RSPB trip to Alnmouth

I spent four nights up near Alnmouth, where a group of a dozen birdwatchers from the Harrogate RSPB club were staying at the HF centre. By the end of their stay they had spotted 104 different species! I managed 30 new species for this year.

On the way up I called at Corbridge Roman Town to see the dodecahedrons which were on temporary display. Very intriguing. I joined a guided tour of the complex, one of the major towns and part of the Hadrian's Wall complex. I nosed around the museum too, so made good use of my English Heritage membership.

Walkmill campsite was lovely, and thankfully my pitch was on hardstanding at the top of the hill - there has been almost continuous rain for months I didn't like the look of the sloping, grassy access to the lower pitches some of the campers were on. Lovely site, but I suspect it gets packed in good weather. 

On the first evening I drove down to meet the group for a talk from one of the local reserve wardens. I now know how to spot a sandwich tern and a kittiwake.

The next day we met at Craster, and spent over 5 hours birdwatching as we wandered along the 3 miles of coastal path down to Boulmer. A fantastic day, clear blue skies and great company. I spotted a linnet (spot of the day!) and the other highlight for me was the beautiful stonechat. Kittiwakes and sea birds plus something called a purple sandpiper that I'd never heard of.

Note the group of people on top of the cliffs, to get the scale.

The following day the forecast wasn't as good so we went to Hauxley reserve, a reclaimed quarry with lots of hides so we could shelter from the showers. Mainly warblers and ducks, but it included the gorgeous shelduck, one of my favourites. We also heard a grasshopper warbler, another bird I'd never heard of. (Pretty sure they were't making these up to tease the newbie.)

Day 4 they were heading off to Lindesfarne and other coastal spots to look for terns, but I'd had my fill of socialising - 2 days on the trot being in a group is something of a strain these days. Instead I went to Warkworth Castle, which was a mere mile or so from the campsite. The Hermitage was sadly closed, due to lack of a boat (!).

Warkworth looked like an interesting village too, but I was tired out after exploring and so after a quick trip to the beachfront for a picnic lunch, I replenished supplies at Morrison's at Amble then headed back to the site and chilled out.

Bolton Abbey - in hot water

After a hab check and service, I now have 2 full Calor gas bottles, for the first time ever. How Steve had managed to get hold of them I don't know, and didn't ask. He also fixed the water outflows, but the water pump had died so needed replacing. Also needed a new battery in the smoke alarm, it must have been beeping for ages in the body shop over the winter!

I drove up to the CMC site on the Bolton Abbey estate via Greenhow, a lovely run but the narrow bridge at Barden was a bit of a fright. As I had water in the tank I actually used the hot water system (again, for the first time) and it was nicer on the hands and face for sure. 

The site is right on the river access and so the next day I rambled slowly down the far bank to the Cavendish cafe for lunch - via Harrison's Ford, ha ha - and back up the Strid side, around 5 miles altogether. The forecast rain didn't appear and it was plenty warm enough. 

The next day I drove over to Silsden and met up with Sue. We had a coffee (quelle surprise) and beans on toast for me, then she took me on a short walk (4 miles?) along a section of the Bradford Millennium loop. We came back in to Silsden along the Leeds/Liverpool canal towpath.

It's been 7 hours and 96 days, since you took my van away.....

Saturday. Finally, on 16th March, the van passed its MOT at the second attempt. After weeks of welding and a new wheel bearing (and thousands of pounds) I went straight from the garage to Lower Wenselydale CMC site just outside Leyburn. 

The van steering was much better after the wheel bearing change, and she was all shiny clean with new leisure batteries so all seemed well.

Sadly, the 240v sockets and electric heating wouldn't work. As I had no gas left, that meant no hot food/drinks or heating. I went up to the village (approx 20 min walk) and had a pint of Theakston's in the Kings Head/Arms to commiserate. 

No hot food on offer in the village, so a quick trip to the Co-op for provisions and I got in to bed at 6.30 to keep warm. Outside the birdsong was incredible. The site is based in an old quarry and the limekilns are still there. I was on the top level so could see the across the dale. 

Sunday 17th

After a quick phone call with fellow van-owner Paul, I had a few more ideas to try - however I idly turned the hotplate on again in forlorn hope - AND IT WORKED! After some searching in the Vantage owners FB page I also managed to get the electric heating to come on (and stop the flashing gas warning light in the bargain). No idea why the 240v sockets weren't working the day before, I must have just jiggled the right switch/fuse.

Life seemed so much better, and later that day I had a pint of Timothy Taylor's in the Black Swan to celebrate.

First however I walked up to the Leyburn heritage railway station (Wensleydale Line) and had a trip up to Leeming Bar and back. On the way I chatted to some lovely people who were very inspiring - they had spent 2 years driving around the coast of the UK, and also been site wardens, something I had considered.

At Leeming Bar we had a short tour around the Station Master's house which was set as it had been in the 1920s.

This time I was able to get a hot meal in Leyburn - a mahoosive home made corned beef hash, which came with baked beans and 2 fried eggs on top. Most unexpected.

The sun came out in the evening so I sat in the doorway of the van, did a bit of birdspotting (jackdaws, rooks, great tits) and felt all the despondency of the previous months melt away. 

This is the life.