Hartforth Hall Hotel Richmond

... my phone and drowned my camera !!!

We walked through the bog for a long time, and once out, we power walked 15 K's over to Whernside. This was the highest peak at 736 metres, but the easiest of climbs. There was one problem though, it was also the longest. It seemed to go and on and on and eventually we reached the top under a misty rain. We took some photos and then checked the GPS. We were halfway along the walk and had been going for 5.5 hours, it seemed like we ...

... In its stark beauty it makes this old Protestant feel quite at home but, this ain’t our church. It was built to the honor of St. Cuthbert, a very early saint from Landisfarne who died in 687 C.E. and was buried twice, first in the Anglo-Saxon church at this site and then in this new Church. (The problem with being a saint is they won’t leave you alone.) It is even more solid and beautiful than I remember. You really ought to check it out if you come up this way.

... to neighbours and Him & Her gave the loos and small shop a good rating.

They left me snoozing on the site the following morning, after giving me a big belly-laugh watching them struggle down from my overcab bed...wonder how long it will be before they give up using that.... whilst they went off for a good walk and then had lunch in one of the ...

This was a trip I really wasn't looking forward to, something I had been dreading for a very long time. For the whole time we were up in Thirsk, we didn't talk about the goodbyes, we chose to ignore them! We had a lovely Sunday lunch out at the Haines Arms on the A19 and met up with Sarah, a friend of mine from school, who I hadn't seen in ...

... January after we met on my ship in Antarctica. She was a passenger. She lives in Scotland most of time, when she isn't out traveling the world. She's the same age as me but much prettier and much much smarter.) As we hadn't seen each other since the end of Jan it was a very happy reunion to say the least. We spent a couple of days wandering around Edinburgh before heading to Inverness of a music festival call Rockness with Debbie and Jude, two friends ...

... just because of the delays but of the actions taken by so many of these lawless motorists. I say lawless because they are continually breaking the basic road rules. They park on the wrong side of the street facing oncoming traffic often in defiance of the unbroken lines and sometimes even at traffic lights. They barge into through traffic from side streets not waiting for a break or even someone to stop. Amazingly everyone waves politely at ...

FRIDAY, 28th April...London...east end An uneventful rail trip into Waterloo whence we picked up the Jubilee line [the line must be very deep underground. We descended via two very long escalators before we reached the platforms] to London Bridge. The redevelopment of the embankment between London Bridge and Tower Bridge is truly remarkable. Mostly huge, glass wedge shaped structures set in gardens or cobblestone walkways with water dribbling everywhere. The occupants ranged from ...

... Queen Victoria Memorial in anticipation of an appearance by the queen. It was her 80th birthday this very day but disappointingly she was not to appear on the balcony. She was at Windsor for the day and scheduled to do a 'people' walk through the town streets. Later she was to attend a dinner at Kew Palace...so we were told by one of the custodians of the Queen's Gallery...our next stop. Digging deep into our sterling reserves we paid for our fancy ...

... and wife team who played ferrymen (ferrypersons?) would have made a lot of money that day. We walked back along the south side of the river which was much warmer and passed many fine houses and grounds running down to the water. Marble Hill House, built in the 1720's for one of George II's mistresses, dominated the background. Nearer Richmond Bridge were the Richmond Mansions, very fine apartments in large imposing brick buildings ...

... and Denise had already received orders transferring them back to the United States. Thus, I thought it was likely that this visit was probably the last trip we'd make to Ratho Hall. My premonition was realized a few years later when the Smalls sold Ratho Hall and it became a private residence once again.

While it was goodbye, we left with happiness tempering our sadness. We have gotten to know some wonderful, giving people, who have made us feel like part of ...