York Auction Centre, Murton, York

It keeps raining, which we're not happy about. It's not relentless rain, and the sun always reappears after a while with some stunning rainbows. Yes we know, it's good for the garden, but it's not so good for us if we have to dry wet coats off in Margery. Moaning finished. Back to today. A short drive to York.

Angela wanted to return having visited as a child. She remembers York Minster and how imposing it was, and wanted to revisit that childhood memory. As expected the city was busy, especially with Chinese visitors, all wanting a photograph in front of the magnificent cathedral to share with friends and family online. Not sure if so much posing was really necessary. 

The exterior of the cathedral is undergoing some renovation, so it was not possible to take a really good photograph. Inside though, so much to photograph, including the spectacular organ, which during our visit suddenly fired up filling the Cathedral with a beautiful sound. We felt honoured to have been there at that moment as the sound from the 100 pipes reverberated around us.

All that aside, the day was made even more special when John asked if the cabinet the book of remembrance for those members of the RAF whom fell in the second world war, could be unlocked, and the book opened, so he could see if one or both of his uncles were mentioned in it.

 One was. It was a very special moment. Tonight we are staying in the grounds of York Auction House, Margery and one other.

A twenty minute bus ride took us into the city. Campsites in the area start at £30.00. The cost to stay here £12.00. Showers are available, but we weren't informed that the auction house wouldn't be open at the weekend, and we'd have no access to them. A little annoying. All that aside, today has been an enjoyable day. That's York ticked off the list.

Ripon, North Yorkshire

A keen wind still blew this morning, but at least as the new day washed over us the sun shone. The little campsite on the farm with two toilets and one shower had been a bargain at fifteen pounds. Three vans stayed last night, and we were the first away. Our first visit today, The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park just outside Masham. It opened at ten, and we were there at just before, surprised at how busy the car park already was. Hot drinks and scones in the cafe set us up for the walk around the grounds. Besides a variety of shrubs and trees there were ninety sculptures to view. Since leaving the Dales and moving towards the moors, the weather has become wetter.

We appreciated the trees even more when we sheltered under them when the rain fell heavily. Time passed quickly at the gardens, and we were surprised it was well past one o' clock when we returned to Margery. But our day wasn't complete, we still had the Druids Temple to visit fifteen minutes up the road.

The temple set in woodland is an eighteenth century folly, built with no purpose. It was purely built to alleviate unemployment. The afternoon rain became very persistent, but we managed to walk to the folly and back in-between showers. Then on to Ripon where we would once again stay overnight. The parking area by the cathedral was busier than when we were here ten days ago. There are fifteen vans including Margery. Ripon gets it. Let the vans stay. The parking is free overnight. We have spent money in both Lidl and Sainsbury's and also the Weatherspoons where we stopped off for a drink before dinner. It is raining heavily again this evening, but we were able to take a short walk around the town before it started. A sign by an alleyway caught Angela's eye. It read, Lavender Alley. Why is it called Lavender Alley. We don't know! The Yorkshire sense of humour strikes again.

New Causeway Farm, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire

Conscious today would be a mix of sunshine and showers, some heavy, we were keen to be away early. Grassington was just over half an hour down the road, and from there a walk took you down to Linton falls and across to the stepping stones near Linton church before looping back to the village.

The wind blew cold as we walked across the fields.Today we would be leaving the Yorkshire dales, which felt a little sad. We've really enjoyed our time walking in the dales, and hope to return to the area in the future. After Grassington we returned to Skipton to stop at Tesco before taking a series of fast roads which climbed up onto the Yorkshire moors, pass RAF Menwith Hill, the largest electronic monitoring station in the world. Angela didn't feel well, our stir fry meal last night hadn't sat well with her, keeping her awake during the night and causing her to feel lethargic today. Not wanting to drive too much today, John found a small farm campsite up in the hills above Pateley Bridge. It is very exposed, and a keen wind, a south westerly is whooshing across the valley, rocking Margery a little.

By late afternoon bands of persistent rain battered us, the view back across to RAF Menwith Hill disappearing and reappeared at intervals. We've been lucky with the weather since arriving in Yorkshire, escaping all the storms forecast, but this evening we must let the weather system pass, and hopefully as promised, tomorrow will dawn fine and settled. As the light fades this evening, a murder of crows beat a hasty retreat towards the nearby woodland. We wonder, how extreme will the weather be here during the winter time. It makes us shiver a little just thinking about it.