Wells to Yorkshire and visit with George and Enid

Thursday 15th April, 1982                     misty and cold

Up early and wash hair - very foggy and cold - the van wouldn't start so everyone out and pushed it till it started - Lee singing out to "stop stop" Marie answers "we haven't started".  On the road again through Wells to Avon county - Marksbury - the most beautiful white magnolia trees I've ever seen.  Into Bath - no Park so on again through Burton and Castle Combe where Dr Doolittle was filmed, a lovely village but the park was 2 miles up the narrow road.  We had morning tea there and off - again through old Sodbury to the Severn River where we lunched in a huge service station overlooking the river and Wales.

Off across the bridge to Wales on to Tintern Abbey, which stands in ruins. 

Tintern Abbey,

A thriving abbey which fell foul when Henry VIII axed the Catholic religion.  Beautiful countryside in Wales as we meandered along the country roads - through Pen Crag and crossed the Wye River to England again and on to Ledbury where we shopped.  A lovely old town with its mediaeval marketplace - it boasts a " Full Pitcher Inn ".  On then about 8 miles to the caravan Park.

Met five girls from Bathurst.  Met a gentleman with relatives in Aussie who had a map of Australia on wall of shop. 

Friday 16th April, 1982               sunny but cool

Left Brompton Yard caravan Park after walking up to the village for some cough mixture for kids - lovely town.  Through Tenbury on a lovely spring morning, stopped at Bewdly for morning tea - hoping for scones and cream.  The innkeeper was very nice and put a coffee pot on for us - said you can bring in anything nice out of van - was funny - beautiful hot coffee, nice host and over own bickies all sitting around bay window of the "Hop Pole Inn" in the Hop Pole Lane - such great names.

Hop Pole Inn, Bewdley, UK

On to Much Wenlock for petrol where John just made it.  We stopped for lunch and just made it.  On then through Telford - birthplace of industry, where so much industry was commenced.  We had a misunderstanding between driver and navigator - a beauty this time, and whilst I kept thinking we were going to end up in the bushes - we did - in a car park in the bushes miles from all but Coalport Museum - the Leyland Brothers. We lunched, made friends and went to find parking for Ironbridge the oldest Iron Bridge still in use, built in 1779.  First ever built using mortise and tenon joints, with wedges and dowels - no nuts or bolt used.

Walked across and then to a little market and on to Wellington - Shrewsbury - Wem - along narrow roads to Whitchurch.  Then we were only a half hour to Chester.  Had tea and shower and whilst Sean and Brett walked the wall we went for a stroll up town.  The kids found a fish and chip shop and for 20p got a feed. Marton Mere camp - lovely hot water.

Saturday 17th April, 1982                       sunny and warm         

Up early, breakfast and up to town to shop - love Chester - brought jumper, singlets and a new overcoat - good bye to my old coat of 16 years old.  I am set right now for home.  Sandra fitted Rachelle out with new jackets, shoes and pyjamas - no American express - Sandra owes $28 on my master charge account.  Across to highway and on to Blackpool, only to find after a dash into town, everything closes at 7 p.m.  Still the kids enjoyed what they saw and the rides they had.  Enjoyed the stroll along the promenade - fish and chips - watching the parade of people - coloured hair, chains, dresses etc a real education for the kids.  Lee and Brett say they will start new Nambucca fashions with what they have seen

Sunday 18th April, 1982              lovely

Up early and washed clothing and to mass across the road at St Monica's.  A lovely little church and a lovely little priest.  Rae just saw a cow giving piggy back?  Morning tea and across country through Church town, Lancaster, Melling, Kirkby Lonsdale where we had lunch in town - everyone comes out in the sunshine on a Sunday.  On through Hawes, Aysgarth and Leyburn where John rang George Shaw - we retraced our drive to Aysgarth where we met George and he showed us over his Carriage Museum - Dorothy and Sid, Enid's sister and brother-in-law kept us entertained till George arrived - the falls are beautiful right outside his door.  

View of the Dales; money washing with Brett, John, Lee; the boys with George and George's Roller

There is a carriage at George's Carriage Museum that has a ghost story attached to it - when a photographer took a photo of the gig and developed it,  a man was sitting in it with a tam-o'-shanter - rumour goes he was killed by this gig in the garden.

George then took us for a drive to Bolton Castle where the Queen,Mary of Scots was imprisoned.  

Rumour has it that when she escaped she dropped her shawl and that town was known as Shawl near Leyburn; over hill and dale through beautiful Yorkshire countryside we came into Richmond caravan Park - showered, ate and up to George and Enid's via taxi.  We didn't arrive home till 2:30 p.m.  John better - Sean sick.  Enid arrived home from feeding Liz's animals in the lovely fur coat and expensive dress.

Monday 19th April, 1982                   Brompton on Swale

Up into Richmond to shop and wash - brought 2 nice Constable plates.  Sean to doctor at 5 p.m., he has bad bronchitis again.  George took Marie, Lee, John and Brett out to Bowes Museum in his Bentley - the kids loved the ride yesterday.  Lazy afternoon and parcel packed ready to go.

George told us about a little cafe where we could have fresh scones, jam and cream - closed Monday - so we began our trek till we ended up at the Castle restaurant - we had dined there before - had scones, jam and cream, those that wanted them.  I had a sandwich - some of the kids had chicken, peas and chips.  So much for the jam scones.  

Out to tea with George and Enid.  They came to pick us up at 7:30 p.m. in Enid's Saab - funny we were all ready - George put his cane out the window - singing out Tally Ho and away went the convoy the long way around past green fields and small villages till we came to "A66 Motel" where the vans parked straight out of door within sight - we were at Smallways about 4 ½ miles from Richmond.  Had drinks and then tea - Liz joined us - and it was a lovely evening - meal was superb - company great, returned to bar where we stayed till 12 midnight.  Into cars and off home on convoy - bed and a beautiful sleep.  Marie and Sandra fell in love with the man in the suit of armour - rang John and Elsie - the dinner went on my MasterCard as John and Lee had American express £71 for eight of us not bad $13 each

Tuesday 20th April, 1982                        lovely and sunny

Sleep in and awake about 9 a.m. - shower. lovely day again - up to George and Enid's for morning tea - a lovely two hours spent again with mine host.  They have been "splendid" to all of us - sorry to say goodbye - off on village roads to Ripon.

No Park so on to an area outside for lunch.  Marie and Lee drove back into town for toilet.  We all looked anxiously towards town until they appeared in the horizon.  Then on to York where we arrived at 4 p.m. and walked into town to shop.  Lovely York - early bed.

 

Wells to York, UK

Yorkshire to Richmond

 Saturday 22nd of August, 1981

After breakfast we were off and eager to see the rest of York.  All slept well despite all our ghost stories and visits to mysterious churches, medieval Saxon and Roman haunts.  

The camp is situated on the banks of the Ouse, a short walk to town through the wall.  York is a city full of English history; the town centre is still full of times gone by.  It is surrounded by a wall built in the 13th century.  Buildings have been discovered to prove Romans occupied Eboracum in 71 AD.  In the seventh century Saxons settled within the fortress walls.  The little wooden church built on the site was the first York Minster.  In 867 AD York fell to the Danish invaders, some old streets and their names date from this era.  Goodramgate Street, Shamblesgate.  Danish kings of York reigned till 944 AD.  In 1066 AD William the Conqueror came north to subdue the rebellion in York.

Stone city walls and gates were built in the 13th century.  Medieval streets and shops still are preserved in the city centre.  The present Minster was begun by Archbishop Grey in 1220 but was finished in 1472.

York Minster is the largest one in the United Kingdom and second-largest in the whole of Europe.  Great spires reach high into the air, dwarfing large buildings beside it.  Built of white stone the carving in both wood and stone is only a small insight into the magnificent craft of the tradesmen.  It is just too awesome to believe that this building has stood for 600 years with only minor restoration.

After tea we showered then went for a walk around the city wall, 4.35 miles and we did it in an hour. 

York Minster at night from the wall

So much to see and do in this grand city but tomorrow we move on towards Richmond.

 

Sunday 23rd of August, 1981

We broke camp and were on the road by 8:45 a.m.  The streets were deserted this early but will probably throb with people later on.  Took a last film of Micklegate.

York, UK

Then headed for the Yorkshire Dales - no doubt a Sunday drive for most Britons, but a long 116 miles day-long tour across Dales for us.  Scenery was out of this world and so were we quite a few times when we were nose to nose with another vehicle in the narrow lanes.  Tempers flared?  Most lanes were lined with stone fences - all the paddocks were divided also with stone divides and wooden gates.  Heather coloured, the top of the Dales in deep mauve and the grass is greener here than anywhere seen so far.

We stopped at Applewick a very small village which has a lovely little pub and a river ran through the centre.  Slowly made our way to Thresfield where we had our lunch outside a 1506 Church - all the villages have used gray brick locally quarried I have found.

We drove through the national park - beautiful countryside.  The river Ure runs over cobbled river bed, people laze on the grassy slopes.  I think all of England is out in these moors today and why not, the sun is shining and though the locals strip to idolise the Sun, God we have long sleeves on.  We stopped at Arncliffe but didn't stay - an ugly little village - decay and neglect everywhere, the first one we have seen like this!

With great delight we came down out of the moors and Dales into Hawes, a fertiliser smell pervaded the car.  Sean said it was the drivers of the cars we had held up for so long coming down narrow lanes who had dirtied their pants.  Hawes is a clean town - everyone we have met have been so helpful and interested in our trip and Australia.  Found a park at Swale outside of Richmond and settled.  Then went into town and found a delightful cafe that served high tea.  Fish and chips or salad, apple pie and cream, B and B and a big pot of tea for £2 a head - and very satisfying!  A walk around the Market Square and home to bed to read and sleep. 

Monday the 24th August, 1981

The day dawned sunny and clear, not a cloud in the sky - the area the camp is in has the river Swale trickling through it, also Brompton on Swale where we are booked into tonight.  Cobblestones line river bed as the river passes by it is very low-rainfall, hasn't been up to normal this summer.  We had breakfast, showered and drove the 3 miles into town.  It is hard to rethink imperial system.  Two hours at laundromat (mundane things must be done) a walk around the antique shops, obtaining nice bargains in some plates, a seat in the sun at the obelisk.  

Brompton on Swale caravan park

The Market Square is cobblestones all the way, parking in centre, a large obelisk stands majestically in the centre - the ruins of Richmond Castle forms part of the town.  It has a history of William the Conqueror building it as a fortress in 1069.  It has not been preserved as well as other castles.

In the afternoon we visited friends of San and John - Enid and George Shaw, a delightful couple who have a brother living in Coffs Harbour.  Their daughter Liz & niece Jackie from America came to tea and we had a delightful evening not wanting to come home but Rachelle set the pace when she fell asleep at midnight.  Splendid!

Today we are having another trip into town and George is taking us for a drive.

York to Richmond UK