Dales and Wales

We've covered lots of miles since we last entered on the blog. After we left Stephen and Shona in Durham we drove down to the Yorkshire Dales. We criss-crossed our way across the Dales, visiting lots of pubs and doing some great walks. it seems to have become a habit that David drives in the morning and then Joanna takes over in the afternoon after the pub visit and the consumption of the local brew! David assures me that this is important research in his trip around the UK and no doubt will be the same in Ireland. The Dales were lovely, all green fields, stone walls, dinky little villages and lots of sheep to make us feel at home. We did several hour walk from a village called Malham in the south of the Dales. We did our best to look like real English hikers, but we still need to get a map carrier to hang arouns our necks.
Had 3 days in the Dalesand then on to the Lake District. A bit the same in a way (shock, horror from all the purists)but higher mountains, lots of lakes and a lot more people. Again we managed to choose a great walk above Grassmere - steep but fantastic views from the top. David managed to visit all the places he remembered from years ago,had hi photo taken on the Ashness Bridge but I couldn't remember anything from when I visited 30 years ago. 3 days there and then on down to North Wales. On the way we stopped for an overnight at Flookburgh sort of at the bottom of the Lake District. We discovered the area, Morcombe Bay, is famous for its sticky toffee pudding(yum) but also for the awful drowning of 23 cocklers about 3 years ago, when the tide came in and trapped them and they all knew that they wete going to drown.
Anyway on to Wales. Again it is beautiful, craggy mountains, rushing, rocky streams, and lots of open space. David used to climb here a lot, a long time ago. So we retraced some of his haunts. We eventually found(after much help from the girl at the tourist office in Llamberis) the hut that he helped build years ago. It is at the end of an isolated and very beautiful valley. It was quite a mission to get there but we were so pleased that we did. We stayed the night there and it is quite the most spectacular campsite that we have had. We spend most nights free camping, seeking out camp grounds when the need for a shower gets too great. We have a portapotti, which is adequate, but we are very good at sourcing public loos.
We crossed over to Dublin from Holyhead in North Wales, and have been staying with Alison Andrew, David's cousin for the last 2 days. She has been very hospitable and we have been able to celebrate her birthday with We have really enjoyed catching up with all his family(hope they have enjoyed it too) and it as been helpful for me to link them all together.
We are moving on to look into some of my family now. My grandmother was born in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, so we are going to hunt out their old house, graves etc. Another cousin has been there recently and done the groundwork which is a big help. Will be in France next time we enter this. Having trouble loading the photos so will publish text and do that later.

On the Road

It seems ages since i last put anything on this. Haven't seen a computer for a week! We have been so busy and been so many places. After leaving Banbury (and finally some success with Natwest - we now have a bank account!)we headed for the eat coast of Suffolk - Aldeburgh. Very quaint old english seaside resort. The best thing for us was the camping spot. We had been told you could park on the seawall overnight, but were a bit dubious. When we got there we found about 50 others parked on the seawall right on the (very stoney) beach. Brilliant! And on the other side was an inner harbour that had little red sails racing around looking very picturesque. We loved it. Went for an early morning walk, which of course in England is anything before 9.30. They are not noted for early starts. Lots of lovely old buildings, fishing boats etc. moved on up the coast through Southwold, the Broads, Cromer and round to the north coast. The beaches get sandier and the resorts get smaller and quainter. Absolutely fantastic. the weather was great, sunburn stuff. England is finally having a summer. We stayed with David's godson Tim & wife Alice plus 4 children in Burnham Overy Staithe (staithe means wharf), an old coastal village a mile or so from Nelson's birthplace. What a revelation the Norfolk coast was, with its tidal inlets, sea marshes, vast beaches, white sand and residents crazy about sailing in all sorts of little boats mostly classic designs. Very dependent on the tides and the tidal currents, a busy few days.
On North to through the Licolnshire Wolds to York - very impressive town, minster (cathedral) and fine town, thence to the coatal town of Witby (Cooks birthplace) and the nearby Robin Hood Bay.
Now in Durham with David's nephew Steven and wife Shona. Today they took us on a great trip around the area. a train trip to Newcastle,which is very go ahead and smartened up. Not like its old reputation. We wnadered along the riverbank, crossed an amazing lifting bridge and visited a Beryl Cook exhibition. back to Durham, the highlight being the cathedral. Obviously I am getting old because I have a much greater appreciation of this wonderful old buildings these days. We have been so lucky with the weather and the hospitality we have received. We are having the best time.