Day 24 - York > Newcastle 02 October 2013

In the car again and off to Melton Mowbray, the farmers are still busy as we head into town, we park the car and head into the town center for a look around, the bakery has some yummy Belgium buns for sale so morning tea is sorted.

Back to the car and off to Lincoln, the cathedral is under major renovation with many areas under scaffolding. We have a wander around the cathedral and then over to the castle, which is also under repair on the front wall and gate.

Back in the car and off towards Newcastle we head up the freeway and stop in at the angel of the north, the clouds are closing in but the rain stays away.

The hotel is just outside Newcastle in a service, there is a McDonalds, pub, service station and supermarket, very convenient and quite.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 23 - York 01 October 2013

Overcast with a cool wind greats us as we step from the hotel and head off. Up the hill from the hotel we find a place to climb onto the top of the wall. The view is impressive and we walk around the wall on our way into town. Walking off the wall we arrive at the river, people are rowing as we cross the bridge on the way to the minster.

Work is continuing on the restoration work with a completion date of 2016 it will be impressive with the amount of new stone, a team of 50 are doing the work. We pop inside for a quick look before heading for a coffee.

The rest of the day is spent exploring the shops, so many interesting shops and market stalls to see.

Tomorrow is back in the car and off to Newcastle.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 22 - Ely > York 30 Sept 2013

Another dry day as we head out to Melton Mowbray as our first stop, farmers are working busily in the fields, and tractors pulling wagons of onions and spuds are common on the road. We arrive and get out for a walk around the main square, back in the car it is off to Lincoln, on the way I get a tyre warning light appearing on the dash, thinking I have a flat I pull off into the service, all types seem up so I figure I will just pump up the tyres, finding the air I am shocked to find I need to pay to put air in my tyres. 1 pound gets me just enough time to pump up all tyres but still the light remains on. We travel on to Lincoln where I find a tyre centre and go in for some advice, turns out you need to reset the light but with no manual it takes some time to work out how to reset it.

We arrive at the old town and we walk around, the cathedral is being repaired with scaffold covering much of the cathedral, also scaffold is covering the front entrance of the castle.

Next we head to hull as I want to drive over the Humber bridge, the bridge stretches out across the water before us a spectacular site. 1.50 is the toll for the bridge, well worth the admission price.

We arrive at York and check in tomorrow we explore.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 21 - Ely > Bury 29 Sept 2013

Today is a loop circuit from Ely to Bury St Edmunds and back.

The day is nice and sunny as we head off to Wichambrook, being a Sunday I expected there to be church services but if there were they are finished when we arrive. We have a good look around the church before heading off to Cowlinge to find there church closed, we have a walk around outside before back in the car and off to Bury St Edmunds.

Bury has a garden display on and we sit down in the gardens to have lunch and enjoy the display, squirrels hop between garden beds as we eat our sandwiches.

A wonder around the old addy ruins and the town centre, before back in the car and back to Ely.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 20 - Ely 28 Sept 2013

After a hearty breakfast we head out for our day in Ely.

Being Saturday there is a market in the town square, lots of food producers have brought in there produce and wares. Lots of wonderful things but not really suitcase friendly.

Next it is off to the cathedral and I have set my sites set on the tower climb, I buy my ticket and at 11:30 the tour starts, the only thing between me and the top is 283 steps. The tour starts off easy climbing the first 2 levels in small staircases, the last 2/3 off the distance are straight up a spiral staircase, the climb is worth it as the view from the top is excellent. Now only 283 steps down.

After all that work it is time for a relaxing break so off to the water front and the pub for a pint of cider and some food, ah the sun is out, the boats are bobing in the river, and the river front is full of people, great way to spend the afternoon.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 19- London > Ely 27 Sept 2013

Up early and off to the tube station, today we start our driving holiday and we are off to pickup the car up from Marble Arch. It is 8:30 and the central line is very busy, trains arrive every minute, all packed with commuters, not a place for tourists with suit cases, after about 15 minutes we can finally jump in a carriage, the peak is finally lighter and we head off.

We pickup the car and we are on our way, I decide to upgrade from a Hyundai I20 to a VW Golf TDI, my first diesel car, the boot is a little bigger and seems to handle well. Will be interesting to see how the economy goes.

We head through the suburbs and out onto the motorway, soon we are making our way too Cambridge for lunch, the weather is holding up for us as we stroll around the town, eating our pasties and enjoying the day.

Back in the car it is not long before we are back on the motorway and heading for Ely, it is only a short trip and soon the cathedral is looming on the horizon.

We check into the hotel and have a quick look around, the cathedral is closed today but tomorrow it is open for business as usual.

Posted with Blogsy

Day 18- London 26 Sept 2013

Blue sky, sun and a cool breeze greets us as we step out into the morning, can this be London? We head to the underground to catch the train to Trafalgar Square, the national gallery is our first stop, we arrive before the doors open so we get to wander around without any crowds. I wanted to see Renoirs parasols, but I cannot find it, I decide to ask one of the security officers and he tells me the most wonderful story. It turns out the owner of the painting had a will leaving the painting to the Dublin national gallery, and he was killed in the sinking of the titanic, when the y went through his papers they found a second will, this one leaving all his paintings to the national gallery of London. The two gallery decided that instead of a long court battle they would share the collection which unfortunately for me meant my Renoir was sent to Dublin at the start of this year where it will stay for the next 6 years.

Wandering down Whitehall we take a look at Downing Street before heading off to Westminster Abby, we wander around looking at the magnificent carvings before heading over to Parliament House and Big Ben, we are right on the stroke of 12 so Big Ben is in full voice.

Next it is across the bridge heading for the eye, the themes is at low tide but still running pretty fast. After som lunch it is off to the eye.

19 pounds gets us a ticket for a ride, they queue is short and it is not long before we have boarded the gondola and are heading skywards. With the weather holding and the sun out we get a good view over the city, all the way down to St. Paul's and on to the business district.

All in all a great last day in London, tomorrow we get the car and hit the road.

Posted with Blogsy