Poole, Dorset

Our last night away, and it was the coldest. The night sky lit by diamonds. Fortunately we'd purchased the thermal wrap around cover for our pop top.

This morning as the first light of daybreak spread across the grass we were not surprised to see the first frost of autumn. Today was a big day for Angela. She was having her broken front tooth extracted. Which despite her nerves went well. Now she's going to really look the part for Halloween. The day we return home from our holiday is always a sad one. But today's our spirits were lifted as we stopped off at Thame to view a house. It's time for us to make plans, life won't wait.

First though, we have another rental house to prepare for a new tenant, luckily the outlay required won't be as expensive as the last time we did this. As for our holiday, our overnight costs for the last twenty three nights were £251.90. And we stayed at some wonderful spots didn't we Margery.

The Old Fisherman, Shabbington, Buckinghamshire

And breath! After yesterday's manic drive we spent today winding down. A walk and lunch out, a drive by of a house in Princes Risborough and a Chinese takeaway.

Our overnight stop, The Old Fisherman Pub alongside the River Thame at Shabbington, a village on the border with Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Looking back on our Yorkshire trip we compare life down south to that in the north. Everything suddenly now seems frantic and hectic. Gone is the laid back, friendly quiet life. And as for 'cash only', it's now, 'card only'. The pub stop at The Old Fisherman is very convenient for us, and tonight Margery is the only van here tucked in a nice little spot away from the noise of the pub.

And unusually, we do not need to buy a drink, or eat a meal in the pub to stay here. Just put ten pounds in the donation box for Macmillan Cancer Support. We're happy with that, it's nice to know our money is going to a good cause. We are also pleased to have discovered this pub stop, as it's only three miles away from Angela's son in Thame, and as we don't stay with him on school nights, usually booking into the Travelodge, we have no need now. Margery tonight is all cosy with the thermal cover on we bought off Facebook, it's made a big difference now the nights are a little cooler, a real game changer.

Thame, Oxfordshire

Our last morning in Yorkshire, and it rained, a lot. It makes packing up a little more difficult, but not as difficult as it will be for the people with tents. Especially very large tents which will need erecting back at home to ensure they are totally dry before storing away. For them, camping may have just lost the fun factor. The weather conditions made for a miserable slow drive across country to Bradford. Now there's a depressing place. Blackened limestone damp looking Victorian houses, dual carriageways and lots of sets of traffic lights, and some of the worst driving ever. As soon as we reached the M1 we couldn't wait to stop at a service area and take a break. The unrelenting rain made for a slow onward drive, but eventually as we crossed the border into Buckinghamshire the sky brightened. Our time in Yorkshire had been spent at a leisurely pace, but today we needed to arrive at Tingewick by five o' clock to pick up our Facebook purchase, so the pressure had been on to keep driving without too many breaks. Our overnight arrangements also needed to be hastily changed as we were planning to return to Fir Tree camping at Warmington, where we stayed on the way up. So, after some rearranging of vehicles we spent the night on Angela's son's drive at Thame.

The fair was in town and we took a walk up, stopping to chat with old acquaintances and buy a chippy tea.

Although we were glad to be back in this area, The Yorkshire dales suddenly seemed a very long way away. Angela thinks it's time to plan another trip, so the research has begun!

Orcaber Farm Camping,Austwick,North Yorks

We had to make today count, it would be our last in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales this trip. With waterfalls to see, and the weather forecast this afternoon, showers we were away this morning in good time. The parking cost at the falls was a little steep, so we paid for two hours in the hope we'd be able to walk to both falls in that time. Catrigg force was at the top of a steep climb. Thankful we were only carrying day packs.

We slowly ascended the rutted path, stopping to look back on the stunning views across the dales. The green rolling hills peppered with grey granite stone walls and villages ran away from us. It was like looking at a vast model village.

 After negotiating the rugged path down to Catrigg Force we had to then retrace our steps back to Stainworth village where another path took us to Stainworth Foss.

Crossing a very narrow stone bridge barely wide enough for a very small car we happened upon the falls. The noise from the powerful fast moving water as it danced over the rocks was deafening.

Angela saw a salmon leap. Yes she did! Her first time ever. Like a small child she couldn't contain her delight. Then, John saw a salmon leap. This was turning out to be quite a morning. The rest of the afternoon was taken up with sorting out our onward journey. We are buying a thermal wrap around cover for Margery's pop top from Facebook market place, and we all know how complicated that is!

The cover will mean we'll be able to go away during the winter months for a night or two, probably to the New Forest which is less than an hour away from our house. This evening we're back at Orcaber Farm Camping just outside Settle. We've stayed here twice before, but never on a weekend. It is quite busy, and we're surprised at just how many families are here. Opposite us a family provided entertainment erecting their brand new, very large tent. They've never been camping before. Mum and the children are well into it not sure about dad and the dog.

Settle, Yorkshire Dales

We couldn't leave Yorkshire without returning to the Dales and seeing one, or even two, last waterfalls. So after a last walk around Ripon this morning, picking up groceries at Aldi along the way, we drove back to Settle. The road rose and fell passing deep ravines and craggy outcrops. From the higher points the landscape ran away into the distance. Our intention was to walk to two nearby waterfalls. However upon arriving at the van parking area by Settle Rugby Club there was only one overnight space available.

So we changed our plans, deciding to claim the last space and revisit the town.The warm sunny weather of this morning long gone, annoying drizzly rain began to fall. Last time we were here we stopped off at the outdoor shop where John saw a very lightweight fleece base layer he quite fancied, so we returned to the shop to buy one.

 So tomorrow is waterfall day. Stainforth waterfall and Catrigg Force are just a few miles away. After our walk to see them we have to decide which route we will take back 'down south'. As this trip comes to a close we are already discussing other future adventures. They don't need to cost a fortune. They can be just a day trip out or a holiday. We are well aware that life has a 100% mortality rate, so we intend to live life as best we can!

Ripon, North Yorkshire

It felt good to wake up in the forest, albeit a little wet. Just four of us in the little camping field last night, the only sound from the frustrated ram housed next to us, who kicked the walls in his shelter. We'd been told there was no need to rush to leave this morning, so we didn't, waiting until midday when the light precipitation gave way to an improving picture. Nearby, was Pickering, a pretty little market town that sits at the foot of the North York Moors.

It is also home to the North York Moors Railway, who on the weekend of the 25th-28th September will be hosting their annual steam gala. Whilst we were at the station a banner for the event was being tied to a railing, and guess what the train pictured was only  'Squadron', a steam train one of Angela's brothers has a part share in.

Normally this train is housed at Swanage steam railway. Talk about coincidence. Pickering is an interesting town, the medieval church of St. Peter and St. Paul houses one of the best complete sets of medieval frescos in England.

We've visited many churches on our travels, and you never know what you'll see inside once you step through the door. As always everyone we spoke to in the town was friendly, and outside a pie shop a man recommended the sweet chilli and pork sausages roll, giant size.

They do love a pie in Yorkshire, and we do now as well. Today though was to be our last, they're hardly healthy eating! For the third time on this trip we are back at Ripon. Whilst we enjoyed our visit to the moors and east coast we prefer the west of Yorkshire more. Sadly, we must leave this area in a day or two to begin our journey south. Yorkshire we've loved being here, and we're sure we'll return.