Wednesday 14th - 21st August 2024
Travelled up to York. Relatively easy trip but so many lengthy roadworks on M1 with restricted speed - and no work going on in some areas. Almost half of our trip was taken up with this. Not enjoyable. However, we made it onto Warthill Grange around 3.30pm having left at 9.15 so made an OK time.
Warthill Grange looks very posh on first impression with mown lawns a long driveway after a gated entry and hard standing. We set up, including the awning then Josh, Sophia and I went for an explore. I knew there was a pond and we could see a bridge so headed off that way. Passing by another motorhome, some very small dogs suddenly started yapping making quite a din. Crossing the bridge, which did go over water was a decked area with tables and chairs. Trouble is they were really dirty and not very pleasant to spend any time there. Josh took a few pictures from across the pond of Sophia and me. Then we found a path all the way around the pond. Again it could have done with a little TLC but we managed to get around it all the way. We then saw a broken down car and van and old range style cooker. What is this place? There was a path through the woods we found which ended up near where we had parked up so did have a small adventure.
Game of Great Britain after dinner then set up for bed. We couldn't find the wooden extra bit that Mike had so painstakingly made to make up the bed so Sophia and I had to adapt our sleeping patterns. We didn't sleep very well that night although Sophia said it was due to someone snoring. We bought earplugs the following day.
Thursday
Jorvic centre on the cards today. So drove to the Park and Ride into York. We bought some trousers for Sophia and a sweatshirt for Josh. I bet Mike wasn't expecting doing some clothes shopping. Explored a small bit of the Shambles and a few small snickleways. Sausage rolls and pork pie for lunch. Mike was hoping to get some pork dripping but the butchers didn't sell it.
Friday
Railway museum today. Had to go through the rail station and over the bridge to get to the road it was on. The station is quite ornate and obviously old. We had to get pre- book tickets for the railway museum but it was free entry. Some wonderful old steam engines including Stephensons Rocket. I remember learning about that at school. Unfortunately, you couldn't get on any of the engines apart from one which was a replica (I presume) of the Japanese bullet train and then you could only sit and watch a vignette. We had an ice cream there but everything is so expensive.On our walk back to the city walls, we sat & rested and were asked to carry out a survey by a couple of Japanese students. It was about work and how long I spend at it compared with home. I don't know what they were studying.
Further around, we saw a sign for Monet at the Art gallery which Josh said he'd like to see so Josh, Sophia and I went in. Josh and I enjoyed looking at all the art work including the Lily pond by Monet but Sophia soon became bored. Trouble was, if she sat down while we looked around she was asked where her carers were.
After finishing there, we went to get another sausage roll/pork pie then to catch the bus. A quick shop in Asda including drinks for the kids then back home. A few games of Uno this evening in which Sophia won 2 games and Mike and I won a game a piece.
Saturday
A quiet day as Mike and I are getting quite exhausted. Reading, phones or sleeping was the order of the day except for a trip out to get food for a BBQ for dinner. Sophia also took Mike around the pond and woods so he could have an explore too. Petange in the evening and flicking playing cards. Josh got really good and managed to throw them some distance.Sunday
York Dungeons today. This was Sophia's choice of venue but she probably didn't realise what it was all about as she had to he taken out after a short while. Mike took her out to roam the streets of York while Josh and I stayed to enjoy the rest of what the dungeons had to offer. Very grisly and semi scary. I did grab Josh at one time when an ‘apparition’ appeared just in front of me. The actors were very good.In the afternoon, the Castle museum was also good although we needed a sit down and something to eat. The museum was good and very varied ranging from fashion fron 17th century through the ages to current day. There was a 60's themed area and a Victorian street set up with shops and rooms. We also saw a prison set up and one of Mikes ancestors was incarcerated here before being transported to Australia.
Another exhausting day with the three of us having showers when
we returned, while Mike got on with making a roast dinner.
Monday
Off to Whitby. The drive over the North York Moors was spectacular with so much purple heather.
We also saw a steam train in the
valley bottom. Couldn't get parked on the wharf so had to back track to the park and
ride. So many people! Walked up the 199 steps to the Abbey and looked around
the church. Had to pay for the Abbey so
didn't do that, J&S were a little disappointed but as I hadn't taken any money
there was no choice.
We then went to get some fish and chips from one Trenchers shop but they didn't have fish cakes (which Sophia wanted) and the other had really long
queues outside so we went to Wendy's.
Apparently it's an American burger place. Very manic ordering and didn't
realise it didn't come with chips. Not enjoyable for us but I think the kids
enjoyed it. Along to the amusement arcade and we gave them £5 for the
machines. Not that they could go on many as the one armed bandits were classed
as gambling and 18s only. However, Josh found a machine that fired 2p pieces
out and when they dropped they were pushed up to the mound of coins which
sometimes dropped so he had more coins. He stayed at that for a length of time
and eventually won a Bluey character toy for Sophia. We were all enthralled
with this and all took part collecting coins, firing coins and getting excited
when it got close. He nearly won a
second one but ran out of money. Still we all had fun at that one. Ice creams after that and Sophia had hers
dripping all down her arms even though it was in a tub. Time to get home. Another exhausting day.
