Back by popular demand – or at least a couple of our readers have told us we are slacking and we are overdue another blog.
Our last blog was on 29 March, about 7 weeks ago. So this a quick round up of what we have been up to since then.
30 March – We spent another night in Troyes in France, a lovely old town!
We booked what we thought was an apartment with parking close enough to the town centre to walk. It was just that, however a couple of days before check in we got an email saying that the apartment was part of an ‘old folks’ complex, it was essentially the guest/Visitor accommodation in a shelter housing complex. When we checked in, it was obviously ‘tea time’ and the residents were all in the dining hall being served drinks. It was an experience. The accommodation was great!
Another 4 hour drive up to Le Shuttle to get the train back to England, thankfully an uneventful drive.
Once back in the UK we spent a couple of days in Kent with Family, then drove back up to Pocklington.
We spent three weeks in Pock, catching up with family and friends. So lots of eating and drinking.
We spent a few days unpacking all the skiing and cold weather gear, and repacking the car with summer and camping gear.
‘Camping Gear?’ I hear you question…. but you’ll have to wait to find out when/where we are going to use that.
One sunny (ish) day, We drove out to Spurn Point, a narrow Peninsula forming the north edge of the river Humber estuary. Rog remembered going as a kid and wanted to revisit it. The start of Spurn Point is not that far from Pock (52 miles or so) but given some small country roads and also navigating through Hull, seems to take a long time to drive there. (1hr 30mins).
Spurn Point is now a nature reserve run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The walk along is about 4km to the end, and another 4km back. Some of it on the beach, as the road was washed away a few years ago.
We had a couple of visits to Burnby Hall Gardens. They were just gearing up for the Tulip festival, so nice to see the blooms appearing.
Nic headed to Manchester for the weekend to meet up with her University friends. Did a great walking tour round Manchester, followed by an afternoon tea with bubbles. In the evening, cheese, wine and fire pits. What’s not to like !
Rog took his Mum and Dad to Harrogate for the weekend for the Harrogate Flower Show, and just a little break away from home.
27 April we headed over to Cheshire, to stay with Nic’s Auntie, Rog always ends up with list of jobs to do… don’t tell Auntie but he loves it really.
1 May, We crossed the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man to visit friends. We then managed to eat and drink our way around the island. Some old haunts and some new ones.
We visited the Archibald Knox exhibition at the Manx Museum (Archibald Knox is an early 20th century Manx artist/designer – amongst many achievements he deigned for Liberty), some beautiful jewellery, silver and art works. We also went the Sound Cafe overlooking the Calf of Man (an island at the south tip of the island) looking for seals, walked some the coastal path and had a a trip on the steam train.
It was lovely being back on the Island.
13 May, back on the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s fast craft ‘Manannan’ to Liverpool.
We got ‘selected’ for a vehicle security check, which was basically a few questions and a look in the car boot. Remember we drive a Old large Volvo XC90, thankfully they opened the boot, which was fairly full, they complimented our packing, didn’t move a thing and closed the boot again!
It was a beautiful day, and a very smooth crossing.
Kind friends are allowing us to use their home in Widnes for a couple of days, even though they are not there.
Noticed a tyre on the Volvo looking like it needed some air, however less than 24hrs later it was going down again, so headed to the local Kwik-Fit for them to check and repair, if possible. However there was nothing wrong with the tyre itself, it was a “rim leak”, and they could not do anything, except recommend a local alloy wheel specialist. So we drove straight there! After complementing us on the ‘nice tidy’ for her age (15yrs) in about 15 mins they repaired the alloy rim and got us back on the road, all for £30. What a bargain, it could have taken a lot longer and a lot more £££ to solve.
Travurple 