Owls and snowdrops at Jervaux

 I went up to the CL on the Jervaux estate, a lovely site with snowdrops scattered through the grass. I pitched up by the woods, where there was a path to the river. Homemade chilli for tea and an early night serenaded by owls. It was another cold weekend but no ice on the inside of the van this time!

On Saturday morning I waited for the rain showers to end (!) and had a lovely walk through the abbey and along a bridleway through the estate. It was still obvious how high the floods had been in the string of fishponds along the way, and the path was flooded badly in one area. Patches of blue sky overhead and rabbits and rooks scattered as I tramped along.

Back to the van for lunch and a lazy afternoon reading a murder mystery and I watched smugly as there was a short but heavy hailstorm outside.

The teashop was shut unfortunately, and I had to pay my fees by shoving the money in the car park honesty box as there wasn't a soul about all day, apart from a nice couple in a caravan at the opposite end (grandparents, hosting a visit from the grand-kids I think.)

It was colder that night so I was under the covers by 8pm, reading some magazines that were provided in the small toilet block.

Sunday morning started with brilliant blue skies, and I packed up and headed for Masham, after a quick chat with the owner about the possibility of organising a rally there later in the year. I took a brief tour round Masham square and churchyard, but could see black clouds coming down from the North so headed home.

The first brief flurries of snow started as I dropped the van off at the farm - just in time then! Home in the afternoon to cook a casserole and sort out my muddy washing.

Another lovely weekend!

Happy Days

I booked a site at 9am on Saturday and by lunchtime I was in Pickering,  parked up on a frosty farm site. The journey up Sutton Bank was easy,  but lots of snow at the top.  I'd called in the Beadnell Grange again for a bacon butty and to buy a nice steak for tea.

I walked into town and visited the church to see some beautiful murals.

Unfortunately the Beck Isle museum was closed for the winter so I did some shopping: thermal fingerless gloves,  an egg cup,  spare forks and batteries,  and a new top for £3. Not bad.

It was really cold overnight,  I was OK but needed the hot water bottle and several layers of clothing.  There was ice inside the windscreen in the morning!

On Sunday I went to Scarborough. The Rotunda museum was closed for Winter... I walked along the beach in the sun.

Amazingly there were surfers braving the cold.  Crazy people.

I caught the cliff tram up from the spa centre,  then walked across the esplanade bridge to a cafe for coffee and lemon pancakes.

What a great weekend! 

Feeling battered!

I took the van up to site in a nearby village to check it all out, and arrived back home the next day feeling as if I had been at sea for a week. The weather was atrocious, lashing rain and gusty wind shaking the van all night. I was intending to have a shower in their lovely facilities and then go out for the evening but that was all abandoned and instead I just hunkered down.

Plus side

• No leaks! not even the door

• All electrics work

• Bed cushions much more comfortable

• Gas hob glass cover gives lots more usable space.

• I got Spotify and the radio working via my tablet hot spot! (Mum - if you are reading this, that is a very good thing.)

• Getting the hang of the Dali-esque mentality of the back door.

Minus side

• Putting the bed together is more like crazy paving with small life-rafts, and very tiring. I obviously am missing a trick - I nearly fell through the middle of it in the night, which can't be right.

• The curtains need some work - they have used adhesive velcro which has now dropped off.

So all ready to go now IF IT EVER STOPS RAINING.