Up and off to Yorkshire yesterday. Car loaded, filled up with petrol, food and drink etc. Sun shining and nice day. Decided to avoid M1 and off we went to get on A1. Poodling along and then noticed sign flashing saying that A1 was closed after the A606 (Leicester). Crap I thought. We get there and sure enough it was closed, two lorries loaded with traffic cones sitting there, two drivers drinking tea and reading their papers and occasionally glancing at the five mile tale back of us unfortunates inching forward in first gear. Actually got out the car, opened boot and extracted our sandwiches as nobody was going anywhere.
Eventually we were syphoned off along a road marked Alternative Route North. Off we went and then we come to a roundabout, no signs, no nothing, nobody knows what is going on. I saw a sign to Leicester and as I have driven up to see my sister a lot around here decided to take that road as we could then get on M1. So off we went cross country and eventually hoved up to the ring round at Leicester. Round we went. M1 South clearly sign posted but where was the MI North? Eventually saw a tiny sign and shot down there to find myself going along a long A road and no signage at all, was on point of turning back when suddenly spotted a small MI North sign. Whole ring road totally lacking in decent directions. To cut a very long and boring story short, we go on M1, roadworks so we all had to drive at 50 mph for over an hour, then got going and then an 'incident', came to halt and sat. In the end I got off the M1, spotted a sign for Scarborough and took that. More cross country but as we found ourselves driving across the Yorkshire Moors that was ok as it was breathtakingly beautiful. Caught a glimpse of Whitby and the abbey as well and after more cross country finally made it to Robin Hood's Bay. The cottage where we are staying is right at the bottom of the hill and I ended up driving down in first gear with foot firmly on brake only to meet a car coming up. I backtracked and manouevred and inched and inched and he just sat there doing nothing and stared at me. In the end I managed to get past him, both wing mirrors flattened in and he did not say thankyou or acknowledge me in any way. Arsehole thought I as we left him behind.
OK so all unloaded and then the fun part. Had to take the car back UP the hill to a private car parking space at the top. So off I went and it was a first gear hill and I was sweating in every pore and rigid with fear. Made it. On way back my friend went and bought fish and chips and then total collapse and bed. I had been driving for over seven hours.......
After this my drive to Ealing will be a doddle.
But oh this place is simply enchanting and what a gorgeous day today. Here is a pic of one of the winding streets. The pigeon posed beautifully.
Off to Whitby tomorrow. Do hope the weather holds.
