Scenic drive around the Yorkshire Moors.

The circular routes we took today, more or less.

We didn't waste much time getting up and having breakfast.  We wanted to make the most of our time exploring part of the Yorkshire Moors.


We set off towards Helmsley and took circular drive, anticlockwise, around the moors; absorbing the scenery and beautiful views.  We also passed by the occasional ruins of a castle or monastery.  We have a book with us:  "The Most Amazing Scenic Journeys in Britain" by Reader's Digest so we used their suggested route.  Sometimes we deviated off the route a bit but we would always end up at the suggested villages. 

Towards the end of the first loop of our journey the road took us up a steep road - Sutton Bank - and soon after passing Sutton Bank National Park Centre we got stuck behind a traffic jam.  In the distance we could see a tractor towing a fully loaded trailer carrying bales of hay, the top ones perched precariously, making its way gingerly along the road.  We ended up branching off the road and found ourselves passing the caravan park where we are staying and, carrying on the route back to Helmsley, we saw the tractor again!  The alternative route we took wasn't much faster than the straighter route that the tractor and everyone else took! 

In Helmsley we stopped to have a wander around town and found a tearoom where we sat and had scones and hot chocolate. Yum.  We saw Helmsley Castle from a distance.  The gate was locked today so we couldn't go in to visit.  Pity.

There were still some hours of daylight left so we did another, different, circular drive through the Yorkshire Moors in a clockwise direction, finishing back at the campsite.  Again we were not disappointed.  The roads were very narrow, we came across sheep resting in the middle of the road; and came across farm gates that we had to open and close to gain access to the road.  It was nice though.

Unfortunately we kept on forgetting to take photographs of our drive but at least we did get 3 or 4.

Back at the campsite we found the laundry room and put on a load of washing, keeping an eye on the clock and being mindful of other people who wanted to do their laundry as well.

A drive up to the edge of the Yorkshire Moors.

We manged to get the caravan off the pitch at Dale Farm without churning up too much mud.  Going through the farmyard we 'collected' a bit more mud and could hear it spattering when we started our drive on the tarmac.  It just added to the 'look' of the caravan and car!

Our route, more or less.  But it took a lot longer than what
Googlemaps shows (because we made stops and drove slower).

We drove up to Yorkshire, stopping in Sheffield on the way to have a look at secondhand pickup trucks.  We have a quad bike and it would be nice to put it on the back of a pickup truck (and tow the caravan at the same time) when we travel so that we can use it to explore areas off-road a bit, as and when.  There were one or two nice trucks but the quad bike would never fit in the back of them.  At least 'looking' gave us food for thought and to perhaps extend our search further at another time, or give up. 

As we got closer to York I had a good cry.  I missed my twin, Clare, (RIP) and dreaded the memories that I would face at her former house when visiting my sister-in-law in Sheriff Hutton.  The visit went better than expected and it was good to see Amanda again after what seems a very long time.  Whilst there we collected the last of my mail that I had redirected to her place in 2016 when I left Derbyshire.  Amanda looked very well and seemed a happier person from when I last saw her.  There had been some major changes in her life and I think the outcome was good.

We left Sheriff Hutton and headed onward to Golden Square Caravan and Camping Park (http://www.goldensquarecaravanpark.com/), just on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors near Sproxton and Oswaldkirk  We wanted to get there before nightfall.  Some roads in Yorkshire can be just as narrow and winding as those in Wales - better to be negotiated with a caravan in daylight.

Once we had settled onto our hardcore pitch at the campsite Paul set about hosing down the caravan and car to get rid of some of the mud that we have accumulated over the last few days.  It made a big difference and no doubt the caravan will be a tiny bit lighter when we eventually leave the campsite.

The shower facilities were really lovely and I felt a bit spoilt.  The floors in the showers were heated.  It made such a difference when stepping out of the shower and not getting our tootsies frozen and stuck to the floor tiles.  It was feet heaven....  And the walk back to the caravan is a breeze - no mud! 😊

Hell's Gate and a hot spring soak

A snapshot of our whereabouts today but not the actual road route 

Today we visited Hell's Gate?  Eh?  😳  Fortunately it is not the biblical hell.  It is a geothermal area not far from from our hotel.  I have been there on a ship's tour as tour escort but tours are usually rushed so I was glad to visit the area with Paul at a more leisurely pace.  We were able to see the whole geothermal area for a change, rather than half of it - as has been the case.  There were hot springs, bubbling mud pots, hot steam vents and a sacred river, the river water being hot.  The area had a pungent and permeating smell of sulphur but once we got to the river area where there was plenty of trees - the sulphur smell disappeared.  The trees absorbed the smell and their trunks and branches had turned an orange/rusty colour over time.

After our walk around the geothermal area we went to the mud spa area.  We smeared ourselves in sulphurous mud and soaked in a hot spring pool for a bit (this part was timed for about 20 minutes per session).  After that we rinsed off the mud and went to another hot spring pool and relaxed until it was time to dry off and go for our massage.  The therapists were good - no pain, no gain - ironing out any muscle knots in our backs and legs.  But it was worth it.  Painful but we felt very relaxed and tired afterwards.


We headed in a meandering manner to our next lodgings, Rotorua Farm Stay which is just over half an hour drive in south-westerly direction from Rotorua.  Unfortunately we overshot the farm because the GPS on the satnav was accurate but not quite accurate enough.  We turned around, used another satnav programme and found the farm which is, I gather, more of a smallholding rather than a large farm with a horse, a few sheep, cockerels and hens with their chicks, ducks and a dog.

Our host warmly welcomed us, as did her young son, and showed us to our room and offered to show us around the property.  It was getting late and we were very tired so we declined and will maybe take up her offer another day.  Our host's husband arrived home from work a bit later on and we were able to meet him before we headed to bed.

Although we have showered, we stink of sulphur.  It will take a while for it make its way out of our skin.  Oh well.

Tomorrow is another day.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Panoramic view

Panoramic view

Having got all muddied in the sulphur mud spa and then nearly finished
washing it off, Paul realised that the video camera had been pointing in the
wrong direction... He's not trying to hide anything with his hand, just adjusting
the camera for a bit of video footage.

Hot spring pool to relax in with a good view of the geothermal area