Greensprings, Nr Barnsley 27th - 30th October 05
Click on the pictures to see them full size
27th October
When we set off this morning, the forecast was good so I exchanged my warm jumper for a blouse and dumped the jumper in the back of the car in a carrier bag. Temperatures of 18C had been forecast but by the time we reached Scotch Corner we were surrounded by a chilly damp mist. Nevertheless it was possible to 'smell' the promise of warmth which lay behind (above?) the mist. A quick stop at the services for toilets and a check if Simon's long awaited E.M.A. money had arrived in his account (it hadn't) and we were off down the A1(M). Somewhere around Catterick we had a blowout on the trailer wheel. We had not realised but were flashed by a vehicle behind us. No problem we thought - just put the spare on. No such luck, the jack was too small for the trailer. John set off for the SOS phone box when a traffic management vehicle arrived - we were in the free recovery bit.
Before long we had been helped out, the spare was on the trailer and we set off again. Mind you, you take your life in your hands pulling off the hard shoulder with a trailer onto the A1. We went into Ripon to get a new tyre on the spare and had that put on the side of the other old tyre. This gave Simon and I a chance to look around Ripon Cathedral. Free to enter but they ask fro a donation. We went into the Crypt. It felt really good - not spooky as I had expected. John picked us up from the front of the cathedral - new tyres now on both trailer wheels and £38 lighter. It was 2:10 by the time we arrived on site so after setting off before eight it had been quite a long journey.
It was lovely and warm and the sun was shining. We took out time setting up the camper while Simon sat in the car. The site was very wet and the car was now completely mud splattered. It was ten past three before we sat down to hot drink. We couldn't book on until 5pm as there was no one in the office until then.
Not too impressed with the facilities, on this site - they are very basic and there's no laundry. However the site is surrounded by mature woodlands and they say there is a leaflet of local walks in the pot wash area.
Good night but heard the rain start before dawn.
28th October
What I thought was very noisy Magpies turned out to be a large flock of pheasants roaming round the site, and when I say large, I mean about a hundred of them. To be honest, their moise is a welcome distraction from the insistent busy motorway noise that continues unabated throughout the night.
Although we were here for a wedding, we would normally spend half term visiting my mum and dad in Manchester, Simon wanted to spend time with Louise so some careful planning was called for. Finally we took Simon to Wombwell where he met Lousie and we went off to Barnsley for a few hours before picking Simon up again at 1:30 and heading off to Manchester.
Mum had made scones which she was very keen for us to try. they were delicious, but I really should have avoided them as I don't, or rather my body doesn't, take kindly to white flour.
Dad had made frames for my dolls house kitchen chairs and I can't wait to get them finished and in situ.
Although the weather had been damp and cloudy it was still warm, nevertheless looming clouds made us anxious to return to the campsite early in the evening. We left Mum's about six thirty and arrived back at about eight. With the aid of a torch we picked our way through soggy grass to the camper and soon were warm and dry and enjoying a glass of wine before bed.
29th October
Pheasants creating havoc round the site again this morning. They're so funny to watch you don't mind the noise.
I used the shower for the first time. Had a strip wash in the camper yesterday as I didn't like the look of the showers. The cubicles are tiny, wet and dry area together can't be much more than four foot by 30 inches. The slot for paying for the shower is at the other side of the portacabin unit and you get seven minutes for 20p - not taking any chances I put in 40p in the timer - starts as soon as you put money in the slot. There is a grid to stop your slipping and the water pressure is OK, but the dish to put your soap on was encrusted with some grey/white ginger stuff that John thought resembled cigarette ash and I thought was the crusting you get from hard water - nevertheless, along with the dirty shower curtain and rusty pole, I won't be showering in there tomorrow before we leave.
Got back to the camper just in time to see about a dozen 4x4s arrive bearing tweedy people with guns and dogs obviously in search of 'country pursuits.' Now I know why the pheasants are here. They all disappeared into the wooded areas at the back of the site. Half an hour later out they all came on foot and walked back up the way they had driven in - could just hear one or two shots in the distance, didn't seem to be many so with any luck for the birds, they were having an off day. Oh er, spoke too soon, gins going off right, left and centre now.
10:30 - I think we'll go to the sculpture park as the as the shooting is really winding me up. Need to get back for about two though to get ready for the wedding.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is really great but what wasn't clear wa sthe size of it and the fact that you really need a day to appreciate it. I particularly wanted to see the works of Henry Moore, Barbarour Hepworth and Anthony Gormley's field for Britain. Saw the first two, but Anthony Gormley's work was at the other end of the park and we didn't have the time to walk over to it.
The shop was extremely expensive though, one expects a mark up in gallery and museum shops, but a little red tin of Reeves paints I can buy in Wilkinsons for £3.50 was £8.50. I thought that was extortionate and would much rather pay an entrance fee which at least was an obvious charge and not a hidden one. Although the car park was £3 and not £1.50 as stated on the leaflet we'd picked up at the campsite which must have been a really old one.
We got back to the campsite around 2:30 giving us plenty of time to relax for while before getting ready for the 4:30 wedding. Our clothes were all still in perfect uncreased condition after hanging a couple of days in the Dandy's wardrobe.
The weather had been lovely all day, but had turned cloudy and cold by the time we arrived at the church, St Mary's in Wombwell. The vicar was really friendly and light hearted, and the service was really good. The reception afterwards at the Boatman's Rest in Worsborough, was relaxed and had a good atmosphere, I appreciated the seafood as being a non-meat eater I was I was unsure which items of food were vegi' or not.
Sitting on the same table as us were two really interesting men, one was Philip but I can't remember the name of the other. Their interests were similar to ours so we had lots of conversation on Terry Pratchet, Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, modelling and loads of other things to numerous to mention. Anyone listening in to us would have thought it was a nerd convention - but hey, who cares!
30th October
Slept fairly well, wondered if it was a coincidence that there was less noise from the pheasants this morning. Forgetting it was Sunday morning we'd planned to go to Morrisons for breakfast before packing the camper away, but when we realised what day it was we got busy folding down the camper so we could get away and get breakfast when the store opened. Simon popped into McDonalds hoping to see Louise but I expect she wasn't due at work 'till later even if she was in today at all.
The rain followed us along the M62 and as far as Forton on the M6 when blue skies shone through and the rest of the journey home was mostly dry and bright.