A quick autumn trip was required. Silverdale was requested but I couldn’t face another trip to Silverdale this year and wanted to try somewhere new. North Yorks moors seemed a good idea and could include a trip to see Harry. Three campsites were identified with nearby pubs and possibly 3 nights – it all made sense. We had a nice drive but were challenged across the vale of Pickering by closed roads and the diversion aided by Sat Nav was labourious. We arrived at Hutton Le Hole campsite, but panicked as it seemed up a cliff from the village and implied a difficult walk. Onwards. We arrive at site #2 which was in Cropton. This was a field which seemed empty apart from 3 caravans and worryingly just grass after heavy rain. Onwards. Site #3 in Rosedale Abbey. We were met by a very unfriendly campsite warden who replied we close on Sunday after a request for 2 nights stay (it was Wednesday!). £25 (with the dog) seemed expensive so we went next door and joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club and spent £15 per night. Unfortunately Sandra was oppressed by the trees and the dark so we didn’t really like it there. The pub wasn’t open when we wanted it to be and we cooked our own tea and were miserable.
In the morning we wandered around the village, found the Priory, and had a coffee in one of the two coffee shops and found a second pub 10 minutes walk away, which we should have gone to! We drove over the moor to Hutton Le Hole with a view to seeing what a walk to the pub would look like and decided to stay. The site was unmanned and we found plenty of available pitches. Sandra picked one but we couldn’t get on it as the grass was too sticky and wet. We got stuck. Helped by two chaps I managed to get Heidi onto hard standing and we camped on a pitch opposite with less grass between the pitch and the road. We left two horrid brown ruts on the lovely grass. WiFi was available at a cost but the wifi people were unable to connect us and after several phone calls we gave up and asked for a refund. We walked down a field and through the village to the lovely pub for a meal. Menu a bit limited but not as much as the beer which was Black Sheep or John Smiths. Walked back in the dark up the road, which was an adventure, using phone torch to successfully warn motorists.
Home on Friday with a cup of tea and a Halloween Disco with Harry as a bonus. Stopped in Helmsley for lunch and a trip round the market. Down Sutton Bank safely and on to Staveley. Final drive home was in torrential rain all the way.
Addendum. Whilst making tea on Wednesday night Sandra drained the pasta in the bathroom sink. Then we discovered the bathroom carpet was wet. Were the two connected? A puzzle. We took the carpet out and dried the floor. Which stayed dry. I tried pouring a volume of water down the sink with no issues. On arriving home after the torrential drive, the bathroom floor was wet again. Roof leak! Sorted. Well a job to be sorted anyway!
