This was the weekend of Storm Darrough and also most likely the final adventure of the year. No caravan on this trip, just a long weekend away in our campervan, Nellie. The ultimate destination being Harrogate and a few beers with the Magnificent Seven from the class of 1972, Ermysteds Grammar school.
We departed East Devon mid-morning on Thursday 5th December and headed to our first stopover, the Caravan and Motorhome Club site at Chatsworth house. Alas the Christmas market at Chatsworth house had already ended but in any case, the weather was so wet and windy that walks through the gardens would have required wellies at least! A great day for ducks and it was a wet and blustery 30 minute walk into Baslow for dinner at the Weatsheaf.
Friday morning we arrived at Shaws Trailer park in Harrogate, shortly after the permissible noon arrival time. We occupied pitch 9 on First Avenue which was just off Main Avenue. I’ve a feeling that the US street naming system doesn’t have a Main Avenue but only a Main Street.
Still, there were aspects of the “park” which provided an element of authenticity to its name.
The site is located close to Harrogate and there are frequent buses to the town centre which is around a 30 minute walk away.
As Ian posted on Facebook, the seven have a combined age of 441 and friendships a cumulative 365 years. Phil from Munich, myself from East Devon, John from Standish, Brian from York, Mick from Horsforth, Ian from Embsay and our host for the weekend, Steve from Harrogate.
Saturday morning we headed over to Steve’s new house and enjoyed a nice breakfast roll. Around lunchtime we headed further north into the Yorkshire Dales for a night at the Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club site near Threshfield. By now, storm Darrough was lashing the Dale’s with 70 mile winds and heavy rain. The site was over 75% occupied much to the surprise and dismay of the wardens who were shocked anyone would wish to be camping, and their sole advice was to park as far away from any trees as possible.
The inclement weather didn’t stop the Rugby as Wharfedale secured a narrow victory over Chester. I’ve seen some fairly atrocious weather in this spectacular and remote corner of North Yorkshire but this was fairly exceptional. We slept well after the game but were a little cramped in the campervan with the winds still too strong to utilise the pop-top.
For Sunday evening we had managed to secure a pitch at Baltic Wharfe in Bristol which would break up our journey home and allow a visit to Costco on Monday morning for some Christmas shopping. This is a very popular site close to the centre of Bristol but alas, it is likely the lease will finally end in 2025. We arrived late in the afternoon and spent a couple of hours walking into and around the Old City.
