September - October 2002 |
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This was always one of the highlights of our year and we are quite excited to be going back after missing 3 years. The Muker show is a very traditional Dales show, themed around Swaledale sheep the judging of which goes on all day. There are sheepdog trials, quoit's competition, fell racing, kids activities as well as art, photography, vegetable, flowers, baking and craft competitions. The village Silver Band leads all the dignitaries into the showfield at 9.30 a.m. and the Farmer's Arms is open in case any of the participants (or spectators) are thirsty. In the evening around 5.0 p.m. everyone congregates around the Farmer's Arms, the band plays and everyone joins in the hymn singing - a really wonderful day. The show is always held on the first Wednesday in September, so if you have never been mark it in your diary.
Muker Hiking - We arrived early for the show, were rewarded with some lovely weather allowing us some great hiking opportunities: Hiked the south side of the dale as far as Satron then back along the river Swale to Muker.
Drove to Low Row, hiked over the hills to Grinton where we enjoyed a terrific Sunday roast dinner which we walked off along the river Swale back to the car.
Hiked up Swinner Gill (Wullie's favourite spot) and down Gunnerside Gill. Although there was more cloud than forecast it was fine weather for hiking.
Oxford
A good journey in surprisingly light traffic and arrived in lovely sunshine 10 minutes walk from where Linda lived until we married.
We both took a trip into town on Saturday morning for some sightseeing & reminiscing before Linda met up with her old school pal - Rose.
Cirencester (Gloucestershire)
Yet another move completed in sunshine. How long with this lovely weather last? Can we have an Indian summer?We have arranged to meet up with Chris & Marjorie, mine hosts of the Farmers Arms in Muker. They are waiting for us when we arrive around noon and have sussed out some eating places (all Pubs of course), so its unhook the caravan, lower the legs and off to lunch.
Bath Horseracing - We are all looking forward to our big day out at the races hoping to send the bookmakers home crying in their empty money satchels. The day started of dreich (grey & cloudy) but our optimism said perhaps it will clear. Stopped for lunch close to the racecourse but when we came out the visablilty was extremely poor but being British we soldiered bravely on in the rain. Marjorie and Linda had the Bookmakers on the run in the first 2 races and Chris & Wullie were warming up to do likewise in the next 5 races. The rain got heavier, the visibility got worse and after waiting an hour finally had to abandon the meeting for safety reasons. At least we were refunded half of our mission money but it didn't make up for our loss of projected winnings.
Cotswolds Villages - Took a drive around the local villages stopping in Painswick (very quaint, although a bit bigger than a village nowadays) for lunch. Another beautiful sunny day, why couldn't race day have been like this
Cirencester to Cornwall - Left Chris & Marjorie to enjoy the rest of their well earned holiday and headed down to Veryan on the south coast of Cornwall. We spent many holidays in Cornwall in years gone by but have not visited the area for many years.
Cornwall
Veryan/Portholland/Portloe/Portscatho/Gorran Haven/Mevagissey/Boswinger - The weather during our stay was warm & sunny which allowed us to explore the hiking opportunities along the local parts of the Cornish coastal path. Cornwall's coast is very rugged with high cliffs, small bays and many inlets. As a result the coast route between any two villages is not the shortest but is really scenic. Portloe has a lovely little harbour well sheltered from the Atlantic's fury, Mevagissey (much more famous) is very picturesque but unfortunately full of those pesky Emmits (Cornish for Ants, which is what the locals call tourists), Porthscatho is more local like. All of these lovely villages are blessed with welcoming hostelries all with stories to tell of pirates, smugglers and other seafaring characters. Unfortunately many of these hostelries are run by non Cornish people but there are still a few gems left, if you look hard enough. Let the locals take the mickey for a little while, when they come to accept you they are extremely friendly people.
Treago Farm at Crantock - We wanted to spend a week on the west coast of Cornwall where we had enjoyed many holidays in years gone by in our tent with our Border Collie. We thought about going to a different campsite but thankfully we decided to return to where we had always gone. It is 20 years since our last visit and it has not changed a bit, still the same owner and best of all located in acres of National Trust land with many beaches within easy reach.
Porth Joke Beach/Crantock/West Pentyre/Holywell Bay/Newquay/Zelah - Retraced the path we took every morning of our holiday with Zar our Border Collie to Porth Joke beach (could we hear him barking?). Hiked from Porth Joke along the coastal path to Crantock beach, much bigger but much busier. A lovely day if a little windy, but warm enough to have the sun tops on. Called into two pubs - the Albion at Crantock and Bowgie Inn at West Pentyre.
We used to visit a pub in a village called Zelah where the customers were mainly locals. In those days Zelah was on the A30 but is now bypassed. The Pub has changed a lot since we were last there 20 years ago (surprise, surprise), they now do good food. Brian Chivers, quite a character though not Cornish, who we met many years still lives in the village and uses the pub as his local. Brian wanted us to return the following night to meet the family but we weren't able to do so.
Our first dull day for a few weeks but a nice temperature for walking along the coastal path to Hollywell Bay. This is the first place Wullie visited in Cornwall in 1960, a summer camp under canvas with the Royal Air Force. The first time we did this walk together Linda got really sunburnt but there is no danger of that today.
The estuary of the river Gannel separates Crantock from Newquay but at low tide a small footbridge allows you to cross over and rejoin the coastal path. Walked to Newquay along the coastal path but did not venture into the town, usually full of Emmits browsing the yucky shops. Stopped for a quiet beer on the way back to the caravan. Our nature highlight was some sealions swimming in one of the many bays.
Weston Super Mare (Somerset)
A pleasant journey in sunshine to revisit the town in which we first met in 1968! Walked along the sea front, reminiscing about years gone by. We met in the bar of the Grand Central Hotel, a landmark in those days. Now the hotel is closed and the building is in a state of disrepair. Bought fish n chips from a shop at the end of the pier (yucky) but Linda enjoyed her ice cream. All the pubs we used to visit were way too noisy for us old folk or didn't sell Real Ale. All in all Weston was quite disappointing really.
Leek (Staffordshire)
The weather is still very good (it must be an Indian Summer?) and we are using Leek as a base to visit John & Kay parry in Chester. Drove out to a nearby reservoir and enjoyed a 6 mile hike around the reservoir on flat, mainly green, paths. The site is within walking distance of the local pub/restaurant of the year whose specialty is it's Carvery. Had an overlarge roast pork (with crackling & stuffing & yorkshire pudding) dinner in the evening. As if that wasn't enough, Linda decided she had space for a pudding?
Chester - We first met John & Kay Parry at a curling weekend in Pitlochry. They were part of a large contingent of Welsh Curlers with whom we became really friendly. The friendship spread outside the Curling arena and for 10 years we met up, usually in the north of England, for a long weekend camping/hiking. Unknown to us they had arranged a reunion, so we spent a lovely evening eating, drinking and occasionally talking in the local pub.
Moffatt, Scotland
We decided to stop for the night in Moffat, in the Scottish Borders, as the full journey would be too much. The stop in Moffat allowed us to provision lots of sweets (candies) from the Moffat Toffee Shop (A treasure trove of sweets).
We returned to Lochgelly in time for a lovely evening at George & Agnes Penmans where we ate, drank & talked too much yet again.
Auchtermuchty - We had arranged to spend a weekend with Ally, Lorraine and their son Jack in our caravans at Monifieth. Since they are much younger than us they still have to WORK and as sometimes happens Ally could not get away so we spent the weekend with them in Auchtermuchty. The weather was very good, sunny & warm, so good that on Sunday 6th October we spent 5 hours hiking in the Lomond hills in shorts which we had to borrow from our hosts. In all the years we lived in Scotland we often talked about an Indian Summer, at last we have experienced one!
Scone Palace - Our last trip in the caravan prior to it's return to storage was to the campsite at Scone Palace (home of the Earl of Mansfield). The main objective was to thoroughly clean the caravan but this also allowed visits to Perth and Pitlochry. We accomplished all our goals in dry if cool weather. The Indian Summer is over but it was good while it lasted.
Columba Hotel, Inverness - Spent a most enjoyable weekend with Margaret & Jim and Margaret & Dod. On Saturday we drove along the busy side of Loch Ness, visiting Urquhart Castle & Fort Agustus with its pretty locks which allow the boats to transfer from Loch Ness into the Caledonian Canal and vice versa.We returned ti Inverness via the scenic minor road on the eastern side of Loch Ness. Although it was a cloudy day the clouds were relatively high so the views while not spectacular were enough to make everyone want to return on a sunny day.
Lochgelly - Spent the remainder of the month preparing to return to the USA, last minute visits, farewells etc. One big problem is the weight of our luggage. Fortunately Margaret & Jim are coming to visit us in Florida in November so we can leave some to fill their empty holdall, but that still loeaves us overweight. Think positive, we are checking in at Edinburgh airport at 5.0 a.m. so the staff won't even notivce as they will be half asleep themselves?
October/November: Return to Illinois. Heading for Florida.
Miles travelled this trip: We travelled nealy 6,000 miles. Quite a lot of considering how small this island is!!
Return to USA - October/November