary, similarly Coven were a political harangue so I left them both.

Had a dance at a ceilidh with a beardy man in pink trousers.

Aberystwyth

Heading home, I called in at where Dad did his M Ed degree. The photos don't do it justice, the weather wasn't that bad! On the front were lots of international flags, mainly from people struggling for independence - very interesting.

I walked to the end, and this photo shows me 'kicking the bar', which is a tradition but no-one seems to agree on why: Kicking The Bar

This is a spot just under 'Consti', otherwise known as Constitution Hill.

The best way up there is the Cliff Railway. Nice brunch in the caff looking at the lovely view.

New Quay

The Good Life campsite was facility-free, but had a sea view (just) and would have been quiet except for the barking dogs locked in the neighbouring tent - some people shouldn't be allowed animals...


I set off from the campsite on a Ceredigion section of the  Coast walk - Cwmtydu to New Quay, and it was fantastic! Very hot, I was glad I had the sun at my back. Lots of up and down over the clifftops to a pretty town in full holiday swing. Sadly I had picked a day when the bus didn't run, so got a taxi back to the site as I was jiggered.

Cwmtydu

Along the route

New Quay

The next day I did a short walk from the site again, through some positively Jurassic Park-style woodlands, ending up at a local landmark called Pea Pod Corner with a cute gift shop.

Marloes

After calling in at the Ferry to see Jackie and Karen (and meet Ethan for the first time!) I headed off to a small village called Marloes, on a small headland jutting out to see.

Foxdale campsite was a large field of mainly tents, luckily for me it was quite quite. I think it was a good choice - an onsite kiosk selling stew for tea and bacon butties in the morning. Lovely couple running it. It was also much more sheltered than the CL I saw later on the trip being battered by the wind.

The next day I took a walk round the headland - through the village past the bell tower, across the old airfield, through a bird reserve (with hides) and along cliffs. I also detoured to Marloes sands, which was a cracking beach, mainly because there is no car access.

On the way up to my next stop, I called in at a pretty town called Newport, right on the estuary. Popped in to stock up on supplies.  

One great stop, down tiny leafy lanes, was Bluestone Brewery. Picked up a few bottles for research purposes.

Next stop was Pentre Ifan neolithic dolmen, a burial chamber with a fabulous outlook. Also made from bluestone, named after the brewery (ha!).

West Wales

A lovely short break in Pembs/Ceredigion, staying at Marloes and New Quay, both new places to me. See Wales trips

Canada Fields, for Tom and Denise

Well, I hadn't fractured my ankle, 'just' torn ligaments so no pot thank goodness. As I was able to walk ok on the flat, I joined the SMCF rally at Canada Fields, Northallerton. This was organised by Tom and Denise, but sadly Denise had died a few months before the event so it was held as a tribute. She had pre-arranged for us all to be treated to a meal of roast pork sarnies and salads.

Tom

As it was my first major outing since my accident I had determined to do NOTHING, and I did precisely that. Just sat in the blazing sun, (in a dress!) chatting to other van owners, and a short walk around the fishing lakes.

The lakes had fantastic variety of plants and insects, some of which I hadn't seen since I was a child.



On Sunday, Angela and I had a good root around the shops in Northallerton, a fine lunch in Barker's, tea in Lewis & Cooper and I bought a lovely pendant at the carnival (mix of small charity stalls, burger vans and a children's fair rides).

Home via Hugh and Sharon's where we discussed Deershed - my next outing.

Disaster at Eden

I went up to Eden festival, and on the first night I stepped out of the van, forgetting I had no back step, and fractured my ankle. I am too depressed to say any more.

Going down to Rosedale (but no rider by my side)

I finally had the van door lock looked at, and a new piece fitted, so decided to take it up Sutton Bank for a test - thankfully I had no problems at all (although I had fixed a bungee to the door just in case).

It was a lovely sunny day up on the North York Moors, and after a short mooch about I went down the 1:3 Chimney Bank to the Howard site in Rosedale Abbey for the night.

Sadly I had packed liver instead of steak - yuk. The site was ok as it wasn't full and I managed to get a place with no neighbours, but was one of those awful linear ones that look like a car park.

It was good to be out on the tops in the sun and I think Dad would have approved.

A break in travel notes to remember Dad

Sadly Dad died on 11th May, so travels suspended. I did spend a few nights in the van on the drive - a handy extra bed in extremis.

Lovely Leek and a good walk

I went to Leek for 1 night - it is a nice little town. I went to Buxton too – I am not sure why, it is a spa town with gardens, pavilions, and a theatre...hmmmm, I could have saved myself a trip there! I could have spent a fortune in Leek, it has lots of vintage shops and a lovely gallery. However it would have just been more clutter so I resisted.

I walked along a ridge called The Roaches on the Sunday; a long series of ridges in an area called the Staffordshire Moorlands, which I had never heard of before. It was 6.75 miles and 550m up! 

Along the way was a place called Lud’s Church which is a crevasse where Sir Gawain lopped the head of the Green Knight, if you believe in King Arthur etc. I just did some silly Monty Python voices.  Lots of lovely people about and an ice cream to boot. 

There was also a tree trunk studded with coins, but I don't know why. Then a few miles through woodland that was deafening with bird song!

I was accompanied at one point by this dog who was with the mountain rescue people, who were having a rehearsal. Much as I would have enjoyed being carried down by those lovely chaps, I was a bit put out that the dog assumed it was me who needed rescuing!

At the top!

On the down sides - the campsite was next to the A53, which is a lovely road to drive on but blummin' noisy to sleep next to, and the sodding van rear door won't stay shut! I had to lash it closed with some clothes line, as it was flying open after 20 mins on the road. Sigh. Let's hope it can be repaired easily - I really don't want to get rid of it :-(