Hawes - A Nice Bit Of Wensleydale

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 It had been a long old winter. Ian had been working loads and running loads. I too had been working more than usual, plus trying to keep up with housework, cooking, ironing etc. we were both shattered so a nice Dame Shirley Easter weekend to Wensleydale was just what the doctor ordered. Kathy had agreed to come down and help with Monty and Amy as Einar was away in a huge castle in York with some friends of his.

Unfortunately she had contracted a nasty ear infection so couldn’t drive! So I got a nice train journey up to collect her and drive her back home in her car. 

Good Friday morning dawned, as most mornings seem to have since last summer, dark, dank and miserable. Never mind, we were going on holiday! Kathy and I took the lads for a walk in the woods while Ian showered, pfaffed etc, then it was time for off. This was, apparently, going to be the busiest day of the year for traffic, and it certainly seemed that way. The M1 North was nose to tail all the way to Bedale. Once there though, the cross country route was lovely and the sun came out. We stopped in a nice lay-by for lunch and to let Misty stretch her legs before continuing on to The Hawes Camping and Motorhome club site. This too was rammed and we were allocated the last space, despite it being only 2.30. It’s a nice corner plot with views of the hills either side. It’s also next to a farmyard with the associated smell. We soon got used to that though. We got out our exact scientific measuring tool for the first time this year and Ian decided on ramps on one side. 


An exact science




Hills, blue skys, and Dame Shirley Bassey

Ian did his manly duty with the gas and electric (no problems) and I put the kettle on.  We took the opportunity to sit outside with a brew before the clouds rolled over and we decided to go inside.

Shortly after the clouds did roll over and, appropriately for Good Friday, we had  biblical storm. Huge hailstones battered the roof of Dame Shirl, giving way to torrential rain. No matter. It seems Hawes Caravan and Motorhome site is the centre of the wi-fi universe. We got programmes here that we have never been able to before. This kept us going until a break in the rain when we set off on the 15min walk to the Hawes chippy. This chip shop has rave reviews and the queue outside was Good Friday worthy. It also seemed everyone was buying enough to feed the 5000. Another storm came and went with me and Misty sheltering under the awning, but Ian eventually emerged with tea. We hustled quickly back to Dame Shirley where Ian dried off poor dripping Misty and I dove in. The fish and chips were good, as was the beer. 


Chippy tea


Obviously we didn’t want to venture out again so we perused our 150 channels of super fast TV, deciding on The night agent, a standard US show where the FBI are stupid, followed by gogglebox. By which time we were all ready for bed.

Neighbour watch and OS watch will return tomorrow. 

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