Wales to Pock (late again!)

Yes, we know we have been slacking, our last blog was on 30 July so we have missed the last two weeks, you just can’t get the consistent bloggers! So thanks for bearing with us.

 Ok, so a round-up of the last three weeks.

You’ll, hopefully, remember from our last blog we were in Bethesda in North Wales. We continued to explore the local area and footpaths, found a lovely waterfall just on the edge of the village, once we found the public footpath through somebody’s garden. We managed to do a circular walk, back to the village and stopped for coffee/hot chocolate in the café.

The weather had been slightly better, so we planned a longer walk following Afon Llafar, a valley with little human impact, as the valley doesn’t lead anywhere, it just runs into the hills and stops at a wall of mountains. There were sheep and horses roaming. Again due to the previous weather the ground was very boggy. We took our coffees and lunch with us, so spent some time sitting enjoying to peaceful surroundings.

We were booked into the AirBnB until 9 August, but headed back to Pocklington a couple of days early for family business. We packed up and left on Sunday 6 August, also the only day when there were no Rail strikes/work to rule planned, so actually leaving early gave us a better chance of a smoother journey back, however it was not to be,

The bus from just outside the door to Bangor rail station was uneventful, other than the two young lads, who were still out and drunk from the night before, it was only 9:30 Sunday morning! Then the train to Chester, again uneventful, a quick change onto a train to Manchester Victoria. The train was actually going all the way to Leeds, but because of our cheap tickets, we had to get off in Manchester Victoria and get the next train to Leeds, rather than staying on this train, Rog did try to sweet talk the conductor to let us stay on the train, but she was having none of it. So a change it was, we only had about 20 mins, to wait for the next train to Leeds. Just enough time to eat our butties, better in the fresh air as Nic had egg mayonaise in hers! The next train got as far as Rochdale, then was cancelled due to a mechanical issue, but not before the driver  had turned it off and on again to see if it would work! It didn’t.

So we lost about 30mins, before the next train to Leeds arrived, obviously this one was now very busy including a lady who had booked assistance, so we helped her off and back on the train. We directed her to a seat and then stood by the doors, with the bags, next to a guy sitting with a very large suitcase and a boxed 42’ TV. 

We missed our connection in Leeds, a quick google search showed that the next train leaving for York was actually not the first train from Leeds to arrive in York. So we waited 15mins in Leeds and got a direct fast train to York, and still made our intended bus to Pocklington. Result!

Once back in Pock, We re-arranged all our stuff in our family’s loft and garage, went out for lunches and the odd drink. As some family are on holiday, we house sat for them, or should I say they kindly allowed us to use their house whilst they are away.

Nic’s niece and nephew came to stay and it was lovely to catch up on a day out to Whitby, with the obligatory fish and chips, and ice cream. The games came out and together with Rog in their team they won at Trivial Pursuit, there was also a concerted effort made to complete a jigsaw on the evening before they left.

Friends from the Isle of Man visited us for a couple of days, we had a great catch up and managed visits to Burnby Hall and Millington Woods, along with the essential eating and drinking that these occasions demand!

We are volunteering at a couple of festivals later this month, so we have checked all our camping gear, including putting the tent up to check no moths have got to it since we last used it!

Today (Sunday) after watching the women’s world cup final,  we have walked to Burnby Hall gardens, again, as there was the “New York Dance band” playing in the bandstand, as the weather is good it was well attended, we had a coffee and listened to the band from a distance. 

 

“We must publish a blog every week !…..”

“We must publish a blog every week !…..”

“We must publish a blog every week !…..”

“We must publish a blog every week !…..”