Kathie

By the time you are down with this report, I'll be ready to nominate you for sainthood. I can't believe how much (and how calmly) you put up with!

sofarsogood

"B1 had fish and chips"

Fish and chips on a Monday - goodness me that's daring - always under the impression that fish on a Monday is less fresh as it would have been landed at the very latest on Saturday and is at least 2 days old.

PatrickLondon

"always under the impression that fish on a Monday is less fresh as it would have been landed at the very latest on Saturday and is at least 2 days old."

Indeed. But then they invented freezers.

Nikki

"You're too far over!", "Move Over", "Oh no!", "EEK!"


To be fair, I have been in that position. The lanes are much narrower, and the driver thinks they are close enough to the center line, but the passenger feels like they're going to end up in the ditch. It is scary. And it is hard to control that panic reflex. At least that is how I felt when my husband and our friend were driving in Scotland last summer.

It makes me even less likely to drive in the UK, as I am afraid I would have to be much closer to the center line than I would be comfortable driving.

annhig

But BOY did she worry!!!!! In fact at least once a day (and three times day 1) she actually reached over and grabbed my arm and tried to steer the car. Cripes - the first time I was so shocked I almost did run up on a kerb>>

sainthood is not enough.

this trip turned out so well, have they asked you to plan their next one yet?

janisj

Nah -- I don't deserve sainthood

Nikki: "To be fair, I have been in that position. The lanes are much narrower, and the driver thinks they are close enough to the center line, but the passenger feels like they're going to end up in the ditch"

Sorry - but the driver gets the say so . . . not the passenger. The driver has a lot to deal w/ and things to maneuver around left/center/right and up ahead (and certainly doesn't plan on sending both of you to a fiery death). Adding into the mix having to deal w/ an hysterical passenger on top of everything else . . . Passengers need to zip it . . .

Bokhara2

Panicky passengers squealing & grabbing - duct tape!

europeannovice

So far an enjoyable trip report although some things were nerve racking!

I can understand the screeching and warnings--too close to the edge, wall etc. but not the arm grabbing. That could have been dangerous.

PatrickLondon

I'm guessing that asking the passengers to swap places (so that the arm-grabber sat in the back on the same side of the driver) would have raised its own issues...?!

I'm so glad I travel alone.

janisj

"I'm guessing that asking the passengers to swap places (so that the arm-grabber sat in the back on the same side of the driver) would have raised its own issues…?!"

B1 (arm grabber) was willing to at least try to use the road atlas . . . B2 wouldn't even consider it. She spent ALL of our 'car time' reading in the back seat.

KTtravel

I think you can tell the no-show that she can write to the agency that sold the train tickets and ask for a refund. Refunds should not come from you and the other adventurers.

Looking forward to reading more.

kinkajou007

My word. I second (fourth?) proposed canonization of St. Janis. Even the one who stayed home was a pain-in-the-booty.

Gleaning great trip tips, though, even as I wince on jj's behalf...

janisj

Tuesday - Alnwick Gardens and Castle

We had a wonderful breakfast at Aln House. Today was to be Alnwick Castle/Garden all day. We could have actually walked up to the gardens but decided to drive and park in the Garden car park (£3) in case we decided to do something else later in the day. But Bill and Jean (the B&B hosts) said the town has recently started free parking in the public car park as long as you use a parking disk - which they have several to loan out to guests. It is actually closer from the town car park than from the Garden/Castle lot.

I love Alnwick Gardens -- but I really do need to visit later in the season (I've been 3 times but each was in May). It really isn't a 'flower garden' but more an 'Architecture' garden w/ the really lovely Grand Cascade, some other really fun fountains/sculptures, plus a walled garden and roses. The main flowers in bloom were this amazing hillside covered w/ fancy pink tulips underplanted w/ a sea of bluebells. these aren't my photos (I don't have any on-line) but it gives and idea.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7057/6...3bf3f4c3_z.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...the-cherry.jpg It is really a vast hillside w/ a meandering pathway winding for a few hundred yards.

Nothing much in the walled gardens was in bloom - nor in the rose garden - but they were pretty none the less.

Besides the cascade
http://www.bordersjourneys.co.uk/wp-...6/P1060097.jpg
and cherry orchard/tulip hillside the main feature is the Poison Garden which is a hoot. Similar in a lot of ways to the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. But they only let you in in small groups and you must stick w/ the guide who plays up the 'danger factors'. They do a very good job and it isn't hokey at all.

The three of us split up after the poison garden and they walked over to the castle. We had talked about going to the Tree House for a late lunch - but they said they couldn't possibly eat lunch at all after the breakfast we'd had. (as I think I mentioned on the other thread -- this had become a regular thing. B1&B2 almost never wanted to eat - and never had anything to drink but tap water. We had big meals at Rule's and at the Ritz, but other than that the number of full meals either one ate on the whole trip could be counted on one hand. There was no sitting around the pub having lunch and wine or beer or Pimm's. I started to feel like a wino - I tried to sample a new beer or have a Pimm's or some wine w/ dinner once most days - and I was always the only one drinking)

So I walked over to the Tree House to try to book lunch for one later - and got a 2:30 seating.

Then I retraced my steps and walked over to the Castle. This is an amazing place - one of my favorite castles in England. The Duke oversees the running of the Castle and the Garden is Duchess' baby. They are run as separate sites but you can buy a joint ticket. The castle certainly doesn't need the Harry Potter connections - there is enough to fill several hours. I only had a couple of hours before I had to get back to the Tree House so its a good thing I'd been there before. The castle is gorgeous and the views from the walls of the Northumberland countryside is lovely. I think the state rooms are more 'personalized' than almost any other stately home/castle -- just lots and lots of family photos etc.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Castle_02.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8...k-castle-2.jpg

I expected to run into the B's somewhere at the Castle but apparently after walking through the inner ward/courtyard they left and headed into town to shop.

I do enjoy the Tree House - the service is very nice and the set menus are reasonably priced. I had a 2 course lunch - a terrine starter and Salmon main (I think it was £18-ish) plus it was 'Pimm's weather' so that's what I had (One should take advantage 'Pimm's weather' whenever one can .

http://www.scenicphotos.ltd.uk/sm_up...ages/209.2.jpg
http://images.travelzapp.com/images/...treehouse3.jpg

After Lunch (a little after 4:30) I walked back through the Gardens for a bit and into town - still didn't see the girls. They had walked back to the B&B about 5-ish. I needed to get £££ so I stopped at one cash machine but my 1st card wouldn't work so I pulled out another one (I always have at least one back up) and it wasn't declined but I got a weird error message and it spit my card out. I think the machine may have been down - but it didn't actually say so. Another lady was waiting to use the same machine -- I contemplated trying my 3rd card but decided to try a different bank.

There was another bank a few doors up and my card worked fine there. Then I realized I didn't have my car key I looked all around and didn't see it then figured I'd maybe left it next to the first machine while fumbling for the 3rd card. As I started back to cash machine #1 a guy asked if I'd lost my keys and I said YEAH! Thank you so much. He said there were on the stone ledge next to the ATM so I ran back . . . and there they were . . . only problem . . . they weren't my keys . Then the lady who had been waiting behind me at the 1st machine came back in a total panic and I pointed out her keys. She gave me a big hug -- her husband had just left on a business trip and these were the only keys to her house and two cars.

So now I'm in a bit of a panic myself . . . And then I realized my keys were in the bottom of the shopping bag w/ my purchases from the Gardens Gift shop. Don't ask me how they ended up there. I'd never done that before or since.

I drove back to the B&B and the girls were sitting out in the front garden because they had misplaced their room key, and Bill and Jean were out til 5:30 or 6. Just a bad key day all around. (They found their room key later)

Next: Lindesfarne tides work this time and on to North Yorkshire

LCBoniti

You know, I have been to the UK a few times now and I have never tried a Pimms. Hmmmm. I'm obviously missing something.

janisj

Wed. Lindesfarne tides work this time and on to North Yorkshire . . . and my last day on two feet

Last night I checked the tides for Lindesfarne and they are perfect today. Opening early AM and closing around 1PM. Today we are moving from Northumberland to North Yorkshire and originally we were going to swing by Hadrian's Wall on our way south. But we had done that (sort of) on Monday so after another terrific breakfast, we check out and head north to Lindesfarne. The weather was absolutely GORGEOUS - warm, no cold wind of the north sea, and bright sunshine w/ a few fluffy clouds. The B's were very (VERY) nervous about driving across the causeway - I actually asked 'Do you think I want to drown?? We'll be fine.' We walked out to the castle but didn't go inside. Spend maybe 30-45 minutes on the beach and around the harbor taking artsy/crafty photos of beached boats and the boat sheds. Then we walked through the village to the Priory and then tasted Mead and some wines (dandelion, etc) and visited a couple of gift shops. We were off this island by 12:30 and on the A1 headed south.

We first go into Thirsk and visit the Herriot museum/Visitors centre http://www.worldofjamesherriot.org What a neat attraction. Just LOTS to see - including original sets from the TV series and lots about veterinary sciences through the years plus their original furniture/kitchen/etc..

I first stayed near Thirsk in the early 90's and Alf Wight's son was still operating the veterinary surgery (office). My girl friend and I were standing across the street from the office and a woman came out carrying a small duffle. Lin was waiting til she stepped off the doorstep so she could take a photo. As the woman turned around in our direction - out of this little duffle bag popped the head of a baby goat. Ended up being one of my Fave photos of the whole trip. . . . That same doorstep is now the entrance to the museum.

Our next B&B is at a farmhouse outside the tiny village of Borrowby a few miles north of Thirsk (all of us are big James Herriot fans so this is a special stop). Here is the B&B - it is a true working farm and the entrance is a gated farm track off a single track lane.

http://www.woundalesbandb.co.uk I loved LOVED this place - unfortunately the B's didn't so much - especially B2. For her - it was too old, too creaky, too steep stairs, too 'country'. They gave us a pretty decent discount because we were taking all three rooms.

When we arrived Jill and Nicho were there to show us around. They are such a lovely young couple. Jill had knee surgery a couple of months ago and is still on crutches but she goes out to work while Nicho covers most of the B&B duties and handles the farm.

All three rooms are lovely (but also quirky since it is a very old farmhouse). They were showing us around and B1 took Firefly - a double, and B2 took Tivoli - a large twin bedded room. YEAH!!! That means I get Trumpet - the four poster - the room I wanted all along but didn't 'pre-claim' since there were going to be 4 of us and who knew what the dynamics would be by this point in the trip and who would be sharing w/ whom.

Jill heard B2 say she wanted the twin. Nicho heard B2 say she wanted the twin. B1 heard B2 say she wanted the twin. . . . So Nicho and I go down stairs so I can tell him which bags should go in which rooms . . . . and a few minutes later the two of us come up the stairs w/ the luggage and B2 is standing in Trumpet and says -- "This room has the largest bathroom so I'll take it!". I kid you not! Nicho looked at me, Jill looked at me, . . . and B2 got the 4 poster. After Jill and Nicho went down stairs I said that was quite a shock - we all thought you wanted the twin. and she says "This room has the largest bathroom so that's the room I want. If you wanted it so bad you should have said so in the first place."

B1 was flabbergasted (even though B2 is her sister she was wearing thin)

We unpacked and drove to the next village for dinner at the Dog & Gun pub in Knayton. I don't remember what we all had but I do know it was really good. We chatted for a long while w/ an old codger and his son/son's SO about Soaring (I once went soaring off Sutton Bank and this family belonged to the same soaring club). He was also a bee keeper so we learned a LOT about bees.

Back to the farmhouse and to bed. And I was only sulking . . . a little

Next: Castle Howard, but not the coast, not Whitby and struggling to use the clutch w/ a sprained ankle . . .